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

What happens when die-hard Disney Cruise Line fans trade the resort at sea for a river cruise ship? We’re joined by Tracy and Michael Ondrejko, who know Disney at 4,000-passenger scale and have sailed nearly every Disney ship (Tracy is up to 29 cruises). They share their first Adventures by Disney river cruise through Holland and Belgium aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLea.

They tell us about every fear that came with that swap, starting with the food. We get into how their resident picky eater fared without a massive buffet, the hidden menu page she didn’t find until day four, and how the Chef’s Table went out of its way for her. We also talk about what it’s like sharing a small ship with other people’s kids when your own are grown, how much Disney magic actually makes it on board, and why they added extra days in London after the cruise.

If you love Disney’s level of service but have wondered whether a smaller ship and a port-intensive pace would work for you, this conversation gives you an honest look; the destinations become the vacation, and that changes everything.

Follow them at @adriftogether on Instagram: https://instagram.com/adrifttogether

Listen to our ABD Disney river cruise interview with DCL Duo here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/17704885

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

Bergen is one of the easiest cruise ports in Norway to explore on your own, and even if you only have two days, we're showing you exactly how to make the most of your time here. We walk you through where Viking and Havila ships dock, how close you are to Old Town, and where to find the most spectacular sights and aerial views over the city.

Viking ships tie up next to the historic Bergenhus Fortress, so you're nearly in the middle of it all; it's about a 10-minute walk to the main attractions, and Bryggen is only 15 minutes away. We share what we thought of the Hanseatic Museum and the Troll Museum, plus the two stops we'd tell every cruiser not to skip: Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen, where a hike and a sunset dinner at the top became our favorite night in Bergen.

If you're planning a Norway cruise, this is the walkable port-day plan you'll want to get right. Stay to the end for a bonus: our complete Bergen guide, with links to book and a suggested timeline.

• Shop our CRUISE ESSENTIALS on Amazon (don’t forget your rain gear - Bergen is notoriously rainy!) ​​https://www.amazon.com/shop/sometimeshome/list/385CQ05UCQ86Y?ref_=aipsflist&tag=sometimesho0f-20

• Find our favorite outerwear and shoes for the rain in our ShopMy store: ​​https://shopmy.us/sometimessailing/shelves

★ Find the links we mention below:

• Havila Voyages episode: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTg1MDI3MQ

• Viking British Isles Cruise episode: coming November 4!

• We never travel without insurance! Book travel insurance before it’s too late: https://sometimessailing.com/2pt3

If you knit, like Mikkel, check out the yarn/knitting shop in Bergen that she mentioned she loved, called Strikkelykke: https://share.google/lK9qb7X2ioqdztjgf

Museums and restaurants we mention during this episode include:

• Tickets for Mount Fløyen funicular: https://www.floyen.no/en/floibanen
• Fløibanen restaurant: https://floirestauranten.no/en
• Hanseatic Museum: https://hanseatiskemuseum.museumvest.no/en
• Troll Museum: https://bergen.trollmuseum.no/

Visit our website, where you'll find the companion article about Bergen on our website, complete with photos of every place we visited and our memorable meal: https://sometimessailing.com/bergen-cruise-port-guide-things-to-do-in-2-days/

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

🚨 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 news about Explora Journeys and the world of small ship cruising.

• Follow up on YouTube, @sometimes-sailing, and be sure to turn on the bell icon for notifications from our channel
• We're on Instagram as well, @SometimesSailing

Listen to our episode about MSC Cruises' Yacht Club here:

• https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xODAwMDA1Mw

Ask a question or send fan mail.

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Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 the airport bus may not line up with your flight). We also get into what's in the staterooms and what's missing, how dining works with assigned seatings and repeating menus, and whether the Hildring fine dining and the beverage packages are worth the money. Plus, why you'll want to download movies before you go, how rough the Norwegian Sea got, and the seasickness gear that kept Dan from needing those Havila-branded seasick bags.

