13 October 2025

I recently returned from a 3-night weekend break on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas with my family, and I wanted to share a full review of our experience… We booked the cruise to celebrate my husband's birthday, and we chose an ocean view cabin on a guaranty basis. The cabin we were allocated was exactly as we had expected, spacious, and had plenty of storage. As much as I usually en

11 September 2025

Repositioning Cruises - A fun and cost effective way to travel to and from the USA How about taking a transatlantic repositioning cruise, as a low cost way to travel between the US and the UK? Repositioning cruises can be an absolute bargain, especially when comparing the cruise cost with the price of transatlantic flights for a family of 4. Repositioning voyages are a great way to try out a

11 September 2025

I recently returned from a short family cruise on board MSC Virtuosa and I am pleased to report it was absolutely fabulous. We had an amazing time, plus really appreciated the added value that came from the extras I qualified for as a Diamond member of MSC’s loyalty programme. I really feel MSC gives some of the best benefits of all the cruise line loyalty programmes. Something to bear in min

30 July 2025

I recently had the chance to tour Oceania Marina, and it sparked an important question: Could Oceania be the right choice for families? Let’s be upfront - Oceania is not a family-focused cruise line. There are no kids’ clubs, waterslides or big-name entertainment like you’d find on Royal Caribbean or MSC. If your priority is lots of activities for younger children or a bargain fare, Oceania prob

30 July 2025

I recently had the opportunity to step aboard Rotterdam, the flagship of Holland America Line, while she was docked in her namesake city - and I couldn’t wait to share more about what I saw! Here’s a closer look at how suitable this elegant ship is for families. ?? What Sets Holland America Apart? Part of the Carnival group, Holland America Line sits a step above the mainstream. Think smaller sh

24 May 2025

Your passport! Plus money, insurance and cruise documentation. Water bottles for all the family and refillable coffee cups; really useful both aboard the ship and on port days. Some ships have dedicated water bottle filling stations, and on all ships you can obtain iced water and tea/coffee any time of day or night in the buffet. Magnetic hooks and bulldog clips are really useful in your cabin

25 February 2025

I have recently returned from a P&O Iona 7-night February half term cruise with my family, where we visited Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bruges. We had good weather and very calm seas. It was below freezing in Hamburg and Rotterdam, but it reached a lovely 16 degrees in Bruges a couple of days later! One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, a huge model village w

15 December 2024

I recently sailed on P&O Iona on a 7-night Northern Europe cruise with my family. Our ports of call were Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre. We stayed in a 4 berth ocean view cabin on deck 5. This was a great location, mid-ship and low down, for a winter cruise. We were conveniently close to the mid-ship stairs and lifts and it was just one deck up to the atrium on deck 6. The cabin had a love

11 November 2024

I recently sailed on the Regal Princess around the British Isles in the school holidays (August 2024) with my family, including my husband and our two children aged 8 and 9. Ports of call - Cobh for Cork, Dun Laoghaire for Dublin, Belfast, Holyhead, Greenock for Glasgow, Invergordon, South Queensferry for Edinburgh and Le Havre. Our port highlights: - We absolutely loved Fota Wildlife Park, whic