Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

Is a hotel barge cruise better than a river cruise in Europe? I explore 5 times, and types of travellers, where a European barge hotel cruise is likely to be the best way to cruise through Europe. River cruising in Europe has become very popular, but less travellers know there is an alternative way to cruise the European Waterways - hotel barges that cruise the canals and rivers of Europe. Discove...

How can you get free things on your next cruise, and get much more bang for your cruising bucks? I discuss the 6 main areas of cruise freebies that are available, if you go and ask for them or seek them out. They are not things that cruise brochures and websites usually reveal, or talk about. I tell you the things to focus on and how to get as many free things as you possibly can, including drinks...

What are the best European river cruise lines? I discuss the 6, based on my numerous river cruises through Europe that I recommend that you consider for your first or next river cruise in Europe. I review and discuss lines ranging from premium to more value, and those in between. These are the 6 best river cruise lines to consider. Which one sounds right and best for you?   ** Buy my Cruise T-shir...

What are 10 essential and best must-do cruises and cruise destinations in the world? What do I believe are the very best cruising vacations and destinations that should be on your cruising bucket list? Based on my experience of doing 68 cruises around the world (at time of recording), I talk about the 10 very best cruises that I recommend anyone who loves or wants to do cruising should consider. H...

Should you cruise to Iceland? If you want to visit Iceland what are the pros and cons of cruising over doing a land-based visit. There are many good things about taking a cruise, and I explore the 6 best pros of cruising to Iceland before looking at the 3 top things you need to consider that may make a land-based trip a better option for you. Note: I travelled as a guest of Saga Cruises on a round...

Discover the 10 things that you should never do on a cruise ship balcony. Some of them are rules from the cruise line, which if you break you could find yourself thrown off your cruising vacation (or even banned by the cruise line for life!). Some are things that will make your and the other cruisers around you have a more enjoyable cruise. And some even could save you a lot of embarrassment....  ...

What are the unusual, surprising and even rude theme cruises that you can go on? I look at 9 of the theme cruises on the seas that you could go on (if they appeal!). Many groups and organisations charter entire cruise ships and run themed cruise vacations - some of which you may find very remarkable. Discover the 9 types of theme cruises many travellers may find surprising and unusual. ** Buy my C...

Discover what it is like to fly Air Tahiti Nui Boeing Dreamliner in Poerava Business Class. I discuss and review the aircraft, layout, seats, food, drink, service and facilities on board. Find out of this airline and business class is a thumbs up or thumbs down from me. Note: I received a discount off the full fare price of my Air Tahiti Business class flight from Paris to Papeete Tahiti. The airl...

Come aboard the Paul Gauguin cruise ship as I discuss the ship and the 7 things I think you need to know, and the 5 important watch-outs you need to consider before cruising on this luxury cruise ship. The Paul Gauguin cruises out of Tahiti on cruise vacations around the French Polynesia islands on cruising vacations from 7 to 14 nights. I show you the facilities on the ship. Note: I travelled as...

Saga Cruises launched Spirit of Discovery in July 2019, the first of two sister cruise ships (Spirit of Adventure in 2020). These are the first new-build ships for cruising ever for Saga, why had previously bought and refurbished existing cruise ships. The Spirit of Discovery holds 999 passengers and in this I discuss the 8 things that I think are best about the ship, and show and explain why. I a...

I reveal my top and best cruise hacks, tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your cruising vacation in 2019 and 2020. These cruising tips are things that I have learnt to help me get better cruise fares, save money on board a cruise ship, pack better and smarter, find the best cabin, find and save money on excursions and lots more. These are all proven and should help you. Enjoy thes...

Do you have a cruise or travel bucket list? If so, should a French Polynesia cruise be on that list? In this I discuss the Tahiti and French Polynesia region and review what I think are the 4 pros and the 4 cons of cruising that I believe you should consider as you consider this as a cruising vacation option. I travelled to the region, which is pretty remote to explore. It takes well over 8 hours...

