Last Updated: 10/30/26

November 2026 - Harmony

5th Harmony starting 10/31/26

After 4 nights on Utopia, we overnighted in Canaveral before driving back 1.0 mi to the Port for a Halloween departure.

October 2026 - Utopia

11th Utopia started 10/26/26

10/29:  Short stop at Coco Cay - Captain Jack’s for music and meeting fellow travelers:  John and Janice from Alabama - very nice couple, who we expect to cross paths with in the future.

Tito is our cabin steward.  Our Interior cabin on deck 8.  The Halloween vibe is apparent on the Promenade. 

Previous Cruises:  

10/5 - 10/15/26 (Back-to-Back) on RC’s Radiance of the Seas, from Tampa

See - the Good, the Not Good, and a little Ugly

What is this?

  • We began this website 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 share our personal experiences, tips and recommendations - with the goal of helping you become… “Informed Cruisers.”

 

New in September 2026 - Still under construction, but…check out Ports

September 2026 Cruises

Harmony, docked at Cozumel, 9/1/26

Who We Are

  • Greg McDowell and May Aston, happily married since 2003

  • Cruising to see the world, experience new cultures and enjoy the cruiseship lifestyle - oceans, entertainment, dining, socializing, and ports - since 2010

    • Lifetime:  Through 2025, 47 cruises on 5 cruise lines, over 350 nights 

      • Reaching 67 cruises and 450+ nights through 2026

        • 2025:  18 cruises; for 103 nights

        • 2026:  20 cruises taken or planned for 104 nights (97 on Royal)

        • 2027:  Caribbean, Alaska and Transatlantic planned

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

  • Celebrity, Princess and Holland America in recent years; Cunard (QM2) booked for 2027

  • About 45 Royal Caribbean voyages, 3-10 days each; nearly 300 nights

  • Several 10-16 day TransAtlantic voyages, east (3x) and west (4x)

    • East and west planned for 2027

Recent Cruises / Links to Ship Reviews

Harmony cruises - 2026

  • 2x in August 2026
  • 2x in September 2026
  • October and November, too

Previous Cruise in August 2026 —The Star

We enjoyed our return to this Icon Class beauty

What’s Next in 2026?

  • 10/31/26 - RC Harmony of the Seas - 5 nights (not quite a “side-by-side” as we overnight in Canaveral between cruises)
  • 11/21/26 - RC Harmony of the Seas (Thanksgiving) - 7 nights (reaching 33 nights on this ship in 2026)
  • 12/21/26 - RC Explorer of the Seas (Christmas) - 7 nights

And 2027?

* Multiple cruises on the Explorer and Utopia

* Alaska in May on the Anthem

* Europe in October/November - Eastbound on the QM2 (Cunard); Westbound on the Legend (newest Icon Class)

Cruise partners looking happily at each other