Hi, I’m Allison.
I’m a travel advisor, writer, and lifelong believer that the best trips are the ones that make you feel like you actually went somewhere.
I also really, really love cruises.
But probably not for the reason you think.
What I love most about cruising is the access it can give you to places that would otherwise be difficult, complicated, or sometimes nearly impossible to experience. I love waking up somewhere new. I love small ships that can get into places the big ones can’t. I love days spent in Zodiacs, on shore, learning from people who know far more than I do about the wildlife, history, culture, or landscape around me.
And yes, I also appreciate a very good meal and a comfortable place to sleep afterward.
That combination — adventure without unnecessary suffering — is pretty much my sweet spot.
Why Cruise Obsessed exists
Cruise Obsessed started because I genuinely enjoy talking about cruising, researching ships, comparing itineraries, and figuring out why one cruise might be perfect for one traveler and completely wrong for another.
Because that’s the part I think gets lost sometimes.
There is no single “best cruise line.”
There is only the cruise line, ship, itinerary, and style of travel that makes the most sense for you.
That becomes especially important when you start looking at luxury cruises, river cruises, expedition ships, and small-ship itineraries where the differences between operators can be enormous – and the price tag can be, too.
My goal with Cruise Obsessed is to help make those decisions easier.
Here you’ll find honest comparisons, destination guides, cruise reviews, practical advice, and plenty of discussion about what actually matters when you’re deciding where to spend your time and money.
I’m much less interested in telling you which cruise is trending than I am in helping you figure out which experience is right for you.
I don’t just write about travel. I plan it.
Cruise Obsessed is also connected to my travel agency, Novel World Travel.
As a professional travel advisor, I help clients plan complex, experience-driven trips around the world, with a particular love for expedition cruises, small ships, cultural immersion, adventure, and destinations that make you feel very far from everyday life.
I’ve traveled on everything from traditional ocean cruises to expedition ships. Some of my favorite travel memories have involved icebergs, Zodiacs, remote coastlines, and naturalists explaining what we were looking at while I tried to keep my jaw from dropping.
Travel is also something I take seriously.
When someone is spending a significant amount of money – and, even more importantly, a significant amount of their limited vacation time – I don’t believe the goal should be to simply book a cruise.
The goal should be to choose the right one.
Who this site is for
Cruise Obsessed is for travelers who are curious about seeing the world by ship but don’t necessarily want the biggest ship, the busiest itinerary, or whatever happens to be popular on social media this year.
Maybe you’re considering your first expedition cruise. Maybe a European river cruise has been sitting on your travel list for years. Maybe you love the idea of a small-ship, cruise but still want your days to revolve around exploring rather than staying onboard.
Or maybe you already know you love cruising and you’re ready to do something a little more adventurous next time.
You’re in the right place.
And if you eventually decide you’d rather have someone help you sort through all those ships, itineraries, cabin categories, logistics, and competing options, that’s exactly what I do at Novel World Travel.
Until then, have a look around.
There’s a lot of world out there to see… and quite a bit of it is better reached by ship.