Then we head into the ports. You'll hear why "over 30 stops" isn't what it sounds like, how to make the most of Tromsø at midnight, and the two excursions we'd recommend. One of them is the Trollfjord Sea Eagle Safari, where we spotted 17 eagles and watched our ship glide silently into the breathtaking fjord on battery power. We also cover the new Coastal Stopover program in Lofoten and the behind-the-scenes Insider Tour you can't miss.

Finally, we share our thoughts on who this trip is really for, and we answer the much-debated question about whether Havila is a cruise, a ferry, or a cargo ship.

Find the Tromsø Midnight Concert, our favorite binoculars, the travel adapter we swear by, seasickness remedies, and more below:

• Book the THON hotel in Kirkenes — we stayed there, and it was great. The shuttle to the ship terminal leaves directly from there: https://sometimessailing.com/iouz
• Book the Midnight Concert in Tromsø: https://sometimessailing.com/96gv
• Here are some additional 5-star tours to do on your own in Kirkenes and Bergen before or after the cruise: https://sometimessailing.com/norway-viator
• We stayed connected in ports and pre- and post-cruise thanks to our favorite travel Wi-Fi hotspot. Buy here: https://sometimessailing.com/solis-pod & read more about it here: https://sometimeshome.com/pocket-wifi-skyroam-hotspot/
• We know the best seasickness remedies (stock these items before you sail): https://sometimessailing.com/anti-nausea-medication-cruise-sea-sickness-solutions/
• Our favorite travel binoculars help you get up-close to the distant scenery cruise: https://sometimessailing.com/w7w7
• Shop our packing list for the Sorels Mikkel wore the entire trip, along with other waterproof gear in our Shop My store: https://sometimessailing.com/shopmy
• Buy the best travel adapter for Europe (including on the ship). We love the TESSAN Universal option: https://sometimessailing.com/univ-adapter
• Listen to this episode to learn more about our travel adapter recommendations: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTU3ODY2Mg
• To learn more about the sustainability of Havila ships, listen to our episode about how Havila’s eco-friendly ships will affect your vacation: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xODg3MTI4Ng

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Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 breakfast waiting back on the ship that we tell you all about, plus a few surprises along the way that had nothing to do with birds at all. Grab our full breakdown of the gear that made this excursion even better below:

• Bringing our favorite binoculars is a must. (Direct link to buy: https://amzn.to/4cEzrvv ) Here’s why we love them: https://sometimessailing.com/best-binoculars-for-alaska-antarctica-cruise-leupold-bx-2-alpine-hd-review/
• Buy an AirFly to make your Quietvox Bluetooth-enabled so you don’t get tangled in headphone wires during the excursion: https://amzn.to/3V45izD

Listen to this episode to hear more about our Colombia River Cruise experience with AmaWaterways: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTU4NTQ1OQ

Or watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j34hYWtJBMg

Be sure to follow our show on your podcast app, or follow and hit the 🔔 icon to be notified of new content on YouTube: @sometimes-sailing

Ask a question or send fan mail.

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👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

🇨🇴 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 ship, the itinerary, the area’s offerings, and whether Colombia is actually safe.

We cover the differences between the two river ships — AmaMagdalena & AmaMelodia — which itinerary direction we'd pick again, and logistics like flights and currency. We also cover onboard life, from the wellness program and emerald shopping to the delicious food and drinks, our favorite excursions, and a few things to weigh if mobility or noise is a concern for you.

If you're considering this cruise or just want a real, honest take on visiting Colombia, tune in!

