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
- First Caribbean Cruise After 55? 7 Things I Wish I Knew
- Alaska Cruise Pros and Cons: What Three Alaska Cruises on Three Lines Taught Me
- 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.
All posts
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Value vs Cost: Why Great Experiences Extend Beyond Dollars
Continue reading →: Value vs Cost: Why Great Experiences Extend Beyond DollarsWhile I do offer occasional money-saving tips, my focus extends beyond mere frugality. My goal is to provide nuanced insights into experiences and products, evaluating their genuine worth. It’s not just about finding the cheapest…
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Juneau’s Tale of Two Cruises: Whales, Gold, and Fresh Seafood
Continue reading →: Juneau’s Tale of Two Cruises: Whales, Gold, and Fresh SeafoodJuneau on two cruises: a whale-watching tour with a triple breach (4.6), a gold-panning excursion to skip (1.0), Tracy’s King Crab Shack (4.5), and the tram you can decide on at the dock.
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Ketchikan Cruise Port Guide: When Park City Meets the Alaskan Frontier
Continue reading →: Ketchikan Cruise Port Guide: When Park City Meets the Alaskan FrontierKetchikan from the cruise dock: the jewelry-store haggle, the historical tour worth booking, totem poles, Dolly’s House, daily rain, and why the busiest port in Alaska still rates a 4.2.
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A Day in Hoonah (Icy Strait Point): Authentic Everyday Alaska
Continue reading →: A Day in Hoonah (Icy Strait Point): Authentic Everyday AlaskaHoonah, Alaska, from the Icy Strait Point cruise dock: the fog, the cannery, the Tlingit dancers we missed, the mini donuts, and why this quiet port rates a 4.0.
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Royal Caribbean vs Carnival to Alaska: Same Coast, Two Very Different Cruises
Continue reading →: Royal Caribbean vs Carnival to Alaska: Same Coast, Two Very Different CruisesI sailed Alaska on Carnival and then on Royal Caribbean. Food, glacier day, excursions, service, and the ratings I gave each line, side by side.
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Alaska Cruise Pros and Cons: What Three Alaska Cruises on Three Lines Taught Me
Continue reading →: Alaska Cruise Pros and Cons: What Three Alaska Cruises on Three Lines Taught MeAlaska cruise pros and cons from three sailings on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian: glacier day, rain, balconies, costs, and which line gets closest.
