• 13 minutes 26 seconds
    7 Cruises You Should Avoid. No Matter How Tempting They Look! (Podcast #581)

    Some cruises look perfect on paper. The ship, the itinerary, the price, the promise. But after more than 130 cruises, I've learned there are some cruises I would never book again — or would only book under very specific conditions. In this video, I reveal the seven types of cruises I now avoid, and why. All but one of these I've tried myself and found they simply did not suit the way I like to cruise. The other comes with risks, traps, or compromises that many passengers do not realise until it is too late. But this is not just about saying "never book these." For each one, I also explain who they might still be right for, what to watch out for before booking, and what I would choose instead. Whether you are booking your first cruise or your fiftieth, these are the cruises I think you should think very carefully about before handing over your money.

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    17 August 2026, 10:05 am
  • 15 minutes 39 seconds
    Cunard Is NOT What Most Cruisers Think It Is. Here's Why (Podcast #580)

    Cunard is one of cruising's most famous names—but much of what people believe about it is outdated, exaggerated, or simply wrong. After 270 nights aboard Cunard ships, I reveal six persistent misconceptions about its luxury credentials, passengers, dress codes, class system and very different ships. I also explore the recent changes that could reshape the Cunard experience—and why some loyal passengers may not like what comes next.

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    10 August 2026, 4:20 am
  • 15 minutes 22 seconds
    5 Unexpected Ways Sailing Ship Cruises Are Different To "Regular" Ones! (Podcast #579)

    After 100+ regular ocean cruises, I finally tried a sailing ship cruise — and almost everything I assumed going in turned out to be wrong.I sailed with Windstar on their 342-passenger flagship Wind Surf, an 8-night Venice to Rome itinerary on a five-mast sailing ship. In this video I cover what I discovered including: * How similar (and different) the onboard experience actually is to a regular cruise ship * The truth about sailing with sails * Cabin trade-offs and issues * Itinerary upsides, downsides, and risks * Whether the premium price is worth it * and who this type of cruise is really for

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    3 August 2026, 6:00 am
  • 10 minutes 46 seconds
    I've Done Panama Canal 6 Times. Here's What NO-ONE Is Telling You! (Podcast #578)

    I've transited the Panama Canal six times, and I am still completely obsessed with it. In this video, I take you with me on a full Panama Canal transit from the Pacific side across to the Caribbean / Atlantic side, showing what really happens across the day — the thrilling parts, the surprising parts, and the hot, sweaty, wearisome parts that many cruisers do not expect. I explain how the Panama Canal works, what happens inside the Locks, and how the newer 2016 locks changed the way ships transit the canal. Along the way, I show the reality of a full transit: the very early start, the long waiting, the crowds on deck, the "lock fatigue", the intense heat, the excitement of being inches from the lock walls and mules, the peaceful cruise through Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut, and the huge variety of ships that pass through this incredible waterway. I also look at why water is so crucial to the Panama Canal, how drought can affect transits, why Gatun Lake matters so much, and why this remains one of the most astonishing cruise experiences in the world. If you are thinking of doing a Panama Canal cruise, or wondering whether a full transit is worth it, this will show you what the day is really like — and why, even after six transits, I still find it one of cruising's most remarkable experiences.

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    3 August 2026, 6:00 am
  • 32 minutes 46 seconds
    Epic Highs & Unwelcome Lows I Had Cruising South America! (Podcast #577)

    South America cruising delivered some of the most spectacular sights I have ever experienced — but also a few costly, frustrating, and very unexpected lows. On my recent 31-night South America cruise, I filmed live updates from eight of the region's most popular cruise ports and scenic cruising days, capturing what it was really like in the moment. From leaving the ship for two and a half days to visit Machu Picchu, to standing among penguins in the remote Falkland Islands, sailing past Cape Horn, Glacier Alley and the astonishing Brüggen / Pío XI Glacier, this trip had moments that were genuinely epic. But it was not all breathtaking views and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In this video, I also reveal the South America ports and excursions that disappointed me, surprised me for the wrong reasons, or left me questioning whether the cost and effort were really worth it, and a few ports that sounded more exciting on paper than they felt in reality. I visit and discuss Lima, Machu Picchu, Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Cape Horn and other Scenic Sailing Highlights, the Chilean Fjords, Punta Arenas, Magdalena Island, General San Martín, Puerto Montt, Coquimbo and La Serena — sharing the highs, the lows, the watch-outs, and what I would do differently next time. South America is one of the most varied and dramatic cruise regions in the world, but it is also unpredictable, expensive in places, and not always easy to get right. Here's what I discovered

