The OTGG Journal
Honest writing about cruise travel — what works, what doesn't, and how to make the most of every voyage. No sponsored content. Nobody pays for a recommendation. Just the work.
Booking Guides Asia-Pacific capacity, Icon taking Galveston in 2027, Naples calls diverting to Marseille, typhoon credits that are not cash — and the dining package calculation most people get backwards.
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Travel Guides Santorini's 8,000-passenger cap now counts ships at full capacity, only ~30% may come ashore at Athinios, and Princess has already swapped a Corfu call for Taranto. What the new limits mean for your day ashore.
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Travel Guides Sober and mindful cruising, honestly assessed — what zero-proof actually guarantees, why only one of the three usual 'adults-only' recommendations is adults-only, and where the drinks budget does more good.
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Field Journal The trade press asked how cruise advisors are really using AI. My answer, in short: for the busywork, never for the judgement call — plus the line they pulled into the callout.
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Travel Guides Seven ports, two very different kinds of failure. Ship counts, tender math, day-pass pricing and the timing that turns a six-ship port day into a good one.
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Insider Tips A dollar fifty a day, announced the morning it took effect. What every cabin tier now pays, how to lock the old rate, and what Celebrity is building while everyone argues about tips.
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Solo Strategy Norwegian is base-loading fares, which quietly changes when you should buy. How to compare Studio against Solo cabins honestly, and what Great Tides Waterpark actually costs.
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Travel Guides Verified cabin dimensions, the 30- and 60-day deadlines that actually bind, the door-width trap that strands scooters, and an honest read on which ports you may not get off the ship at.
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Booking Guides Project Ruby rewrote the pricing rules. The booking window that still works, the 45-day repricing clause almost nobody uses, and how to time flights to Miami, Barcelona, Athens and LA.
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Insider Tips Where your dollar stretches furthest in 2026, the destinations quietly surging — plus the full briefing on why cruise fares are climbing and last-minute deals have vanished.
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Travel Guides Explore rainforests, volcanoes, and incredible wildlife. Taste local flavors.
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Insider Tips The complete guide to MNVV — onboard vs. post-voyage perks, Sailor Loot stacking, cancellation rules, and how to deploy your certificate on the right sailing.
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Travel Guides Five European islands matched to how you actually travel — plus three off-book positions. A strategist's allocation guide to the highest-yield summer escapes, and the addresses worth the capital.
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Personal Essay Why I stopped booking vacations and started designing freedom. A veteran, a hurricane, and the cruise that changed everything.
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Field Journal A field journal from Fort Lauderdale — the classroom sessions, the ship inspections, and the work behind every recommendation.
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Travel Guides I've vetted every one of these so you don't discover — three drinks in — that the bar you Googled is now family-friendly on weekends. The Human Shield works on land too.
Read MoreNo entries in this category yet — Paolo is working on it.
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