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Vacations for Every Sailor

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Cruises

There’s a cruise vacation for almost every kind of traveler—and finding the right one is where experience matters. From family and multigenerational cruises to romantic getaways, milestone celebrations, group vacations, luxury escapes, river cruises, expedition adventures, and journeys around the world, Mandy uses extensive firsthand experience and professional cruise training to help match travelers with the right vacation.

 

With firsthand experience across nearly 30 cruise lines and more than 200 unique destinations, Mandy understands just how different one cruise experience can be from another. The right ship, itinerary, stateroom, and onboard atmosphere depend on who is traveling, what you want to experience, and what matters most to you.

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And if cruising isn’t the right fit for every vacation, Cruise by Mandy can help with select land-based travel experiences as well.

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Explore some of Mandy’s own travel experiences below for inspiration—and discover just how many ways there are to see the world.

Anniversary

Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate your years together with an anniversary cruise designed around the way you love to travel. Whether your perfect romantic getaway means an ocean-view stateroom, breakfast on your balcony, a couples massage, an elegant dinner, or simply watching the sunset together at sea, the right cruise can make your milestone even more memorable.

 

Spend your days walking hand-in-hand along Caribbean beaches, exploring charming European towns, discovering ancient ruins, or taking in incredible scenery together. From intimate river and small-ship cruises to luxury escapes and activity-filled ocean voyages, there’s an anniversary cruise for every kind of couple—and plenty of opportunities to create a tradition worth celebrating again and again.

Anniversary Travel Tips

What does celebrating your anniversary together look like?
 

  • Want to turn a quick romantic getaway into a longer escape, waking up somewhere new each morning while unpacking only once?

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  • Dreaming of being pampered, enjoying room service, and relaxing together on a private balcony?

  • Imagine celebrating a milestone anniversary while watching castles along the Rhine River pass right outside your stateroom?

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  • Looking for an ultra-private balcony, a romantic stateroom location, or a ship with the perfect atmosphere for the two of you? Firsthand ship experience and inspections can make a big difference in finding those special details.​

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Whether you're celebrating your first anniversary or a major milestone, the right cruise can turn your celebration into an experience you'll remember—and maybe even a tradition you'll repeat.

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Babymoon Cruising

Celebrate your growing family with a relaxing babymoon cruise before your newest little traveler arrives! Spend time together unwinding by the pool, enjoying beautiful destinations, indulging in great meals, booking a little spa time, or simply relaxing on your balcony with an ocean view.

 

Mandy knows the babymoon cruise experience firsthand—she cruised while pregnant herself. She also understands that timing matters, as cruise lines have specific pregnancy policies and restrictions on how far along you may be at the time of sailing. Mandy can help you navigate those requirements while finding the right ship, itinerary, stateroom, and pace for a comfortable and memorable getaway together.

 

And once baby arrives? We can talk about cruising with an infant—and even breastfeeding at sea. Been there, done that, too! Sometimes the best cruise advice comes from someone who has actually lived it with children that young up to the teen years! 

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Kick your feet up and relax—someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning!

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  • Craving a fruity poolside drink? Order your favorite as a mocktail or “virgin” version and enjoy it while someone else brings it to you. (Have your partner test it first to be sure it's virgin! That happened to us!)

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  • Midnight craving? There’s a good chance your ship has an answer for that, too!

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  • Do as much—or as little—as you want. A babymoon doesn’t need to be packed with activities to be memorable.

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  • Pay close attention to timing. Cruise lines have specific pregnancy policies, including limits on how far along you may be when you sail, and those requirements need to be checked for your particular cruise.

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  • And yes, I’ve cruised while pregnant myself! My babymoon advice comes with firsthand experience, not just a list of cruise-line policies.

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Birthdays on Board

Celebrate your next trip around the sun with a trip around the sea! A birthday cruise turns one special day into an entire vacation, whether you're planning a milestone birthday, a getaway with friends, a family celebration, or simply treating yourself to somewhere you've always wanted to go.

 

Spend your birthday enjoying a special dinner onboard, relaxing at the spa, sipping something festive by the pool, or checking an experience off your bucket list. Zipline through a rainforest, explore a new city, relax on a Caribbean beach, taste your way through a European port, or end the day stargazing from the middle of the ocean.

 

From the celebration onboard to the adventures ashore, the right ship and itinerary can make this a birthday you'll be talking about long after the candles are blown out.

Birthday Cruise Tips...

  • Another trip around the sun deserves a trip somewhere fun—whether it’s a milestone birthday or simply an excuse to celebrate!

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  • Want to make it extra special? Depending on the cruise line, birthday cakes, stateroom decorations, specialty dining, spa treatments, and other celebration extras may be available.

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  • Don’t be surprised when complete strangers join in singing “Happy Birthday” when that cake arrives at dinner. That’s part of the fun!

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  • Celebrating with friends or family? Planning early can help with nearby staterooms, dining together, and coordinating group activities.

