About Us: The Cruise Experts Who Actually Tell The Truth

Why We Ditched Commissions for Truth

Most cruise websites make money selling you cruises. We gave up those fat commission checks to tell you the truth about cruise travel instead.

After years as cruise travel agents, watching clients get burned by misleading marketing and hidden fees, we made a choice: keep taking cruise line money to push their agenda, or start helping passengers make genuinely informed decisions. We chose truth over profit margins, because someone needs to tell you which cabins flood during rough seas and why their “specialty dining” costs more than a Michelin-starred meal on land.

Why We Started About2Cruise

Back in 2004, the cruise industry was selling dreams while delivering disappointments. Passengers were getting trapped by hidden fees, stuck with terrible cabins, and missing out on the experiences that actually matter. The travel advice out there was either written by people who’d never set foot on a ship or sponsored content disguised as honest reviews.

We’d sailed enough cruises to know the difference between industry marketing and maritime reality. So we did what any sensible person would do – we started telling the truth about cruising.

From Travel Agent to Truth Teller

Here’s the thing nobody mentions about being a cruise travel agent: you spend most of your time cleaning up other people’s marketing mistakes.

We started as a traditional cruise travel agency, helping people book cruises and navigate the industry’s deliberately confusing booking systems. But after years of fielding angry calls from passengers who’d been misled by cruise line marketing, watching clients get stuck with interior cabins next to the anchor chain, and explaining why their “specialty dining included” package didn’t actually include the restaurants they wanted to eat at, we realized something fundamental.

The cruise industry doesn’t want informed customers – it wants compliant ones.

So we made a choice. We could keep taking commissions for selling cruises that disappointed people, or we could start telling the truth about what cruising actually involves. We chose truth over profit margins.

Our mission became clear: Cut through the cruise industry BS and give you the real information you need to choose the right cruise, avoid costly mistakes, and actually enjoy your time at sea.

How We Actually Make Money Now

You’re probably wondering how we pay the bills without cruise line commissions. Fair question.

We make money through affiliate partnerships with companies we actually use and recommend – think luggage brands that survive baggage handlers, travel insurance that actually pays out, and DIY shore excursions that don’t hit you with surprise fees. When you buy something we’ve recommended and tested ourselves, we might earn a small commission. But we only recommend stuff we’d pack in our own suitcases.

The key difference? Our income doesn’t depend on which cruise you book or whether you book at all. We only get paid if you choose to buy something we’ve recommended, but you’re free to browse our website and take our advice without buying or booking anything. 

We’ve Actually Been There

Our team has sailed over 150 cruises combined across six continents. We know which cruise lines deliver on their promises and which ones are selling you a fantasy. When we review a ship or port, it’s because we’ve walked those decks and streets ourselves.

We Don’t Do Sponsored Fluff

We’re not here to convince you that every cruise is magical. Some ships are floating malls with terrible food. Some ports are tourist traps designed to separate you from your money. We’ll tell you which ones to avoid and why.

We Speak Cruise Reality

• No “unforgettable experiences” – we tell you what actually happens
• No “something for everyone” – we explain who cruises are really designed for
• No “memories to last a lifetime” – we focus on practical value and real experiences

Our Values

Truth Over Marketing: We prioritize honest, accurate information over feel-good content that doesn’t help anyone make better cruise decisions.

Experience Over Theory: Every recommendation comes from real sailing experience, not brochure research or press releases.

Practical Wisdom: We focus on actionable advice that saves you time, money, and disappointment.

Insider Access: We leverage industry connections and maritime knowledge to give you information you can’t get anywhere else.

Balanced Perspective: We acknowledge when something isn’t perfect while explaining why it might still be worth your time and money.

What We Actually Do

Real Cruise Reviews

Written by people who’ve actually sailed the ships, eaten the food, and dealt with the crew. We tell you about the hidden fees, the cabin noise issues, and whether the specialty restaurants are worth the upcharge.

Port Guides That Work

Detailed information about what you can actually accomplish in port, realistic transport costs, and which shore excursions are tourist traps versus genuine experiences.

No-Fly Cruise Expertise

We pioneered comprehensive coverage of UK departure cruises because flying to catch a cruise defeats the point of stress-free travel. We know which UK ports actually function well and which ones you should avoid. What started as a focus on the UK market has expanded globally – we now cover cruise ports and guides worldwide, but we never forgot that the best cruise advice comes from real experience, not marketing departments.

Industry Insider Tips

From cabin selection strategies that cruise lines don’t want you to know to dining reservation hacks that actually work, we share the knowledge that comes from years of sailing and industry connections.

Polar Expedition Reality

We’ve expanded into Arctic and Antarctic cruising because expedition marketing is even more misleading than mainstream cruise advertising. We tell you what polar expeditions actually involve.

Our Team

Jo Pembroke leads our editorial team with over 150 cruises under her belt. She’s sailed everything from luxury expedition ships to mass-market floating cities, developing the kind of practical cruise knowledge that only comes from real experience.

Our contributors are seasoned cruise travelers who share our commitment to honest, practical cruise advice. They write about what they’ve actually experienced, not what they think you want to hear.

Join Our Community

We run an active Facebook community with over 8,000 cruisers who appreciate straight talk about cruise travel. Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for real cruise content, not staged marketing photos.

Ready for Honest Cruise Advice?

We’re here to help you choose better cruises and avoid the mistakes that turn dream vacations into expensive disappointments. Browse our port guides, read our cruise tips, or get in touch if you need personal cruise planning advice.

Because cruising should be about the destinations and experiences, not the marketing departments that sell them.