Cruise Tips & Planning
Plan the right cruise, not just any cruise.
From choosing the ship and cabin to understanding the costs, packages, ports, and decisions that come after you book, these guides are here to help you make a more confident choice.
It Starts With Fit
The best cruise is the one that fits the people taking it.
One of the best things about cruising is that there can be something for nearly everyone on the same vacation. But that does not mean every cruise line, ship, or itinerary is equally well suited to every group. An adults-only Virgin Voyages sailing creates a very different experience from a Disney cruise with younger children. Royal Caribbean can be a great fit for families across a wide range of ages, while Cunard may appeal more strongly to travelers looking for a traditional, quieter style of cruising. The goal is not to find the cruise everyone else says is best. It is to find the one that makes the most sense for the people traveling with you.
Begin Here
The first decision shapes everything that follows.
Start Here
How to Choose the Right Cruise Line and Ship
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages, Norwegian, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard, and MSC can each deliver an excellent vacation. The important part is knowing which experience, and which ship within that cruise line, fits the travelers going with you.
Read the Article
How I Approach Cruise Planning
I look at the whole vacation, not just the ship.
When a client tells me they are considering a cruise, I do not begin by sending every sailing that fits their dates. I start by asking how they want the trip to feel, who is traveling, what they care about onboard, and how much the itinerary matters to them.
I have sailed multiple cruise lines, ship styles, itineraries, and cabin categories. That experience helps me explain the differences that are hard to see on a booking screen, including which ships tend to work especially well for families, couples, adults traveling without children, multigenerational groups, and travelers who care most about food, entertainment, ports, or time to relax.
These guides reflect the same advice I give my own clients: look beyond the cruise line name, consider the specific ship and itinerary, and choose the vacation that fits the people who will actually be taking it.
Cruise Planning Library
Make each decision with the full picture in mind.
This library will continue growing as I add firsthand cruise experiences, practical comparisons, and answers to the questions that come up most often during the planning process.
01
First Cruise Fears
Wondering about seasickness, crowds, costs, safety, or whether you would even enjoy a cruise? Start with honest answers to eight of the concerns I hear most from first-time cruisers.
Read the First Cruise Guide02
Choosing Your Cruise
Compare cruise lines, ship styles, onboard experiences, and itineraries before narrowing down the right sailing.
Read the Article03
Is Virgin Voyages Right for You?
Adults-only cruising, restaurant-style dining, unconventional entertainment, and a very different onboard feel. See what makes Virgin different, who it works well for, and who may be happier on another cruise line.
Explore Virgin Voyages04
Is Celebrity Cruises Right for You?
Four main dining rooms, a quieter onboard pace, and a crowd that skews adult. I sailed Celebrity Beyond twice, once as a couple and once with our teenagers. See who it suits, and who I would point somewhere else.
Explore Celebrity Cruises05
Choosing Your Cruise Cabin
Compare interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite staterooms, then look beyond the category to location, layout, and price.
Read the Article06
What a Cruise Really Costs
Understand the fare, gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, insurance, and other expenses that determine your real cruise budget.
Read the Budget Guide07
Ports & Days Ashore
Explore firsthand destination guides for ports I have personally visited, with practical advice for making the most of your limited time.
Explore Port GuidesA Sample From My Client Toolkit
Your Cruise, Thoughtfully Chosen
Not sure which cruise is right for you?
Tell me who is traveling, what matters most, and what you want the vacation to feel like. I will help you narrow down the cruise line, ship, itinerary, cabin, and sailing that make the most sense.
Start Planning Your Cruise