Small Ship Cruise Talk: River Cruises, Yacht, Barge and Expedition Cruising Tips & Travel Planning Advice

Join us for a lively recap of the 🇺🇸 July 4th celebrations in New York City, as seen from Governors Island and at home, focusing on the historic maritime events, the Parade of Sail, and the significance of waterway traditions. 

Discover how media coverage, Native American acknowledgment, and sustainability narratives intertwined in this special episode.

Related listening: 

• Sail4th 250 in NYC - Once-in-a-Lifetime Flotilla featuring Two Historic Maine Windjammer Cruise Ships: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/19344675
• Part 1: Sailing Cruises on Historic Maine Windjammer Ships: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18500617
• Part 2: Maine Island Hopping on a Windjammer Sailing Cruise: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18537898

Ask a question or send fan mail.

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👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

⚓️ Dreaming of a cruise but not sure how to make it happen financially? 💭 That dream cruise doesn't have to stay a dream. 

We sit down with Danielle Desir Corbett of The Thought Card to break down a realistic, stress-free system for saving for your dream cruise in a year or less — from building your travel fund to finding money you didn't know you had, and how to stay the course when life gets in the way. 

Find & Follow Danielle:

• Danielle's website: https://thoughtcard.com/
• The Thought Card podcast: https://thoughtcard.com/podcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellecorbett
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thedaniellecorbett

📖 Get Danielle's Books: 

• We Are Financially Savvy Travelers: https://amzn.to/4b0Ob6Y​​ 
• Affording Travel: https://amzn.to/4vMAjp4

💰Helpful money apps and programs to help make your cruise wishes come true, mentioned during the episode:

• Monarch: get 50% off using our signup link: https://sometimessailing.com/monarch
• Rakuten: sign up with our link, get $50 – https://sometimessailing.com/rakuten 
• Fetch: https://fetch.com/  – use INVITE CODE: TMEK67 (**must be used when you sign up, before you snap your first receipt**)
• Travel insurance: https://sometimessailing.com/tr-insure 

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

We're taking you aboard American Cruise Lines' Southeast Sea Islands itinerary — a nine-day, eight-night coastal cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway on a brand-new coastal catamaran, the American Liberty. If you've only thought of ACL as a river cruise line, this one might surprise you.

We cover the ship (what makes a coastal catamaran different and how it compares to ACL's river vessels), the ports, when to go, and how to get there — including a practical tip about open-jaw itineraries that fellow passengers clued us in on.

The ports — Amelia Island, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Charleston — each brought something different, and the scenery sailing through the Low Country marshes was stunning. We also get into the excursions worth booking and wrap up with honest thoughts on who this cruise is really ideal for and whether the price is worth it.

Links from this episode: 

• 🍽️ See everything we ate during this cruise on our YouTube channel (don’t forget to subscribe!): https://youtu.be/IZKbztkTJOg 
• 👀 These are the best binoculars for your travels: https://sometimessailing.com/best-binoculars-for-alaska-antarctica-cruise-leupold-bx-2-alpine-hd-review/ 

For more episodes about American Cruise Lines: 

• Listen to our Tennessee River Cruise episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18904212
• All About USA River Cruises with American Cruise Lines: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/17477271

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

🇺🇸 America turns 250 this July 4th, and New York Harbor is throwing the biggest nautical celebration in a generation. We're breaking down everything you need to know about Sail4th 250 — the historic Parade of Sails for the USA's semiquincentennial, happening on July Fourth in the Hudson River next to Manhattan, including events from July 3rd to 6th, 2026.

We sat down with William Armstrong, Communications Director for Sail4th 250, and Captain Tyler of  American Eagle — one of two Maine Windjammer schooners sailing in the Parade alongside Angelique. 

We cover what makes this event so rare, how 5 years of international coordination made it happen, and why a ship from India is sailing over 12,000 miles just to be there.

