The Ship Less Travelled

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day! 🍁In this special Canada Day edition of The Ship Less Travelled, we're setting sail across the world's second largest country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Arctic to the Prairies, celebrating the landscapes, moments, culture, and traditions that make Canada such an extraordinary place to explore. This week, Lorraine looks back on her first visit to Canada and...

After years of talking about it, Dave has finally completed his first QM2 crossing. "Welcome to the club," says Lorraine. 🚢Dave's back from the London Theatre at Sea Transatlantic Crossing aboard the legendary Queen Mary 2, and he's ready to give his verdict. Did this theatre-themed voyage deserve its own Olivier Award? 🏆 Or was it more Rotten Tomatoes? 🍅In true theatrical fas...

🌹 Roses are nice.🍫 Chocolates are fine.🚢 But have you ever thought a cruisemight be the ultimate Valentine? Welcome to our Valentine’s Day episode of The Ship Less Travelled, where love is in the air, the sea is calling, and we’re talking all things cruising with heart. In this episode, we share when we each fell in love with cruises and spoiler alert, it didn’t happen at the same time. Lorrain...

Balcony people, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we’re talking about balconies and why, for some of us, they’ve crossed the line from “nice to have” to absolute must. There’s just something about stepping out onto your own private slice of sea. Watching the ship glide into port. Standing still while the world slowly arrives around you. Listening to the rhythm of...

The Ship Less Travelled | Antarctica Recap Part 2 ❄️🚢Antarctica, continued. In Part 2 of his Antarctica recap, Dave's unpacking the questions everyone really asks after a trip to the bottom of the world. Would he do it again? What was the polar plunge actually like? And what is the Drake Passage really like when you’re crossing it for real? He would know, he's been across it going there a...

So… was Antarctica really worth it? In our very first episode of 2026, Dave is freshly back from the bottom of the world and finally spilling the tea on Antarctica. This episode of The Ship Less Travelled tackles the big questions people actually ask about Antarctica travel. Was it mind blowing or wildly overrated? What were the true highlights and were there any lowlights? What do you actually do...

Ask us anything… seriously, anything. On this episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we tackle questions we never expected to hear, and have a little fun along the way. Lorraine shares a recent moment where someone genuinely had no idea what a river cruise even was. How did she respond? How can river cruising be misunderstood? And what might people still not know about this style of travel? We also g...

Dave is heading to ANTARCTICA… and Lorraine wants ALL the details. Season 2 continues with a very personal pre-departure chat as Dave gets ready to go south to the White Continent. How does our resident Ice Queen prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition? What’s he packing, is he nervous about anything, and yes… what exactly is the underwear and moisturizer strategy for surviving the driest, col...

Season 2 is HERE — and we're coming in hot. 🔥Welcome back to The Ship Less Travelled, the show where two travel agents (one in the UK, one in Canada) talk small-ship cruising with zero fluff, zero fuss, and absolutely no holds barred. We never set out to be content creators… but look at us now. Season 2, new look, new energy, new direction; the same honest voices with two accents for your lis...

Welcome back to our behind-the-scenes series! In this episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we dive deeper into what really goes on when working as a travel agent. Why do we ask so many questions? Why do budget expectations matter so much? And what happens if the trip you’ve imagined isn’t available—or doesn’t quite fit your budget? We’ll walk through real scenarios that travellers face all the time...

✨ Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Travel Agent ✨Ever wondered what a travel agent does or how travel agents work? In this episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we’re pulling back the curtain to show you exactly what goes into a day in the life of a travel advisor. From serving clients, answering their travel questions, and planning dream vacations—to finding new clients through referrals...

This episode might ruffle a few feathers—but it’s a conversation worth having. 🚢✈️Travel agents seem to be popping up on every street corner (or, more accurately, every Facebook feed). Many of them are hobbyists or part-timers dipping their toes into the industry. And while there’s nothing wrong with new people joining the travel world, here’s the question every traveller should ask:👉 Who do you...

In this episode, we're heading Down Under… way down — to the wild, rugged, jaw-droppingly beautiful Kimberley region of Western Australia! 🇦🇺Think ancient Aboriginal rock art (yep, we’re talking 40,000 years of culture), dramatic red cliffs, wandering wallabies, and waterfalls that just won’t quit. It's like the Outback turned the drama dial all the way up! Dave fondly remembers Aussie pen...

