Just a quick message to apologise for being slightly quieter on here… if you didn’t know, we are currently in the process of packing up our life into 2 suitcases and moving to the other side of the world! (Scotland to Malaysia). We have sold our home so it is all a bit mad, as well as we are on a cruise from New York NEXT WEEK!! So trying to get organised for this too.😂 as well as daily life/work/family commitments. It is very busy/chaotic, but I know all the stress will be worth it! We are embarking on Odyessy of the seas from New York. It is a 15 night transatlantic cruise.🤩🛳️ We will be posting updates in here whilst onboard and answering any of your questions.

I posted a video on my socials yesterday around how we tend to avoid the buffet on cruise ships at breakfast as they can be pretty crazy…😅🍽️ It is getting a debate going so I would love to know where you guys prefer too!👇

I never thought we would need the cruise ship’s doctor… After all of our cruises, we have never once had to visit the onboard doctors.🤞🏻 Then on our last repositioning cruise (35 nights), on day 4 of 10 consecutive sea days, I needed to see the doctor. With no ports coming up or no pharmacies, I really had no choice! For something that back home would have been a quick GP visit, or in port could have been sorted at a local pharmacy for about $10…😅 When I called to see the doctor, I was advised the cost just to see to see the doctor would cost $250. That was before any treatment.😅 The medical team were fantastic. Really thorough, professional, and hard working. They don’t get talked about enough. I walked out with antibiotics and a total bill of $325, for medication I could have got for free back home (NHS). Luckily, I had travel insurance through my bank that covered it. But it was a proper wake-up call. If I didn’t hadn’t have this, that would have been $325 gone on something minor. Now imagine a broken bone. Or something that needs evacuation off the ship.🫣😅 Here is what we have learned and what we would tell anyone booking a cruise right now: 1. First, make sure cruise cover is actually mentioned in your policy wording. Not implied. Not assumed. Mentioned clearly. 2. Second, check medical at sea and emergency evacuation cover. Treatment onboard can be expensive, and evacuation costs can escalate very quickly. 3. Third, look for missed departure cover. If your flight is delayed and you miss the ship, that’s not a cheap problem to solve. 4. Fourth, check for cabin confinement compensation. If you are confined to your cabin due to illness, some policies will compensate you for lost days. 5. Fifth, check the medical limit and the excess. A cheaper policy often means higher excess or lower cover limits. 6. Sixth, if you have medical conditions, declare them properly. Non-disclosure is one of the most common reasons claims get rejected. 7. Your cruise line’s travel insurance isn’t always the best option. It is convenient but it’s not always the most comprehensive or the best value. Shop around and compare what’s actually covered, not just the price.

If you are not familiar, wave season runs January to March. It is when cruise lines release their biggest deals of the year to fill ships. We are halfway through it right now. Have you booked anything during wave season this year? Or do you book at a different time of year?🛳️

We have got a growing community here and I am curious where everyone’s loyalty sits (or doesn’t).😅 If your loyalty does sit with one cruise line, it would be great to know why!👇 Or, if I have not mentioned your cruise line, pop it in the comments below!☺️👇