Whether you're heading to New York in person or watching on NBC, we've got you covered: where to watch from shore, how to bring your own boat into the harbor, which ships to look for, and how to track every tall ship in real time using the Aqua Map app.

We also share what it means to us personally, including why Mikkel has been dreaming about this moment since childhood, as she looks at a 1976 flotilla poster on her parents' wall.

🦅 Find out what it's like to sail on American Eagle:

• Part 1: Sailing Cruises on Historic Maine Windjammer Ships: https://sometimessailing.com/gczo 
• Part 2: Maine Island Hopping on a Windjammer Sailing Cruise: https://sometimessailing.com/8xhm 
• Maine Windjammer firsthand accounts, our website, with photos: https://sometimessailing.com/category/cruise-lines/maine-windjammer/

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sail4th 250 event https://sail4th.org/ & the Tall Ships "encyclopedia" https://sail4th.org/tall-ships
• Aqua Map app for iPhone - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aqua-map-boating/id919552329  — or Android — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gec.MarineApp.WorldViewerLite&hl=en_US

🇺🇸 Subscribe and follow! We'll be back after July 4th with a live recap episode.

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

Celebrity River Cruises is making waves before launching, and we're breaking down the four excursion categories that make up their new Destination Discovery program to see if it lives up to the hype.

We cover the:

• Storyteller Series - locally-led experiences with cultural insiders
• Skillmaster Series - hands-on time with local makers and artisans
• Keys to the City - a self-guided digital platform with stationed local hosts. A hotspot and battery pack are likely essential for this type of experience. Our favorite battery pack is this: https://amzn.to/4uiKG2C – and our essential hotspot is explained here: https://sometimessailing.com/6nm8  
• Celebrity Takeover Series - one private, exclusive event per sailing

We share our honest take on whether this is a genuine shift toward immersive river cruising or clever marketing,  and where we think the real operational challenges lie.

We also touch on what's included in the base fare, how gratuities work, pre- and post-cruise stay options in Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam, and what details we're still waiting on before the 2027 debut.

If you're watching Celebrity River Cruises — whether you've already booked or you're on the fence — this episode is your update.

Helpful links from this episode include:

• Celebrity River Cruises: Early Insights & Expectations podcast episode Audio version:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448059/episodes/18599836 YouTube version: https://youtu.be/oP_tGXG7ixI
• Utilize Mikkel's Travel Planning services: https://sometimessailing.com/au63
• See renderings of the Celebrity River Cruise ships on our website: https://sometimessailing.com/celebrity-cruises-makes-waves-ocean-cruise-line-enters-the-river-cruise-market/  
• Book tickets for a private concert in Vienna: https://sometimessailing.com/dhhs 

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

Curious about Road Scholar travel programs, but not sure if it's right for you? This episode gives you everything you need to know about the cruise trips (called “Afloat” programs) with Road Scholar, a prestigious non-profit travel company.

We hear directly from Zoe Fox-Mailer, Director of Programming at Road Scholar, on exactly how the Adventure Afloat program works — how trips are structured, what a typical day looks like, how the floating campus model creates a real learning experience without feeling like a classroom, and how solo travelers are set up to actually connect with people. 

If you've ever wondered what separates a Road Scholar cruise from just booking any small ship sailing, this conversation answers that.

Then Wendy Baldwin — a Road Scholar veteran with 22+ programs completed — shares what it's actually like to be on these trips as a solo traveler. She's cruised to Holland, Greenland, Scotland, Antarctica, and Norway with Road Scholar, and she's headed to Patagonia next! 

More importantly, she was skeptical of group travel before her first program. If you are too, you'll want to hear what changed her mind.

By the end of this episode, you'll know whether Road Scholar is the right fit for the way you want to travel.

Check out the Road Scholar Facebook groups:

https://sometimessailing.com/RS-FB

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

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🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

Ever had that pull to go back to a cruise you loved? 

We're breaking down exactly what to consider before you rebook, from choosing the same cruise line vs. switching it up, to how time of year, ports, and even a different version of yourself can make the same river feel brand new. 

