Small Ship Cruise Talk: River Cruises, Yacht, Barge and Expedition Cruising Tips & Travel Planning Advice

🚨 Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean cruise line from MSC Group, announced it has signed a letter of intent, signaling without a doubt that it is entering the world of luxury river cruises, with bookings and more details on the horizon in 2027.  Today, we share the monumental announcement and how we found out the breaking news. Be sure to subscribe to the show for notifications of more breaking n...

Thinking about a cruise along  Norway’s coast with Havila Voyages? We spent six days sailing southbound from Kirkenes to Bergen aboard Havila Pollux, and we're sharing everything we wish we'd known before we sailed. It's a practical guide to help you plan with confidence. We cover how to get to remote Kirkenes (there's no Uber, no taxis waiting there to take you to town, and th...

We're on Colombia’s Magdalena River, aboard AmaMagdalena with AmaWaterways, sharing everything you need to know before this bucket-list birding excursion, from spotting Kingfishers and the endemic Northern Screamer to exactly how to prepare and pack so you're comfortable for the full two hours on the water, with no regrets. The reward for your early birding wake-up call is a special brea...

🇨🇴 We just got back from Colombia, where we sailed the Magdalena River with AmaWaterways, the only cruise line currently sailing this river. If you've been curious about small ship cruising somewhere off the usual radar (but maybe you’ve already done the Mekong River or you’re simply looking to fly to a location near North America), we're walking you through exactly what to expect: the s...

Forgetting a travel adapter can turn "Let's go see Buckingham Palace" into "Where's the nearest electronics store?" ‼️ We know, because it happened to us. ‼️ Let’s talk about the travel adapter brand we've trusted for a long time (since we embarked on our fourteen-month "gap year" of travel years ago), called TESSAN. We're walking through the exact...

Surprising someone with a cruise takes more than just booking the trip; the reveal is where the magic happens. We're walking you through 17 creative ways to announce a cruise, from low-effort tricks you can pull off in an afternoon to elaborate reveals that turn into an adventure of their own. We cover memory books, jewelry ideas, scavenger hunts, custom puzzles, countdown calendars, and even...

The coastal drive we planned before and after our Maine Windjammer Cruise was worth the trip! We're breaking down our full pre- and post-cruise road trip, from flying into Portland (including the vital tip about booking travel that could make or break your flights) to the small towns, slow drives, great food, and memorable museums along the coast. We're covering the full pre- and post-cr...

We spent three nights aboard Grace Bailey, a historic schooner in the Maine Windjammer fleet, and we're breaking down everything you need to know for consideration before booking your trip.  From the small cabin to the beach lobster bake (s'mores included), we share what daily life actually looks like on a 19th-century sailing ship with no Wi-Fi, no fixed itinerary, and the ship's c...

Join us for a lively recap of the 🇺🇸 July 4th celebrations in New York City, as seen from Governors Island and at home, focusing on the historic maritime events, the Parade of Sail, and the significance of waterway traditions.  Discover how media coverage, Native American acknowledgment, and sustainability narratives intertwined in this special episode. Related listening:  Sail4th 250 in NYC - Onc...

⚓️ Dreaming of a cruise but not sure how to make it happen financially? 💭 That dream cruise doesn't have to stay a dream.  We sit down with Danielle Desir Corbett of The Thought Card to break down a realistic, stress-free system for saving for your dream cruise in a year or less — from building your travel fund to finding money you didn't know you had, and how to stay the course when l...

We're taking you aboard American Cruise Lines' Southeast Sea Islands itinerary — a nine-day, eight-night coastal cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway on a brand-new coastal catamaran, the American Liberty. If you've only thought of ACL as a river cruise line, this one might surprise you. We cover the ship (what makes a coastal catamaran different and how it compares to ACL'...

🇺🇸 America turns 250 this July 4th, and New York Harbor is throwing the biggest nautical celebration in a generation. We're breaking down everything you need to know about Sail4th 250 — the historic Parade of Sails for the USA's semiquincentennial, happening on July Fourth in the Hudson River next to Manhattan, including events from July 3rd to 6th, 2026. We sat down with William Armstro...

