As the music reached the part where E.T. is going home, the gentleman sitting next to me pointed and told me to look. At almost exactly that moment, a SpaceX rocket was streaking across the sky. The orchestra was playing that incredibly emotional John Williams score and, overhead, an actual rocket was taking off into space.

Of course, I grabbed my phone and started recording. I managed to capture the rocket climbing into the night sky while the orchestra played E.T. behind it. It was one of those moments where you sit there thinking, “Seriously? This is happening right now?”

This is not a paid piece by Holland America Line. No perks, no upgrades, no behind-the-scenes access. Just experience.

One of the things I appreciate most about cruising with Holland America is that you are never far from a quiet space if that is what you want. There are lounges where people read or play cards, observation areas where you can sit and watch the ocean for hours, and libraries that feel like they belong in a completely different era of travel.

It is not a constant party atmosphere, and I say that as a compliment, not a criticism. There is something very grounding about being able to choose quiet without having to search too hard for it.

It hasn’t been that long of a distance, just one state over. It was once every six months, then every two weeks, and now every three months. It’s not anything we expected to become used to, and, honestly, short road trips like that aren’t necessarily my jam.

At least, that’s what I initially thought.

Sponsored by Holland America Line. I rarely share sponsored content, but this announcement immediately caught my attention because it aligns with something I've been saying for years. Some of the best travel experiences happen outside peak season.

When most people dream about a European vacation, they picture sunny summer days and crowded landmarks. But after years of traveling, I've become a big believer in shoulder season and off-season adventures. Fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and a slower pace are exactly what make travel enjoyable for me.

This is not a paid piece by Holland America Line. No perks, no upgrades, no behind-the-scenes access. Just experience.

Maybe that "great deal" on a forward cabin came with a little more motion than you bargained for. Maybe being close to public spaces seemed wonderfully convenient until you discovered people are perfectly happy to discuss the evening show outside your door while you're trying to sleep. Or perhaps that tiny symbol on the deck plan that meant absolutely nothing at the time turned out to be the galley above your head or a music venue below your feet.

None of these things are dramatic, and honestly, most of them are minor. But cruising is very much a sum of small details, and over the course of a week or two, those little details can add up to the difference between a good cruise and a great one.