The travel blog
Trip reports, honest reviews, and points & miles news from around the world — written after actually staying, sailing, and flying.
Princess Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works (2026)
A travel advisor explains Princess crew appreciation rates by cabin, the 18% auto tip on drinks and spa, prepaying, and adjusting your gratuities.
Princess Plus vs Premier: The Drink Package Math
Princess Plus or Princess Premier? I break down the drink package math so you can tell which one actually pays off for your sailing.
Princess Cruise Cost: A Real Budget Breakdown
A travel advisor breaks down real Princess cruise costs: fares by cabin and season, Plus and Premier packages, gratuities, wifi, and how to save.
Royal Caribbean Oasis Class vs Icon Class: Which to Book?
A Royal Caribbean travel advisor breaks down Oasis Class vs Icon Class ships: neighborhoods, waterparks, dining, cost, and who each one suits best.
Norwegian Ships by Size: Classes Explained
A travel advisor ranks Norwegian Cruise Line ship classes from biggest to smallest, what each is known for, and how to choose the right one.
Norwegian Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works
A travel advisor explains Norwegian cruise gratuities: daily service charge rates, the 20% beverage charge, Free at Sea perk charges, prepay vs onboard, and budgeting.
Norwegian Drink Package Guide: Is It Worth It?
A plain look at Norwegian's Premium Beverage Package, what's included, the gratuity catch, and how to decide if the open bar pays off for you.
Norwegian Cruise Cost: A Real Budget Breakdown
A travel advisor breaks down Norwegian cruise costs: fares by cabin and season, Free at Sea value, gratuities, drink service charges, wifi, and a real all-in budget.
What's Included on an MSC Cruise (and What Costs Extra)
A travel advisor breaks down MSC cruise experience tiers, what's included in your fare, and the extras that add up so you can budget with confidence.
MSC Ships by Size: Classes Explained (Biggest to Smallest)
A travel advisor breaks down MSC ship classes from World class down to Lirica, plus Yacht Club, so you can pick the right MSC ship.
MSC Voyagers Club Explained: The MSC Loyalty Program
A travel advisor breaks down MSC Voyagers Club tiers, points, perks, and the status match that lets you skip straight to elite from other cruise lines.
MSC Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works Onboard
A travel advisor explains MSC daily service charges by cabin and region, drink gratuities, prepay vs onboard, and how to budget for tips.
MSC Drink Package Guide: Which One Is Worth It?
An honest MSC drink package guide. I break down the tiers, the math, and which package is actually worth buying for your sailing.
MSC Cruise Cost: A Real Budget Breakdown
A travel advisor breaks down MSC cruise costs by cabin, tier, and season, plus a real all-in budget example and ways to save.
Margaritaville at Sea: What's Included (and What Costs Extra)
A travel advisor's plain-English breakdown of what your Margaritaville at Sea fare covers, what costs extra, and how to budget a quick getaway.
Margaritaville at Sea Ships Explained by Size
A friendly guide to the Margaritaville at Sea fleet, how Paradise and Islander compare by size, where they sail, and how to pick the right one.
Margaritaville at Sea Loyalty Program Explained
A travel advisor breaks down Margaritaville at Sea's rewards approach for repeat guests, the perks, how it compares to bigger lines, and if it's worth it.
