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Alaska is an amazing trip. I recently returned from a 7 day Inside Passage voyage on the Majestic Princess, departing from Seattle. This was my fourth trip to Alaska with Princess, my second on the Majestic Princess. Overall this trip was very close to a 5 star voyage. Let's give it a 4, here's why. Itinerary This voyage was roundtrip from Seattle. Although I've traveled on the one way voyages between Anchorage and Vancouver on past Alaska cruises, a roundtrip from Seattle, Vancouver or San Francisco avoids a bit of the headache in trying to get to or from Anchorage. Day 1 - Embarkation Seattle Day 2 - Sea Day Day 3 - Ketchikan Day 4 - Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising) AND Juneau Day 5 - Skagway Day 6 - At Sea Day 7 - Victoria Day 8 - Disembark Seattle We flew in a day before and stayed in downtown Seattle at the Palihotel. Palihotel is about a 10 minute drive from Pier 91. A review of the Pali can be found here. https://www.travelstorytravel.com/post/the-pali-hotel-seattle-an-experience-stay I would always recommend flying to the embarkation port a day before, but I would particularly recommend this for Alaska, Trans Atlantic/Pacific, Hawaii and Norway. There are few options to "catch up" with the ship if you miss embarkation on any of these journeys. I liked having the two sea days. The sail away from Skagway was magnificent, well to be fair, the sail away from Ketchikan an Juneau were also lovely as well. However, this was the first time the itinerary included both Glacier Scenic Cruising and Juneau on the same day. My hypothesis this is for gambling/gaming reasons. I was concerned when I noticed this on the Princess app, but we had a late departure in Juneau, which really made this less of an issue. The Casino was open about an hour after leaving the ports. Typically casinos do not open until a certain distance from land. On this trip, we were still in Fjords when the casino opened. I did a little research on this topic, and it seems there's been an allowance made on Alaska cruises. Casinos can open once they are 3 miles from the port that they left and at least 3 miles away from the next port. Who knew? I wasn't thrilled that our Glacier visit started at 5 AM, but because I'd been to Alaska before, I didn't set an alarm and just woke up at 6 AM, opened the drapes and was stunned by the views. We'd already made it to the Glacier and it was spectacular. Another difference was the proximity to the Glacier. In prior trips it was significantly closer. This trip offered a shore excursion for those who wanted to get closer. A boat/tender picked up passengers from the ship and took them closer. Folks who participated on my Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/majesticprincessalaskamay262024 posted positive comments. My husband and I did not take this excursion, or any excursions on this trip. The time in Victoria is always brief. This stop is to meet the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Services Act. If your not familiar with this, any ship that is not US Flagged and travels between US ports, must include a distant foreign port. If this does not occur, additional taxes of more than $900 must be paid by passengers. I will say, since it was light until late in the evening, this was not as brief as I'd experienced in the past. Victoria is a lovely port, but the last day, late at night, with packing and organization needed, this is not always an easy port to explore. If you get the opportunity for a whole port day in Victoria, consider not only a lovely walk through town, but a trip to Butchart Gardens. The common areas were packed full of folks trying to get off the ship into Victoria. There were several excursions that were cut short due to timing and a quite a few disgruntled passengers. I'd had this happen to me on a previous trip where we had 90 minutes to see Butchart gardens (I'd suggest at least 3 hours or more). For that reason, I never book an excursion when there is limited time. Personally, a short visit to Victoria, would mean just a quick trip into the city to see the local sites. There is also a lovely walking trail, totem pole park area and other attractions close to the port to get in a little sight seeing. Keep in mind, it's light till late in the evening in Spring/Summer. Stateroom We stayed in a Club Class Collection Reserve Mini Suite - Forward Facing. There are four of these on the Royal Class ships Lido 107, 108 and Marina 107, 108. These rooms would probably be listed as a regular suite would it not be for the metal balconies. These four rooms have both forward facing windows, as well as a balcony door (facing starboard/port). The balconies on these rooms are ENORMOUS. On Marina, you could have 50 people on your balcony, on Lido about 30. However, it is important to note, that you cannot really use the balcony when the ship is underway. Because you are forward facing, the winds are extreme. These rooms offer a 180 degree view of everything! This room includes a separate bedroom (forward window). A living room/couch area and a very nice long desk/cabinet area. These rooms typically sell out very quickly for Alaska voyages. They can be pricey, however, we booked early and were able to secure ours for about $1200/pp plus taxes. One way to decrease cost is to consider using gift cards, future cruise credits etc. Read more about great ways to save on your travel on my other blog post - https://www.travelstorytravel.com/post/cruise-discounts-savings. Club class also includes Club Class Dining, which is lovely. No waiting, anytime dining with the same wait staff. There are a few extra menu options available, but the real perk is never any waiting and exceptional service. Club class is at a premium cost, and if you are interested in a forward facing balcony at a less expensive price there are a handful of forward facing Deluxe Balcony Obstructed cabins on Marina and Lido which sell for less than the cost of a regular balcony cabin. Again, limited use on sea days, but amazing views for Alaska and Glacier viewing. A video of this stateroom is included in this blog. The Ship The ship was at capacity with about 4000 guests. Lower berth capacity for Majestic is 3560, so there were many cabins with 3 and 4 passengers. I never felt like it was overcrowded. I'm an Elite status cruiser on Princess, I've been on all classes of ship outside the new Sun Princess which launched this year. The Majestic is a Royal Class ship her sisters are Royal, Regal, Discovery, Enchanted and Sky. One of the things most Princess ships do not have is a Forward Facing Venue open to all cruisers. Princess ships offer a paid venue called the Sanctuary that is forward facing, but it is often only partially protected from the weather. The Majestic Princess is configured slightly different and has the Hollywood Conservatory and Hollywood Pool Area in the forward section of deck 17. This area is fully enclosed and is open to all passengers, currently at no cost. The pool was a nice temperature and there were lots of little spaces to relax in both areas, including free private cabana areas, lots of game tables and tables for two. There were all types of interesting loungers in the pool area. The Hollywood Conservatory would be an excellent location for folks staying in an inside cabin to enjoy the splendor of Alaska. This locations really made the trip special for us. Despite having an amazing cabin with both Forward and Starboard views, my husband and I played games, swam and enjoyed the conservatory throughout the trip. The Elite lounge was held there every evening, and we enjoyed music and drinks before dinner. All Royal Class Princess ships have a Piazza, typically on Deck 5 through 7. However, on the newer ships (built after Royal & Regal), the layouts are different. Most venues in this area on this ship are dining venues. Unfortunately the removal of the Crooners bar makes the area more of a food court. There is entertainment on deck 5, however, there isn't a lot of seating outside that level on decks 6 and 7. Decks 6 and 7 are wholly food and shopping areas, outside the Casino. The Catch by Rudi on deck 7 takes the entire port side up forcing folks to walk through the restaurant and eliminating easy access to some of the few outdoor areas available on deck 7. Personally I wouldn't want to eat in a restaurant with all the passenger noise and games going on from deck 5. I'm also not too fond of the fact that there is no Promenade on the Promenade deck. Older princess vessels have a full outdoor walk around deck. Majestic does let you walk around some of deck 7, but aft starboard is a smoking section, and you must walk through narrow utility areas to walk somewhat around the ship. Not exactly scenic. Many of the bars have been removed. There is no Crooners on this ship, nor is there a bar in the Casino. Food and Entertainment We had excellent food in our Club Class Dining room. The menu is essentially the same for the MDR. There were Alaska specialties to choose, as well as all kinds of delicious tidbits. Princess appears to make great accommodations for allergies etc. and although we didn't need this we did see various guest service folks connecting with passengers on food restrictions each day. Entertainment was meh. This is something I've noticed on Princess generally since Covid. We had a great singer/entertainer in the Elite lounge one night, we