Summer Cruise Tips, Tricks, And Watch Outs

I have appeared again on the “Conversations with Carl” podcast show. Apparently, my first guest appearance proved popular so he had me back. His best performing topics are apparently cruising and UFOS!

This time I was on to talk about summer cruising and the tips, tricks, pitfalls, and watch outs.

The show is described as “”a weekly podcast hosted by veteran broadcast journalist Carl Leibowitz, who previously produced for CBS News, The Weather Channel, and Fox Business. The show features deep-dive interviews exploring major news events, politics, and culture.”

I had a good time and gave me something to think about. Maybe there is a video topic in there?

You can watch the interview / appearance on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRnkH1tCqOk

Or on your favourite podcast App, like Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/setting-sail-this-summer/id1840768971?i=1000777595835

In the half hour topics discussed included:

• Shift in Destinations. During the summer, cruise lines relocate many ships from the Caribbean to northern regions like Alaska, the Mediterranean, Iceland, and the Norwegian fjords. Expeditions also shift toward the Arctic.
• Adult-Only Options. While many ships are family-oriented during the summer, travellers seeking an adult-only environment should look for specific lines like Virgin Voyages, Oceania, or Viking.
• Booking and Upgrades. Cruise ships are currently sailing at high capacity, making last-minute deals rare. Upgrades are increasingly difficult to obtain; booking far in advance is recommended to secure the best rates and staterooms.
• Health and Safety. How to minimise the risk of illness (like norovirus), like the importance of frequent handwashing over hand sanitiser and avoiding self-service buffets when possible.
• Flight Strategy. The “golden rule” is to arrive at the departure city at least one or two days before the cruise to account for potential travel delays and increased processing times at airports (like Europe’s new EES system).
• Drink Packages. Why I encourage using online calculators (such as those found on Cruisely or Cruise Mummy) to determine if a drink package is actually cost-effective for personal consumption habits.
• Excursion Planning. To escape tourist crowds, consider using local services like Tours by Locals or looking for cruise-line-offered excursions that visit smaller, less-frequented towns.

Let me know thoughts on the interview topics, and if you think I should look at making a video about summer cruising too?