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This is the Essential Cruise Tips Podcast with cruise expert and author Gary Bembridge. Full of tips, advice and ways to plan and get the most from your cruising vacation.

May 27, 2026

I abandoned my ship mid-cruise for three days to see one of the most iconic sights in the world: Machu Picchu. But after booking an eye-wateringly expensive $5,000 excursion with Holland America, I started to realise just how much could go wrong. Machu Picchu is not a simple shore excursion. It’s over 300 miles...


May 20, 2026

It took a lot of coaxing — and in some cases, waiting until crew had left life at sea — to uncover what actually happens behind the scenes on a cruise ship that most passengers have no idea about, and how they work. And how by knowing passengers can use it to improve their cabin and cruise These are the insider...


May 6, 2026

Solo cruising is getting harder… and most people haven’t noticed yet. After 87 solo cruises, I’m seeing some big changes that could make cruising alone more expensive, more limited — and in some cases, much less enjoyable. In this video, I reveal what’s really going on behind the scenes… and what I now do...