Links to Resources




Fundamental Links

Resource Link Notes
Holland America Line  http://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us This is the mother ship of resources for the cruise. Do your online check-in and print your boarding pass here.
Passports  http://www.usa.gov/passport This is the link to the official U.S. government website to apply for a new passport or renew your passport.
Travel Advisories & Visa Requirements  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html This is the link to the official U.S. government website to get current information about travel to any foreign country, including State Department Travel Advisories as well as Visa requirements. Currently, none of the ports on our cruise require a visa, but requirements can change over time..
Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel  https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-vancouver/the-hotel.html This is the link to the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel.

Recreation

Resource Link Notes
Lee Kisses Stingray  https://www.leesauer.com/Lee_Kisses_Stingray.html Here is a link to that dreadful video of Lee kissing that vicious, deadly, and murderous Killer stingray at Stingray City in 2018.

Cruise Blogs

Resource Link Notes
Cruise Critic  https://cruisecritic.com Cruise Critic, the Grand Dame of the cruise blogs, has been around for 30 years and has exactly one gazillion (I counted them) cruise reviews, a lot on Holland America Line ships. But, in particular, its Community section is without peer when you want to ask a question or find someone who was on the ship you're boarding NEXT week, LAST week, and can give you the straight skinny on the current state of everything.
Cruise Maven  https://cruisemaven.com" Have a fear of flying or want to avoid hectic airplane travel? This blog is for you! Cruise Maven aka Sherry Laskin Kennedy is an avid cruiser who has traveled around the world and avoided taking a plane since 1995. Not only does she point out all the various places you can go on a cruise, but she dives into helpful tips for river cruises and train travel. In particular, she includes many articles on solo cruising.
Prof. Cruise  https://profcruise.com/ Started by retired College Professor, Sarah, this humorous cruise blog is easy to read, interesting, and engaging. It features insightful information on various cruise ships and destinations
Cruise Hive  https://www.cruisehive.com/ Started in 2008 by Emrys Thakkar, a former Carnival Cruise Lines employee, this site is full of helpful cruise tips, ship info, a cruise forum, videos, and more.
Emma Cruises  https://emmacruises.com/ Previously the website was cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.com, now known as “Emma Cruises”. In 2021, Emma, a UK-based cruise blogger left her full-time job to devote time to her blog and YouTube Channel. She’s active on social media and writes from first-hand accounts of travelling on various cruise ships and cruise lines
Should Be Cruising  https://shouldbecruising.com/ Starting out terrified of cruising, the author, Carrie Ann, has been converted into a cruise lover! She shares all kinds of helpful tips and info on her website.
Ray's Cruise & Travel Blog  https://snoozemanscruiseblog.blogspot.com/ If you want an in-depth review, Ray is your man. He will give you the nitty gritty on his cruising experiences. His site has an impressive blog archive that goes back to 1982, but you will have more than enough to read with his current reviews.
Cruise Addicts  https://cruiseaddicts.com/ Run by John Shallo, Cruise Addicts is an online community for those who love cruise travel. Ship/Cruise reviews, cruise tips, cruise forum, and much more. Their Twitter account is full of deal alerts, helping you find some of the best deals that might only be available for a short period of time.
Eat Sleep Cruise  https://eatsleepcruise.com A husband and wife duo with 10+ years of cruising history. Despite their different personalities, they both share a passion for vacationing and cruising. Their website features honest reviews, ship info, cruise excursion information, and more
Cruise Miss  https://cruisemiss.com CruiseMiss aka Danielle embarked on her first cruise in 2007 and has hooked ever since. She writes insightful, in-depth posts from her travels in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe & Scandinavia.
Chris Cruises  https://chriscruises.com Chris Owen is somewhat of a legend in the cruise world. He’s certified as a Master Cruise Counselor and currently contributes to a number of large online publications like examiner.com. He’s rated in the top 10 cruise bloggers worldwide and the content on ChrisCruises.com is not to be missed.
Cruise Report  https://cruisereport Chris Dikmen and Rickee Richardson are the faces behind CruiseReport.com which has been online since June 2002! Chris provides technical oversight of the site which features blog posts, reviews, pictures, port reviews, and much much more. Because the site has been online for so long, it has so much information that for those planning a cruise, this site is the ultimate find!
Cruzely  https://cruzely.com This website has quickly gained traction as a premier resource for cruise information, cruise tips, parking, hotels, and more. With daily updates, there’s plenty of information to keep you coming back each day to indulge in your cruise addiction.
Cruise Fever  https://cruisefever.net Started in 2011 by 2 brothers, the site is operated by a staff of 2 – Ben Souza and Jonathan Mark. Ben has written more than 500 articles about cruises and currently cruises more than 5 times per year. The site is full of ship info, port details, reviews and has a vibrant community on Facebook with over 80,000 likes. The site has updates on a daily basis and if you’re not currently following them, you should be.
Cruise Mummy  https://cruisemummy.co.uk Cruisemummy is written by cruise expert Jenni who has worked in the travel and cruise industry since 2015. This blog is full of TONS of useful information to help you plan your cruise. Based in the UK, the insight provided by her blog is invaluable and should have made this list a few years earlier than now!
Your Cruise Girl  https://yourcruisegirl.com Ola and her 70-year-old mother share their cruise stories and info on this blog that began in 2018. You can follow along on their travels through Instagram and Facebook. This blog has tons of valuable cruise info for both new and seasoned cruisers alike.
All Things Cruise  https://allthingscruise.com AllThingsCruise, launched September 2009, is an independent travel enthusiast website, currently staffed by Heidi Allison-Shane, Cynthia Boal Janssens & Renee Goyeneche as well as a number of guest contributors. The site is jam-packed with reviews, ship and destination information, and more.
Life Well Cruised  https://lifewellcruised.com Directly from the blog – “I’m Ilana. I’m an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years!” Definitely, an informative cruise blog that you should check out!
Cruise Radio  https://cruiseradio.net Cruise Radio has been around since 2009 and features a wealth of information, videos, and a Podcast to help you with your cruise planning. Often reporting live from a cruise ship, this is an entertaining and helpful blog.
Ship Monk  https://shipmonk.co.uk Dave Monk is a professional journalist who began writing about cruising all the way back in 2005. He was voted best blogger in the Cruise International Awards 2016, and has been a full-time cruise blogger since.
Cruise Guru  https://officialcruiseguru.com Written by Diane Tierney, an experienced travel writer based in Canada. Her work has been published in many professional publications including the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, and National Post, as well as a number of other media outlets.

