Hi 👋 I’m Megan - and I cruise. A lot.

After 56+ cruises and hundreds of nights at sea, I’ve learned that there’s a huge difference between going on a cruise and knowing how to cruise well. Cruise Actually is where I share the stuff I wish someone had told me before I started cruising: which cabins I’d book (and which I’d avoid), what’s actually worth paying extra for, how to make embarkation day easier, what to do in port, and all those little cruise tips you usually learn only after making the mistake yourself. And yes, I’ve made plenty of them.

🚢 How I Got Here

I didn’t grow up cruising, and this isn’t a story about quitting my job to travel the world. I actually work while I travel. Over the years, cruising went from something I enjoyed to a pretty major part of my life. I’ve sailed everything from smaller, older ships to the newest mega-ships, cruised the Caribbean and Europe, crossed oceans, spent weeks at a time living onboard, and even got married on a cruise ship. I’m also Royal Caribbean Diamond Plus and slowly making my way toward Pinnacle — so there are a lot more cruises coming. But Cruise Actually isn't about convincing you that every cruise, ship, upgrade, or cruise line is amazing. It's about helping you figure out what's actually worth it for you.

⚓ Why “Cruise Actually”?

Because cruise advice on the internet can be… a lot. You’ll hear that you have to buy the drink package. That you should never book an interior cabin. That you need to arrive at the port at 9 a.m. That one cruise line is terrible. That another is the absolute best. But… actually? A lot of cruise advice depends on the ship, itinerary, price, port — and the person cruising. That’s what I want Cruise Actually to be: practical, experience-based cruise advice without all the noise. No pretending every cruise is perfect. No telling you that you need to spend a fortune to have a great vacation. And no gatekeeping the things experienced cruisers already know.

🧳 What You’ll Find Here

Expect honest cruise tips, ship reviews, port guides, money-saving strategies, cabin advice, planning guides, and the things I wish someone had told me before I started cruising. Whether you're trying to figure out what to pack for your very first cruise or you're 30 cruises in and looking for your next ship, you're welcome here. Because the goal isn't just to cruise more. It's to cruise better.

-Megan
Cruise Actually ⚓️