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  • Turn the birthday into a bucket-list moment—choose a destination or experience you’ve always wanted to check off.

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  • And if we have to show that date of birth on your passport anyway, we might as well give it something worth celebrating!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Cruises for Couples

Imagine the waves lapping at your feet, strolling down the beach, hand-in-hand with the person you love the most. Couples cruises bring people meant for each other even closer than ever before. With nothing but quality time, fresh sea breeze, and the tropical sunset on the ocean horizon, get ready for the romance trip of your dreams. Whether your dreams as a couple take you to the pebble shores of Ireland or under the sea in Bali, your cruise itinerary will be filled with romantic dinners, couples massages, and excursions that will cement the bond you have with one another. 

Finding Your Perfect Cruise Experience

  • What does your perfect cruise vacation look like?

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  • Want more than a weekend getaway, with the chance to wake up somewhere new each morning while unpacking only once?

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  • Dreaming of being pampered, relaxing on a private balcony, ordering room service, and letting someone else take care of the details?

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  • Imagine lying in bed while castles along the Rhine River pass right outside your window?

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  • Searching for that hidden-away balcony, perfect stateroom location, or little-known spot onboard? That’s where firsthand experience matters. After sailing on more than 80 ships and completing countless ship inspections, Mandy knows that even the location of your stateroom can completely change your cruise experience.

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  • The little details matter—and finding the right ship, itinerary, and stateroom for the way YOU want to travel is all part of the planning.

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Educational and Immersive Experiences 

When you’re ready for a change of pace, away from the crowds and the floating cities, an immersive cruise experience is just the refreshing change for you. Created for people who want to immerse themselves in a specific topic completely, these experiences are unlike any other. On the ship, you can look forward to discussions, seminars, classes, and more opportunities to dive into your point of interest. Port stops align with your chosen experience as well, so offshore and onshore there will be moments to take your adventure as far as it can go. Think outside of the box for your next vacation and skip the ordinary beaches in favor of something extraordinary. 

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Sample the various foods while enjoying the summer festivals on a cruise around Japan! 

  • Walk among the ruins that are thousands of years old to uncover some amazing archaeological insights in Europe!

  • Climb the staircase of Anne Frank’s apartment in Amsterdam or learn about the beautiful marine life at The Great Barrier Reef - both are exhilarating! 

  • What better way to learn about the Falkland Islands War than to visit there on a port stop and see remnants of a downed Argentinian helicopter?

  • Give your kiddos age appropriate books to enjoy as they cruise Alaska - ever read Nancy Drew? I have a good one to recommend to bring their travels to life… among others!  Correlating to Lexile levels helps families know if appropriate for their young readers as well.

  • Do your children enjoy earning Junior Ranger badges at National Parks? What about when the Park Rangers come onboard your ship or post-cruise excursion I visit with you about booking?

  • These are just samplings of places I have been firsthand… with children! As a former educator and still maintaining my principal certification, along with my family’s own homeschooling and worldschooling experiences, I combine my life passions and learnings from my undergrad and grad school years to enhance cruises!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Family Reunion

Gathering all the branches together for one trip filled with fun and memory-making is every family’s dream come true. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to traveling multi-generational is keeping everyone happy. It’s everyone’s vacation, after all, so making sure every child, teen, adult, and senior, each with their own interests, is entertained can be a tall order. Cruises are unmatched in this department, stocked with endless entertainment options, not to mention babysitting and kids club services for the youngest of voyagers. Group rates make food and drink packages appealing, with no worry about splitting checks or kitchen clean-up. No one to keep track of, no meal prep, no stone left unturned; your family reunion will be worry and hassle-free!

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Let’s face it: Everyone moans about hosting, so let someone else do the hosting! And cooking! And cleaning!

  • Turn a vacation into time with the relatives you don’t get to see often, yet still have your own space and time apart to enjoy your OWN time while exploring the world. Pick a new, different place for each family reunion cruise, and you will be surprised that Cousin Joe actually shows up to these now!

  • Those who need an affordable cabin or solo stateroom can still enjoy a cruise with those who prefer sprawling out… and those in a suite can have people over to enjoy their added private space!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Trips for the Girls

There’s no match to the fun you have when you’re on a trip, just you and the girls! You all want the best for each other, so skip the spa weekends and retreats and sip your mimosas next to the endless expanse of the ocean horizon. Maybe you’re all looking to reconnect and return to your youth, ready to leave the kids at home and party on the white sands of Mexico like you’re in college again. Then again, maybe you're the opposite; leaving Dad at home for a mother/daughter trip. Or maybe it’s spring break and you’re ready to live it up in Cancun, or even somewhere far-flung, like Barcelona. Between tropical drinks and tanning with your best friends, there’s no vacation quite like one between the girls!

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Need a girlfriend getaway when nobody wants to drive?

