Guides
Before and After the TripBoarding Norwegian Jewel at PhilaPort's New Cruise Terminal
PhilaPort is a step up from New Orleans and about even with San Diego. We boarded Norwegian Jewel® there in the rain: a one-minute drop-off, a terminal that handled the crowd, and a Haven lounge that was the weak spot.
3 min read
Money MattersFor Most Cruise Travelers, Black Friday Changes Nothing
For most travelers, a Black Friday cruise sale adds nothing to the fare. The few who do benefit, and why to pick for the trip instead.
4 min read
Choosing the ShipWhat I Watch for When I Walk a Ship
An inspection gives me a few hours on a ship between one sailing and the next, sharing every stateroom with 20 other advisors. In that time I watch the crew, the boarding-day lines, the main dining room most guests skip, and the seats nobody's using.
5 min read
Travel BizSometimes You Don't Need Me. Here's When.
Not every cruise needs a travel advisor. The short, simple sailing, the casino offer, the planner who loves the hunt, and the five-hours-and-lowest-fare booking: when to book it yourself, and when the math changes.
3 min read
Days AshoreA Great Private Tour Comes Down to the Guide, Not the Stops
Two ports, two private tours on our anniversary trip. Both hit the right stops, and the guide made the difference: Bar Harbor in the rain with Carli, and the Reversing Falls in Saint John.
3 min read
Before and After the TripFall Color by Train Depends on Which Way You're Riding
On a fall color trip by train, direction matters as much as the date. What our rail-and-cruise anniversary trip showed me about which way to ride.
4 min read
Protecting You and Your TripNine Things to Know About Keeping Your Stuff Safe on a Trip
Hotel rooms, staterooms, sleeper cars, and deck chairs all feel private once you settle in. Nine small habits that keep your belongings where you left them.
7 min read
Travel BizReflections on Rebranding
Why Cruise Made Easy became Squared Away Travel. The old name said cruises only; the new one covers every kind of trip I plan, with the same personal attention to getting it right.
3 min read
Choosing the TripOne Name, Four Itineraries: Reading an NCL Panama Canal Sailing
How Norwegian Cruise Line’s four Panama Canal itineraries differ: direction, length, port calls and price, and which one fits your trip.
7 min read
Choosing the TripThe Winter Canal: NCL's Other Repositioning Cycle
Norwegian Star crosses the Panama Canal from Miami to San Diego in December 2026, runs the Mexican Riviera for ten weeks, and sails back through the canal in February. How the winter repositioning cycle works.
7 min read
Choosing the TripWestbound Through the Canal: The Spring Crossing From Atlantic to Pacific
Norwegian Bliss leaves New York on April 9, 2027, and reaches Seattle twenty-two nights later by way of the Panama Canal, moving from the Caribbean to the West Coast for her Alaska season.
6 min readChoosing the TripEastbound Through the Canal: The Fall Crossing From Pacific to Atlantic
Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss cross the Panama Canal eastbound in October, from Los Angeles to Miami, with Bliss carrying on to New York. How the sixteen- and nineteen-night crossings compare.
7 min read
Choosing the TripThe Canal in Ten Nights: Round-Trip From Miami on a Smaller Ship
Norwegian Sun’s eleven-night round-trip from Miami spends a full day inside the Panama Canal and calls at Harvest Caye, Cartagena, Puerto Limón, Falmouth, Colón and Cozumel, with one round-trip flight.
7 min read
When to GoThe Holiday Nobody Cooks For
A party of 10 sailing Thanksgiving on Viva, why the matriarch picked it, what holiday weeks actually cost, and where the 120-day final payment line falls.
3 min read
Travel BizWhat a CDC Sanitation Score Covers
How the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspects cruise ships, what the published scores measure, and how to look up any ship's inspection record.
5 min read
Choosing the TripSkagway and Mazatlán on the Same Ship
In October, Norwegian Encore® finishes her Alaska season and works her way south, so you can step off the same ship in Skagway and in Mazatlán about three weeks apart, without repacking.
3 min read
When to GoThe Greek Isles Peak Season Is Two Weeks Long, in September
Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2027 Mediterranean deployment raises Greek Isles prices: the cheapest week goes from $1,429 to $2,369. What that means for planning a September trip.
8 min read
Money MattersThe Fare Drop I Catch for You Is About to Get Rare
I catch fare drops after you book. Norwegian Cruise Line says it is moving toward holding its opening fares, and my read is that drops get rarer and booking early stops being a penalty.
4 min read
Choosing the TripThree Ports in 13 Days, Seven in 15
A repositioning cruise is two different products: the Atlantic crossing, heavy on sea days, and the Panama transit, heavy on ports. Which one you want depends on whether the ocean or the stops are the point.
5 min read
Where You SleepThe Glacier Comes to the Whole Ship
Alaska’s most repeated advice says to book the correct side of the ship or miss the glacier. At the glacier the ship turns so both sides get the view, so choose your stateroom for the trip you want.