Cruise Vlogs

Resource Link Notes
Tips for Travellers  https://www.youtube.com/@tipsfortravellers Gary Bembridge, with over 400,000 subscribers, offers expert advice and ship reviews from 100+ cruises, a top resource for planners.
La Lida Loca  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFivW2VWJtGfvrMreyjNbw Tony, along with his wife Jenny make up La Lido Loca. They are self-confessed cruise addicts and love to capture and share their experiences with their viewers. You name it, they cover it and feature interesting videos from sailings aboard some of the world’s biggest cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Holland America Line.
Don's Family Vacations  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXI8D72GDxDww2oE9DPoG7A Don delivers daily cruise news and detailed ship reviews, known for his candid opinions and up-to-date content for cruisers of all levels.
Cruise Tips TV  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAyIfOlHYZejLC8lLo9DcA Since 2013, Sheri and family have shared over 480 videos, specializing in adventure-focused tips for families cruising to destinations like Alaska and the Caribbean.
Emma Cruises  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4C8c3h9SKdkxnOwIAiHeA Emma started her website in 2016 and then a YouTube channel a year later. The aim of both is to dispel common cruising misconceptions and to show potential cruisers that there is a cruise line to suit everybody. Her channel covers everything you’d expect, and she has a big focus on budget cruising.
The Shiplife  https://www.youtube.com/@JSHIPLIFE The Ship Life offers a fascinating collection of content ranging from drinks package mistakes to what life is really like working onboard a cruise ship. It’s a fun and engaging channel, run by an ex-cruise ship employee and one definitely worth adding to your favorites list.
Cruise with Ben & David  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGh9zg0zvyF3GqHeR4WR3Xg With over 100 cruises, this couple’s honest reviews and high-quality ship tours focus on practical tips for first-timers and veterans alike.
Life Well Cruised  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbClHUGuOmFeZFWJyTTRnFw/featured Ilana’s channel, nearing 1 million views, excels in cruise planning tips and port reviews, perfect for families and budget-conscious travelers.
Eat Sleep Cruise  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiHoqHZ6WI8lD90cBjIWYEg Paired with their popular blog, this channel offers in-depth ship tours and excursion reviews, ideal for cruisers seeking detailed itineraries.
The World Your Oyster https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpk9jGyezBkSIg-4I5VKOUA Julia’s solo travel vlogs since 2012 offer raw insights into the highs and lows of cruising alone, perfect for independent adventurers. She recently ceased being solo, and changed her vlog title as well.
Cruising with Wheels  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPdJZcTwRNLXmZKY-nc98rg Focused on accessibility, this channel provides essential tips for cruisers with disabilities, detailing onboard and port accommodations.
Cruise News Today @Cruise Radio  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-7eJBT7HIMpvmBzMDuVqA/featured Doug Parker’s channel, with over 26,000 subscribers, combines ship tours with cruise news podcasts, offering a multimedia experience.
Very unOfficial Travel Guides  https://www.youtube.com/@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides Morgan’s humorous and relatable vlogs provide honest ship reviews and port guides, a favorite for practical cruisers.
Popular Cruising  https://www.youtube.com/user/PopularCruising Jason Leppert’s 4K cruise reviews and behind-the-scenes explorations, rooted in 130+ sailings, cater to luxury and expedition cruise fans.
Cruise Fever  https://www.youtube.com/user/cruisefevervideos Run by brothers Ben and Jonathan, this channel keeps viewers updated with cruise trends, news, and ship tours, boasting 17 million views.
Griff & Alyssa  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6We4CmdugvBM3pcW8sVQYg Known for cinematic quality, their vlogs provide stunning ship tours and practical tips for both new and seasoned cruisers.