found out he was a member of the house band just asked to fill in. There was one show, a couple night of comedians, but we couldn't find a crooner/piano player, a singer songwriter musician like the grand days before the Pandemic. However, because this was Alaska and we had such an amazing room, we often retired to our room about 11pm to watch the scenery go by. It was still light even after midnight. We tried to watch a movie with our forward facing window open, and would be distracted by the beauty of nature moving by. This was the BEST entertainment. I heard complaints about the Casino. We did gamble enough to get a Come Back & Sail (CBS) offers of free casino cash and felt the casino was nice. It wasn't a typically super crowded casino like many recent voyages. I was always able to get a seat at a table or slot that I preferred. We did get chocolate dipped strawberries from the casino and bottle of water! Another highlight was getting invited to the Most Traveled Guests Luncheon with the Captain. What a treat! With 280 days on Princess, I was probably the least traveled of the most traveled. The most traveled guest had 1200 days. This was most likely because 75% of the ships passengers were first time Princess cruisers (blue). There were only 100 Elite passengers on the ship. I ranked high enough to make the grade. What a treat. There isn't a top deck Pizza stop on this ship, because the ship was built for Asian Markets there was a Noodle bar. I have mixed thoughts on this. I had a couple of Ramen/Won Ton bowls, and it was nice in the cold Alaska weather, however, I kind of missed the pizza place. There was an Alfredo's on deck 6, the Pizza was fantastic, but this is not included in your fare unless you are purchasing the Plus or Premier Package. The food/Pizza was excellent. We ordered Ocean Now a couple times (also need Plus/Premier Package to avoid delivery charges), and food was delivered correctly and timely to our location. Another challenge I find just generally with Princess is their lack of consistency on wine availability. Few good wines are included with the Plus package, and each venue had their own set of wines available. I was often forced to try yet another Pinot Noir, with mixed results. It would be nice to be able to get the same wine at each bar. However, the bar service was great. My husband and I traveled with family over the 2023 Holiday season and service was a challenge, this trip was a vast improvement. See my review of Discovery Princess. https://www.travelstorytravel.com/post/discovery-princess-a-well-traveled-review Service & Issues Service was wonderful. Drink service was very quick, not many long lines. Food service was great. The crew was happy and welcoming, there was also great officer presence. Many of the crew had just started their tour of duty after relocating from Australia, so they were fresh and not at the end of their contracts. We had $400 of missing on board credit (OBC) when we embarked. Although our front desk agent was helpful, it took us several discussions to get this corrected. The shipboard vs. on shore corporate folks really need to get a better method to resolve things like this. I had enough tenacity to keep at it and by day 4 we had our credits applied. If you have onboard credits, casino cash or promotions ALWAYS take your paperwork. If your travel agent can only see these, have them provide them to you. I was grateful that I had all the paperwork with me. Note that once your embarkation day arrives, you can no longer access your travel summary for that trip. PRINT all your documents before embarkation day. Excursions We did not take excursions on this trip.  All the ports offer a great day on their own. We have fun just walking around. There are plenty of little bars and restaurants, pretty views, and all kinds of sculpture and history. There are loads of excursion options, of course at a price. Many people think of Alaska as a bucket list trip. You may want to fill your days with fishing expeditions, dog sled rides or even a helicopter journey. All of these add up in your vacation budget. Luxury lines often offer free excursions as part of an all inclusive plan. If you want to take several excursions, consider looking at a luxury line that may include some of the things you want. When you add up costs between a mainstream line like Princess compared to Viking, Silversea, Oceania etc. you ay find that the luxury brand comes close in price and includes excursions, the luxury brand may be a smaller ship, may have a better itinerary, may include beverages and specialty dining as well. Only you know what you want from a vacation, but I've seen folks spend thousands on their family excursions and often wonder if they've considered these other options. Other Information Seattle is a wonderful embarkation port. If you are staying downtown near the market, consider purchasing an inexpensive bouquet of flowers for your stateroom. Fresh flower bouquets start at $10, and a big plastic cup from the bar on Lido will work as a vase! Coming "home" to fresh flowers every day of your journey is fun and can make your room smell wonderful. Alaska cruisers care less about formal nights. My husband and I are big fans of dressing up, but even we tone it down for Alaska. It might be all the outdoor activity, or just that you have to pack some sweaters and rain gear, but less people dress up, so don't worry about it so much. A collared shirt or a nice blouse and even jeans will not be frowned upon. Everyone has their own idea of what "cold" is. My husband is always cold, I'm always hot. However we both agree that layers make it work. Take a good rain jacket (loose enough to manage layers underneath), gloves, scarf and hat. Comfortable shoes and/or waterproof hiking shoes depending on what you plan to do are a necessity. Always prepare for rain, and just enjoy it. I personally prefer a hood to an umbrella to keep my hands free. Don't forget your bathing suit. Indoor pools, outside hot tubs and thermal suites are available on many ships, it doesn't take much space and is a great way to relax. In closing, the Majestic is a unique Princess Royal Class ship with a front facing viewing area allowing 180 degree views. This trip, the crew, the officers and the beauty of Alaska made for an amazing trip. Let's start planning your Alaska Travel Story!

I've stayed at the Palihotel in Seattle twice. Both times my husband and I flew in a day ahead of an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. The Palihotel is steps away from Pikes Place Market. It is walking distance or close to many attractions in Seattle. The Space Needle, Chihuly Glass and Gardens, Ferris Wheel, original Starbucks location, Fish Market and a ton of popular dining venues are in walking distance or just a short ride away. There is a cruise port just a couple blocks away (NCL ship was parked here), possibly walking distance if you had very little luggage and Pier 91 is about a 15 minute taxi from the hotel. But I really like the Pali because when you arrive, you feel like you are someplace different. Isn't that the point of travel? Our first trip to the Pali was last year. My husband and I weren't impressed with the service, but our room was ....interesting, the common areas were very nice and the restaurant was limited but the Reuben sandwich at the restaurant was very good. What hooked us about Pali and made us stay there a second time was the location. On our fist stay we only had a few hours before bedtime, but we were able to see some of the best known sites in Seattle! When we realized how close Pikes Place Market was and the variety of fun things available, we were sold. The Palihotel is not cheap, but it's not expensive by Seattle standards, and considering location and little need to taxi or rideshare it may be less expensive than a budget hotel further out of the city center. Both times we stayed we averaged about $300 for a weekend night. The Pali has comfortable bedding, towels, robes and a kettle in all the rooms. We are going to bring our instant oatmeal for breakfast next time! There really aren't views in the Pali, but the rooms sure are neat with huge windows. There are rooms with bunk beds, rooms with 3 beds or 2 beds, 1 twin bed, and many strangely configured rooms. Thoroughly review the room you are booking to make sure it fits your needs. The style is eclectic, interesting. The common rooms are beautiful, the Hart and Hunter restaurant has a retro feel with a small but delicious menu. Returning to this hotel we were greeted with repeat customer rewards of free drinks, an upgraded room and early check-in. We had another great moment when the piped music was Sixto Rodriguez (a bit of an obscure folkish performer from the 60's, watch Finding Sugarman to learn more about him.) We were able to have our delicious Reuben sandwich for lunch and split an amazing burger for dinner. The fries at the Hart and Hunter may be the best fries I've every tried. There is also a coffee spot (not free) in the lobby. We also noted that the service had markedly improved. We've already booked our next Alaska cruise and a pre cruise stay at the Pali in Seattle in September. One thing you must know...You will need ear plugs, which are provided by Pali. Even with the windows closed it is in a high traffic area of Seattle. (pedestrian and autos). Ear plugs are a must at night. Consider the Palihotel in your next Seattle Travel Story!