3 min read
When to GoThe Snowpack Behind My Foliage Sailing
I’m sailing Norwegian Jewel north from Philadelphia to Quebec City this fall, timed for peak color. Here’s the reasoning behind that timing, including how a snowy winter affects the leaves.
10 min read
When to GoWhen Fall Color Peaks Across New England and Atlantic Canada
Peak fall color in New England and Atlantic Canada starts in the north and the high country and rolls south and downhill over about six weeks. A north-to-south calendar for lining up a sailing or a land trip.
3 min read
When to GoHow Sailing Direction Changes Your Fall Foliage Odds
Most people pick a fall foliage cruise by date and price. Which way the ship sails changes your odds of hitting peak color more than either, and it’s worth understanding before you book.
3 min readTravel BizNotes on the Bliss Propulsion Situation
What the Bliss propulsion problem means for Alaska port time, what Norwegian is giving affected guests, and my advice whether you are already booked on a fall sailing or still choosing a ship.
3 min read
Before and After the TripGetting to Your Alaska Cruise From the Midwest
The ship is the easy decision. From the Midwest, the part nobody walks you through is the flights before you board and after you step off. A first-timer’s guide to the Alaska logistics.
6 min read
Choosing the ShipThe Biggest Ship the Eastern Baltic Will Take
How one port's berth length decides which ship sails the Baltic, why Jewel suits a port-heavy week, how her 2027 fares compare with the Sun's, and which departures add Visby.
5 min read
Travel BizWhen Competent Isn’t Enough: A Conversation About Cruise Value
My most recent Norwegian sailing had nothing wrong with it, and no moment that stood out. What that says about price versus value, and how I evaluate Norwegian now.
4 min read
Getting StartedHow to Choose Between Caribbean Regions When You've Never Been to Any
Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean for a first cruise: how each region balances sea days and port days, how much effort the ports take, and when to go.
5 min read
Before and After the TripFlying to Your Cruise: Be Sure You Know These Things
The airline rules every cruise traveler should know before flying: refunds when a flight is canceled, the 24-hour window, delayed bags, family seating, tarmac delays, overbooking and travel insurance.
4 min read
Getting StartedWhat First-Time Cruisers Wish They’d Known Before Booking
First-time cruisers often find that small early decisions shape the whole trip: what the fare leaves out, why stateroom location matters, how itineraries differ, what a package covers, and why port days run short.
5 min readChoosing the ShipHow to Choose the Right NCL Ship for How You Actually Cruise
A side-by-side look at four Norwegian Cruise Line® ship classes, how each tends to feel on a sea day, and a short decision guide that points you to the class to start with.
10 min read
Choosing the ShipNotes from NCL Escape Inspection
What I saw touring Norwegian Escape in New Orleans, from a crowded terminal to the staterooms and public spaces, plus an elevator tip for Breakaway-class ships and when to schedule check-in.
2 min read
Travel BizBehind the Scenes: My Upcoming Norwegian Escape Ship Inspection in New Orleans
The questions I'm taking into a Norwegian Escape inspection after her 2025 propulsion trouble, from missed ports and late arrivals to how Norwegian is supporting guests caught in the delays.
7 min read
Before and After the TripYes, Travel Advisors Have Travel Issues, Too!
A 45-minute delay put a tight connection at risk, so I rebooked myself through Dallas to get there. What went wrong, what I'd do differently, and what to do when your own trip hits a snag.
3 min read
Choosing the TripCanada & New England in Full Color: 2026 Fall Cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line
October on Norwegian Cruise Line, side by side: the short Canada & New England foliage window, a 15-night Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles, and repositioning voyages, with how to choose among them.
4 min read
When to GoMake It a Season, Not a Sale: Smarter Fall Cruising Starts with the Calendar
Fall cruise promotions push you to book the sale. The better move is to book the season: pick the week and the region first, with hurricane timing in mind, and treat the fare as the second question.
2 min read
Choosing the ShipThe Alaska 2026 Ship Selection Strategy
The questions I use to match a family to an Alaska ship: which glacier you want to see, a mid-size or large ship, one-way or round-trip, and what your group needs onboard.
5 min read
When to GoThe Fall Leaf Peeping Secret Most People Miss
Why peak color shifts from year to year and along a single route, and why I watch foliage forecasts from mid-summer before advising anyone on a fall sailing.
4 min readDays AshoreA Great Private Tour Comes Down to the Guide, Not the Stops
Two ports, two private tours on our anniversary trip. Both hit the right stops, and the guide made the difference: Bar Harbor in the rain with Carli, and the Reversing Falls in Saint John.
3 min readBefore and After the TripFall Color by Train Depends on Which Way You're Riding
On a fall color trip by train, direction matters as much as the date. What our rail-and-cruise anniversary trip showed me about which way to ride.