🦜 Watch our episode about the not-to-miss bird watching excursion during this cruise (with birding video footage!): https://youtu.be/bXVEn03cses

Grab our packing recommendations and links to everything we mention below:

• Book the fantastic food tour we did in Cartagena on our own, after our cruise: https://sometimessailing.com/cartagena-food-tour
• See everything we ate during the onboard Bolivar tasting menu dinner: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbtRDcDRyK1/?stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Learn about why we love our AirFly devices that pair with Quietvoxes: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTAwMTI0Mg
• Buy an AirFly: https://amzn.to/3V45izD
• We love our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, which has no international fees and gives us amazing travel perks (airport lounges included!): https://sometimessailing.com/chase-sapphire-ref
• Don’t forget to pack the following items for your Colombia River Cruise:

• Cooling towel: https://amzn.to/46PosvK
• Handheld rechargable fan: https://amzn.to/4gIaAcH
• Beurer BiteX Bite Relief (it’s our favorite!): https://amzn.to/4gIaAcH
• Bug Bite Thing: https://amzn.to/4cDdUmZ

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 lineup of products we have at home so we’re fully equipped to pack for any trip correctly, no matter what country we’re visiting around the world.

(The YouTube version of this episode shows us holding the products: https://youtu.be/cKn9RHTBi_0

Or view photos in the article on our website: https://sometimessailing.com/best-travel-adapters-for-europe-japan-and-worldwide/ )

This episode is sponsored by TESSAN.

Watch us on YouTube to see each product up close, or listen along; either way, everything we mention is linked in the show notes.

We break down what we use, including our go-to 7-in-1 adapter for mainland Europe (Rhine River cruises, Danube cruises, tulip season in the Netherlands, and more), a sleek pop-out-pin adapter that covers Europe in a compact design with lightning speed, what you need for UK outlets, and the swap-tip universal adapter that works in 200+ countries, which is ideal if you're doing a world cruise.

We also get into our Japan-specific pick (a lifesaver in older buildings with limited outlets), the fast-charging power bank that bailed us out mid-trip in upstate New York, and the surge protector we now keep at home.

Plus, we tell the story of landing in London straight off a Rhine River cruise with the wrong adapter in hand — and exactly how to avoid that mistake before your next trip.

🧳 Find all the products below on TESSAN: https://tessan.com/CRUISE

➡︎ US to Europe Adapter: Our favorite Europe go-to that we’ve had for years!

• Buy it directly from TESSAN (our preference): https://sometimessailing.com/q3ge
• Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4x9eYHj

➡︎ Ultra Thin Universal Adapter

• Buy it directly from TESSAN: https://sometimessailing.com/oxt2
• Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4zzenjZ

➡︎ 6-in-1 Universal Adapter Kit

• Buy it directly from TESSAN: https://sometimessailing.com/rx1a

➡︎ US to Japan Adapter

• Buy it directly from TESSAN: https://sometimessailing.com/5y1n
• Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ztAjwL

➡︎ 10000mAh Portable Charger with Built-In Cables

• Buy it directly from TESSAN: https://sometimessailing.com/hls1
• Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4g6S11s

➡︎ Surge Protector Outlet Splitter

• Buy it directly from TESSAN: https://sometimessailing.com/wmot
• Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hEWtpr

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 a special call from Disney that is perfect for children and kids at heart.

Some ideas stand on their own while others build on each other. We also share a family story of our own, including how a last-minute "whisked away" trip turned into a proposal.

Whether you want something you can pull together tonight or a surprise that takes days or weeks of planning, there's an idea for you. Grab our free downloadable PDF with all 17 ideas, plus links to everything we mention below:

• Get a personalized fish tank sign: https://sometimessailing.com/dm6n
• Buy a message in a bottle: https://sometimessailing.com/avd2
• See our SHOP MY page for our OMEGA Sailing Bracelet & Wildwood Oyster Company Seaweed Bracelet: https://shopmy.us/collections/6212017
• Our favorite high-quality memory books: https://sometimessailing.com/867d (read why we love them here: https://sometimeshome.com/high-quality-photo-books-travel/ )
• Our Amazon List has great ideas to include in a cruise-themed gift basket: https://amzn.to/4xFmv0A

✨ Get the FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF with all 17 ideas on this page: https://sometimessailing.com/surprise-cruise-reveal-ideas/ ✨

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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-cruise itinerary, including the convenient and delightful hotels where we stayed along the coast and what slow travel in Maine actually looks like, from what to pack to where to eat along the way.

