Author: Anne

  • Smooth Sailing: How You Can Cruise Through Embarkation Day

    Smooth Sailing: How You Can Cruise Through Embarkation Day

    The day is finally here! Your ship has arrived and it’s time to head for the port. You should be able to cruise through embarkation day, right?

    While embarking on your cruise is something people look forward to for months, it can also be a little stressful. Last minute packing, transportation snafus, unexpected issues, and long lines can turn an exciting day into chaos. If you are anything like my husband, all you’ll want to do once you are in your stateroom is take a nap (and yes, I bugged him about shoes on the bed). →

    However, there are some things you can do in advance to make your sail-away day more enjoyable and less tiring. It just requires a bit of planning, being prepared, and a good sense of how embarkation day works!

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  • Three Tips for Packing Lighter for Your Cruise

    Three Tips for Packing Lighter for Your Cruise

    Ever had to pay an overweight fee for your suitcase at the airport? I have! In fact, I have always been an over-packer but managed to just skirt the line until we started to cruise. Between formal night, excursion gear, and your must-haves for keeping your stateroom more organized; it’s no wonder it’s easy to overpack when cruising! So, how has this “pack rat” not paid an overweight fee since 2015 in spite of flying more than 20 times since? Allow me to share my three tips for packing lighter for your cruise!

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  • What To Pack For A Cruise With Kids

    What To Pack For A Cruise With Kids

    It’s officially summer in the northern hemisphere and Royal Caribbean just launched a great FAQ video about packing for a cruise with kids. And, if you don’t have kids, there are still some solid recommendations for everyone. Check out ‘Royal Caribbean FAQ’s: What To Pack For A Cruise With Kids’ below.

    Did they miss anything you think is important when cruising with kids? Be sure to leave your comments and suggestions in the comments below this post! And if you’d like more packing must-haves, check out “What to Pack for a Cruise: My List of Essentials“.

  • Win a Free Cruise From Princess Cruises!

    Win a Free Cruise From Princess Cruises!

    Princess wants to see your cruise photos! Details of the Places to Sea contest and how to enter are below!

    We’re on the hunt for amazing photos taken by photographers like you. Each quarter, the entrant with the most inspiring photo that follows the assigned Theme will win a free cruise for two – plus 3 runner-ups will win prizes from Nikon (click here for more prizing details). Send us your very best vacation photos and you can become part of our come back new story!

    Quarter 1: Wildlife & Nature
    Quarter 2: Seascapes & Landscapes
    Quarter 3: Travel & Culture
    Quarter 4: Come Back New Moment

    For more information or to enter: Welcome

  • Cruise Formal Night Dresses for Under $100!

    Cruise Formal Night Dresses for Under $100!

    I am an unabashed bargain hunter, but I also love a glamorous dress! Consequently, I am excited to share my tips for finding a gorgeous cruise formal night dress for under $100!

    There are many places you can find quality on a budget, but it requires work. I’ve scoured discount stores, sale racks of department stores, and even catalogs. I’ve even gone the eBay route which is a little hit and miss. If you go that route, you ideally know the brand, are positive the dress is flawless, and the seller has a solid return policy in case it doesn’t work for you. Also, I want to see photos of the actual dress, not the one they found online from the original retailer.

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  • What to Pack for Alaska Cruise

    What to Pack for Alaska Cruise

    Growing up in Alaska and living in Seattle, I am used to trying to look somewhat stylish when it’s chilly and/or wet. However, I realize not everyone is from a cooler weather part of the world so you might need a bit more guidance when knowing what to pack for Alaska cruise. Now that we’ve been on our fourth Alaska cruise, I thought it was time to blog with some suggestions. Your Alaska cruise packing list will be built around one important theme: Layers!

    First of all, I have to give a caveat that what is considered “warm” to one person may be considered cold to someone else. For me, if it’s 65 degrees or better, it’s warm. But YMMV.

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  • Back from our Alaska cruise!

    Back from our Alaska cruise!

    We just got back from our Alaska cruise! We took a seven day northbound “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruise on the Grand Princess which we followed with two days in Anchorage. It was a great trip! We saw many gorgeous glaciers, ate lots of great food, and saw a ton of wildlife. Sadly, I still have yet to see a whale.

    I will be writing a review shortly, but, in the meantime, here are a few photos I took. When all was said and done, I took 1,200 photos and videos. Yikes. Needless to say, I have some editing to do.

    Hot tub in Skagway
    Glacier viewing
    Coffee on deck in Alaska

  • #TravelTuesday: My First Cruise

    #TravelTuesday: My First Cruise

    Happy #TravelTuesday! Reminiscing today about my first cruise. We sailed the Mexican Riviera aboard the Dawn Princess and I still remember boarding the ship through the atrium and hearing the pianist and feeling dazzled. I’ve since learned you don’t always get such a lovely first view of the interior of the ship so I am thrilled I got to experience that for my first cruise.

    Happy travels and happy memories, cruisers!

    My First Cruise - Embarkation Day - Dawn Princess
    My First Cruise – Ship’s Wake – Dawn Princess

    My First Cruise - Ship's Wake - Dawn Princess
    My First Cruise – Ship’s Wake – Dawn Princess

    My First Cruise - Las Caletas - Dawn Princess
    My First Cruise – Las Caletas – Dawn Princess
  • What to Wear on Formal Night

    What to Wear on Formal Night

    Planning for formal night aboard your cruise can be both challenging and a little intimidating. You want to feel great, but you also want to fit in. Also in consideration is suitcase space and budget. After attending many cruise formal nights, viewing photos, and reading every major cruise line’s attire guidelines, I’ve come up with three recommendations that should cover what to wear on formal night. There are even options for those on a budget!

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  • Throwback Thursday: Cruise 1971

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    What was it like to take a Holland America cruise to St. Thomas in 1971? The buffet situation is certainly different! And look! Portholes!

    To see more, visit this fun Flickr album graciously published by Jack Miller: Saint Thomas Cruise 1971 – an album on Flickr.