I’ve spent about a year on cruises.  About halfway through my tipping routine changed. I've always tipped. Back in the days of envelopes I calculated the correct amounts for the steward, waiter, assistant waiter, etc. I will admit always felt a little upset about the envelope for the maître d'.  I mean, what did that guy do for me?  I did tip him, but never what the recommended amount. Tipping is simple today.  A set charge applied daily, or by trip. I’m also accustomed to the bump up on your drink, it's fine. I'm just thankful we don’t have to sign all those papers…blowing all around, always chasing them on deck. The reality is, most of us who drink, buy the drink plan. That just take care of that for us, maybe even pays for all the onboard tips. Contentious subject with cruisers isn’t it! I think this is because cruising brings different cultures together.  I love the slow journey with all kinds of interesting people. It is one of my primary reasons to journey in this traditional way.    Culturally we have opinions based on our home countries, or differences of opinion on how certain roles are compensated. It’s all good. Tipping is largely about gratitude for me. Not only gratitude for a service done well, but gratitude for being able to have such an amazing experience to begin with. I also think I've had enhanced experiences by tipping.  Not always, but mostly. My husband and I take gobs of $5, $10 bills and enjoy finding opportunities to tip.  Here’s how we approach it. We try to have some fun. The Bathroom Attendant I once took a 34-day trip.  Same ship, same stateroom. Room was located Aft, one level above the Promenade deck. I had coffee on the balcony every morning and I noticed a young ship worker. She would walk out and stare at the ocean for a few minutes, then leave.  I would notice her at other times of the day, for just a few moments, starting out at the vast horizon.  I realized she was the bathroom attendant I'd been passing by for weeks. I told my "newly made best cruise friend ever," Sir Robert, about the “bathroom lady”. The next day he had a little envelope and a box of chocolates.  He asked me to give it to the attendant. Her smile was amazing.  Probably the most entry level cleaning role and didn’t get a lot of personal attention from anyone despite interacting with so many.  I felt good. My husband and I do this all the time now.  Watch out, you’ll will now notice (and maybe tip) the bathroom attendant. The Painter/Plumber/Maintenance Person/Deckhand Always in coveralls and always trying not to be in the way while getting something done it’s easy to forget that these folks are making your trip a great experience.  My husband gets a kick out of the reaction to these unexpected tips.  They usually run in pairs, so he tends to $10 for each. Maître d' How wrong I was! We recently did two back to back cruises over Christmas and New Years. The ship was at capacity with big groups, more groups than usual, dietary restrictions, children needing highchairs/boosters…all culminating in long waits, even with reservations. We needed a table for 5 for our second trip when our daughter and family were joining us.  $20 went a long way to securing our best time/location. As soon as the maître d' saw us in line, we moved right to the front.  Another $20 to his assistant and him at the end of the cruise. You may say that is a crazy amount, but for 7 days we sat down to dinner every night with ease in a sea of chaos. Here is my review on Discovery Princess . https://www.travelstorytravel.com/post/discovery-princess-a-well-traveled-review Female Wait Staff Now Gentlemen, maybe you shouldn’t do this one! Female wait staff on ships are often required to wear black tights/hose as part of their uniform. These are not included in their shipboard uniform and must buy these themselves. Ladies know, a pair of tights will cost about $5 or more.  You may get a week or so from 1 pair but need several at all times. I’ve been known to bring about a dozen pairs of S/M and hand them out to a few ladies. Not exactly a tip, but most appreciated.   I really think the cruise lines should pay for this part of the uniform. Cabin Steward I always start with a $20 bill on day one.  I ask for two things, extra washcloths and lots of ice.  Seems to work. This gentleman made my mother in law's trip a dream with towel animals. When she couldn't figure out how to order breakfast/coffee, he made sure he had it delivered to her every day when she wanted it. But sometimes you get that extraordinary steward, the steward that sees you’ve got wine and the glasses and corkscrew magically appear.  The steward who brought you a kettle so you could French press your own coffee every day.  The one who saw your Pikes Market flowers were in a plastic cup and brought you a vase!  They get more later on. Pool Attendant Certain cruise lines close their pools overnight for safety reasons.  Typically, they start opening early in the morning. My husband and I love to have coffee in the jacuzzi.  We are always tracking the pool attendant!  Last time he offered to open our favorite jacuzzi first every morning so we could watch the sunrise.  How could we not tip for such a joy? Note, the deck manager may be around during the day to arrange similar things if you are also a sunrise/coffee/jacuzzi aficionado. That Amazing Bartender You know who I’m talking about.  The bartender who sees you and pours the wine you’ve been ordering all week as you walk towards the bar. The Passenger Services Person who Got IT FIXED Yeah I know, you shouldn’t have had to, but you got to encourage the positive behavior. Keeping your voice down, but escalating to the next level is also a great practice. A superior who sees discretion is more likely to offer you compensation or a perk. Every waiter in the casino bar when you win $ X You will never want for a drink in the casino on that trip again. It depends on the win, the casino, how crowded it is. I had a trip where I kept getting little jackpots on a slot machine. I have a habit of cashing out every day, so I would get a bunch of $5's and hand them out with a thanks and a "I won!" I felt like the whole waitstaff in the casino was rooting for me on that trip. Recently Princess cruises began eliminating their bars on the Royal Class ships, this might be something to think more about. The Porter Well, this is just the best way to start your journey. Right at the curb someone just takes care of it all for you. $5 a bag, makes me believe they will all make it. Want to be whisked efficiently through the sad chaos of disembarking? Find a porter, give them a great tip, and have them take care of all the bags. This can be especially valuable for large or multigenerational groups. I watch people struggle, why? The porter is right there. BUT, I don’t tip when..... I’m already charged for a good tip.  Specialty restaurants generally already include a 20% gratuity.  I get this nagging desire to slip them some more, but no…that’s good. Spa treatments typically include a 20% gratuity, and you may not have brought your reading glasses to see that clearly!  Ask if the tip is already included and don’t feel pressured to give more.  I will note this has improved since Covid and more paperless transactions, less lingering of the spa provider. Poor Service, I never remove my gratuities from my cruise.  I don’t think that’s fair to so many people behind the scenes, but I do withhold tips for individual items that are sub-par. Not exactly cruise related, but recently took a taxi to the pier, and the cab driver wanted to drop us off very far from the porters, he didn’t want to deal with the line of other cabs, cars, buses.  We got where we needed to, unpacked the car and paid the fare.  We usually tip a driver very well, particularly with lines and lost time, not this case. Tipping is personal, cultural, these situations are just a few you'll experience traveling. I just find going in with a little something, makes everyone a little happier, including you. If you can afford it, and want to, consider tipping. Let's plan a travel story where you get the opportunity to tip great story today!