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    20 July 2026, 5:44 am
  • 15 minutes 19 seconds
    I Won't Do A Sailing Ship Cruise Again. But Here's Why You SHOULD! (Podcast #576)

    I went on my first ever sailing ship cruise expecting something magical, different, and perhaps even better than a regular cruise ship. Instead, after the very first night, I was seriously wondering if I had made a huge mistake. After more than 130 cruises on ocean ships, river ships, expedition ships and even a tiny 14-person barge in France, I finally decided it was time to try a sailing ship. I booked an 8-night Venice to Rome cruise on Windstar's flagship Wind Surf, one of the world's largest sailing ships, to find out what this kind of cruising is really like. But the reality was not what I expected. In this video, I reveal what surprised me, what disappointed me, what went wrong in my cabin, how much the cruise really cost, what sailing ships do and do not actually do with their sails, and why the experience depends far more on the weather and itinerary than I had realised. I also look at the big claims made about sailing ship cruising, including whether they really can get you into better ports, whether the smaller passenger numbers make a big difference, and why so many passengers I met absolutely loved the experience and keep coming back

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    13 July 2026, 5:37 am
  • 14 minutes 15 seconds
    I Keep Returning To Holland America Despite These Problems. Here's Why (Podcast #575)

    I've now been on 11 Holland America cruises, including my most recent 31-night South America sailing — and despite having so many cruise lines to choose from, I keep coming back. But Holland America is not perfect. In this, I reveal what I think Holland America does better and worse than other premium cruise lines like Princess, Celebrity, Cunard and Virgin Voyages — including ship size, itineraries, enrichment, entertainment, and dining, and more I look at if Holland America one of the best premium cruise choices — or is it starting to lose its way?

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    29 June 2026, 5:15 am
  • 10 minutes 10 seconds
    I Took A $1,200 Luxury Train To Machu Picchu. Was It Worth it? (Podcast #574)

    It costs $1,200 to take the Belmond Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu — roughly $1,000 more than the standard train option. So, was this luxury rail journey through the Andes an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience… or an over-hyped, over-priced way to reach the same ruins as everyone else? In this video, I reveal what the Hiram Bingham train is really like, what's included, what surprised me, what disappointed me, and whether I think it was worth the eye-watering extra cost.

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    22 June 2026, 5:11 am
  • 16 minutes 12 seconds
    7 Traps I See People Cruising South America Fall Into! (Podcast #573)

    South America cruises can be spectacular — penguins in the Falklands, Cape Horn, Glacier Alley Chile, fascinating cities in Peru and Chile, end of the world in Ushuaia, Buenos Aires, Lima, Montevideo and more. But after cruising South America several times, including a recent 31-night voyage, I saw experienced cruisers making mistakes that could ruin the trip. In this, I reveal the biggest South America cruise mistakes I saw passengers make, from visa and entry rule surprises to choosing the wrong itinerary, underestimating sea days, misjudging the ports, getting excursions wrong, packing missteps, and getting caught out with money in ports. South America is not like cruising the Caribbean, Alaska or Europe. The distances are vast, the ports can be challenging, the weather can swing wildly, and the rules can change quickly. But get it right, and it can be one of the most memorable cruise regions in the world. This should help ensure any South America cruise does not unravel before it even begins

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    15 June 2026, 5:09 am
  • 11 minutes 20 seconds
    Secrets The Crew Want Us To Know About (And Some They DON'T!) (Podcast #572)

    It took a lot of coaxing — and in some cases, waiting until crew had left life at sea — to uncover what actually happens behind the scenes on a cruise ship that most passengers have no idea about, and how they work. And how by knowing passengers can use it to improve their cabin and cruise These are the insider insights that most passengers never hear — but once you know them, you'll cruise very differently.

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    • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    1 June 2026, 5:05 am
  • 13 minutes 41 seconds
    6 Things I Would NEVER Do On Holland America. Nor Should You! (Podcast #571)

    I just spent 44 out of the last 60 days living on board Holland America ships, and I saw passengers making the same expensive mistakes over and over again. From missing out on the best food to overpaying for their cabins, most people aren't getting the full value of their cruise. In this video, I'm sharing the insider rules I live by to ensure every Holland America sailing is perfect—and easier on the wallet.

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    • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    25 May 2026, 5:05 am
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