Recent Update:  Anthem of the Seas - Alaskan Cruise

What is this?

  • We began this website/blog in July 2025, to share our experiences and insights, gained over a period of years, on different cruise lines and ships.

  • Every cruise offers a new opportunity - to learn and compare.

  • We will share our personal experiences, tips and recommendations - both positive and negative - with the goal of helping you become… “Informed Cruisers.”

 

Who We Are

 

  • Greg McDowell and May Aston, happily married 22 years

  • Cruising to see the world, experience new cultures and enjoy the ship lifestyle, since 2010

    • Lifetime:  46 cruises on 5 cruise lines, over 350 nights

    • 2025:  20 cruises totaling over 110 nights

    • 2026:  6 cruises booked for 36 nights

  • Norwegian (NCL) early on; Royal Caribbean (RC) focus last few years, enjoying benefits of loyalty status

  • Celebrity, Princess and Holland America in recent years

  • Many Caribbean voyages, 3-9 days each

  • Several 10-15 day TransAtlantic voyages, east (3x) and west (4x); Eastbound in 2026

  • We’ve cruised Australia, Asia, Alaska and Canada

  • Hoping to cruise monthly, with extended non-jet lag adventures to (or from) Europe, far into the future

Recent and Future Cruises

Recent (2025)

  • 9/5/25. Anthem of the Seas, Seattle/Alaskan, 7 nights
  • 8/9/25. STAR of the SEAS Shakedown, 3 nights
  • 7/21/25. Bahamas - RT Port Canaveral; RC Utopia; 4 nights
  • 6/21/25. Western Caribbean; RT Port Canaveral; RC Adventure, 6 nights
  • 6/6/25. Bahamas and CocoCay; RT Ft. Lauderdale; RC Jewel, 10 nights (B2B2B)
  • 4/25/25. Transpacific; Tokyo to Seattle; RC Anthem; 15 nights
  • 4/16/25. Far East; Singapore to Hong Kong; RC Ovation, 5 nights
  • 2/17/25. Eastern Caribbean/Turks; RT Port Canaveral; Caribbean Princess; 6 nights

Planned (2025-2026)

  • 9/26 and 9/29/25; B2B Caribbean voyages, Port Canaveral, RC Utopia, 7 nights total
  • 10/9/25. Fall Foliage; Boston to Quebec; Princess' Majestic; 10 nights
  • 11/16/25. Caribbean; on the Icon Class; RC's newest Star of the Seas; 7 nights
  • 12/6/25. Caribbean and Key West; RT Ft. Lauderdale; Holland America's Nieuw Statendam; 7 nights
  • 12/22/25. Caribbean; Christmas Cruise; RT Port Canaveral; RC's Utopia; 4 nights
  • 4/23/26. TransAtlantic; Port Canaveral to Barcelona; RC's Explorer; 14 nights
  • 5/9/26. British Isles; RT Amsterdam; Celebrity's Eclipse; 12 nights

       Most Recent Cruises

 

September 2025 - Anthem of the Seas

9/6/25:  At this writing, we are aboard and awaiting the first of four port/excursion days.  This is our second cruise on the Anthem, having completed a Transpacific sailing in May 2025.  There are plenty of activities aboard, and the highlights will be added to the existing ship review.

 

9/15/26:  We are back and resting up for next adventure.  Pictures and many updates to the Anthem ship review are in progress.

August 2025 - Star of the Seas

See Ship Review for a quick summary of this 3 day Shakedown.

July 2025 - Utopia of the Seas

Jul 27, 2025 9:32 AM

We just got off the Utopia of the Seas at Port Canaveral on Friday, 7/25.  The 4 night cruise met our expectations and we are excited to return to the ship, having scheduled a few Utopias over the next few months.  Highlights of this cruise included:

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