SMB Vacations

10/22/2026

If Greece is on your 2027 list, here's my advice:
Don't start with the ship.

I know. I'm a cruise advisor telling you not to start with the cruise ship. 😂
But hear me out.

When someone tells me they want to cruise Greece, I want to know what they're actually picturing.
Is it Santorini?
Mykonos?
Ancient history?
Tiny islands and swimming in ridiculously blue water?
Long dinners ashore?
A combination of Greece with Croatia, Montenegro, Italy or Turkey?

Because “a Greek Isles cruise” can mean very different things.
And if we fall in love with a ship first, we can end up trying to make the itinerary fit around it.
I'd rather do the opposite.

Let's figure out the places you really want to experience, how much time you want to spend there, and what kind of pace feels like a vacation to you.
Then we'll find the ship that does that journey beautifully.

If Greece has been sitting on your someday list, 2027 is close enough that I'd start having the conversation now, especially if you have specific islands, dates or a particular type of small-ship experience in mind.

You don't need to know which cruise line you want.
That's my job.
You just need to tell me what you're dreaming about.

10/22/2026

✨ Voyage Spotlight: The Heart of Melanesia

Every once in a while I come across an itinerary that makes me stop and think, Now THAT is interesting.

This is one of them.

On September 4, 2027, PONANT’s Le Jacques Cartier departs Darwin for a 16-night expedition through five countries: Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji. 🌏

These are places most of us aren’t going to string together on an ordinary vacation, which is exactly where expedition cruising gets interesting.

But access is only part of it.

This sailing is offered in alliance with The Explorers Club and features award-winning author, travel writer, and underwater photographer Pier Nirandara. Along the way, there are opportunities to learn about the cultures and ways of life throughout the region and to connect with local communities.

For me, that context matters.

If you’re going somewhere this far from home, I don’t want you to simply come back with beautiful pictures. I want you to come back understanding a little more about the part of the world you were fortunate enough to experience.

This is the kind of voyage that makes the world feel very, very big again. ✨


📸 ©Studio PONANT | Margaux Coupez | Tiffany Amisse | Natigana

10/22/2026

One of my favorite things about cruising?

The little rituals you somehow develop by day two. ☕🌊

Maybe yours is starting every morning at Café al Bacio aboard Celebrity Edge, ordering your favorite coffee, finding a comfortable spot, and watching the ocean go by while you decide what you feel like doing that day.

Or maybe it’s the afternoon stop for tea and something sweet because apparently vacation requires a pastry at 3 p.m. I don’t make the rules. 😉

These little moments rarely make the list when you’re comparing ships and itineraries.

But they’re often the moments that make a ship start to feel like your ship.

So, what’s your vacation café order? Coffee, tea, or are you really just there for the pastry? ☕🥐

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

Cape Town is one of those cities where the scenery alone is worth the journey.

Imagine looking out over the city from Table Mountain, with the Atlantic Ocean stretching into the distance and the unmistakable peak of Lion's Head rising nearby.

But there's so much more to discover beyond that spectacular view. Beautiful coastal drives, fascinating history, world-class w**e regions, and incredible wildlife experiences make this part of South Africa especially memorable.

And Cape Town can be a wonderful beginning or ending to a cruise along Africa's coast, giving you the opportunity to combine an extraordinary city stay with an equally remarkable journey at sea.

It's the kind of trip where choosing the right itinerary and making the most of your time ashore really matters. That's where I come in.

10/21/2026

Can I make a case for the Mediterranean in December? 🌊

The summer crowds are gone. The pace is different. And instead of trying to squeeze everything into a hot, busy sightseeing day, you get to experience these destinations in a completely different season.

Honestly, I think we overlook this time of year.

From December 9 to 15, 2026, EXPLORA II’s President’s Journey adds another reason to consider it, with special experiences created exclusively for Explora Club members on this sailing.

But what really appeals to me is the timing.

Imagine giving yourself a few days before the holiday madness really kicks in to explore the Mediterranean, eat extremely well, spend some time at Ocean Wellness The Spa, and generally have nobody asking you to bake, wrap, decorate, organize, or remember anything. 😉

Sometimes the best holiday gift is leaving town before the holidays.

Just saying. 🥂

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

I think Canada & New England cruises have a marketing problem.
The leaves get all the attention. 🍁

And yes, sailing through this part of the world in the fall can be absolutely gorgeous.
But if you book the journey thinking the foliage is the whole point, you're missing the best part.

For me, it's the ports.
It's eating seafood in a little coastal town.
It's wandering past historic homes and working harbors.
It's discovering how dramatically the culture changes as you sail north.
It's hearing French spoken around you in Québec and suddenly wondering how you managed to feel this far from home without ever crossing the Atlantic.
It's history, food, architecture, coastlines and towns that are genuinely enjoyable to explore without needing a packed schedule to make the day feel worthwhile.

The foliage?
That's the beautiful backdrop.
The places themselves are the reason I'd go.

And maybe that's why this region surprised me as much as it did.
I expected it to be beautiful.
I didn't expect to love it.

10/20/2026

Some places are worth visiting precisely because they're a little harder to reach.

Take Kisimul Castle, a medieval fortress perched on a tiny rocky island in Castlebay, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. It's the kind of place that makes you feel as though you've stepped into another century.

And the surrounding islands? Rugged coastlines, tiny fishing villages, fascinating history, and a culture that feels wonderfully removed from the everyday.

This is where small-ship cruising really shines. The opportunity to explore lesser-visited corners of Scotland, discover places that larger ships may bypass, and experience the character of these remarkable islands.

If Scotland is calling your name, I'd love to help you discover a side of it that goes well beyond Edinburgh and the Highlands.

10/20/2026

What if the holidays were less about everything you have to do and more about enjoying the people you're doing it all for?

No grocery shopping, no elaborate meal prep, no cleaning up after everyone. Just beautiful surroundings, wonderful meals, and time to actually relax together.

A luxury holiday cruise aboard Explora Journeys offers a different way to celebrate, with spacious oceanfront suites, exceptional dining, and thoughtful service that lets someone else take care of the details for a change.

You can keep the traditions you love, create a few new ones, and come home with memories instead of exhaustion.

Now that's a holiday gift worth considering.