Our expertise
Why I changed my mind about cruising (and you might too)
By Pauline Duffin, Travelwise small ship cruise specialist
If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d be recommending cruises...
Let alone going on five of them in three years – I would have laughed you straight out the door.
Back then, the word “cruise” made me think of towering ships, crowded decks and an average passenger age of 104. It simply wasn’t my style. But all that changed when I boarded one of the very first Explora Journeys sailings. I was curious, slightly sceptical… and then completely won over.
Pauline Duffin
Pauline specialises in designing highly-personalised adventures, guided by her decades of travel expertise. With a focus on India, South East Asia and South America and a deep love of African safaris, she's renowned for her finely-tuned ability to create experiences that reflect your unique interests.
Small ships, big shift.
These days, cruising has evolved. Small ship journeys in particular have become one of my favourite ways to travel. Waking up to a new horizon each day, with no need to pack and unpack, is a joy I didn’t expect. There’s a rhythm to it – slow mornings, beautiful scenery, thoughtful excursions and that rare chance to properly switch off. It’s a style of travel that lets you sink into the experience.
A client convert (and a few tears at disembarkation).
I’m not the only one who’s had a change of heart. A long-time client recently set sail on Explora with her daughter. When I first suggested it, she asked me if I’d lost my mind. A cruise?! Absolutely not. But I gently persuaded her, and a week into her trip I got a message saying she’d loved every minute, was dreading disembarking and wished she’d booked two weeks instead of one. She’s already looking at dates for next year.
This kind of trip – a parent travelling with one child – is something we’re seeing more of at Travelwise. We often call them “Bond Voyages”: a chance to reconnect, mark a milestone or celebrate life after exams. Cruising works brilliantly for these trips. It’s safe, structured and effortlessly special – offering independence when needed and togetherness when it counts.
More than just the Med.
Beyond the Mediterranean and Caribbean, small ship cruises open up some of the world’s most fascinating corners. I’ve travelled through Assam in northeast India on the Brahmaputra River, watching how life flows around the water. I’ve sailed the Mekong Delta in style, exploring markets by day and returning to calm, spacious suites by night.
In the Galápagos and Alaska, cruising is by far the best way to experience the diversity of these wild and remote regions, from island-hopping with naturalists to gliding past glaciers and spotting whales. You simply can’t cover this kind of ground any other way.
