Beyond the day-by-day port posts, this is the practical and the reflective side of the blog. Here’s where you’ll find the tour companies and private drivers we’d book again without a second thought, the port-by-port guides and precruise recaps that pull a whole trip together in one place, and the longer articles and reviews where we step back to write about a theme, a region, or an experience rather than a single day. If you’re planning your own trip and want the condensed, practical version of ours, start here.
Ways to Wander:
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Holland America: First Impressions of the Rotterdam
After 25 years on Princess Cruises, we tried Holland America’s Rotterdam. Here’s why we switched and our first impressions of the ship.
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Pre-Cruise Recap: Amsterdam, Delft & Rotterdam Overview
Why we build in pre-cruise days before embarkation, plus an overview of our stops in Amsterdam, Delft, and Rotterdam ahead of boarding Holland America’s Rotterdam.
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Iceland Cruise Ports Roundup: Reykjavík, Grundarfjörður, Ísafjörður & Akureyri
A port-by-port guide to our four Iceland cruise stops — Reykjavík, Grundarfjörður, Ísafjörður, and Akureyri — food, hikes, and highlights.
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Milan, Verona & Bologna: A Northern Italy Pre-Cruise Recap
Our pre-cruise stay in Milan, Verona, and Bologna — Lake Garda wine, a Bologna food tour, and a Rome stopover on the way to the ship.
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48 Hours in York: A Weekend Recap
Our 48-hour weekend in York — city walls, York Minster, Museum Gardens, Fish & Forest, Pairings Wine Bar, and Hooting Owl Distillery.
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Norway Fjords Cruise Ports Roundup: Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger, Olden & Stavanger
A port-by-port guide to our five Norwegian fjords cruise stops — Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger, Olden, and Stavanger — hikes, sails, and views.