What is this?
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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.
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Every cruise offers a new opportunity - to learn and compare.
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We share our personal experiences, tips and recommendations - with the goal of helping you become… “Informed Cruisers.”
Who We Are
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Greg McDowell and May Aston, happily married since 2003
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Cruising to see the world, experience new cultures and enjoy the cruiseship lifestyle - oceans, entertainment, dining, socializing, and ports - since 2010
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Lifetime: Through 2025, 47 cruises on 5 cruise lines, over 350 nights
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2025: 18 cruises; for 103 nights
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2026: 20 cruises taken or planned for 104 nights (97 on Royal)
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2027: Caribbean, Alaska and Transatlantic planned
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Norwegian (NCL) early on; Royal Caribbean (RC) focus last few years, enjoying benefits of loyalty status
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Celebrity, Princess and Holland America in recent years
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About 40 Royal Caribbean voyages, 3-10 days each; over 250 nights
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Several 10-16 day TransAtlantic voyages, east (3x) and west (4x)
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East and west planned for 2027
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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?
- 9/10/26 - RC Harmony of the Seas
- Another back-to-back, but changing cabins (5+4 nights)
- 10/5/26 - RC Radiance of the Seas (first time on this ship)
- Back-to-back in the same cabin (2x5 nights)
- 10/26/26 - RC Utopia of the Seas (11th time, just because) - 4 nights
- 10/31/26 - RC Harmony of the Seas - 5 nights
- 11/21/26 - RC Harmony of the Seas (Thanksgiving) - 7 nights
- 12/21/26 - RC Explorer of the Seas (Christmas) - 7 nights
And 2027?
* Alaska in May on the Anthem
* Europe in October/November - Eastbound on the QM2 (Cunard); Westbound on the Legend (newest Icon Class)