Reasons to contact Danielle at Storyteller Travel for your next Travel Story. Telephone Agents Yesterday, I called a major luxury cruise line to book a trip.   I was transferred to a remote reservation agent, who although friendly, had little understanding of the brand they represented.  They were not familiar with the ships or itineraries that cruise line offered. As an experienced traveler myself, and considering this was a luxury brand, that was disappointing. You may ask, why was I shopping as a consumer vs. using my own travel advisor resources.  Well simple, I was making price comparisons.  I reviewed my supplier costs vs. consumer advertised costs to make sure my clients are getting the best price. As a travel advisor, I have access to both.  I can contact my providers to match a price, provided I can compare apples to apples on their request. Website Woes There are many suppliers in the travel industry.  Most consumers will check several sites for the best fare.  But when you checkout on the site that gives you a bargain, you see the taxes and expenses added winding up at the same cost as the other websites. Each site offers a different twist on the same story. An experienced travel advisor takes care of this for you, researching what you want for your valuable vacation dollar. Save your precious time, have a certified professional research your travel story. Travel Value We often look at the “fare” for a trip, think it is a bargain, only to be nickel and dimed by add on items, tours, packages, upgrade bids, etc. An experienced advisor will ask you many questions before you book.  The actual fare may only represent a small component of the costs to expect on your trip. For example, if you’re headed to Europe and want to see as much as possible each day, you may actually spend less overall by looking at the cost of a more inclusive luxury brand. You may also find that your trip not only hits all the tourism marks, but when that brand manages all the details, you’ll have a more relaxing and exciting trip as well. Help yourself by discussing your expectations before you spend a dime!  Also consider the cost of that PTO (Paid Time Off) that you’ve worked so long to accumulate.  Nothing is worse than a less than desirable trip compounded by lost PTO time. Research Have you ever booked a trip, then spent hours researching the destination(s), transportation options, tours and the like? Using an experienced travel advisor helps you keep some of that precious time by offering real world advice thus the title “Travel Advisor”. Before this role, I have personally spent time traveling all over the world, caught cabs in exotic destinations, strolled the streets of many countries and have learned so much through experience. Reduce your research and enjoy the results of years of travel experience. What do you want from your Vacation? This seems simple right?  You want to relax, or you want to see something new.  I can tell you many people come back from their “dream” trip wondering why they tried to pack so much in, or why they didn’t see the places they expected to. A friend of mine recently traveled to an exotic location and saw all the things on her bucket list.  The challenge was, her trip was crammed so full, there wasn’t time to experience one of them in the way she expected to. Having a travel advisor to discuss the expectations of your dream travel will uncover what you really want from your journey. Value I pride myself on knowing some of the secret sauce of discounted travel. In addition to tips and tricks, I have a list of real world ways to stretch you vacation budget. Check out this article for more details.https://www.travelstorytravel.com/post/cruise-discounts-savings A travel advisor may also have access to additional discounts and promotions only available to travel professionals. As of the date of this article I have an offer that will add up to $200 in additional on-board spending money for select providers. I also have the access to see the various discounts offered by the travel companies and compare against my clients vacation desires. An experienced travel advisor can meet or exceed any rate you may find available as a consumer. Give it a try, contact me today for some Travel Story Planning!

I've traveled more than a year at sea, but still overpack! I have gotten better at packing, it's rare that I miss something, but still find I have more things than needed. Recently my husband and I took a short cruise. We committed to using only a carry-on and we did it! There wasn't anything we seemed to miss. Some of the things I consider before traveling: How long is the trip Are there formal occassions Expected weather Solo Travler or with others Which cruise line I'm on What airline I'm using (if any) Packing Essentials Obviously you'll need a suitcase. Luggage Reasonably good quality luggage is essential. Always check your luggage thoroughly before your trip. Drive it around the home, to make sure the wheels work. Despite careful checking, suitcases are handled roughly and often break. It might be a good idea to have a small amount of duct tape on hand for emergencies packed in your carry on. Another hint, always close your suitcase at the top of your luggage to avoid stress on the zipper, and avoid your belongings falling out the bottom. For Carry-on luggage,it is essential to have a bag that rolls well around the airport. I don't want to get tired just getting to the gate. I have a a small 20 inch case, with another bag that attaches on the handle. This size is perfect for packing my essential items. I travel often so I've invested in this nifty set. The bag on top is large enough to hold many items yet still fits under the seat. The strap that attaches to the 20 inch case is crucial. If I have to gate check, I have room to keep my essentials with me. The largest suitcases can be 28-30 inches. The challenge with these is managing weight. If I'm traveling with my husband, we tend to use one Large size suitcase for our formal wear and backfill it with lighter items (cruise ducks are a great example!) The 24-26 inch suitcases are usually a good pick for us and tend to keep us within weight limits for check-in. One of the things that helps us, if we do get to the checking counter and are over weight, is using packing cubes. You can easilyt grab a cube and move it to another case. Have you ever had to switch around your luggage at the bag-drop? This can be a hassle, but packing cubes can help. Packing Cubes We use an assortment of "Compression" Packing Cubes and Regular Packing Cubes. Compression Packing cubes are great for your carry on luggage. These are a must when you are traveling with your carry-on's only. I have a short list of clothing that I always take as carry-on for cruising. I use a large compression packing cube to help me get it organized. The items that are must haves for me are; A weather appropriate alternative outfit/change of clothes, Swimwear ( there is always somewhere to swim or jacuzzi on a ship, in cold weather having morning coffee in a steaming jacuzzi is one of my favorite rituals) and a set of pajamas. I highly recommend taking your swimsuit with you in your carry on when boarding. The first day of a cruise there are few people who have their suits with them, so you can often have a pool or jacuzzi to yourself since the rest of the passengers are waiting for their luggage to arrive. I do not use compression cubes for all of my packing for a couple reasons. Compressing all of your clothes may put your suitcase overweight Compression cubes aren't transparent, and they can cause wrinkles. Non Compression Packing Cubes are a must. They come in a variety of sizes to organize your clothes into like items. They typically have mesh or see-through tops to see what is packed inside. I place all of my undergarments, socks in one, another with casual pants/gym clothes. I organize my things so they can just be slipped into cubby's or drawers on the ship. It literally takes me about 10 minutes to unpack. I also tend to leave my formal wear on hangers....just call me lazy! Some other tools we use to keep our packing on track is a clothes rack. I have a husband who likes to dress up. I do too! I have a dozen formal ball gowns. A clothes rack, helps us make sure we have all the things we need for those formal nights and dinners. We can also make sure our outfits don't clash if we intend to take photos. Not everyone has the space to store a rack, but if you do, it might help you organize your items and potentially reduce what you take with you. Magnets Magnets are a must for the chronic cruiser. Keeping your things organized in your statemroom makes you feel more at ease, and helps your steward keep things tidey. All the walls, ceilings are made of metal on ships. There's a secret, though. If your hanging clothing, coats, anything heavy, put the magnets on the ceiling. The 80 lb magnets below truly hold 80 lbs, but they will just slip down the wall. When we travel on long journeys, magnets are a great way to hang dry laundry on hangers in your stateroom, or even your balcony (only when in port, don't let your clothes fly away). We also use magnets to help us organize the abundance of paperwork for invitations, excursions or the daily planner. These are light enought to use on the walls of the cabin. Closet