The journal

Every trip leaves a story.
Here are ours.

We write about every trip we take — the moments that surprised us, the things we'd do differently, and the bits worth stealing for your own travels. Pour a coffee and stay a while.

Bahamas · Royal Caribbean Vision · March 13–21, 2026

Eight nights in the Bahamas

The smaller-ship, slower-pace version of a Caribbean week. Sea days, beach days, and balcony mornings.

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British Isles · NCL Dawn · July 29 – August 8, 2025

Eleven nights around Ireland and the British Isles

Cliffs, castles, harbor towns, and Guinness in its native country. Our first time sailing British waters.

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London · July 26–29, 2025 · Pre-cruise

Four days in summer London

Long evenings, pub gardens, theatre, parks — and the best lead-in to a British Isles cruise.

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Western Caribbean · Royal Caribbean Harmony · April 6–13, 2025

The Western Caribbean on a very large ship

The big-ship version of a Caribbean week — Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, CocoCay, and three classic ports.

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Europe · NCL Star · October 10–20, 2024

Eleven days across Europe by sea

Cobblestones, harbor towns, tiny espressos in too-small cups, and a lot of walking. Why we'd do Europe by ship again.

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Alaska · NCL Bliss · May 10–18, 2024

Seven days through the Inside Passage

Tidewater glaciers, brown bears, and a crab feast in Ketchikan. Our complete log from a week aboard.

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Mexican Riviera · NCL Joy · February 19–24, 2023

Five nights on the Mexican Riviera

Cabo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta — the short LA-roundtrip cruise that's perfect for a winter sanity break.

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Panama · NCL Joy · December 4–18, 2022

Through the canal, into the warm

Two weeks crossing one of the seven engineering wonders of the world. The trip that turned us into Panama Canal evangelists.

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Ensenada · Carnival Radiance · November 4–7, 2022

A long weekend in Ensenada

The 3-night Long Beach-to-Mexico run — the easiest way to test-drive cruising or grab a fast reset.

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Alaska · NCL Jewel · September 26 – October 2, 2022

Our first Alaska, in autumn light

The fall version of the Inside Passage — gold light, fewer crowds, dramatic weather. The trip that started everything.

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Mexican Riviera · Carnival Panorama · February 19–26, 2022

Seven nights on the Mexican Riviera

Same coast, a year earlier, on Carnival's newest Vista-class ship — the 7-night version with proper sea-day breathing room.

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Mexican Riviera · Carnival Miracle · December 1–8, 2019

The Mexican Riviera, in December

The pre-pandemic December run on Carnival Miracle — quieter on-ship vibe, holiday-decorated, perfect warm-weather Christmas escape.

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Mexican Riviera · NCL Bliss · October 6–13, 2019

Mexican Riviera on the Bliss

Same ship we later took to Alaska, here on a 7-night Mexico run — newer-ship polish, NCL Freestyle flexibility.

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Baja · Carnival Imagination · May 2–5, 2019

A long Baja weekend

3-night Long Beach → Catalina → Ensenada. The cheapest cruise from California — and an easy first-cruise test.

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Mexican Riviera · Carnival Valor · February 18–23, 2019

Mexican Riviera on the Valor

5-night to Cabo on Carnival's mid-size Conquest-class ship. Throwback Carnival energy.

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London · February 19–22, 2018 · Winter

Four days in winter London

Half the price, a third of the crowds. Why winter might be the best season to see the city.

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Hawaii · Carnival Miracle · October 15–30, 2016

Sixteen days, four islands, one Pacific

The classic round-trip Hawaii cruise — five sea days, four islands, and the kind of warm trade winds that ruin you for regular vacations.

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Southern Caribbean · Carnival Valor · October 27 – November 3, 2013

The Southern Caribbean, slow and salty

The Caribbean below the hurricane belt — calmer water, smaller crowds, six countries in a week.

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Hawaii · Land tour · April 19–30, 2005

Hawaii, by land — twenty years ago

Our oldest documented trip. Twelve days, four islands, the vacation that started everything.

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National Parks · Coming soon

Big Sky, bigger silence

A week chasing geysers, bison, and starlight in Yellowstone & the Tetons.

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