Secrets The Crew Want Us To Know About (And Some They DON'T!) (Podcast #490)

I abandoned my ship mid-cruise for three days to see one of the most iconic sights in the world: Machu Picchu. But after booking an eye-wateringly expensive $5,000 excursion with Holland America, I started to realise just how much could go wrong. Machu Picchu is not a simple shore excursion. It's over 300 miles inland, deep in the Andes, and getting there requires a tightly choreographed chain of flights, buses, trains, and timed entry tickets. One delay, one missed connection, or a bout of altitude sickness, and the whole costly trip could unravel. In this video, I take you along on my journey from the MS Oosterdam in Lima to the "Lost City of the Incas." Join me as I discover if this was an incredible, never-to-forget adventure or a stressful, $5,000 mistake. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

It took a lot of coaxing — and in some cases, waiting until crew had left life at sea — to uncover what actually happens behind the scenes on a cruise ship that most passengers have no idea about, and how they work. And how by knowing passengers can use it to improve their cabin and cruise These are the insider insights that most passengers never hear — but once you know them, you'll cruise very differently. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

Solo cruising is getting harder… and most people haven't noticed yet. After 87 solo cruises, I'm seeing some big changes that could make cruising alone more expensive, more limited — and in some cases, much less enjoyable. In this video, I reveal what's really going on behind the scenes… and what I now do differently to make solo cruising still work - including the success I have had and what I do to avoid paying double and the same price for two people. If you cruise solo — or are thinking about it — this is something you need to know. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

For years, I've shared what I believed were the smartest cruise tips—strategies that worked time and time again. But on my most recent cruise, something surprising happened. By doing the opposite of what I used to recommend, I walked straight through embarkation with no lines, no waiting… and was in my cabin within minutes. It made me question everything. Are some of the most widely shared cruise tips now completely outdated? In this video, I take a hard look at several long-standing pieces of cruise advice—ones I've personally recommended for years—and reveal why they may no longer work the way they once did. Cruising has changed. Ships are fuller, demand is higher, and the way cruise lines operate is evolving fast. And that means some of the "rules" many cruisers still follow could actually be costing time, money, and even enjoyment. If you're planning a cruise—or already have one booked—this could completely change how you approach it. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

If I could only cruise 10 more times in my life… these are the ones I would choose. After 20+ years and 128 cruises, I've discovered that not all cruises are created equal. Some are enjoyable… but others are truly life-changing. In this video, I count down the ocean cruises that stand above all others — the ones I believe every serious traveller should have on their bucket list. These aren't just popular itineraries. These are journeys that deliver unforgettable wildlife encounters, breathtaking scenery, iconic maritime experiences, and moments that genuinely change how you see the world. But there's a twist. Along the way, I also reveal why three cruises most people think belong on a bucket list… actually don't — and what you should do instead. From dramatic glaciers and remote polar regions, to culturally rich destinations and one-of-a-kind ocean experiences, this is based entirely on what I've personally experienced — paying my own way, just like you. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

After 128 cruises over two decades, I've learned that while most cruises are fantastic… some are simply not worth the money. In this video I reveal 7 cruises I regret taking and now actively avoid — even though many travellers still book them thinking they're getting a great deal. Some of these cruises look incredible in the brochure, others seem like obvious bargains, and a few are even considered "bucket list" sailings. But after experiencing them myself, I discovered why they can lead to disappointment, frustration, or simply poor value for money. In this video I explain: • The cruise that looks like the perfect way to try cruising — but often isn't • The extremely popular cruise many people dream about that didn't live up to expectations • The cruise timing mistake that can ruin an otherwise great itinerary • Why certain new ships and launches can disappoint early passengers • The itinerary issue that can leave you seeing far less than you expected • The booking situation that can quietly change the whole experience onboard • And the weather-related mistake many cruisers make without realising These are lessons I learned the hard way after spending years and a small fortune cruising the world. Hopefully they'll help you avoid making the same costly mistakes.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

adults can cruise for far less than they think. In this video I cover: Adult-only ocean and river cruise lines, The surprising world of chartered "grown-up" cruises, How to find peace on family ships, Private island adult areas you might not know about, job-based discounts, and more Whether you cruise as a couple, solo, or occasionally with kids or grandchildren, these are the smart moves adult cruisers should know about.  ***** GET 10% OFF ANY OF THE CRUISE MAPS PRODUCTS AT HTTPS://WWW.THECRUISEMAPS.COM/TFT (OR USE THE CODE "TFT" AT CHECK OUT)   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

In the last few years, I've cruised on all five of the major Small Ship Luxury cruise lines — multiple times on each — and I discovered something most cruisers are never told. They may all be grouped together by the industry, but they deliver very different experiences. In this video I put the five head-to-head: Oceania Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Explora Journeys, Windstar Cruises, and Azamara I reveal: ✔️ Where each one genuinely shines ✔️ The weaknesses most brochures don't highlight ✔️ What catches Premium cruisers out when they "upgrade" ✔️ How they compare to Ultra-Luxury lines ✔️ Who should — and absolutely should NOT — cruise on each   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

I've sailed five times with Oceania Cruises across three different ship classes, most recently on a 19-night Sydney to Papeete voyage on Riviera. It's a cruise line I choose to return to and often recommend. But here's the truth. I regularly hear from viewers who board expecting something extraordinary… and leave wondering what all the hype was about. So in this video I'm being completely frank about five areas that are often misunderstood, where the expectations created by the marketing don't always match what people actually experience — and importantly where that really matters and where it doesn't.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

If you're planning a cruise in the next 12 months, be warned — cruising is changing, and some of the biggest shifts are happening quietly behind the scenes. Cruising this year is going to feel very different from what many of us are used to. In this, I unpack six major changes every cruiser needs to know, explain why they matter, and show you how they could directly affect your next cruise — whether you're booking for the first time or you've cruised many times before. These are the changes many cruisers won't realise until it's too late — and that's exactly why you need to watch this before you book or board. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT