6 Things I Would NEVER Do On Holland America. Nor Should You! (Podcast #492)
Release Date: 06/03/2026
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Essential Cruise Tips
Cruising solo can be frustratingly expensive, with fares sometimes the same as what two people would pay for the same cabin. But I’ve found that some of the most commonly recommended ways to save money as a solo cruiser are not always the best ones. In this video, I share seven tactics I use to find better-value solo cruise fares and avoid paying more than I need to. I also look at ways to spot deals, where I search for them, and some less obvious approaches that experienced solo cruisers use to bring the cost down. If you cruise solo, or are thinking about trying it, these are the...
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Cruise Lines Can Kick You Off Your Cruise Even If You Did Nothing Wrong. Here's Why! (Podcast #506)
Essential Cruise Tips
Imagine being told you’re being kicked off your cruise before you even set off for it, or even worse at check in at the port, even though you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. Cruisers are being denied boarding, removed from ships, or being bumped from ruises for reasons that have nothing to do with them breaking the rules. In this video, I look at the real situations happening right now that have caught cruisers out recently, including some that have affected me personally, and explain what you need to know and do if it does happen. Some of these situations are completely outside your...
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Essential Cruise Tips
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Celebrity Cruise Mistakes No-One Realises They're Making (Until It’s Too Late!) (Podcast #504)
Essential Cruise Tips
Celebrity Cruises promises “modern luxury” and says “nothing comes close”, but I see cruisers boarding Celebrity with expectations that can lead to disappointment. Having recently sailed Celebrity again, I’ve identified six mistakes cruisers make when choosing, booking and sailing with Celebrity Cruises — including some that even experienced Celebrity guests can get caught out by. In this video, I look at why understanding exactly what kind of cruise line Celebrity really is matters, how dramatically your onboard experience can change depending on the cabin and ship you choose, and...
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Essential Cruise Tips
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Essential Cruise Tips
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I Found Out How Cruise Lines REALLY Pick Cabin Upgrade Winners (podcast #501)
Essential Cruise Tips
If you've ever been invited to bid for a cruise cabin upgrade, you probably assumed (like me) that the highest bid wins. But, that's not how it works at all. After losing an upgrade to another passenger who had bid less than I did, I decided to investigate what was really going on behind cruise line upgrade bidding. What I found completely changed how I approach the process. In this video, I reveal what I discovered. Starting with something staring me in the face but had not spotted that that unites every cruise line when it comes to cruise cabin upgrade bidding. This video will help you...
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7 Cruises You Should Avoid. No Matter How Tempting They Look! (podcast #500)
Essential Cruise Tips
Some cruises look perfect on paper. The ship, the itinerary, the price, the promise. But after more than 130 cruises, I’ve learned there are some cruises I would never book again — or would only book under very specific conditions. In this video, I reveal the seven types of cruises I now avoid, and why. All but one of these I’ve tried myself and found they simply did not suit the way I like to cruise. The other comes with risks, traps, or compromises that many passengers do not realise until it is too late. But this is not just about saying “never book these.” For each one, I also...
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I Won’t Do A Sailing Ship Cruise Again. But Here's Why You SHOULD! (Podcast #499)
Essential Cruise Tips
I went on my first ever sailing ship cruise expecting something magical, different, and perhaps even better than a regular cruise ship. Instead, after the very first night, I was seriously wondering if I had made a huge mistake. After more than 130 cruises on ocean ships, river ships, expedition ships and even a tiny 14-person barge in France, I finally decided it was time to try a sailing ship. I booked an 8-night Venice to Rome cruise on Windstar’s flagship Wind Surf, one of the world’s largest sailing ships, to find out what this kind of cruising is really like. But the reality was not...
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I’ve Done Panama Canal 6 Times. Here’s What NO-ONE Is Telling You! (Podcast #498)
Essential Cruise Tips
I’ve transited the Panama Canal six times, and I am still completely obsessed with it. In this video, I take you with me on a full Panama Canal transit from the Pacific side across to the Caribbean / Atlantic side, showing what really happens across the day — the thrilling parts, the surprising parts, and the hot, sweaty, wearisome parts that many cruisers do not expect. I explain how the Panama Canal works, what happens inside the Locks, and how the newer 2016 locks changed the way ships transit the canal. Along the way, I show the reality of a full transit: the very early start, the long...
info_outlineI just spent 44 out of the last 60 days living on board Holland America ships, and I saw passengers making the same expensive mistakes over and over again. From missing out on the best food to overpaying for their cabins, most people aren't getting the full value of their cruise. In this video, I’m sharing the insider rules I live by to ensure every Holland America sailing is perfect—and easier on the wallet.
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