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…re 183 guests on the trip and 42 nationalities. Only a third were from the USA, so it was a diverse and mixed crowd of people. Age range was broad, but I would say average age was mid-60s. The expedition team seemed lacking in depth at first, and I was a bit worried on the first day, but they dramatically improved as they got in their stride. We had great recaps each day with videos, photographs and insights on the things that we’d seen. The daily…

…. They were paid based on where they came from. So, a crew member from the USA is paid a different rate to those from the Philippines doing the same role. So, I probed into other crew employment issues which revealed more surprises. Getting A Job Not Straightforward First, I found that despite most cruisers assuming everyone on a ship works for the cruise line, many do not. Many “crew” instead are employed by and work for third-party companies tha…

…different to what some other countries have. But make sure if going to the USA to check the latest on the official ESTA site. Cruising In 2026? Crisis and Weather Perhaps a key change to be ready for is that recent times have taught us that itineraries we booked and are expecting this year could get affected by geopolitical tensions or climate issues. Ports and itineraries are at risk from existing and unexpected unrest and conflicts. We saw over…

…igger premium ships are limited to. As most of the ships carry around a thousand guests, although some are far smaller, it provides that quiet but also means they can get into smaller ports, dock in city centres that big ships can’t, like Marseille or Shanghai, and they tend to offer more overnights. Food and service is better than premium, the vibe is more grown-up, with two of the five being adults-only, but there are a couple of things that cat…

…ing — through refunds, upgrades, or onboard credit. I’ve personally had thousands back over the years doing this. On one cruise alone, I got $1,500 refunded after spotting a price drop. And I get emails and message from followers almost every week who’ve done exactly the same. The problem is, most cruisers never track and check. They book… and move on. That’s why I always track every cruise I book — and why I recommend you do too. While not every…

…Biscardi of Where’s Walter Travel that I recommend as a great agent in the USA, through to large travel agent groups like VacationsToGo.com who even host many cruises for solos. But of course, bearing all of this in mind, the biggest obstacle is find finding a way to cruise solo in the most affordable way, and avoid having to pay the same as two people if possible. Solo Cruise Tips: Paying The Same As For Two Here are the techniques I successfully…

…ities (or Crew Appreciation as they call it), and for those booking in the USA and Canada a best price guarantee. So, if the fares fall, which is unlikely if you book early, you can still get the lower fare if you ask for it. Booking early is worth a lot. I estimate I saved and gained almost $1,200 for my recent time aboard, and I tracked my fare and it was lower than people booking later paid. The second aspect of my system is for when I have not…