Whalen good cruise reviews

Meet Ruth & Peter...

Person in orange jacket walking on a road through rocky cliffs.

To start, here’s a quick overview of our travel style, which shapes how I review each cruise. We’re in our mid-50s and have taken 17 cruises to a variety of destinations. Our choices are typically driven by itinerary and price, and we aim to keep costs as low as possible.

My husband prefers the darkness and quiet of interior rooms, and since I’m fairly frugal, we usually book inside staterooms. We don’t typically spend on extras like spas or thermal suites, and we keep additional expenses to a minimum. Rather than purchasing beverage packages, we usually just pay for drinks occasionally—though if a package is included, we’ll certainly take advantage of it.

For us, cruising is all about the ports rather than onboard activities. When we dock, we gravitate toward active, engaging excursions instead of beach days or shopping. We’re especially drawn to experiences that involve animals or offer cultural insight.