Christi Malbasa, Magnolia and Palm Travel Co.

Christi Malbasa, Magnolia and Palm Travel Co. Luxury Travel Advisor | Europe, Caribbean, Cruises & Theme Park Vacations
Custom itineraries, VIP experiences, and white-glove planning from start to finish.

Based near Cleveland | Serving clients nationwide.

The best cruise ships might be the ones you’ve never heard of.Boutique and yacht-style cruising means under a thousand g...
08/26/2026

The best cruise ships might be the ones you’ve never heard of.

Boutique and yacht-style cruising means under a thousand guests, often far fewer. No buffet line. No fighting for a pool chair. Just an unhurried pace from the moment you board.

Explora Journeys puts every guest in an oceanfront suite, no interior cabins exist. I was personally invited by Explora Journeys to sail Explora III this October, so I’ll be experiencing this one firsthand.

Oceania Cruises built its identity around food, Culinary Center classes, Master Chef menus, dining as the centerpiece, not a side note.

Windstar Cruises keeps ships small on purpose, most under 350 guests. The crew learns your name by day two.

Star Clippers still sails real tall ships under actual sail power, masts and rigging included.

Crystal Cruises brings back old-world luxury, quiet indulgence over nonstop activity.

Crystal Cruises brings back old-world luxury, quiet indulgence over nonstop activity.

Also worth knowing: Seabourn, Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises live in this same intimate, all-inclusive lane.

Fun detail, most of these ships skip the casino entirely. Quieter lounges, calmer evenings. They also reach smaller ports and stay longer, sometimes overnight, where a mega ship only gets a rushed few hours.

This is genuinely the part of cruising I geek out on most, I hold certifications with Oceania, Windstar, and Explora Journeys specifically because I wanted to know these ships inside and out before recommending them to anyone.

Have you sailed a boutique or yacht-style line? What stood out, the service, the ports, the pace, or the ship itself?

Still searching for your cruising “just right”?If traditional cruising has never quite clicked, expedition cruising migh...
08/25/2026

Still searching for your cruising “just right”?

If traditional cruising has never quite clicked, expedition cruising might be the answer nobody’s mentioned to you yet.

Most expedition ships carry 100 to 300 guests, sometimes fewer. Scientists and naturalists sail with you, not as an occasional lecture, but as the whole structure of your day. You’re not sailing past a destination, you’re getting dropped into it by zodiac.

Expedition cruising isn’t one thing either. Antarctica and the Arctic get the spotlight, but there’s also Galápagos expedition cruising built around wildlife and conservation, eclipse cruising chasing a single astronomical moment, and even wilderness overnight programs for travelers who want to camp on the ice for a night.

Passenger numbers on small-ship expedition cruises grew 71% between 2019 and 2023, and it’s now considered one of the fastest growing segments in all of cruising.

Despite the name, this isn’t roughing it. Think heated pools, real spas, excellent dining, just wrapped around a much smaller, much more personal guest count.

And the two biggest myths, that it’s only for the ultra-wealthy and that it requires serious fitness, just aren’t true anymore.

Have you considered an expedition cruise, Antarctica, the Arctic, Galápagos, or otherwise? What’s holding you back, or pulling you toward it?

Nobody tells you Disney Cruise Line ships have an entire kid free nightlife district.I’ve sailed Disney five times, on t...
08/24/2026

Nobody tells you Disney Cruise Line ships have an entire kid free nightlife district.

I’ve sailed Disney five times, on the Magic, Fantasy, Dream, and Wish, and every time I’m reminded these ships aren’t just built for kids. A section of every Disney ship is a no kids space. Quiet Cove pool, upscale lounges, a full nightlife district after 9pm, plus restaurants like Palo and Remy that kids can’t book into. Disney also skips the casino entirely, which quietly changes the whole vibe onboard.

Even Disney’s private islands get the treatment. Castaway Cay has a kid-free beach called Serenity Bay, and their newer island experience, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, has its own separated area too.

Royal Caribbean also does this with kid-free retreats and quiet sun decks tucked away from the family zones. Norwegian leans into freestyle cruising, no fixed dining times, perfect for mixed-generation groups.

Family cruising does not mean everyone does the same thing all day. It means everyone has options on the same ship.

Have you cruised Disney, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian? What surprised you most?

