The Logbook
Every note I've written on choosing cabins, reading fares and planning better days ashore—searchable and sorted by theme.
The best cruise cabin isn't always the most expensive one. Here's how to choose between inside, oceanview and balcony accommodations based on your itinerary, budget and the way you actually travel.
Read Dispatch
Eric Mallari12 min read
17 dispatches
There is no best cruise. There is a best cruise for you. Nine questions — people, purpose, place, pace, ship, price, cabin, calendar and confidence — that make the choice clear.
Read Dispatch
12 min read
From choosing the right ship and cabin to passports, insurance, gratuities and getting to the port, here's what Canadian travellers should understand before booking a first cruise.
Read Dispatch
12 min read
For Ontario travellers, a cruise often begins long before the ship. Here's how I think about flights, documents, budgets and arriving at the port relaxed.
Read Dispatch
13 min read
Two Alaska cruises can look identical online and deliver very different vacations. Here's how I'd work through routes, glaciers, ships and timing.
Read Dispatch
14 min read
Booking a cruise has never been easier. Choosing the right cruise is another matter. Here's how to decide whether booking directly or working with a travel advisor makes more sense for you.
Read Dispatch
9 min read
Should you fly to Florida or drive to a nearby port? Here is how Ontario cruisers weigh direct flights, drive times, pre-cruise hotels and embarkation-day logistics.
Read Dispatch
7 min read
The Caribbean is an easy first cruise for good reason. If you're ready for something different, here is how the main alternatives compare on scenery, pace and planning.
Read Dispatch
9 min read
Travel insurance for a cruise varies enormously by policy, insurer and traveller. Here is how to read the wording and work out what your own trip actually needs.
Read Dispatch
9 min read
There is a real difference between a cruise that offers a bike tour and a cycling holiday that happens to float. Here is how to tell them apart and plan the one you want.
Read Dispatch
11 min read
Castles and vineyards, or Vienna and Budapest? A practical comparison of Europe's two most popular river cruise routes for Canadians booking their first sailing.
Read Dispatch
9 min read
The best time to book a cruise depends far more on your itinerary and cabin needs than on chasing a last-minute deal. Here are the booking windows I use with Canadian travellers.
Read Dispatch
11 min read
A ship handles most of what makes a multi-generation trip hard. Here is how to choose the vessel, the cabins and the port days so every age enjoys the week.
Read Dispatch
6 min read
Ship scale, service model, inclusions and itinerary explain most of the gap between a $2,000 cruise and a $20,000 one. Here is how to read the number before you book.
Read Dispatch
9 min read
The most common regret after a Caribbean sailing is coming home tired. A simple rhythm of anchor, easy and open days makes a warm-water week feel longer.
Read Dispatch
7 min read
The advertised fare and the total cost of the holiday are not the same number. Here is every line item to account for before you put down a deposit.
Read Dispatch
10 min read
River ships are small, so deck choice changes your whole week. Here is how I weigh light, sightlines, stairs and budget before recommending a cabin.
Read Dispatch
7 min read
Send Eric the sailing you're weighing. He'll compare dates, fares and cabins with you personally—no pressure, no cost.