Organizers, Hanging Shoe holders, etc. Depending on the cruise line you are using, you may find a closet organizer, shoe organizer etc. may help you keep track of your things. These may also be useful if you have 3 or 4 guests in a single statement. You can use magnets, or hang in the closet to give you extra space to keep organized. Other tricks When I pack, I put a large light colored flat sheet over my bed. I start with the things I want to take, then narrow by color coordination, necessary shoes, all kinds of strategies to reduce the number of things I take. Once I've determined my inventory I do another check for each of the outfits to ensure I have all the pieces. I think head to toe, and often find I've forgotten a belt of special under garment for a gown. Jewelry Since I mentioned we really like our formal wear, we also want to make sure we have the lovely jewelry to match. I don't know where I got this case, but it is my go to travel item. It holds large watches, bracelets, an abundance of accessories without any of them mixing and knotting. This is a fairly large case, but also has a layer that will fold up to a smaller case for shorter or less formal trips. It is small enough to fit in the safe, however. Toiletries & First Aid I have a pretty good arsenal of remedies in my Toiletries bag. Headache, seasickness, colds, cuts and scrapes are all covered. I also make sure to have a few safety pins and small sewing kit. Make sure you are taking prescriptions in your carry-ons! These are my tips and tricks, I hope they help you on your next Travel Story! Follow more tips and tricks on our private Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/storytellertravel/

I just returned from two Back-to-Back cruises on Discovery Princess over the 2023 Holiday Season.  The itinerary was the Mexican Riviera visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. My husband and I did the first trip on our own, then were joined my daughter and family, including their toddler daughter.  She is two and is not old enough to participate in the children’s programs. I am a loyal Princess Cruiser, 220 days with Princess and have Elite Status.  We like the value of Princess, enjoy that there are still formal nights and are pretty good at looking for the best in any travel experience. Full Disclosure, I am grading on a curve and being more forgiving.  The ship was full capacity, during the holiday season and included large groups.  The holidays are a challenging time for crew, away from home and missing their loved ones and family.  For that reason, we are sliding the scale more positively. We’ll divide this into two parts, the facility, I.e. the Discovery Princess ship and the Service Component. The Discovery Princess Ship This is the newest Princess ship until the debut of the Sun Princess this February. The ship was clean, there were many updates from decor on the other ships, overall the furnishings are more modern and sleek. Our room was a balcony, near the Aft elevator across from the laundry, Baja 625.  The room was exactly as expected.  The bed was comfortable, the linens in good shape, Robes, towels provided as expected. My daughter had a deluxe balcony obstructed on deck 8, Marina 109.  Her cabin was larger, included a couch that could become a bed for her daughter.  Her balcony was extremely large, about 4 times the size of a regular balcony.  These are the lowest balconies on the ship, right up front.  They are considered obstructed because the balcony is metal vs. glass.    These are a good choice for people looking for extra room.  My husband and I would have switched in a heartbeat for the additional space.  However, beware, if you are prone to sea-sickness this area would experience the most movement of all the ship. We really enjoyed the Wake Pool on deck 16 Aft,, approximately 3 feet deep with views of the wake.  This pool is often reserved for adults, but for this trip it was not.  It was a great place to take a small child or cool off.  This is a great addition.  I wish they would have considered a hot tub here as well.  They have also introduced couches on either side of the entrance to this area.  Great outside seating areas for families to enjoy the outside, read a book with ocean views or just relax. Deck 17 is the adult pool or Retreat.  The layout of this area is much different than other Royal Class ships.  Staterooms border the pool and hot tubs have been moved to deck 18.  I rarely saw that pool in use.  It receives a lot of shade, it was closed frequently and really doesn’t have much space unless you go upstairs to the hot tubs.  The hot tubs were a nice treat every morning, but it was really windy and not so fun when the ship is moving. Sanctuary - we visited but did not purchase it.  In fact, it was sold out almost immediately upon embarkation. We noticed that although sold out, folks didn’t use it.  At sea it is very windy.  Frankly I think the Sanctuary space should be used for a public forward facing venue.  This is one thing that Princess’ ships lack.  It seems a forward-facing lounge would be a better idea, particularly for Alaska/Norway trips and sea day viewing. The positioning of the Lido Bars on Deck 16 seems to be an improvement.  The fountains were removed, and more seating added.  There were also 2 additional hot tubs just aft of midship on deck 17. In the Piazza there was a lovely bar called Take 5 next to the casino.  This bar is underused until late afternoon, very elegant and a jazz band at night.  We loved this bar, it is light, bright and we used it to play games and hide and seek with our granddaughter.  Note that this bar is being phased out of ships and replaced by more casino space. The Piazza overall has been modified from other ships, and what a mess.  Christmas and New Years felt like we were in a mall food court.  The Vines Wine Bar has been removed and replaced by the Salty Dog, Crooners placed on deck 6 and The Catch by Rudi replaced the entire port side of deck 7.  Essentially the public spaces evaporated.  This causes tons of bottlenecks moving through deck 7 and eliminating 2 bars made the bar-service nearly inaccessible on a full ship.  We’ll talk more about this when we get to service. Smoking was allowed throughout the Casino on deck 6 unlike other ships where it was limited to a certain space. There was smoking on formal night when typically, it is prohibited.  The cigarette smell (and air freshener smell) permeates the Piazza and all the restaurants and venues.  One of the only remaining bars in the Piazza is Crooners and is directly adjacent to the casino and just stinks of smoke. My husband and I enjoy gambling.  The smoking really deterred us.  We will play all night on formal night, but I just didn’t want my things to smell.  Additionally, there was ZERO service for drinks in the Casino.  You had to beg the pit boss to get someone to come by.  This ship does not have a bar in the Casino either, so you had to either go to Take 5, or Crooners, both which will take 30 plus minutes in the evening. The lines that result from not having public space, carry throughout this area, for Sushi, for Pizza, for dinner, for afternoon tea, for photos…lines, lines, and more lines. Let’s not forget the elevator lines. The promenade deck, which you can find on older Princess ships, does not exist on the Royal Class. The only place to get fresh air on deck 7 is outside the La Mer restaurant and hidden behind GiGi’s Pizza.  You can go aft near the Vista lounge, note that the Starboard Deck 7 Aft is smoking. The Discovery Princess Service Our room steward was great.  He anticipated our needs, saw we had wine, made sure we had glasses.  Told him our grandchild was coming on the next trip and added a child’s life vest.  Naresh was proactive and helpful. We are Elite, we had laundry service, that was great!  The washers/dryers near the aft elevators were free and stocked with detergent, which is helpful on a back-to- back. We saw a theater show, it was great.  The second one was cancelled for technical reasons, causing yet more havoc in the ships Piazza, when 1000 people suddenly had nothing to do.  I will say the entertainment overall was very good, however, it was difficult to find seating in the Piazza when most of the area has been turned into dining space. The ship’s entertainment was an improvement from the last few trips I’ve taken on Princess.  However, because the Piazza is now a food court, there was inadequate seating. We tipped the maitre’d early in the trip and were seated promptly.  However, dining was generally a challenge for most passengers who weren’t in suites or Reserve Collection. Anytime dining really does NOT exist.  If you had reservations, great.  If you don’t you will wait for those with reservations to not show up.  There were NO reservations to be had, we organized a table for 5 before the second cruise started and the only available option was 5 PM.  This caused some very loud, angry conversations at the entrance to the dining rooms with near fist fights.  I would recommend you find a time, reserve ahead, stick to it, book well in advance on the app, and follow up immediately with the maitre’d.  I would strongly recommend an early tip to the right people, I recognize this is often a point of contention with cruisers.  My opinion, if Princess cannot accommodate flexible dining, then they should just assign dining.  