Celebrity Edge is the third class, or type, of ship in the Celebrity Cruises Fleet. The first ship was Celebrity Edge in 2018, followed by Celebrity Apex in 2020. After spending time on the ship, and talking to cruise passengers, I review this new class of ship and discuss what is new and different, and what is good or poor about the ship - and who I think it is best for. This should help you deci...

People often tell me their cruise cabin is not important as its just a place to sleep and get ready, until they have a bad experience of a noisy cabin that disrupts and affects enjoyment of their cruising vacation. I share 5 key steps to finding and ensuring you get a great cruise cabin on a cruise ship. Discover how to find the best cruise staterooms and exactly how to choose a cruise ship cabin....

Discover the 9 most important packaging tips for your next cruise. The things you need to think about, what to take and also what you should and can leave behind on your cruising vacation, and why. In this I also look at what you should be packing and taking in your hand luggage and check in bags, and why. These are the 9 most important things you need to prepare and do when packing for your next...

Discover 12 habits and things cruisers do on a cruise that annoy other cruise passengers the most. Things I have seen on my many cruises, watch cruise fans discussing on cruising forums and reading complaints about. 12 common practices, habits and things cruise guests do that drive other passengers crazy. Are you guilty of any of these? Do some or all of these drive you crazy? Or, do you not see w...

Discover the (sometimes surprising!) things you can no longer do on a cruise and cruise ship. How many of these did you know about? Got any to add that I missed? I look forward to you listening (or watching the video version: https://youtu.be/zas6F4wMD0Q )

There are (at least) 9 things that you used to be able to do on a cruise that you are not able to do any more. Discover what things cruisers are not allowed to do on a cruise ship. Whilst some may be obvious, there are quite a few surprises. These cruise tips, secrets and facts will, hopefully, entertain as well as inform you. How many things did you not know you are not allowed to do on your crui...

Interested in river cruising in Europe? I discuss the 8 things that anyone considering a European river cruise needs to know before they go. Based on my numerous river cruises I discuss tips including how it compares to ocean cruises, how to choose the right river cruise line, why the fares at first look seem expensive, what to focus on when selecting the best itinerary, which rivers to focus on,...

If you go on a Viking River Cruise in Europe you are going to be on one of their Longships. All are the same size, layout and design. On a few rivers in Europe, like the Douro, there is a scaled down version but on the main rivers you will be on one of these ships. I talk and show you through 4 things you need to know about, like what they are and what is consistent, the range of cabin options, th...

Viking River Cruises is probably the best known European river cruising company, and has a wide range of river cruise options in Europe. Before you decide to go on a European river cruise with Viking River Cruises, I share with you 6 important watch outs and things I think you need to know. All things I would like to have known in detail before I did a river cruise with them. I explore things like...

Discover 8 important watch-outs and things you need to know about doing a cruise to Antarctica. It is on many traveller's bucket lists, and it is a magnificent experience. However, there are at least 8 things that the brochures and websites encouraging and advertising Antartica cruises do not always talk about or make clear to potential cruisers. I share the 8 things that I think you really need t...

Celebrity Cruises is a large and popular premium cruise line. But, cruise lines are not perfect. In this I explore what is good and what is bad about Celebrity Cruises, especially versus other premium cruise lines they compete with. Discover if the bad outweighs the good and if I think I would (and you should or should not) cruise on Celebrity. Note: I paid for the cruise I made this on myself. My...

Discover the most important watch-outs and things you need to know about Silversea Expeditions before you cruise on an expedition cruise with them. Expedition cruises are costly and you need to make sure, before spending a lot of money on one, if Silversea Cruises is right for your expedition cruising vacation. Be it the Arctic, Antartica, Galapagos or some other part of the world. In this I explo...

What are the worst things about going on a cruise to Antarctica? Discover the 5 most important issues and challenges you will face and experience if you want to do an Antarctica cruise. And find out if these should make you reconsider visiting Antarctica. Also watch my "5 Best Things About An Antarctica Cruise" video: https://youtu.be/99HANPY2TSU Check out cruising merchandise like T-shirts at my...