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Category: Cruises

The Global eSIM That Wasn’t Quite Global

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I have become very fond of eSIMs. After years of hunting for SIM kiosks in airports, squinting at tiny plastic cards, and wondering if the plan I just bought would last three days or three minutes, eSIMs feel like a small miracle. Install it once, travel anywhere, and your phone simply works. That’s the promise anyway. And most of the time it does. For the past couple of years, I’ve been using the Discover Global plan from Airalo. It currently advertises coverage in 130+ countries, which is extremely appealing if you bounce between continents as much as I do. But…

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Caribbean Cruise Confessions: Yes, I’m a Tourist. Pass the Rum

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Let’s clear this up before anyone writes me a stern comment. If I take a Caribbean cruise, am I a tourist? Yes. Fully. Cheerfully. Sunscreen-slathered and holding a day pass. These islands live on tourism. The ships glide in like floating cities. The shops open. The taxis line up. The beach chairs snap to attention. If you’re cruising here, you are not undercover. You are the economy. Do I feel guilty? Not remotely. When you’ve spent most of the winter in Montreal, and this year winter felt particularly committed, a week of blue water and air that doesn’t hurt your…

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My Complicated Affair with Caribbean Cruises

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Why Did I Book Another Caribbean Cruise? I love cruises, but not those around the Caribbean. You’d think once would be enough. After all, I’ve already established that Caribbean cruises aren’t my cup of piña colada. Too many sunburns, too many “free diamond” pitches in port, too many buffets that make me question my life choices. And yet—here I am, booking another floating resort in the Caribbean for next February. The truth is, cruises lure us in with their easy math: one price, one cabin, endless food. No worrying about hotels, no scrambling for taxis, no checking Google Maps while…

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The Balcony You Didn’t Know You Needed on a Cruise

Posted on by Roberta Hill

There’s a secret luxury hiding in plain sight on a cruise ship, and no, it’s not the chocolate on your pillow or that “exclusive” dining room behind the frosted glass doors. It’s your balcony. I’m not talking about the “step outside, take a selfie, come back in” kind of balcony. I mean the balcony that becomes your real living room at sea. The one that lets you sneak out in your pyjamas to watch the sunrise without brushing your hair (bonus points if you’re still wrapped in the ship’s bathrobe). The balcony where you can read a book without anyone…

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I have failed as a Sustainable Traveller

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I made the mistake of reading Sustainable Travel Is Hard on Substack by Kyle. I love cruising, but I immediately knew that this was the worst for carbon emissions. How Bad Are Cruises for the Environment, Really? Cruises promise dreamy sunsets, floating cities, and endless buffets. But under the surface, both figuratively and literally, they leave behind a slick environmental trail. Here’s the truth, with no nautical nonsense. Cruise Emissions vs. Other Travel Modes Transport Mode CO₂ per Passenger/km Key Pollutants Efficiency Notes Short-Haul Flight ~255g CO₂, NOx, contrails Low High emissions, especially during takeoff and landing. Cruise Ship ~250-400g CO₂,…

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What I discovered this week #26, 2025

Posted on by Roberta Hill

AI Lies, Are You a “Nerd” Traveller, Stories of Amazing Travels,  . . . Do Not Trust AI Great example of how AI is being used in the background (for years) without us questioning its legitimacy. Here’s the exact comment I read last week from Janel Comeau, confirming the startling turn from satirical writing to real-world search results: “Google and Meta search both report that Cape Breton Island has its own time zone 12 minutes ahead of mainland Nova Scotia time because they are both drawing that information from a Beaverton article I wrote in 2024.”  Cape Breton is to create…

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Four Days in the Galápagos

Four Days in the Galápagos: Where Curiosity and Wonder Collide

Posted on by Roberta Hill

If you’ve ever wanted to see evolution in action, the Galápagos is the place. We arrived at the end of our South American trip in the spring of 2024, carrying all the usual expectations and a healthy dose of curiosity. Still, nothing prepares you for how these islands quietly shift your perspective. The Galápagos isn’t just another stop on the map—it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and remarkable the natural world can be. The first thing that struck me was how unbothered the wildlife seemed by our presence. Sea lions lounged on the sand like they owned the place (and,…

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Grand Cayman 7 mile

One Cruise Day in George Town Grand Cayman

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Of all the Caribbean stops on our print cruise, I would probably rate the Grand Cayman as the highest. I’m not saying that it’s the best of our stops, but probably, overall, it would meet most people‘s needs. George Town is a dreamy cruise stop with crystal-clear waters, friendly locals, and an easygoing atmosphere. But with only one day in port, how do you make the most of it without feeling rushed? As a senior traveller, comfort, accessibility, and enjoyment are key. First, we got to stay there longer than we did in most of the other ports. Second, the…

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Review – Princess Cruise Line

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I had forgotten how much I prefer Princess Cruise Lines over all the other cruise lines I’ve experienced. I love cruises, but my partner does not so much. While I’ve done more than a dozen cruises, at least a week-long, I haven’t done as many as most people. We prefer to mix it up with various experiences. I recently wrote about my disappointment with the Norwegian ship. The itinerary was fantastic, but the ship itself was lacking. The two things that stood out as subpar were the overcrowding and the food quality. Most of the ports required tendering, which I…

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