It was a fiasco. If you want to do a specialty restaurant, best to do that on the app ahead of time or immediately upon embarkation.  No availability at all.  If you do on App, you may be charged in advance, so make sure to get to that reservation! The bar service was abysmal.  I would rate this 1 out of 5, giving the 1 only because it was a full cruise and over the holidays.  Tipping helped very little, being on the prior cruise helped very little.  As Elite, we had our own bar and brought 2 bottles of wine, this was our savior on cruise one.  On the second cruise we did the drink package, and found it was so hard to get any service.  It really felt like they pushed Plus and Premier packages, only to leave you hanging.   If you sat down to watch entertainment in the Piazza, you might get your drink at the end of a 45-minute set. If you are Elite, they offered a bar from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in the Vista lounge, deck 7 aft. This is not free, but you did get service.  We often got 2 drinks each to take to another venue. Campy Cruise Stuff is great, I’m happy Princess still does some of this to engage younger cruisers and have fun.  But having all these chaotic things going on when there’s really no space because they’ve turned all the public space into a food venue makes it loud and hard to relax.   Why would I want to have dinner for an additional $39 at La Mer to listen to screaming children.  There are lots of better places to arrange this.  Unused theaters, and other venues are available. Overall I know what I want from a cruise.  Despite these challenges I enjoyed myself.  However, If given the choice of this ship vs. another line, or different ship in the Princess fleet, I would definitely choose another ship/line. I give this 3 out of 5, again knowing it was fully packed, during the holidays and with many large groups.  My husband and I rolled with it, we still had a great time, but as Elite, we had more options.   We found spots on the ship where we could maximize our cruise value, we played games, stocked up on drinks and worked around the challenges we faced. We are headed in May on the Majestic Princess, which has a slightly different layout.  On this trip we will have a Reserve Class Mini Suite, which will avoid the dining nightmare, and we will bring our own wine to augment our mini bar. I love Princess, I hope service improves.

Puerto Vallarta is one of my favorite Mexican Destinations. If I'm enjoying a few days there, I take interesting trips on the local buses to Mismaloya, walk the Malecon in the evenings and find exquisite dinging in Old Town, or the Zona Romantica. When visiting on a cruise line, I usually pick a one or two fun things to do instead of trying to pack it all in. Puerto Vallarta has tons to offer, with or without a tour. Here's a couple of ideas on how to go tourless in Vallarta. Night of the Iguana Puerto Vallarta became famous during the filming of "Night of the Iguana." Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were followed and filmed while the movie was made. Both were married to other people, which made it quite a scandal. I enjoy the movie, it evokes the intense tropical beauty of the town. Your cruise ship will dock in Marina Vallarta. If you head North you'll pass the airport and eventually get to Nuevo Vallarta. If you head South you'll hit the Hotel Zone, El Centro, then the Romantic Zone. Across the street from the cruise port is a Walmart. This is merely a walk across the street. This article will focus on heading South from the Cruise port. Taxis, Local Bus Immediately outside the ship you will find loads of transportation. Walking just outside the fence to the street, you will find less expensive taxis and the city bus. Standing just a few steps from the gate, you can find a bus to the malecon. It costs less than $2 , but you must have Pesos! The bus should have the Malecon on the list of stops. This bus will take you directly to the Malecon in front of the Lady of Guadalupe cathedral. You can walk both ways on the malecon. I like to head north using the bridge over Rio Cuale. The buses run about every 15 minutes. A word of caution, hold on. As soon as passengers are in the dower the bus moves. Also, there may not be seats until others exit. Wear comfortable shoes and plant your feet firmly. Malecon & Riu Cuale The Malecon is the boardwalk along the beach and rocks in the old part of town. It crosses over the Riu Cuale, fronts multiple shops and is a sightseeing walk with beautiful scuptures, lots of stores and restaurants. The Malecon walk is a couple of miles, and is a few miles from the cruise port. I would recommend a cab. If you want to walk along to see the various sculptures ask your driver to drop you off at the beginning of the Malecon. There is a McDonalds at the start, if your having trouble communicating, you might just say Malecon, McDonalds and the driver should know where you are headed. Hotel Rosita is also at the start of the Malecon and is a well known landmark. Walking the Malecon from the start may take a couple hours. It dead ends near Los Muertos Beach in the Romantic Zone, or Zona Romantica. If you are taking it easy and want to also get in some beach time, you might ask the cab driver to take you to the "Lady of Guadalupe" Catholic Church. This church is set in the town square, also near tons of shops and restaurants. You can often catch a service, or see the church if a service is not in session. You'll want to be respectful of the church and consider your attire. I've often seen women wearing scarves over their hair and in nicer clothing. Lady of Guadalupe Lady of Guadalupe is an iconic part of Vallarta. Be sure to snap a photo. The town square is colorful. There may vendors, shoe shiners, Mariachi Bands around to entertain you. There are shade trees to sit under and people watch. As you continue north along the Malecon you'll come to a bridge over the Riu Cuale. There is an island in the middle of the bridge, full of interesting vendors and restaurants. At one time there were Alligators on the Riu Cuale. Visiting Riu Cuale is also a great way to get out of the heat. There are big trees along the way offering shade. Gringo Gulch is in this area. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton owned a home there, Casa Kimberly, it is now a hotel/restaurant, locals can give you directions. There are also swinging/suspended bridges you can cross into Isla Riu Cuale, be careful, but have fun. Zona Romantica & Los Muertos Beach Once you pass Riu Cuale you'll be in the Zona Romantica and at the start of Los Muertos Beach. Los Muertos beach is a vibrant place, full of tourists of all nationalities. You'll find quite a few locals and Mexican tourists on the beach. There is a pier when you near the enf of the Malecon. Small taxi boats charter to Mismaloya and other more remote areas from that pier. I wouldn't recommend this for a cruise tour. You'll want to be mindful of your time, but this can be a great land adventure to return to Vallarta for. One of my favorite things to do is find a little restaurant (sometimes just a hut) with deck chairs and umbrellas. I like to sit on the beach past the pier. Typically there is no charge for the chairs or umbrellas if you are purchasing food and drinks. I've found the local service to be excellent, a bucket of beers relatively inexpensive and the food to be incredible. The beach vendors also sell fruit, barbecued fish and shrimp, ice cream, it's amazing what they carry along the beach with them. Even if not swimming there is so much going on at Los Muertos beach. Vendors will sell you their wares.....everything from a chicklets to a hammock. A polite "No Gracias", or wearing sunglasses to avoid too much eye contact will generally give them the hint if you are not interested. However, what a great way to do your souvenir shopping! If you walk one or two blocks inland, you'll be in the thick of the Zona Romantica. This area has the most amazing food. Local foods, small places that cater to the expatriate, taco stands, roasted chickens, you name it. There are some lively shops, bars, art galleries in this area as well. It is is a lovely place to explore and a great place to stay on a land trip. The town is built into the mountain and the sunlight reflecting on the buildings gives it quite a mediterranean feeling. The Romantic Zone is also LGTBQ+ friendly. There are a number of hotels, bars and shops that cater to the LGTBQ+ crowd. They welcoming all visitors. Near the end of the Los Muertos beach are many LGBTQ+ friendly locations. One well known hotel/restaurant is "Blue Chairs" or Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea, you won't miss the rainbow flags! This is a great place to start if you want to walk towards the ship headed North. Just ask the cab driver to take you to Blue Chairs. At the end of the beach is a little cliff. You can walk up and over the cliff to another little beach. There aren't many services on this side, but it's fun to climb up and see what's on the other side. Other Hints Returning to the ship is easy, any cab will take you back. Ask the driver the cost before getting in the cab. This is always a best practice everywhere. If you don't like what they say, move on, there are lots of cabs in all of the places I've mentioned. Make sure to save some money for the fare. I've often spend so much money on the vendors in town, I've had to scrounge for my cab fare. I usually fold up a $20 and put it somewhere so I'm covered. Safety......I've spent many trips as a single woman in Puerto Vallarta. I have never felt unsafe. However, you must be smart. Don't wander into strange alleys where no other people are around, stay in the popular areas, know where you are at all times, don't flaunt jewelry or money unnecessarily. Every destination we travel to, we must always keep safety in mind. Depending on the season it can be HOT in Vallarta. Make sure you've got a hat and adequate sunscreen. Hydrate very often! Vallarta can also be rainy. There's plenty of restaurants and shops to weather out a small rainstorm. The local currency is the Peso, check the exchange rate before heading to Mexico. The US dollar is WIDELY accepted and often preferred. However, menu's may be in Peso's so it's good to know the cost before ordering. Puerto Vallarta is full of cobblestone streets, beaches, winding staircases up through the streets and is just lovely. Wear comfortable shoes. Enjoy Vallarta any way you'd like. If you'd like to know more about what Puerto Vallarta can offer, contact me to talk about your Travel Story.