This one's built for planning: we'll walk through how much drive time to budget between towns, rental car tips, and the easy-to-miss logistics like return-time cutoffs and why a buffer day on each end of your cruise makes the whole trip less stressful.

Join us as we take you through:

• Flying into Portland, Maine and renting a car (and the one VERY important thing to keep in mind when booking flights and a tip for your car rental)
• Staying in Lincolnville and visiting Camden and Belfast, Maine
• Exploring Rockland before and after our Maine Windjammer Cruise
• Enjoying time at Higgins Beach in Scarborough

Read the article on our site *with photos* of everywhere we went and stayed: https://sometimessailing.com/7-day-road-trip-along-maines-coast/

Hotels we stayed in:

• Inn at Ocean’s Edge: https://www.innatoceansedge.com/
• 250 Main: https://www.250mainhotel.com/
• Higgins Beach Inn: https://www.higginsbeachinn.com/

More helpful info from this episode:

• The mosquitoes are out in Maine during summer! Prepare by buying a Bug Bite Thing https://amzn.to/4tzFG9M or Mikkel’s favorite electronic mosquito bite zapper to fight those pesky bugs https://amzn.to/4sSp4u2
• Helpful things to know about Maine during summer: https://sometimeshome.com/planning-trip-to-maine-in-summer-things-to-know/
• Maine Windjammer Packing List: https://sometimessailing.com/printable-maine-windjammer-packing-list/ (includes a video)
• Foods to eat in Maine: https://sometimeshome.com/food-maine-is-known-for/
• Travel watercolors set: https://link.amazon/B0imP44Ht
• Sea Bags: https://sometimessailing.com/sea-bags-sustainable-bags-from-sails/
• Acadia Guide Along: https://sometimessailing.com/pnoq

Find out more about our Maine Windjammer Cruise experience on Grace Bailey: https://pod.link/1802110861/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTQ2NjI5NA

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 cat, named Fiji, who steals the show.

Join us to learn about the accommodations, food, and the realities of sleeping below deck crew traffic — plus what to pack, how the honor-system doors work, and why carabiners became our best friend on board. We also get into the cost, from the per-person price to the Maine resident discount, and explain why Grace Bailey's "Captain's Choice" itinerary means no two cruises look the same.

If you've never considered a Maine Windjammer cruise, or didn't know they existed, this episode will help you decide if slow, unplugged sailing is for you.

Helpful resources from this episode:

• Maine Windjammer Packing List: https://sometimessailing.com/printable-maine-windjammer-packing-list/
• Bug Bite Thing (doesn’t require batteries): https://amzn.to/4byBC2Z
• Insect Bite Healer (this little gadget is amazing - we use this one the most to deal with bug bites): https://amzn.to/4gvhkuH
• All About Stonington Maine (a port town on many Maine Windjammer cruises): https://sometimessailing.com/things-to-do-in-stonington-maine/
• Foods Maine is Known For (blueberries, lobster, hot dogs, & more): https://sometimeshome.com/food-maine-is-known-for/

Listen to our additional Maine Windjammer Cruise episodes:

• Part 1: Sailing Cruises on Historic Maine Windjammer Ships: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18500617
• Part 2: Maine Island Hopping on a Windjammer Sailing Cruise: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18537898

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 - Once-in-a-Lifetime Flotilla featuring Two Historic Maine Windjammer Cruise Ships: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/19344675
• Part 1: Sailing Cruises on Historic Maine Windjammer Ships: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18500617
• Part 2: Maine Island Hopping on a Windjammer Sailing Cruise: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18537898

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

⚓️ 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 life gets in the way.

