Blog

Welcome to the Experiences with Stori blog: honest cruise tips, one-day port guides, concert and hotel reviews, and the gear that comes along for the ride. Every post comes from something my husband Steve and I actually did, so you get the good, the bad, and the “we’d skip it next time.” We write from the over-55 seat, but the honest version works at any age.

Most posts end with an “At a glance” summary and the questions readers ask most, so you can skim on a sea day or settle in for the whole story. If you’re looking for something specific, the search box in the header covers every post on the Experiences with Stori blog.

Browse by topic

Pick a lane below, or scroll down for every post in order, newest first. New guides are added after each trip, and older posts get updated when a port or a product changes.

• Cruises: line comparisons, first-timer lessons, and the rules we sail by now.
• Port guides: one day in port, the way we actually spent it. What to do, what to skip, and how to pace it after 55.
• Alaska: glaciers, whales, and three cruises on three different lines.
• Gear that comes along: the things that have earned a permanent spot on our trips.
• Travel & deals: how we travel more for less, what’s worth the money, and the trips in between cruises.
• Customer experience: what great service looks like, and what happens when a company stops caring about your business.

New here? Start with these

1. First Caribbean Cruise After 55? 7 Things I Wish I Knew
2. Alaska Cruise Pros and Cons: What Three Alaska Cruises on Three Lines Taught Me
3. Cruise Packing List for Over 55: 12 Items That Survived 7 Cruises

Prefer to watch? The videos from each trip are on the Experiences with Stori YouTube channel, and the subscribe box in the sidebar sends every new post straight to your inbox.

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