Today is the day! I start my 210th day on a Princess Cruise.  This trip is two back to back (B2B) 7 day Mexican Riviera cruises, which is very exciting. Puerto Vallarta is my favorite Mexican City, I'll get to visit two times! Back to Back sailing offers a unique opportunity to experience the ship in a more relaxed way. See my other article on that topic. With 210 days, I rank high on the Princess Cruise loyalty program. Princess Loyalty Program Princess’ loyalty program is called the Captains Circle.  Elite Status happens at 15 cruises or 150 cruise days.    I have 36 “Cruises Sailed”. Captain’s circle, particularly Elite status offers a wide range of benefits.  Check out the Princess Cruises website for all the details. Something to know about Captains Circle “Cruises Sailed” is that they give you 2 credits for any solo cruise.  That’s right!  I actually sailed 27 different cruises but received 2 credits for some of them.  Princess Cruises will also give 2 Cruises Sailed for each person in a Suite.  Keep in mind it is for only Suites, NOT Mini-Suites. My favorite benefits are: Full Mini-Bar (you can switch out the contents by calling room service) Free Unlimited Laundry & Dry Cleaning (only some ships have dry cleaning, this excludes next day service) Priority Tender Embarkation - Don’t wait in a line to get off the ship There are lots of other perks as well. I have status at other cruise lines but nothing like Elite at Princess.  Tell us about your favorite loyalty program and benefits!

Cruise ship dress codes can spark a heated debate I love dressing up. I'm very lucky, my husband does too. This isn't always the case with all couples. Most main stream cruise lines have a fairly relaxed dress code. A few luxury brands require coat and tie particularly on formal nights. The Cunard line is known for the strictest dress code, requiring men to wear a jacket or sport coat in the evening for dining and most events and a dress to impress dress code on formal or Gala nights. This article speaks to the various dress codes and some tips on what to wear, or what restrictions you might face. Daytime Dress Codes In my journeys across many different brands of ships, I've never encountered a day time dress code. There may be a prohibition to wear your swimsuit, or cover-up in the dining room or buffet, but that makes sense. Who wants to sit in a sopping wet chair from a recent swimmer? Typically anything goes during the day. Shorts, tank tops, sun dresses, denim, workout wear, all of those are fine. Dress comfortably, for the weather, for the day, no rules to break. When evening rolls around, you might want to know what the schedule for attire is. Most ships will announce their dress code for the evening in their daily agenda, or publish on displays throughout the ship. Evenings (Not Formal) With the exception of Cunard and perhaps P & O (UK), Cruise ship dress codes are not very strict for dinner and evening venues. However, you should always review your cruise lines dress code for what is acceptable for dining in the main dining room or specialty restaurants. Some lines restrict shorts, t-shirts, jeans (particularly torn/worn) and tank tops. The degree to which these restrictions are enforced varies by line. You'll find a lot of complaints on social media about how dress codes are NOT enforced by lines more than complaints about the normal evening dress code. However, the buffet, even on Cunard, has no dress code. If your not wanting to change your attire from the day, this is always an option. So it's safe to say you can travel on any cruise without formal wear and not starve! Most passengers will change for the dinner and evening events, similarly to when they go out to do something special at home. For men, you'll see a variety of Khaki's and button ups, the occassional sport coat, nice denim or trousers with a polo shirt, sweaters, jumpers and a few even sport a suit or tie. Women, well we can get away with nearly anything in the name of fashion. But similarly, trousers with a nice top, a short dress or pantsuit are all good options. Formal or Gala Nights Some cruise lines like Viking, do not have formal nights at all. I will say, most folks on Viking tend to dress reasonably well, similar to the guidelines stated above for non-formal nights. Formal nights on mainstream cruise lines are an opportunity to shine. You can use this as a reason to take a group photo, or just to make use of those clothes and jewelry you don't often get to wear. Most men will at minimum wear a button up. I've not seen a man turned away from dinner due to jacket required outside Cunard or perhaps P & O (UK). You will see dark suits, three piece suits, tuxedos, dinner jackets and the sport jacket used for these evenings. When traveling in Europe, I saw several formal Kilts with all the trimmings. Gentlemen who've served in the military may also use these occasions to sport their campaign medals from their service. This is a great conversation starter when meeting new folks at a shared table. I've also seen a few active and retired military wear their dress uniforms! On Cunard, you may find a top hat and dovetail tuxedo (make sure to take the hat off when you enter a venue!). This is not required to cruise Cunard, but you will probably find a larger proportion of Tuxedo's on their line. Women may opt for a sparkly pantsuit, short dress but many take the opportunity to wear a full length dress or ballgown. The people watching on Formal Night is fun. I usually take the opportunity to chat with the other ladies about how lovely they look in their formal wear. Special Events Many lines offer special events. Holidays, Halloween or themed nights such as Black and White, or Red and Gold, or Roaring 20's can make a cruise special. Having a themed event doesn't always inspire folks to participate, but you will see quite a few folks having some fun! Packing & Costs One of the biggest complaints from cruisers about dress code is the packing. If you are packing light, it's really hard to take all the extra trimmings of a formal night. Some ways to add some quick elegance to even a short trip are to; Wear your sportcoat onboard (weather permitting). I've often heard gentlmen saying their sportcoat is like a ladies purse. Lots of stoage and pockets. Ladies may bring an easily packable knit dress, or top and dress that up with a scarf or fancy jewelry that can be paired with a comfortable but snazzy pair of sandals. However, if your traveling on a long journey and plan to dress up for formal nights, you often can't get away with just a carry on. I will say it, when Mr. and I travel Cunard, we actually take an additional suitcase, at a premium cost, for our evening attire. Mr. needs at least 3 different jackets for a Cunard cruise along with a variety of button downs, ties and other man-jewelry. I need three gowns and four dresses (I don't want to repeat during the evenings). There are also costs of garnering formal wear. A typical evening gown may cost $100 or more new. My husband and I shop thrift stores and online resale. Right after Proms, Wedding season, there is an abundance of formal wear for sale. During Covid, when tuxedo rentals stores shut down, there were an abundance of rental tuxedo's for sale. Once we had my husband measurements, we've been able to find quite a variety of evening wear. Similarly I've purchased half a dozen used dresses, with fantastic results and savings of thousands of new gowns. If you don't like to dress up, well that's ok too. There's plenty to do on most cruise ships without having to get the fancy digs out. Be mindful though, that many people love the tradition of dressing up and find it dissapointing that folks may attend dinner in less than desirable attire. Dressing up in the evenings is a nautical tradition spawned by luxury lines crossing the ocean in years gone by. In closing, thank you for reading and thank you to my husband, who told me I could include photos of him in this blog! Like dressing up? Lets discuss how to include in your Travel Story!