❄️Who wins the worst winter award—snowbound Canadians or rain-soaked Brits? Honestly, does it matter: a winter escape for all is the only right answer. In this week’s episode, we’re diving into emerging small ship cruise trends for Winter 2026. Whether you're dreaming of palm trees or plotting your next great migration from grey skies, now’s the time to start planning—these itineraries are hot...

🎄✨ Christmas in July? Absolutely. ✨🎄This week on The Ship Less Travelled, we're unwrapping a topic that's merrier than Aunt Mary after a few hot toddies – Christmas Market Cruises. Whether you've been naughty or nice, there’s something for everyone:🛍️ Why settle for one market when you can visit several? Cruising Europe’s rivers lets you hop from village to village, soaking up cent...

🇫🇷✨ Vive la France! ✨🇫🇷This week on The Ship Less Travelled, we’re raising a glass (of Bordeaux, naturally) to celebrate Bastille Day with a love letter to France. 💙🤍❤️Sunflower fields, lavender fields… what’s not to adore? France is a feast for the senses – from the scent of fresh baguettes wafting out of a boulangerie, to the zing of pungent of roquefort on your tastebuds, to the feeling of...

🇫🇷 Bonjour, Comment Allez-Vous? 🇫🇷 We’re celebrating our 10th episode in style! 🥳⚓Join us as Lorraine shares her incredible experience recently sailing with Star Clippers aboard the Royal Clipper, departing from Cannes and circling the stunning island of Corsica, with a stop in Portofino for a splash of prosecco 🏖️⛵🥂✨ Pardon our French, but it was incroyable! ✨ Discover what it feels like to...

Are last-minute bookings on small ship cruises all they’re cracked up to be? 🤔 This week on The Ship Less Travelled, we dive into the reality behind those tempting last-minute deals. 🛳️💸✅ Why smaller ships (including river cruises) often don’t have true last-minute bargains✅ Why being flexible is your biggest asset✅ Why an unsold cabin might not be the hidden gem you think✅ The sweet spot ti...

🛳️ Ready to take your cruising experience to the next level? In this week’s episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we’re diving into the world of intensive cruising — a lesser-known but totally game-changing way to explore a destination. What is an intensive cruise, you ask? It's a style of cruising that focuses on in-depth exploration of a single country or region, often with more port stops, lo...

 The Ship Less Travelled: Amazon Edition  In this week’s wildest episode yet, Dave  apes out  in the Amazon!   He went on an epic river cruise—on a small, purpose-built ship with just 28 guests—and he's spilling all the jungle juice. From skiff rides into the heart of the rainforest to up-close encounters with the creatures (and characters!) that call it home, this is a trip like no other. Fin...

Welcome aboard The Ship Less Travelled, your guide to rare routes, remarkable destinations, and refined adventures by sea. In Episode 6, we're diving deep into one of the cruise industry’s most fascinating—and misunderstood—secrets: Repositioning Cruises.👉 What is a repositioning cruise?👉 Why are they one of the smartest ways to explore places few others ever reach?👉 And how can these seasonal...

In this episode, we're setting sail into the wonderful world of European river cruising—a style of travel that's become increasingly popular with curious, culturally-minded travellers from Canada and the UK.Wondering where most first-time river cruisers start? We reveal the two most popular rivers that offer the perfect mix of scenery, history, and ease. (Spoiler: one of them might just rhyme with...

Welcome to Episode 4 of The Ship Less Travelled: Go North – Arctic Adventures by Small Ship! Dreaming of wide open tundra, glittering glaciers, polar bears, and the magic of the midnight sun? In this episode, we set a course for the Arctic and dive deep into why small ships are the secret to unlocking the polar regions in ways big ships simply can't.🧭 Why Go North on a Small Ship? We discuss...

🚢 Grab a deck chair—this episode is a voyage and a half! In Episode 3 of The Ship Less Travelled, we're crossing the ocean—literally and figuratively—as we explore the allure, history, and modern-day magic of the Transatlantic cruise. Lorraine shares her personal experience aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 during its 200th Transatlantic crossing. As the last true ocean liner still in service today, t...

Ready to chase the shadow of the moon in style? In this episode of The Ship Less Travelled, we’re casting our gaze skyward—and seawards—as we explore three extraordinary cruise itineraries that put you in the path of the total solar eclipse happening in August 2026.🛳️ From the icy edges of Greenland to the misty shores of Ireland, and the sun-drenched coast of Spain, we spotlight rare and remarkab...