Review: Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine – An Outstanding, Action-Packed Canadian Arctic Adventure

Pack your spirit of adventure for an extraordinary expedition like no other in Canada’s Remote Arctic! Overall Score: Outstanding 98/100 In Summary: By now you know I had an outstanding experience despite the changes to the itinerary. I am already considering other polar destinations like Svalbard, East Greenland, Antarctic, and Labrador. If reading my story has tweaked your adventurous spirit and you are interested in booking a Quark Expedition Cruise, contact Cruise Compete. In mid-August I had the …

Read more

Antarctic Expedition Cruise on Swan Hellenic SH Vega – An Ideal Expedition Ship for This Antarctic Adventure

I had the opportunity to cruise aboard the small and stylish SH Vega for their 10-night Antarctic Discovery Expedition Cruise in November 2022. We were one of the first expedition ships to visit during the Antarctic summer season, and it was just the second time the SH Vega cruised in the Antarctic region. Late November is an ideal time to visit Antarctica by small ship, with seas iced-up from the harsh winter, glaciers and mountains glistening with …

Read more

A ship within a ship: Finding my happy place in MSC Seascape’s Yacht Club

Big ships can be intimidating for passengers like me who enjoy quiet time watching the sea, and a smaller, more intimate and less crowded experience. However, you may be surprised to learn that big ships, such as MSC Seascape DO offer an array of opportunities for intimate cruising or a romantic getaway. You can get that “small ship feeling” aboard a big ship! On December 7th, MSC held its first cruise ship naming ceremony at New York …

Read more

Welcome Aboard Swan Hellenic’s Chic New Expedition Ship SH Vega

I was invited aboard Swan Hellenic’s newest ship, SH Vega, for a short cruise from Halifax to Boston. It was a great opportunity to explore the ship and meet the expedition leaders and senior company executives. Greeted by smiling crew members offering champagne and assistance to get registered and find my stateroom, I immediately felt at home in this swanky and stylish floating boutique hotel. SH Minerva and SH Vega, two new 5-star Polar Code PC 5 …

Read more

The New Viking Octantis: Re-imagining Expedition Cruising in Nordic Style and Comfort

As a connoisseur of small ships and adventure travel, cruising on the newly minted expedition ship, Viking Octantis, for a 10-day “Caribbean Connections” itinerary, ahead of its inaugural season in the Great Lakes was like a dream come true. Viking Octantis, captures the spirit of expedition cruising nestled firmly on 6 decks of signature Viking designs, facilities and services. With just 378 passengers and 189 staterooms, she’s larger than the Viking river ships and carries far fewer …

Read more

What’s the latest about Expedition Cruise Lines

Small-ship and Expedition Cruise fans have been waiting for cruise lines to emerge from the pandemic quiet. The choices for expedition cruising are growing with offerings in all categories from hard-core adventure to ultra-luxury expeditions. While it’s next to impossible to keep up with the many changes, the following is a current snapshot. Albatros Expeditions will introduce the Ocean Albratros in 2022. The vessel will have 93 cabins. Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator is planned to launch in …

Read more

Viking Announces New Innovative Mississippi River Cruises, Beginning in 2022

Viking is expanding its growing fleet of destination-focused cruises, this time in North America, along the mighty Mississippi River in America’s Heartland. The Mississippi cruise program builds on the Viking commitment to bring more immersive options for curious travelers.  “At a time where many of us are at home, looking for inspiration to travel in the future, I am pleased to introduce a new, modern way to explore this great river. We invented the concept of modern river …

Read more

Viking to Bring Expedition Cruising to the Great Lakes, the Antarctic and Arctic

January 15, 2020 – Los Angeles: On the heels of becoming Number One in the world in River Cruising, and the leading small-mid ship Ocean Cruising company, Viking Cruises has announced a bold new expansion into Expedition Voyages.  The first six expedition cruises in 2022, open only to returning Viking guests, have already sold out. Details of Viking’s Plans were unveiled by Chairman Torstein Hagen at a launch event at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the …

Read more

Judi Cohen’s Bio

Judi Cohen

Judi Cohen has travelled the world in search of unique experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations. She is also a connoisseur of small-ship cruises that pack big adventure, and local cultural and dining experiences.

Trusted by over 1.5 million cruisers since 2003.
Get FREE access to members-only pricing.
There is a highly acclaimed way to receive multiple quotes from a site called CruiseCompete, where cruise specialists compete to offer you the best deal. The media sums it up for CruiseCompete:
Score Luxury Cruises at Bargain Prices” (The Street)
Best site for cruise deals” (The Wall Street Journal)
28 Best Travel Sites” (Kiplinger's) Multiple annual mentions
36 Web Addresses You Should Know” (The Washington Post)