CruiseOomph Journal
Stories and guidance for a more considered voyage.
Destination insight, ship character and practical planning, to help you choose with confidence and then talk it through with Eric.
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Featured story
Explora Journeys vs Silversea: How I’d Choose
Ships & lines · 9 min read
How Explora Journeys and Silversea differ in fare structure, suite design, dining and atmosphere, and which kind of traveller each one suits.
The short version: if you want a design-led hotel at sea — six restaurants instead of a main dining room, no dress code to speak of, a crowd in its fifties, children…
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Ideas for choosing well
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Cruise styles
Choosing an Expedition Ship for Antarctica: Luxury or Classic?
What separates a luxury expedition ship from a classic one in Antarctica, what each actually buys you, and how I’d choose between them for…
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Planning guides
How Many Nights in Miami Before Your Cruise? My Rule of Two
Two nights in Miami before your cruise, not one: the reasoning, the neighbourhoods that suit each kind of ship, and what to do with…
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Planning guides
Antarctica Cruise Cost: What You’ll Really Pay in 2027
What an Antarctica cruise really costs for 2027-28: fare by ship class, plus the flights, gear, insurance and gratuities that sit outside the quoted…
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Ships & lines
Is Virgin Voyages Right for a Luxury Cruiser?
Is Virgin Voyages right for a luxury cruiser? What Scarlet Lady gets right, where it sits below Silversea or Explora, and who should book…
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Planning guides
What a Cruise Ship’s Medical Center Can and Can’t Handle
What a cruise ship medical center can and cannot handle, from a physician: staffing, equipment, and the evacuation limits that really matter at sea.
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Planning guides
Quito or Guayaquil Before the Galapagos? How I’d Choose
Quito or Guayaquil before the Galapagos? My two-night rule, what the altitude really means, the cash-only fees, and where I'd stay in each city.
Practical planning
Clear answers before you commit.
Short guides to make the planning conversation easier, not to replace personal advice.
A personal next step
Bring a story into a conversation.
I can help turn what caught your attention into a realistic shortlist, without pressure and without asking you to start over.