Plus, we share our own experience returning to AmaWaterways' Colors of Provence and what's making us excited to see it through fresh eyes.

We cover:

• Cruising on the same line vs. a new one
• When ports aren't the same twice
• Seasonal timing
• Themed departures
• Managing expectations of yourself, family and friends
• Visa and logistics traps to avoid
• And practical tips to consider before you book

Download our free worksheet to decide if repeating a cruise itinerary is right for you: https://sometimes-sailing.myflodesk.com/i0ol4p9hg9

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

The future of cruising is looking bright, and we have the inside scoop straight from Seatrade Miami, the cruise industry's leading global event. In this episode, we share our six biggest takeaways, from the explosive growth of river cruising and the rising appeal of expedition and yacht cruises, to why small ships are winning over first-time travelers in a big way.

We also get into what's new in onboard drinks (including gluten-free beer, sake, and rosé spritzes) and cocktails, featuring standout spirits and beverage innovations from Seatrade Miami's F&B at Sea event that we think you'll start seeing on cruise ships very soon. (Just when you think juices can't get more interesting, we share what we learned about innovation in a glass, as we saw with Jucify!)

Learn more about cruise lines like Century Cruises, AmaWaterways, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Atlas Ocean Voyages, and HX Expeditions. 

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or still on the fence, this episode will open your eyes to how much the industry is evolving, and why now is a great time to get on board.

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

Ever struggle to hear your tour guide on a shore excursion, or find that uncomfortable single-use earpiece driving you crazy? 

We're breaking down everything you need to know about the #1 listening device for cruise tours, called a Quietvox—the small audio device you'll find in your stateroom on most small ship cruises. We’re explaining how it works to deliver your guide's commentary directly to your ear and tips you’ll want to remember about them for your cruise.

We also share the simple hack we use to ditch that awkward earpiece entirely (the AirFly by Twelve South, linked below) so you can use your own wireless headphones or AirPods instead. 

We cover the differences between the AirFly SE and AirFly Pro, the cost, tips for hearing aid users, and why setting it up before you leave home is a must.

Whether you're a Quietvox veteran or have never heard of one, this episode will help you hear more, stress less, and look a little less like a tourist as you explore your next port.

Please consider using our affiliate links to purchase an AirFly: 

• AirFly Pro 2 —connects two pairs of headphones to one device: https://amzn.to/3OamYGS 
• AirFly SE: https://amzn.to/4e2phWY  
• AirFly case: https://amzn.to/4edjQo2

Thank you for supporting our podcast!

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. 

Is it dumb to take a boating excursion during a vacation when you’re already on a cruise? Today, we answer this question with the pros, cons, and things you may not have thought of! Ultimately, we’re going to help you decide if your answer is yes or no. 

We’re also sharing what kinds of boating excursions are out there, from sunset sails to dolphin spotting, whale watching, SCUBA and snorkeling, alligator adventures, catamaran cruises, deep sea fishing, and more. Lastly, we’ll let you know what to bring along with you if you decide to sign up for one (like motion sickness medicine, just in case, and sun-blocking essentials). 

During this episode, we mention: 

• Motion sickness remedies: https://sometimessailing.com/anti-nausea-medication-cruise-sea-sickness-solutions/
• Mikkel’s favorite electronic mosquito bite zapper to fight those pesky bugs: https://amzn.to/4sSp4u2
• Or use the Bug Bite Thing:  https://amzn.to/4tzFG9M
• Our favorite excursions in Ketchikan: https://sometimessailing.com/ketchikan-top-activities-things-to-do-with-useful-area-info-map/

Ask a question or send fan mail.

Support the show

👉🏻 Press that FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode, released every other Wednesday. 

Need help planning your trip? Check out our RESOURCES, whether you're looking to understand which cruise to book, which travel insurance is best, or how to organize your luggage with our packing lists: https://sometimessailing.com/resources/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @sometimes-sailing

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.  

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2026 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.