If I Could Only Do 10 Cruises In My Lifetime, These Are The Ones I’d Do (Podcast #487)
Essential Cruise Tips
If I could only cruise 10 more times in my life… these are the ones I would choose. After 20+ years and 128 cruises, I’ve discovered that not all cruises are created equal. Some are enjoyable… but others are truly life-changing. In this video, I count down the ocean cruises that stand above all others — the ones I believe every serious traveller should have on their bucket list. These aren’t just popular itineraries. These are journeys that deliver unforgettable wildlife encounters, breathtaking scenery, iconic maritime experiences, and moments that genuinely change how you see the...
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I Won’t Do These 7 Cruises. Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Either! (Podcast #486)
Essential Cruise Tips
After 128 cruises over two decades, I’ve learned that while most cruises are fantastic… some are simply not worth the money. In this video I reveal 7 cruises I regret taking and now actively avoid — even though many travellers still book them thinking they’re getting a great deal. Some of these cruises look incredible in the brochure, others seem like obvious bargains, and a few are even considered “bucket list” sailings. But after experiencing them myself, I discovered why they can lead to disappointment, frustration, or simply poor value for money. In this video I explain: •...
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Every Adult Cruiser Needs To Be Ready For This!(Podcast #485)
Essential Cruise Tips
adults can cruise for far less than they think. In this video I cover: Adult-only ocean and river cruise lines, The surprising world of chartered “grown-up” cruises, How to find peace on family ships, Private island adult areas you might not know about, job-based discounts, and more Whether you cruise as a couple, solo, or occasionally with kids or grandchildren, these are the smart moves adult cruisers should know about. ***** GET 10% OFF ANY OF THE CRUISE MAPS PRODUCTS AT HTTPS://WWW.THECRUISEMAPS.COM/TFT (OR USE THE CODE "TFT" AT CHECK OUT) Become a Tips For Travellers...
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I've Cruised All 5 "Small Ship Luxury" Lines. No-One Warns You About This! (Podcast #484)
Essential Cruise Tips
In the last few years, I’ve cruised on all five of the major Small Ship Luxury cruise lines — multiple times on each — and I discovered something most cruisers are never told. They may all be grouped together by the industry, but they deliver very different experiences. In this video I put the five head-to-head: Oceania Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Explora Journeys, Windstar Cruises, and Azamara I reveal: ✔️ Where each one genuinely shines ✔️ The weaknesses most brochures don’t highlight ✔️ What catches Premium cruisers out when they “upgrade” ✔️ How they compare...
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I’ve Done 5 Oceania Cruises. Here’s What No-one’s Warns You About! (Podcast #283)
Essential Cruise Tips
I’ve sailed five times with Oceania Cruises across three different ship classes, most recently on a 19-night Sydney to Papeete voyage on Riviera. It’s a cruise line I choose to return to and often recommend. But here’s the truth. I regularly hear from viewers who board expecting something extraordinary… and leave wondering what all the hype was about. So in this video I’m being completely frank about five areas that are often misunderstood, where the expectations created by the marketing don’t always match what people actually experience — and importantly where that really...
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Cruising This Year? Then You Need to Watch This! (podcast #282)
Essential Cruise Tips
If you’re planning a cruise in the next 12 months, be warned — cruising is changing, and some of the biggest shifts are happening quietly behind the scenes. Cruising this year is going to feel very different from what many of us are used to. In this, I unpack six major changes every cruiser needs to know, explain why they matter, and show you how they could directly affect your next cruise — whether you’re booking for the first time or you’ve cruised many times before. These are the changes many cruisers won’t realise until it’s too late — and that’s exactly why you need to...
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10 Cabin Checks Every Cruiser MUST Do BEFORE Unpacking. Here’s Why! (Podcast 281)
Essential Cruise Tips
Most cruisers walk into their cabin, throw their bags on the bed, and start unpacking. Big mistake. After more than 125 cruises, I’ve learnt – sometimes the hard way – that there are a handful of vital checks you should always do before you unpack a single item. In this video I take you inside a real cruise cabin and show you exactly what I personally check the moment I arrive on board. I also explain why it’s absolutely critical to do these checks on embarkation day, when problems are far easier to fix, cabins are still moving around, and engineers are on full standby. Leave it until...
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I've Done 15 Caribbean Cruises. Here's What No-One's Telling You! (Podcast #480)
Essential Cruise Tips
When I took my very first Caribbean cruise back in 2007, I often found myself stepping ashore as the only ship in port. Quiet beaches, local markets, no lines for taxis — it felt like true tropical escape. Fast-forward 18 years and 15 Caribbean cruises later, including my most recent ultra-luxury sailing on Regent Seven Seas Splendor, and the Caribbean is a very different place.In this video I reveal the massive changes that are reshaping Caribbean cruising — changes most cruisers don’t fully understand until they’re already there. I also explain how cruise lines are responding — and...
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I've Done 13 Ultra-Luxury Cruises. Here's What No-One's Telling You (Podcast #479)
Essential Cruise Tips
When you pay more for anything — flights, hotels, cars — you expect more. More features, more choice, more “wow”. So when cruisers upgrade from resort lines like Royal Caribbean, to premium lines like Princess, or even small-ship luxury like Oceania, and then spend much more on an ultra-luxury cruise… they naturally expect everything to be dramatically better. But here’s the surprise: for many first-time ultra-luxury cruisers, it isn’t. In this video I explain why so many people I meet on lines like Regent, Silversea, Seabourn and Crystal feel confused or even disappointed —...
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Regular Vs. Ultra-Luxury Cruises: 4 Big Differences I DID NOT Expect! (Podcast #478)
Essential Cruise Tips
Are ultra-luxury cruises really worth the eye-watering price? Or is the reality very different from the dream? Most cruisers are fascinated by ultra-luxury lines like Silversea and Regent Seven Seas, but very few have actually sailed them. So after cruising recently on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity and Princess, I decided to book myself on two ultra-luxury ships – Silver Nova and Regent Seven Seas Splendor – paying the full fare to find out what really changes when you step up to the very top tier of cruising. And what I discovered surprised me. In this video I...
info_outlineIn another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:
Seasickness
Seasickness is unpleasant and cruise lines do everything they can to reduce the probability of you suffering from it. Steps they take include scheduling and sailing itineraries that minimise the chance of encountering rough seas, using ships equipped with stabilisers to help keep the ship steady in rough seas and swells and taking advantage of modern radar systems to avoid poor weather.
If you are concerned or prone to seasickness there are a number of steps you can take such as traveling in a cabin in the middle of the ship and low down as movement is least here and take over-the-counter motion sickness pills like dimenhydrinate (marketed as Dramamine, Gravol, etc.) in North America and cinnarazine (marketed as Stugeron or Stunarone) in Europe. You must buy them before you go. They may make you drowsy for a few hours, but resolve the problem.
If you do not want to use medication here are some other tips:
- Try the pressure pads behind the ears or wrist bands. Both are available at drugstores and pharmacies.
- Eat ginger.
- Look at the horizon and get fresh air.
- Go on a river cruise as you will not suffer from motion sickness.
- If none of the above work, visit the medical centre as they will offer an injection which will make you sleep usually but will solve the problem fast. Do not let the fear of sickness put you off a cruise!
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