Forget what you think you know about cruising. For us, a ship is often the ultimate strategic tool—not a vacation destination! This category details how we use one-way voyages to bridge massive gaps in our year-long itineraries, effortlessly crossing oceans and continents—like sailing from Europe all the way to Madagascar.
These trips are our fast-track access to some of the planet’s most epic and remote destinations, from the icy wilderness of Antarctica to the unique wildlife of the Galapagos. We are masters of the last-minute deal, constantly hunting for fares that keep us under our target of $100 CAD per person, per day. While those bucket-list trips sometimes require a higher fare, you’ll find all the tips, tricks, and reviews on how we maximize big travel via sea, one smart crossing at a time.
Our epic Pacific journey cruised from the intimate lagoons of French Polynesia (Bora Bora, Moorea) across four days of open sea to the volcanic shores of Hawaii (Hilo, Kona, Maui). This post covers our entire Tahiti to Honolulu cruise, highlighting the dramatic contrast between two Pacific paradises.
The first leg of our month-long South Pacific cruise took us from Fiji to Tahiti! We detail the dramatic boarding scare, snorkeled the spectacular reef at Dravuni, enjoyed the cultural centre in Samoa, explored the beautiful Cook Islands, and finally reached the paradise of Bora Bora and Moorea.
We scored a 12-day cruise - Cape Town to Mauritius - for just $550! Trading a tent for the Norwegian Dawn, we explored Mossel Bay, survived port chaos in Madagascar to see lemurs (and an ancient tortoise), and snorkeled Réunion's volcanic waters. It was the perfect break before hitting Sri Lanka.
An extensive travelogue of our 21-day cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town. Highlights include the volcanic Canary Islands, the haunting history of Gorée Island (Senegal), the jungle beauty of São Tomé, and the desert landscapes of Walvis Bay (Namibia)
The dramatic, detailed conclusion to our COVID-19 cruise saga: being stranded in the South Pacific, the Canadian plea for help, the Groundhog Day effect on the Norwegian Jewel, and the chaotic, police-escorted transit home via charter flights from Hawaiʻi.
A 23-day cruise from Genoa to Mauritius! We sailed through the Suez Canal, snorkelled the Red Sea, and visited the high-cost islands of Seychelles and Réunion. We share our experience with Costa Cruises, the pirate protocols, and why this budget cruise was the perfect way to get to Madagascar.
Our review of the St. Petersburg visa-free trip from Helsinki! We detail how to handle the tight schedule (57 hours on the ground), the 3-hour immigration lines, a whirlwind tour of the Hermitage and golden domes, a DIY metro tour, and our experience seeing two Russian ballets.
Our Arctic cruise took us from Hamburg to the High Arctic! We reached Svalbard (Longyearbyen, Barentsburg) and saw the polar bear warning signs. We also visited Tromsø (midnight sun), hiked Molde, saw the stunning Geirangerfjord at 5 AM, and navigated life aboard the MSC Preziosa.
We went from a Caribbean Cruise (Panama Canal, Roatán) to a hilarious detour in Colombia (mud bath, road trip), and then booked a last-minute Galápagos yacht trip! Read about my sea lion nip, getting left by the snorkel boat, and finally seeing hammerhead sharks.
We ended our year of adventure with two weeks of Fiji island hopping! Using an Awesome Adventures package, we snorkeled with reef sharks and swam with majestic manta rays. Our itinerary included Bounty Island, Wailaili Island (Naqalia Lodge), and the famous Blue Lagoon caves and coral. Bula!
Aboard the MS Expedition, we experienced the Antarctic peninsula with Drake Lake luck! Witnessing pods of Orcas, up-close encounters with Leopard Seals, being mobbed by curious Gentoo Penguin chicks, exploring historic bases (Port Lockroy), and braving the unforgettable Polar Plunge at Deception Island.
Our complete 21-day back-to-back Mediterranean cruise itinerary: Exploring Dubrovnik, Venice, and Kotor, followed by the historical sites of Ephesus, Knossos, and the highlights of Israel (Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Galilee). A perfect blend of luxury and ancient history.