Most cruise “deals” look great at first glance. Big discounts. Flash sales. “Up to 70% off.” Free perks everywhere. But once you’ve booked a few cruises (and made a few mistakes), you realize something quickly: The advertised price is rarely the real price — and it’s definitely not the full value. This is exactly why…
Embarkation day isn’t just “getting on the ship.” For us, it’s the official start of the trip — and over time, we’ve realized that how you approach this day can completely shape the rest of your cruise. After multiple cruises (and a few trial-and-error experiences), we’ve settled into a routine that works really well for…
Planning a cruise doesn’t start when you pack your suitcase. For us… it starts weeks (sometimes months) before we ever step on the ship — except when you book last-minute like we’ve done a few times recently. And for this upcoming Norwegian Bliss sailing? We’ve taken that to another level. Not just planning the trip……
Melanie recently posted a video about us learning about — and eventually embracing — the cruise duck tradition. After a few questions about what we brought, we figured we would share the actual items we bought for those who are interested. Side note: Melanie made the lanyards you see in the photo herself. She found…
There are a lot of “must-have” packing lists out there — and most are full of things people buy once and never use again. This list is different. These are items we pack on every cruise (and most trips) because they: If it’s on this list, it’s earned its place. Related Reading: Want Help Planning…
When we started cruising last year, we had no idea that hiding and finding rubber ducks was a thing. Like a lot of cruise traditions, we discovered it through cruise Facebook groups and by seeing people talk about it onboard. At first, it sounded a little strange — grown adults hiding rubber ducks around a…
Some travel traditions are planned. Others just sort of happen. On our cruises, one of the traditions that developed naturally is something simple that has become one of our favorite parts of each trip: Melanie makes themed cruise lanyards for every cruise we take. What started as a small sewing project has turned into a…
When we booked this four-night Bahamas cruise on the Norwegian Dawn, we were genuinely curious how we’d feel about the ship. In the last year we’ve cruised twice on the Norwegian Bliss and once on the Norwegian Escape — both larger ships with a more modern feel and plenty of “wow” spaces. The Dawn is…