There’s a reason “classic cruising” is still a phrase people use. Some mid-size cruise ships just get the size right. No...
08/23/2026

There’s a reason “classic cruising” is still a phrase people use. Some mid-size cruise ships just get the size right. Not so big you need a step counter to get to dinner, not so small you run out of things to do by day two. Just right.

Mid-size cruise ships from lines like Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Virgin Voyages usually carry two to three thousand guests. That’s the range where you still get specialty dining, real theater shows, and a full spa, without ever needing a map to find your way around.

Fun fact: Princess Cruises is the reason a lot of people started cruising in the first place. The Love Boat put them on the map in the 70s, and that same easy, welcoming feel is still there today, just upgraded. Better dining. Sharper entertainment. Nicer staterooms.

These ships didn’t reinvent themselves into mega ships. They grew up instead. Same great bones, wide promenades, ocean views everywhere, just better inside.

If you want a cruise that feels effortless, this is usually where I point clients first.

Have you sailed a mid-size cruise ship? What sealed the deal, the food, the pace, the ports, or just how easy it was to settle in?

I was wrong about mega ships. Like, embarrassingly wrong.Went into Allure of the Seas expecting a mall with a pool on to...
08/10/2026

I was wrong about mega ships. Like, embarrassingly wrong.

Went into Allure of the Seas expecting a mall with a pool on top. Everyone warns you, too big, too crowded, you’ll get lost.

Then I found a silent reading corner in Central Park. Ten minutes later I was in the middle of Boardwalk with a carousel, donuts, and a full AquaTheater show happening. Same ship.

Also, walking end to end is a quarter mile. My steps before breakfast > my steps most days at home.

Here’s the thing about mega ships (Oasis and Icon Class from Royal Caribbean, Prima and Breakaway Plus from Norwegian, Meraviglia and World Class from MSC, Excel Class from Carnival)… they’re not one ship. They’re a bunch of tiny ships smushed together, each with its own vibe.

That’s exactly why I love booking these for families. Teenager finds the surf simulator and disappears for six hours. Grandma finds a wine tasting or a show. You find a quiet corner with music and a drink. Everyone regroups for dinner with a totally different day to talk about.

Mega ships are not too big. They’re big enough that everyone gets their own version of the trip.

Have you done a mega ship cruise? Tell me what made it work for your crew.

This ship has never touched Caribbean waters before. On October 25th, that changes, and I’ll be standing on deck when it...
07/31/2026

This ship has never touched Caribbean waters before. On October 25th, that changes, and I’ll be standing on deck when it happens.

Meet Explora III, the newest and largest ship in the Explora Journeys fleet. She’s the first in the line powered by LNG, one of the cleanest marine fuels in the industry, and she’s carrying 463 suites and six specialty restaurants into her very first Caribbean season, sailing between Miami and San Juan.

I’m not reading about this ship. I’m sailing her, on the exact voyage that kicks off this new chapter. Expect real footage of the suites, the food, the design details, and what ultra-luxury actually feels like on day one of a brand new itinerary.

Thinking of a luxury cruise this winter? Let’s talk about where Explora fits into your plans.

Disney Magic or Disney Wonder for your Alaska cruise? The port you get depends on which ship you pick. Planning a Disney...
07/30/2026

Disney Magic or Disney Wonder for your Alaska cruise? The port you get depends on which ship you pick.

Planning a Disney Alaska cruise and trying to decide between the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder? Here’s the difference nobody tells you upfront.

Both ships sail 7 night Alaska cruises roundtrip from Vancouver, and both itineraries include Skagway, Ketchikan, and glacier viewing. The real difference is the third port. The Disney Wonder calls at Juneau, Alaska’s capital, with a larger variety of excursions like Mendenhall Glacier in a bigger port town. The Disney Magic calls at Icy Strait Point, Alaska’s only Indigenous owned cruise destination, for a quieter day built around wildlife viewing near Hoonah.

Neither is the wrong choice. It just depends on the kind of day you want your family to have.

This also isn’t a one summer thing. Disney Cruise Line ran two ships in Alaska for the first time in summer 2026, and has already confirmed both the Magic and the Wonder return to Alaska for summer 2027, sailing roundtrip from Vancouver again.

If a Disney Alaska cruise is on your family’s list, now is the time to start talking dates and figuring out which itinerary fits your travel style.

Send me a message and let’s find your Alaska sailing.

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