I haven’t posted as much as I would like, mainly because life, travel, editing, and keeping up with everything has been a lot. But I definitely haven’t forgotten about this community, and I want to start bringing more useful cruise updates back in here again.🛳️ Perfect timing too, because in early July I will be back where I belong, on a cruise ship.🛳️ I am heading to the Norwegian Fjords on the newly revamped Liberty of the Seas, and I’m going to use the trip to share as much helpful, real-time content as I can inside this group. I have done the Fjords before, but this will be my first time doing them on Liberty since her revamp, so I am really interested to compare the experience. This is always such a different kind of cruise to a warm-weather sailing. It’s scenic, colder, packing is different, ports are different, and the whole pace of the cruise feels very different from a Caribbean or Med itinerary. While I am onboard, I will share updates on: • What Liberty of the Seas is like after the revamp • What the ship feels like day to day • Food, entertainment, cabins, and onboard tips • Norwegian Fjords port days • What I pack and what I wish I packed • Anything that surprised me • The little practical things that make a cruise easier If you have done the Fjords, what is one thing you think people should know before they go?👇 And if you haven’t, what would you want me to check out while I’m onboard? I will use your questions to guide what I post when I’m on the ship.😊

Hi, we are sailing on legend of the seas in October. We are in room 8212. I believe it’s roughly the same layout as icon. Does anyone have any reviews on this room from being in icon or star? It’s behind the pearl and at the end of the corridor. At the top of stairs that lead to Central Park which we are hoping is not too noisy. Thanks x

I feel like cruise gratuities are becoming one of the biggest talking points in cruising lately, especially as prices continue to creep up across the board.💰 I completely understand why they exist and the role they play for crew. I also think a lot of people, especially first-time cruisers, are shocked when they see how quickly the extra costs add up once gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and speciality dining all get added on. Some people prefer prepaying everything upfront so the cruise feels “done” before they board, while others would rather keep that flexibility onboard. One thing newer cruisers should know is that gratuities are often automatically added throughout your holiday, whether that is daily service charges or extra gratuities added onto drinks and speciality dining onboard, so it is always worth factoring that into your budget before you travel. Very interested where everyone sits on it now. Do gratuities bother you, or do you just see them as part of cruising at this point?😊👇

With Royal Caribbean doubling down on Icon Class and more mega ships coming over the next few years, it feels like cruising is going even further in that direction. So quick one… Would you rather:

Never heard of this virus until I saw this clip. Certainly not what we go cruising for! Very sad that someone has died and the ships doctor had to be evacuated as the doctor has contracted it.