When does Alaska cruise season start? This guide explains when ships begin arriving, what to expect during each part of the season, and how to choose the best time to cruise Alaska.
Travel insurance is often overlooked, yet modern trips come with real financial risk. This post explains why coverage matters, what to look for in a policy, and how to choose protection that fits your specific trip. It offers practical guidance without sales pressure, helping travelers make informed decisions before they go.
Bermuda was the first place that opened my world. I arrived in 1987 as a young Marine who had never flown over the ocean, staring at water so turquoise it looked imaginary. The island moved at an easy pace, and the people matched it. A Bermudian barber on base became the unofficial welcome committee, always quick with a joke and advice on where to explore. Clearwater Beach became my escape during downtime. I learned to scuba dive there and swam through shipwrecks straight out of a movie. When Hurricane Emily hit that September, we worked alongside locals and the Bermuda Regiment to rebuild the island. That experience reshaped my idea of service. I grew up in Bermuda. It gave me my first real taste of another culture and taught me to slow down and appreciate the world beyond duty. Next March, I’m going back with Marines I served with, returning to the place where it all started.
Travel has shaped me through military moves, family trips, and now through my work as a travel advisor. Over time I’ve realized that smooth travel comes from small habits rather than big plans. The details carry you when everything shifts. I keep documents close, pack for real life, manage airport chaos with patience, and build buffer time into every itinerary. I pay attention to how I feel on arrival and avoid pushing through exhaustion. I look for local guides who bring a destination to life. I stay flexible when plans fall apart because they always do in some way. I give myself space to breathe when I reach the place I’ve been moving toward. You can plan with intention, stay calm through the messy parts, and still leave room for the moments that make a trip unforgettable.
I caught the travel bug young. My parents had an old greenish Class C motorhome, and every summer we’d hit the road across the western United States to visit family and explore places we’d never seen before. Those trips taught me the joy of motion—the rhythm of tires on asphalt and the freedom of never knowing exactly what’s around the next bend.
When I first joined the Marine Corps, I didn’t have any grand ideas about travel. I’d never been out of the country — unless you count the occasional trip down to Rocky Point, Mexico as a kid. Once I completed my training, I learned that my first duty station would be in Bermuda with the Marine Corps Security Forces. A few other Marines were headed there with me, and we were all thrilled. I spent almost two years on that island — learning about the culture, making friends, even picking up scuba diving. It was technically “barracks duty,” but for me, it was an adventure. I experienced my first hurricane there, learned to slow down a bit, and discovered how much life outside the mainland had to offer. After Bermuda, I was sent to the fleet — and that’s when my real travels began.
