Before You Pick an Alaska Cruise, Answer These Questions
Alaska cruises are not one-size-fits-all. The clients who come in having thought through these questions get better trips. Here's the checklist we wish everyone worked through before picking up the phone.
When Should You Cruise Alaska? A Month-by-Month Guide (From People Who've Actually Been There)
The right time to cruise Alaska depends entirely on what you're looking for. Here's our honest month-by-month breakdown - from wildflowers in May to the Northern Lights in September - with firsthand notes from our own July sailing.
The Group Trip Where Nobody Has to Compromise - And Nobody Gets Left Behind
A card game in the Inside Passage. Private dinners with each couple. A birthday spa afternoon. Running into your people on the streets of a tiny Alaskan town. Here's what we learned about group travel from our own Alaska sailing.
"I'm Not Sure How The Cruise Line Makes Any Money!"
"I'll be honest - this was the most expensive vacation we've ever taken. But now that I've been on the ship and I see everything that's included ... I'm not sure how they make any money." Here's what a skeptic discovered about premium all-inclusive cruising.
3 Reasons to Start Your Alaska Cruise in Vancouver (And Why We Always Arrive Early)
If you're planning an Alaska cruise and you have a choice between Seattle and Vancouver - choose Vancouver. We just did it. Here's why it wins, what to do when you get there, and the U.S. law that makes Canada a required stop anyway.
Marylander Goes to Alaska. Here's What Happened.
I went to Alaska as a certified expert. I came back as a believer. Here's what the scale, Hubbard Glacier, and the salmon I never saw taught me - and why none of it was what I expected.
Notes from the Co-Founder Who Hugged a Bear
I knew Alaska intellectually. I'd spent months helping prepare other people for it. And then I got there. Here are the moments I didn't see coming - and the ones I keep thinking about.
Why You Might Love Explora Journeys in Alaska (Even If You've Never Heard of Them)
There’s a ship that hasn’t sailed Alaska yet. It won’t until 2027. And we’re already talking about it. Here’s why EXPLORA III ended up on our Alaska Shortlist - and who it’s right for.
Why You Might Love Azamara in Alaska (And Why the Itinerary Is the Whole Point)
A traveler told us she finished her Alaska cruise feeling like she'd barely gotten there before it was time to turn around. Here's the itinerary we'd recommend instead - and why 11 nights changes everything.
Why You Might Love Virgin Voyages in Alaska (Even If You've Never Thought of Yourself as a Cruiser)
Most cruise lines bring their standard product to Alaska and add a few whale-watching lectures. Virgin Voyages asked a more interesting question. Here's what Brilliant Lady actually looks like up north - and who it's right for.
Your Brain Is Already in Alaska. Here's Why That's a Good Thing.
Psychologists have found that anticipating a trip triggers a dopamine release that can outlast the vacation itself. Here's what that means for the Alaska trip you keep putting off.
Inside a Client Proposal: How We Found the Right Japan Cruise for a Couple Who Needed It Most
They came to us with a non-negotiable: Okinawa. One partner has Japanese heritage. The other has been hearing her father's stories about the island her whole life. Here's how we found the right cruise - and what we told them wouldn't work.
The Best Gift You Can Give Your People This Holiday Season Is a Ship
Someone else handles the food, the gathering spaces, the entertainment, and the cleanup. Everyone shows up to the same place and actually gets to be present with each other. That's what a festive season cruise looks like.
We Don't Really Sell Luxury. We Sell This.
63% of affluent travelers say unique experiences are their primary motivation for travel. Just 1% cited status. Here's what that means for how we think about the word "luxury" - and what we actually look for instead.
What Happened When Our Client Had to Cancel Her Alaska Cruise (And Why She Got Every Penny Back)
She had been planning her first Alaska cruise for almost a year. Then her doctor told her she needed surgery. Here's what happened next - and why she didn't lose a penny of her $7,000 investment.
Why Your Team Needs You to Leave
There's a story a lot of leaders tell themselves about why they can't take a vacation. Here's the uncomfortable truth: staying isn't leadership. In many cases, it's the thing holding your team back.
Why 10 Days Might Be the Most Important Number in Travel
It takes the average American four days to stop thinking about work on vacation. For a week-long trip, that leaves less than half your time actually resting. Here's the case for going longer.
The 4-Night Way Into Luxury Cruising (And Why Everything Is Already Done For You)
Four nights. Ocean-front suite. Every experience pre-arranged before you board. Here's why Explora Journeys' shorter sailings might be the most effortless introduction to luxury cruising you'll find.
The Mediterranean in Winter Is the Best Travel Secret Nobody's Talking About
More than ten years ago, we sailed the Mediterranean in November. We had it almost entirely to ourselves - and it quietly changed the way I think about travel.
Five Cities. Seven Nights. Zero Check-Ins.
Five destinations. Seven nights. Zero check-ins, zero airport runs, zero "who has the booking confirmation." Here's the mental math that convinced our clients to ditch the land trip.