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.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, which led us to take our time. We stopped often to talk with volunteers, learning everything we could about the animals we encountered. One of the best volunteer stations in the park turned out to be the shaded overlook at the end of the African Plains Trail, where sweeping views of the African savanna stretched out before us.

We stood there talking with a volunteer while watching a baby giraffe run, kick, bounce, and generally behave like a toddler who had just discovered legs. There is something endlessly entertaining about watching a young giraffe trying to figure out what to do with all those long, spindly limbs.

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

Holland America offers several cabin categories, each with pros, cons, and price points.

Before booking, think honestly about how much time you’ll actually spend in your room. That answer alone can save you a lot of money.

Today, I’m going to tell you a story without writing. Enjoy this J.S. Whaldo production. Please expand to full screen, so you can see it all.

Cruising is a fantastic way to travel, blending the thrill of exploring multiple destinations with the comfort and convenience of room and board all in one place. It’s an all-inclusive floating resort that changes scenery from day to day.

However, many things add to the cost of a cruise vacation.  Having cruised for over ten years, I’ve learned many ways to sail and explore the world while staying within a budget and not missing out on the fun. From budget-friendly excursion ideas to money-saving pointers while onboard the ship, these easy tips will help you get the most out of your trip without breaking the bank. 

The idea of swimming alongside “gentle giants” slowly unraveled into something much less calm. I could suddenly picture a massive mouth opening wide, far wider than it needed to be, and me somehow ending up in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time.

In my mind, I was accidentally sucked in, immediately rejected for not being plankton, and then launched back out with enough force to send me flailing through the water like a very confused sardine.

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

Which ship do you want to be on?

With Holland America Line, this matters more than you might think. Their fleet is not one-size-fits-all. Each ship falls into a class, and each class offers a slightly different experience.

The good news is that all of their ships fall into what I would call the “mid-sized” category. You’re not dealing with floating cities packed with thousands upon thousands of passengers. Even their largest ships still feel manageable.

That balance is part of what keeps us coming back.

With rising travel costs, knowing how to save on cruise fares and related travel can make your experience even more enjoyable.

Beyond cruise fare special sales and booking years in advance, there are other ways to make cruising even more budget-friendly.

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

With eleven ships traveling to all seven continents, there isn’t just one “Holland America cruise.” There are hundreds of combinations of destinations, timelines, and experiences. The good news is that you don’t need to figure it all out at once.

This is the exact process Mr. Whaldo and I use every time we start planning a new cruise.

I was going through my photos recently, and it hit me just how many pictures I have of birds. There are other things too, animals, flowers, plenty of bugs and spiders, but mostly birds. So many birds, from all over the world.

It brought back memories of the hikes we’ve taken in so many different places, sometimes with the goal of finding birds, and sometimes not. Yet somehow, we always end up stopping, listening, and searching for the songmaker.

It also reminded me how often my dear husband and I can be deep in conversation, and if I hear a bird call I don’t recognize, or even one I do, I will immediately stop mid-sentence, completely transfixed. It always makes Mr. Whaldo smile.

This is not a paid piece by Holland America Line. No perks, no upgrades, no behind-the-scenes access. Just experience. We’ve cruised with other lines, but we keep coming back to Holland America. Not out of habit, but because it consistently fits how we like to travel.

It comes down to three things. Price point, itineraries, and ship size.

A small group of young men brought instruments, and suddenly live music erupted. The tunes were spontaneous, joyful, and infectious. Everyone swayed, clapped, or danced along.

I asked a few locals about the scene. Each told me the same thing. This was no festival or planned event. It was simply the first warm sunny day of the season. Spring had arrived, and Galway celebrated in its own way. Jackets, shoes, and socks were peeled off as the day warmed up. Music soared, and laughter echoed across the waterfront.

My brother, Mark, is not a backpacker or a tourist.

He is 58 years old. He lives with congestive heart failure and COPD. He walks with a walker. He wears heavy braces that run from his feet to just below his knees. When he stands too long, his legs swell and darken.

He has struggled with addiction. He has made mistakes. He is an imperfect man.

He is also gentle. And trusting. And far more hopeful than the world has often deserved.

And he believed he was loved.

The first thing that completely captured my heart was the wildflowers. They bloom everywhere. Along the roads. Across open fields. Tucked into hillsides you might have ignored in winter. Some of my favorite floral photos were taken this time of year.

I first noticed them while taking Jax to Fiesta Island Dog Park. The fields erupt with color. It is one giant natural photo backdrop. The trails are clear and easy to follow, so walking with your unleashed furry sidekick is not just good exercise, it is genuinely awe-inspiring.

Yes, there is the familiar Caribbean image. Turquoise water that almost looks edited. Palms bending toward the shoreline. Sun that kisses your shoulders whether you asked for it or not. That atmosphere lingers whether the sky is brilliant blue or briefly washed in tropical rain.

But beneath that beauty are distinct identities.

Amber Cove showed us how tourism can reshape a community and spark renewal beyond the dock. St. Kitts carried its history along steel rails once used for sugar cane, now repurposed to tell a different story. In Puerto Rico, we saw residents rally to protect their island’s feral cats. In Martinique, we stepped into the historic Bibliothèque Schoelcher, whose ornate details reminded us that Caribbean culture is layered and complex.

Both Mr. Whaldo and I were lucky enough to handle a large female who felt safe with us and rested easily on our arms. We held one together and also separately. The ray I held on my own seemed especially comfortable and lifted her beak onto my chest, as if to get a better look at me. She allowed me to gently boop her before calmly swimming back to her favorite wrangler.

We also had the opportunity to feed them squid, which they happily sucked from our hands. This was another carefully taught lesson, designed to keep us from earning any stingray hickies on our fingers, hands, or arms.

Jim kept driving, then suddenly swept us up a hillside and pulled over. He jumped out of the car and motioned for us to follow. We stepped out and walked to a railing overlooking the loch.

“This is the best view of the fort since it’s falling down and you can’t get into it anymore,” he said. “Plus, you get a good look at the view. You have a feckin’ better chance to see Nessie.”