Special Episode: Alaska Before and Beyond the Port - Raven and the Box of Daylight

This episode is a narrative exploration of Alaska's history, culture, and folklore, based on publicly available historical records, oral traditions, and multiple secondary sources. Details are presented for educational and storytelling purposes and may reflect differing historical interpretations. Legends and traditional stories are shared respectfully and in context. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any historical institution, cultural group, or cruise line. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

This special episode is a narrative exploration of Alaska's history, culture, and folklore, based on publicly available historical records, oral traditions, and multiple secondary sources. Details are presented for educational and storytelling purposes and may reflect differing historical interpretations. Legends and traditional stories are shared respectfully and in context. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any historical institution, cultural group, or cruise line. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

This special episode is a narrative exploration of Alaska's history, culture, and folklore, based on publicly available historical records, oral traditions, and multiple secondary sources. Details are presented for educational and storytelling purposes and may reflect differing historical interpretations. Legends and traditional stories are shared respectfully and in context. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any historical institution, cultural group, or cruise line. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

Cruising as an older teen or young adult can feel… awkward. You're too old for the kids club, not quite an "adult cruiser," and trying to figure out if cruising is actually fun at 18–25. In this episode, we break down exactly what cruising is like for older teens and young adults — the good, the weird, and what no one really talks about. We cover: Whether cruising feels awkward at this age (and why) How cruising changes as you grow up What an average day on a cruise ship looks like for 18+ The parts of cruising we don't love What we wish more people understood about cruising The best cruise destinations for teens & young adults Dream travel destinations (cruise and non-cruise) Cruise fashion tips Packing tips, including: Top 5 must-pack items Bonus items that make cruising way better If you're 18+, cruising without kids clubs, or traveling as a young adult and wondering if cruising is worth it — this episode is for you. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

New Zealand has a reputation for being breathtaking—but what is it actually like to experience it by cruise? In this episode, I'm sharing a port-by-port review of my New Zealand itinerary, including Waiheke Island in Auckland, a pearl farm and beachcomber cruise in Picton, Lord of the Rings filming locations in Christchurch, wildlife encounters in Dunedin with Nature's Wonders, and scenic cruising through Milford Sound. Next week, I'll also share my honest review of the ship and explain why it plays such a big role when cruising to destinations like New Zealand. If New Zealand is on your travel list, or you're curious whether a cruise is the right way to experience it, this episode offers a grounded, realistic look at what makes this destination so special. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

This episode is a narrative exploration of Alaska's history, culture, and folklore, based on publicly available historical records, oral traditions, and multiple secondary sources. Details are presented for educational and storytelling purposes and may reflect differing historical interpretations. Legends and traditional stories are shared respectfully and in context. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any historical institution, cultural group, or cruise line. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

The boys fill in while Sheri is gallivanting around New Zealand. NO SHERI! Mr. CTTV and Jr. take over the podcast and ramble on about cruising out of Galveston, what Carnival Legend is like, and Carnival's new private island, Celebration Key. If you have teens, you'll want to tune into this one. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

In this episode, we're breaking down our full Carnival Legend experience—from embarkation and debarkation to ports, food, and onboard service. Plus, we share a quick but exciting announcement about our upcoming Discovery Princess cruise to New Zealand and why this return means so much to us. If you're considering Carnival Legend or just love cruise talk, this one's for you. Follow and chat with us live on AmazonLive! at https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

In this episode, we're reflecting on everything 2025 brought—from some great family cruises and trips and behind-the-scenes cruise line previews. We reveal our next cruise on Carnival Legend, talk about what drew us to this sailing, and share what we'll be covering once onboard, including food, ports, and value for the price. We also share a brief life and health update, say thank you for the support, and tease another big cruise on the horizon. If you love cruising, honest reflections, and a peek at what's coming next, this episode is for you. https://www.amazon.com/live/cruisetipstv

As 2025 comes to a close, we're taking an honest look back at Cruising in 2025: What We Got Right, What Surprised Us, What Missed the Mark at the year in cruising—what we got right, what genuinely surprised us, and what didn't quite live up to the hype. In this Unplugged episode, we talk through the trends we accurately predicted, the changes we didn't see coming, and the cruise lines that quietly over-delivered when no one was looking. We also dig into the ideas that sounded great on paper but fell short in real life, and how our own cruising habits, expectations, and mindset shifted over the past year.  We wrap things up by looking ahead to 2026—what we're excited about, what we're cautiously optimistic about, and what we're hoping cruise lines continue to get right. No hot takes for the sake of hot takes—just thoughtful reflection from a year at sea and where we see cruising heading next. Download our shore day bag checklist and more cruise packing and planning checklists & videos by joining the CruiseTipsTV Academy at https://academy.cruisetipstv.com