Celebrity River Cruises is making waves before launching, and we're breaking down the four excursion categories that make up their new Destination Discovery program to see if it lives up to the hype. We cover the: Storyteller Series - locally-led experiences with cultural insiders Skillmaster Series - hands-on time with local makers and artisans Keys to the City - a self-guided digital platfo...

Curious about Road Scholar travel programs, but not sure if it's right for you? This episode gives you everything you need to know about the cruise trips (called “Afloat” programs) with Road Scholar, a prestigious non-profit travel company. We hear directly from Zoe Fox-Mailer, Director of Programming at Road Scholar, on exactly how the Adventure Afloat program works — how trips are structure...

Ever had that pull to go back to a cruise you loved?  We're breaking down exactly what to consider before you rebook, from choosing the same cruise line vs. switching it up, to how time of year, ports, and even a different version of yourself can make the same river feel brand new.  Plus, we share our own experience returning to AmaWaterways' Colors of Provence and what's making us...

The future of cruising is looking bright, and we have the inside scoop straight from Seatrade Miami, the cruise industry's leading global event. In this episode, we share our six biggest takeaways, from the explosive growth of river cruising and the rising appeal of expedition and yacht cruises, to why small ships are winning over first-time travelers in a big way. We also get into what'...

Ever struggle to hear your tour guide on a shore excursion, or find that uncomfortable single-use earpiece driving you crazy?  We're breaking down everything you need to know about the #1 listening device for cruise tours, called a Quietvox—the small audio device you'll find in your stateroom on most small ship cruises. We’re explaining how it works to deliver your guide's commentar...

Is it dumb to take a boating excursion during a vacation when you’re already on a cruise? Today, we answer this question with the pros, cons, and things you may not have thought of! Ultimately, we’re going to help you decide if your answer is yes or no.  We’re also sharing what kinds of boating excursions are out there, from sunset sails to dolphin spotting, whale watching, SCUBA and snorkeling, a...

We’re back with Part 2 of our Tennessee Rivers cruise with American Cruise Lines (ACL)—diving into the ports, excursions, and what surprised us most along the way as we sailed on the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio Rivers.  From Chattanooga to Nashville, we share the excursion options along the way, including scenic sailing, small-town gems, Civil War history, and unique stops like the U.S. Space...

You’re going to love this two-part series about our Tennessee River cruise with American Cruise Lines from Chattanooga to Nashville! We’re talking about the big picture of the experience in Part 1: What a Tennessee River cruise is like (including sailing on the Ohio River and Cumberland River), who this cruise is best for, what the American river cruise ship experience is like, and what surprised...

We sit down with travel journalist Joel Balsam to explore what sustainability really looks like in cruising today. From Norway’s electric-first mindset to Havila’s hybrid ships powered by biogas and massive battery systems, we unpack how innovation is reshaping the industry. We share how this directly impacts your experience—quieter, near-silent sailing through pristine landscapes, more intentiona...

What do you do when you need clean clothes on a cruise? In this episode, we break down the three ways to handle laundry while sailing: self-serve washers and dryers, onboard send-away laundry service, and simple DIY options, like handwashing.  We also share cruise line differences you should check before packing, why some ships don’t offer laundry at all while others unexpectedly do, and a few tra...

River cruising sounds simple—but first-timers are often surprised once they step onboard. We’re sharing five common mistakes we see again and again , from choosing the wrong cruise line to packing the wrong items, plus a few myths that stop travelers from booking in the first place. You’ll learn how to compare top lines like Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Emerald Cruises, and Riverside Lu...

Come along to delve further into a “tale of two cruises” as we chat with travel expert and small-ship cruise enthusiast Tamara Gruber about her barge cruises through France’s small waterways and a Maine Windjammer cruise aboard schooner Heritage, sailing along the coast of Maine. We compare how these intimate experiences are similar and how they’re completely different, from daily life onboard to...

Travel should feel freeing, not stressful. With that in mind, to best prepare you for your travels and smooth sailing, we are sharing four common travel scams that can happen on cruise itineraries on land or purely during your land vacation, and the simple habits that stop them.  You’ll learn why these scams work and what to do instead so you have peace of mind.  During this episode, we reference...