4 min readChoosing the TripOne Name, Four Itineraries: Reading an NCL Panama Canal Sailing
How Norwegian Cruise Line’s four Panama Canal itineraries differ: direction, length, port calls and price, and which one fits your trip.
7 min readChoosing the TripThe Winter Canal: NCL's Other Repositioning Cycle
Norwegian Star crosses the Panama Canal from Miami to San Diego in December 2026, runs the Mexican Riviera for ten weeks, and sails back through the canal in February. How the winter repositioning cycle works.
7 min readChoosing the TripWestbound Through the Canal: The Spring Crossing From Atlantic to Pacific
Norwegian Bliss leaves New York on April 9, 2027, and reaches Seattle twenty-two nights later by way of the Panama Canal, moving from the Caribbean to the West Coast for her Alaska season.
6 min readChoosing the TripEastbound Through the Canal: The Fall Crossing From Pacific to Atlantic
Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss cross the Panama Canal eastbound in October, from Los Angeles to Miami, with Bliss carrying on to New York. How the sixteen- and nineteen-night crossings compare.
7 min readChoosing the TripThe Canal in Ten Nights: Round-Trip From Miami on a Smaller Ship
Norwegian Sun’s eleven-night round-trip from Miami spends a full day inside the Panama Canal and calls at Harvest Caye, Cartagena, Puerto Limón, Falmouth, Colón and Cozumel, with one round-trip flight.
7 min readWhen to GoThe Holiday Nobody Cooks For
A party of 10 sailing Thanksgiving on Viva, why the matriarch picked it, what holiday weeks actually cost, and where the 120-day final payment line falls.
3 min readChoosing the TripSkagway and Mazatlán on the Same Ship
In October, Norwegian Encore® finishes her Alaska season and works her way south, so you can step off the same ship in Skagway and in Mazatlán about three weeks apart, without repacking.
3 min readWhen to GoThe Greek Isles Peak Season Is Two Weeks Long, in September
Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2027 Mediterranean deployment raises Greek Isles prices: the cheapest week goes from $1,429 to $2,369. What that means for planning a September trip.
8 min readChoosing the TripThree Ports in 13 Days, Seven in 15
A repositioning cruise is two different products: the Atlantic crossing, heavy on sea days, and the Panama transit, heavy on ports. Which one you want depends on whether the ocean or the stops are the point.
5 min readWhere You SleepThe Glacier Comes to the Whole Ship
Alaska’s most repeated advice says to book the correct side of the ship or miss the glacier. At the glacier the ship turns so both sides get the view, so choose your stateroom for the trip you want.
3 min readWhen to GoThe Snowpack Behind My Foliage Sailing
I’m sailing Norwegian Jewel north from Philadelphia to Quebec City this fall, timed for peak color. Here’s the reasoning behind that timing, including how a snowy winter affects the leaves.
10 min readWhen to GoWhen Fall Color Peaks Across New England and Atlantic Canada
Peak fall color in New England and Atlantic Canada starts in the north and the high country and rolls south and downhill over about six weeks. A north-to-south calendar for lining up a sailing or a land trip.
3 min readWhen to GoHow Sailing Direction Changes Your Fall Foliage Odds
Most people pick a fall foliage cruise by date and price. Which way the ship sails changes your odds of hitting peak color more than either, and it’s worth understanding before you book.
3 min readTravel BizNotes on the Bliss Propulsion Situation
What the Bliss propulsion problem means for Alaska port time, what Norwegian is giving affected guests, and my advice whether you are already booked on a fall sailing or still choosing a ship.
3 min readBefore and After the TripGetting to Your Alaska Cruise From the Midwest
The ship is the easy decision. From the Midwest, the part nobody walks you through is the flights before you board and after you step off. A first-timer’s guide to the Alaska logistics.
6 min readChoosing the ShipThe Biggest Ship the Eastern Baltic Will Take
How one port's berth length decides which ship sails the Baltic, why Jewel suits a port-heavy week, how her 2027 fares compare with the Sun's, and which departures add Visby.
5 min readGetting StartedHow to Choose Between Caribbean Regions When You've Never Been to Any
Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean for a first cruise: how each region balances sea days and port days, how much effort the ports take, and when to go.
5 min readChoosing the TripCanada & New England in Full Color: 2026 Fall Cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line
October on Norwegian Cruise Line, side by side: the short Canada & New England foliage window, a 15-night Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles, and repositioning voyages, with how to choose among them.
4 min readChoosing the ShipThe Alaska 2026 Ship Selection Strategy
The questions I use to match a family to an Alaska ship: which glacier you want to see, a mid-size or large ship, one-way or round-trip, and what your group needs onboard.
5 min readWhen to GoThe Fall Leaf Peeping Secret Most People Miss
Why peak color shifts from year to year and along a single route, and why I watch foliage forecasts from mid-summer before advising anyone on a fall sailing.
4 min read