It's so exciting to receive a postcard. The internet and social media have essentially replaced the postcard, yet you can find them whenever you travel. A few years ago, after my grandmother's passing, I inherited her post card collection. My grandmother was a navy brat. Born in the Roaring 20's in Hawaii, her father was already a decorated naval officer. The postcard collection is stunning, funny, romantic and just an amazing story of nearly 100 years of correspondence in this tiny form. My grandmother not only saved her own postcards sent to her from all corners of the world, also she retained her mother and father's collections as well. I learned so many things about my grandmother, and great grandparents from a few lines posted for a 1 cent stamp. Her romances were particularly fun to read corresponding during WWII with many a beau from abroad. There are birthday postcards, holiday postcards, no longer politically correct postcards. There are entire conversations held back and forth over months filling in the little bits of space around the edges. Postcards were provided by the Navy for sailors featuring their ships, my grandfather was stationed during the building of the Panama Canal, so many interesting historical tidbits in this collection of mailable tourist photos. As I perused these, it dawned on me that these can also be part of my Travel Story. On trips through Europe, Caribbean, Hawaii and other US Ports I started a tradition of sending about half a dozen from each place I've experienced. I committed on most journeys to ALWAYS send my postcards and found it was a great way to get to know a town or port. There's adventure in finding postage, post offices and mailboxes. I once "mailed" postcards from Amsterdam in someone's personal mailbox. It looked like a mailbox!! When I realized, I went back and put a note through the slot apologizing and asking them to forward them on. I've walked through the less touristy parts of town in this quest and discovered marvelous shops and restaurants. The recepients of my postcards typically keep them in collages or on magnets on the refridgerator, I truly believe everyone loves a post card. Try committing to postcards on your next Travel Story!

We all want the best deal, here's some tips you may not know to save on your next cruise vacation The price of travel is increasing. Travelers are looking for ways to reduce the cost or discount their cruise fare. These tips may help you. Brand Loyalty When you sail with a particular line and gain status, there are some perks that may occur along the way. Cruise lines will often open their booking for a new sailing sooner than the general public. There are times when this might come with a certain discount rate. This means you are generally booking very early. In addition to any discount you may get from early booking, you may also get the pick of available cabins. Great cabin locations sell out quickly, so this might save you money as well as get you in the best available spot on the ship. Brand loyalty may also get you additional discounts after the voyage is published. Future Deposit Programs Most lines offer some sort of discount if you book on board. Many offer ways to deposit money on your next cruise, even if your not sure where that will be. These deposits may come with perks, like being the only amount you might need to deposit (usually about $100), or onboard spending money. Gift Cards Pay attention to your lines gift card programs. During holidays they may offer incentives to buy a certain amount in gift cards and receive onboard spending or additional gift cards. Think buy $500 in gift cards, get $50 gift card free! A well known retirement website in the US offers all sorts of gift cards at a discount. I've seen these between 5-10% off. This site also includes airlines. Be cautious and remember you can't use a gift card for a cruise line if your booking through a 3rd party travel site (not an agent but an online provider). In those cases you are paying the online booking site, not the cruise line. A travel agent should be able to call in your gift cards if your booking with them. Owning Cruise Line Stock Large cruise corporations such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean have shareholder benefits. For example, if you own 100 shares of Carnival, submitting a form will get you $100 on board credit for a 7 day cruise. You must own the stock before the cruise and submit proof. Note these usually can be combined with other consumer offers. Military, Veteran, First Responder If you meet any of these you may qualify for onboard credit. Many lines have these programs. These, like the stock programs are generally combinable with other offers. Credit Cards Most major lines offer a credit card that allows you to earn points or spending money on your cruise. This is a slippery slope. These cards may have very high interest rates, so be mindful of your spend when doing this. Also a credit card application comes with an inquiry on your credit profile, so this isn't always the best choice for folks. Casino Perks Another way to save on a cruise is getting a Casino Perk. This is another slipperly slope. However, if you like to gamble, most cruise lines will offer discounts, casino cash, or other perks to make your sailing special. Never gamble more than you can affort, or gamble just for perks! Let me know if I can help you incorporate any of these strategies into your next Travel Story!

I'm a crazy cruiser. I know this. I drag my friends along with me whenever I can, and believe me they are NOT kicking and screaming. Some of my favorite experiences have been when I've cruised solo. When you are on your own you tend to talk to everyone! On a trip to the Mediterranean I made friends with a gentleman who I sailed with on 4 other cruises. He introduced me to a friend he'd made on another cruise, and we met each other randomly on two other cruises and were able to hang out. When I took a British Isles cruise I made a friend and we jumped off the ship and jumped on another to Norway. We parted, then I came back to visit and we did 4 more cruises and several land trips over the summer. Once in Alaska a whole group of Trampoline salespeople made every dinner a riot. When I left my phone on the table, they all took funny face photos for me to have as a keepsake. People can be afraid of traveling alone, they don't know if they'll be able to keep themselve busy, or may not be very outgoing. Don't be. Being onboard and in the moment makes it all easier. On a formal night, compliment someones attire. If you frequent the same bar, or pool area often you'll see repeat passengers. Hear a different accent, ask where they are from. One of the easiest ways to meet people and start dialogue is dinner. Pick a shared table and introduce yourself. Now stay away from politics, but there are plenty of great conversations to have. There are also singles/solos events, even if your not in the market for romance, you can meet other solo travelers and may have some fun. If your a game player, there's often places to offer to meet up and play a certain game onboard or one you've brought. Life is too short, go, don't hold back. If your a solo looking to start your Solo Travel Story, send me an email!