Find & Follow Danielle:

• Danielle's website: https://thoughtcard.com/
• The Thought Card podcast: https://thoughtcard.com/podcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellecorbett
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thedaniellecorbett

📖 Get Danielle's Books:

• We Are Financially Savvy Travelers: https://amzn.to/4b0Ob6Y​​
• Affording Travel: https://amzn.to/4vMAjp4

💰Helpful money apps and programs to help make your cruise wishes come true, mentioned during the episode:

• Monarch: get 50% off using our signup link: https://sometimessailing.com/monarch
• Rakuten: sign up with our link, get $50 – https://sometimessailing.com/rakuten
• Fetch: https://fetch.com/ – use INVITE CODE: TMEK67 (**must be used when you sign up, before you snap your first receipt**)
• Travel insurance: https://sometimessailing.com/tr-insure

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Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

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©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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's river vessels), the ports, when to go, and how to get there — including a practical tip about open-jaw itineraries that fellow passengers clued us in on.

The ports — Amelia Island, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Charleston — each brought something different, and the scenery sailing through the Low Country marshes was stunning. We also get into the excursions worth booking and wrap up with honest thoughts on who this cruise is really ideal for and whether the price is worth it.

Links from this episode:

• 🍽️ See everything we ate during this cruise on our YouTube channel (don’t forget to subscribe!): https://youtu.be/IZKbztkTJOg
• 👀 These are the best binoculars for your travels: https://sometimessailing.com/best-binoculars-for-alaska-antarctica-cruise-leupold-bx-2-alpine-hd-review/

For more episodes about American Cruise Lines:

• Listen to our Tennessee River Cruise episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18904212
• All About USA River Cruises with American Cruise Lines: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/17477271

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

🇺🇸 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 Armstrong, Communications Director for Sail4th 250, and Captain Tyler of American Eagle — one of two Maine Windjammer schooners sailing in the Parade alongside Angelique.

We cover what makes this event so rare, how 5 years of international coordination made it happen, and why a ship from India is sailing over 12,000 miles just to be there.

Whether you're heading to New York in person or watching on NBC, we've got you covered: where to watch from shore, how to bring your own boat into the harbor, which ships to look for, and how to track every tall ship in real time using the Aqua Map app.

We also share what it means to us personally, including why Mikkel has been dreaming about this moment since childhood, as she looks at a 1976 flotilla poster on her parents' wall.

🦅 Find out what it's like to sail on American Eagle:

• Part 1: Sailing Cruises on Historic Maine Windjammer Ships: https://sometimessailing.com/gczo
• Part 2: Maine Island Hopping on a Windjammer Sailing Cruise: https://sometimessailing.com/8xhm
• Maine Windjammer firsthand accounts, our website, with photos: https://sometimessailing.com/category/cruise-lines/maine-windjammer/

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sail4th 250 event https://sail4th.org/ & the Tall Ships "encyclopedia" https://sail4th.org/tall-ships
• Aqua Map app for iPhone - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aqua-map-boating/id919552329 — or Android — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gec.MarineApp.WorldViewerLite&hl=en_US

🇺🇸 Subscribe and follow! We'll be back after July 4th with a live recap episode.

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 platform with stationed local hosts. A hotspot and battery pack are likely essential for this type of experience. Our favorite battery pack is this: https://amzn.to/4uiKG2C – and our essential hotspot is explained here: https://sometimessailing.com/6nm8
• Celebrity Takeover Series - one private, exclusive event per sailing

We share our honest take on whether this is a genuine shift toward immersive river cruising or clever marketing, and where we think the real operational challenges lie.

We also touch on what's included in the base fare, how gratuities work, pre- and post-cruise stay options in Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam, and what details we're still waiting on before the 2027 debut.

If you're watching Celebrity River Cruises — whether you've already booked or you're on the fence — this episode is your update.

