Ep5: Cruising 101

Listen in as Christopher and Ashleigh share their cruise experiences and tips for finding cruise deals and excursions.

Why We Cruise

Cruising allows you to experience many destinations in one trip. The value is excellent - accommodations, food, entertainment, and transportation between destinations are all included. It's a very relaxing way to travel since you only have to unpack once.

We've taken 7 cruises and have only repeated 1 port. It gives you a taste of a place and helps plan future trips. - Ashleigh

Choosing a Cruise Line

Consider what experience you're looking for - party atmosphere, family friendly, food/wine focus, luxury, etc. Mass market lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean are on the budget end while Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America are more upscale. Small ship and expedition cruises offer specialized, expensive itineraries.

Itinerary Options

Caribbean itineraries are cheap in winter. Alaska cruises are amazing but expensive. Mediterranean cruises visit world class European cities in summer. Can also cruise Canada/New England, Hawaii, Australia, etc. River cruises popular in Europe and Egypt.

Finding Deals

Use a cruise search engine to find the cheapest options, then review cruise details. Bookmark and watch for price drops. Consider booking early when cruises are first announced or wait for last minute deals.

Booking Excursions

Avoid the expensive cruise line excursions. Research third party options for a better, more personalized experience. Most guarantee getting you back to the ship on time.

We had an amazing semi-private Azores tour with a traditional meal. Much better than a crowded bus tour in Madeira booked through the cruise line. - Ashleigh

Ethical Considerations

Be aware of environmental impacts, overtourism, fair wages for workers, and avoiding an overly "tourist bubble" experience. Make responsible choices.

Understand what's happening and see what you can do to have a net positive impact. Treat the local people and place with respect. - Christopher

Wine Break: Good Harbor Vineyards

The hosts share a bottle Harbor Red from Good Harbor Vineyards in Leelanau Peninsula, MI. They reminisce about a trip there during the early days of the pandemic when travel opened back up.

Finding Cheap Flights

Search one way fares. Consider open-jaw itineraries starting in one city and returning from another. Be open to long layovers - even 16 hours in Paris! - to break up long flights. Flying budget airlines and mixing carriers can lead to great deals.