GoCruise and Travel with Rich Rochester

In a world where you can book a holiday with a few taps on your phone, it’s easy to assume that planning travel has never been simpler. But anyone who has spent hours comparing flights, reading hotel reviews, or trying to understand cruise cabin categories knows the truth: travel planning can be overwhelming. And when something goes wrong such as a cancelled flight, a missed connection, a hotel that isn’t what it promised then the stress can quickly overshadow the excitement. This is where a travel specialist makes all the difference. Not because it’s complicated to book a holiday yourself, but because the value of having someone in your corner is far greater than most people realise. And here’s the part many travellers don’t know: it doesn’t cost you anything extra to use a travel specialist . In fact, it often saves you money. Here’s why. You’re Not Paying Extra, Instead You’re Paying Smarter One of the biggest misconceptions is that using a travel specialist adds a fee on to...

When a rare window opened for a family holiday, we found ourselves booking a cruise just two weeks before departure. It wasn’t the most typical way to plan a summer getaway, but sometimes the best trips are the ones that come together at the last minute. And this one, sailing the Grecian Discovery itinerary aboard Marella Discovery 2, turned out to be exactly that. I’ll be honest: Marella has always been a cruise line I wasn’t entirely sure about. I’d often wondered whether the “all ‑ inclusive package holiday at sea ” concept would feel a bit confused. Over the years we ’ ve berthed alongside Marella ships in ports around the world, always curious but never quite tempted. But with the Greek Islands high on our list and the appeal of a simple, all ‑ in package , this itinerary felt like the right opportunity to finally give Marella a try. First Impressions of the Ship Marella Discovery 2 is a small ship by today’s standards, originally sailing as Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the...

There’s something transformative about seeing the world from the water. Landscapes you thought you knew suddenly shift in scale, colour, and emotion. Cities feel calmer. Coastlines feel wilder. Even familiar holiday favourites reveal hidden layers when approached by ship, tender, kayak, or even Zodiac. It’s one of the reasons cruising, whether ocean, river, or expedition remains such a powerful way to travel. You’re not just visiting a destination; you’re experiencing it from a perspective most travellers never see. Here are five places that feel completely different when seen from the water, and why they deserve a spot on your travel wish list. 1. The Norwegian Fjords The Norwegian Fjords are beautiful from land, but from the water, they’re extraordinary. Sailing into a fjord feels like entering a natural cathedral, with sheer cliffs rising thousands of feet on either side and waterfalls tumbling down like silver threads. Villages that seem small on a map suddenly appear as tiny...

There’s a moment in Alaska when the world seems to fall silent. The air sharpens. The water stills. A glacier cracks in the distance and the sound rolls across the bay like distant thunder. It’s the kind of moment that stays with you - but only if you’re close enough to feel it. Most travellers never get that close. For decades, Alaska has been dominated by the big cruise lines: spectacular ships, lively entertainment, and scenic sail‑bys that offer a taste of the wilderness from the comfort of a balcony. But there’s another way to experience this extraordinary region, one that trades crowds for connection, and entertainment for exploration. That’s where HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) come in. A Different Kind of Alaska HX doesn’t just take you to Alaska. They take you into it. Their small, purpose‑built expedition ships slip into narrow fjords and remote bays that the mainstream vessels simply can’t reach. Instead of docking beside thousands of passenge...