Traveling should be more about the memories you make and less about the stress of getting to your destination. We’ve partnered with men’s lifestyle and travel writer Joe Miragliotta from Joe’s Daily to teach you how to make every trip a memorable one.

No matter where you go, or how many you’ve been on, cruises always have the potential to be amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences. As with any vacation, the key is to properly plan. It can be easy to get caught up in the hands-off mindset the moment the trip is booked, but taking the time to prepare can mean the difference between kicking yourself over what you missed and having a truly exceptional time. 


Ship Wish List

Start with what the ship itself has to offer. Sometimes, there can be so much to do it can seem overwhelming, but there is an easy way to make things simple. First, go through and mark what fits your interests. It’s okay to miss out on that afterhours dance party if it’s not your thing. Next, narrow it down by availability. Some events only take place on certain days, while others can be done anytime. Knowing where you can be flexible helps tremendously.

Off to the next port. Photo by Joe Miragliotta.

Plan the Ports

After you’ve identified what you want to do on the ship itself, shift your focus to what’s happening at the ports. Begin with ship excursions. Depending on how much independence you like, there are usually different options to accommodate. After that, find out what there is to do on your own as well. Search online for what the area has to offer. Ask your friends if they’ve been. Many times the cruise will offer excursions that match what’s most popular for tourists, but you might discover something you’d rather do on your own instead. Especially if you don’t like groups or have been there before, local guides, events, and food tours can be absolutely wonderful alternatives. Just make sure you plan for time and safety. Being left behind or running into trouble can easily ruin more than just a vacation.


Excusion to the Acropolis of Athens with Sarah (MilkAndFlowers.com). Photo by Joe Miragliotta

Make an Itinerary

This really isn’t as much work as it can seem like once this is all done. And when you consider how easy it makes things after you embark, it’s totally worth it. Just go step-by-step, prioritizing what you HAVE to do and what you’d LIKE to do and you’re set! It undoubtedly keeps things relaxing, which is what you’re probably going for, right?


On the Trip

Cruises are like tasters or flights, and the ports are what you’re sampling. No matter how well you plan, there’s no way to experience an entire area in the amount of time you’re allotted on a cruise. And that’s okay. Just make note of the places you want to go back to and the things you want to do there. Maybe you’ll get to experience them on the next cruise, or maybe there’s enough to warrant that destination a vacation of its own. Regardless, keeping track while it’s all still fresh will serve you much better than trying to remember months or years later when you do have the opportunity to return.

Trying Turkish coffee for the first time in Rhodes, Greece. Photo by Sarah Wilson.

Have Fun!

Don’t stress if something didn’t work out or wasn’t what was expected. Take every experience for what it is. You haven’t escaped life completely, so some things will inevitably go wrong. Just laugh and learn when they do. Enjoy your company and that you’re making lifetime memories and you’re bound to remember your trip as the wonderful adventure it was!

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Joe Miragliotta

Latest posts by Joe Miragliotta (see all)

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