Helpful links from this episode include:

• Celebrity River Cruises: Early Insights & Expectations podcast episode Audio version: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18599836 YouTube version: https://youtu.be/oP_tGXG7ixI
• Utilize Mikkel's Travel Planning services: https://sometimessailing.com/au63
• See renderings of the Celebrity River Cruise ships on our website: https://sometimessailing.com/celebrity-cruises-makes-waves-ocean-cruise-line-enters-the-river-cruise-market/
• Book tickets for a private concert in Vienna: https://sometimessailing.com/dhhs

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 structured, what a typical day looks like, how the floating campus model creates a real learning experience without feeling like a classroom, and how solo travelers are set up to actually connect with people.

If you've ever wondered what separates a Road Scholar cruise from just booking any small ship sailing, this conversation answers that.

Then Wendy Baldwin — a Road Scholar veteran with 22+ programs completed — shares what it's actually like to be on these trips as a solo traveler. She's cruised to Holland, Greenland, Scotland, Antarctica, and Norway with Road Scholar, and she's headed to Patagonia next!

More importantly, she was skeptical of group travel before her first program. If you are too, you'll want to hear what changed her mind.

By the end of this episode, you'll know whether Road Scholar is the right fit for the way you want to travel.

Check out the Road Scholar Facebook groups:

https://sometimessailing.com/RS-FB

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 excited to see it through fresh eyes.

We cover:

• Cruising on the same line vs. a new one
• When ports aren't the same twice
• Seasonal timing
• Themed departures
• Managing expectations of yourself, family and friends
• Visa and logistics traps to avoid
• And practical tips to consider before you book

Download our free worksheet to decide if repeating a cruise itinerary is right for you: https://sometimes-sailing.myflodesk.com/i0ol4p9hg9

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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's new in onboard drinks (including gluten-free beer, sake, and rosé spritzes) and cocktails, featuring standout spirits and beverage innovations from Seatrade Miami's F&B at Sea event that we think you'll start seeing on cruise ships very soon. (Just when you think juices can't get more interesting, we share what we learned about innovation in a glass, as we saw with Jucify!)

Learn more about cruise lines like Century Cruises, AmaWaterways, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Atlas Ocean Voyages, and HX Expeditions.

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or still on the fence, this episode will open your eyes to how much the industry is evolving, and why now is a great time to get on board.

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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 commentary directly to your ear and tips you’ll want to remember about them for your cruise.

We also share the simple hack we use to ditch that awkward earpiece entirely (the AirFly by Twelve South, linked below) so you can use your own wireless headphones or AirPods instead.

We cover the differences between the AirFly SE and AirFly Pro, the cost, tips for hearing aid users, and why setting it up before you leave home is a must.

Whether you're a Quietvox veteran or have never heard of one, this episode will help you hear more, stress less, and look a little less like a tourist as you explore your next port.

Please consider using our affiliate links to purchase an AirFly:

• AirFly Pro 2 —connects two pairs of headphones to one device: https://amzn.to/3OamYGS
• AirFly SE: https://amzn.to/4e2phWY
• AirFly case: https://amzn.to/4edjQo2

Thank you for supporting our podcast!

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

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, alligator adventures, catamaran cruises, deep sea fishing, and more. Lastly, we’ll let you know what to bring along with you if you decide to sign up for one (like motion sickness medicine, just in case, and sun-blocking essentials).

During this episode, we mention:

• Motion sickness remedies: https://sometimessailing.com/anti-nausea-medication-cruise-sea-sickness-solutions/
• Mikkel’s favorite electronic mosquito bite zapper to fight those pesky bugs: https://amzn.to/4sSp4u2
• Or use the Bug Bite Thing: https://amzn.to/4tzFG9M
• Our favorite excursions in Ketchikan: https://sometimessailing.com/ketchikan-top-activities-things-to-do-with-useful-area-info-map/

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday.

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 https://sometimessailing.com/ has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.