  • Want to share a room to save costs AND have twin beds like you did in college?

  • What about a mother / daughter trip to explore and bond?

  • Need a cruise with a spa pass for the week to enjoy the steam rooms, saunas, and other amenities knowing you can still undo your detox with some lively nightlife later in the evening?

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Group Trips

Adventure brings us together like no other experience. Whether it’s group travel with family, friends, or even a corporate trip to foster working relationships that will last a lifetime, you’re sure to come out of your cruise a tight knit group. Group rates mean group discounts, which means you and your group--no matter the size--can go on more excursions, upgrade to more inclusive packages, and enjoy even more luxury at an affordable price. Have your own solo time to unwind from port to starboard, then come together to explore islands, countries, and lands unknown. Get ready to set sail for the group trip you’ll be talking about for years to come!

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Have a group with a common interest such as a Bible Study group or a Book Club?

  • Don’t forget some ships have amazing sports bars so your Fantasy Football buddies can  get a little loud cheering for the game!

  • Do your kids love other kids at school, and enjoy hanging out? Excellent for the opportunities onboard - and the parents can escape to the 18+ areas for some relaxation such as one of the many Spring Break cruises I have put together!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Holiday Cruises

It’s never too late (or too early!) to create lasting traditions for you and the ones you love. It only takes one trip that blows you out of the water to realize what all the fuss is about--and realize you want to do it over and over again! Holiday cruises are the perfect way to do just that. Leave behind the trappings of the holidays to celebrate your vacation the way it was meant to be enjoyed, with relaxation and indulgence. Imagine the bliss of waking up a holiday morning with no kitchen to clean, no mile-long guestlist to entertain, and best of all, a beautiful open ocean instead of flurries of snow. Ring in the new year in the islands, spend Christmas in the country of your ancestors, and find out what you’ve been missing! Your spirits will soar when you discover your holiday specialty cruise options and realize your poolside green Christmas can be more festive than you think. 

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Have you decided to make memories together instead of buying more “stuff”?

  • Does everyone want to gather but nobody wants to host or not enough rooms?

  • Want to ring in the New Year with someone special or wake up on Christmas morning at an uninhabited private island?

  • If the Super Bowl counts as a holiday… I’ve watched the big game onboard by the pool as well!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Just Because Sailings

You want to go on an indulgent cruise with all the bells and whistles, but there’s no birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, or any other occasion coming up, yet there’s still something that should always be celebrated--you! You have our permission to take a trip, just because! After all, there’s never a bad time for a vacation. Decide it’s time to take time off, the perfect reason to visit the cities of The Iliad in the Mediterranean, try the locally-made wine in Tuscany, or crack open a fresh coconut on the shores of Jamaica. There’s no time like the present, so pack your bags. Your dream adventure awaits, don’t leave it waiting for an occasion.

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Need that mental sanity break? In high school, you could take that occasional day off, but in the hustle and bustle of today’s world, a 4-night cruise helps do the trick better!

  • Is there a set of islands you have always wondered about, but didn’t want to spend an entire week there without getting a little sample first?

  • Have a break between jobs and want to celebrate the new position?

  • Where’s that country you have said you always wanted to visit but didn’t want to stay there a week - Greenland? Gibraltar? The end of the Earth… Ushuaia? Those hard-to-reach places are excellent to incorporate into a cruise and check off that world list!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Voluntourism Experience

If you’re looking for a unique way to experience the world, volunteer tourism opportunities may be just what you’re looking for. Designed for charitable hearts moved to volunteer at sea, “voluntourism” cruises provide opportunity at ports of call to volunteer, whether it be cleaning beaches, helping at animal sanctuaries, volunteering at Red Cross, and more. Some options even include fundraising right onboard. You can seek out your own volunteer experiences, or connect with organizations that specialize in volunteer cruises. It’s the perfect way to explore communities that give you just as much as you’re giving back. Along the way, you’ll have the relaxing rewards of a luxury cruise liner to return to while knowing you’ve made a difference. 

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Gather some items locally, fill a backpack, and donate to a worthy cause like an orphanage at a port of call! 

  • Have your PADI certification and want to participate in a trash dive after a hurricane? Or just pick up trash for the heck of it?

  • Not afraid to get a little dirty? How about laying in the sand to help dig out baby sea turtles to release them? Guided by biologists, of course!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Vow Renewals

Wedding days are counted among some of the most special in our lives. You’re still in love so much that for your special someone, the magic of that day deserves to spill out into another, beit one year, a decade, or half a century later. There’s no more beautiful or intimate setting than renewing vows in your own special corner of the vast ocean as you coast along to somewhere exotic and new. Even better, cruise liners make vow renewal ceremonies easy to arrange, which must be music to your ears after the first set of “I do’s”! Recreate the day with a wedding party reunion or invite all the people you wish could have been there the first time. Anyway you arrange it, your vow renewal will be just as special and wonderful as the person you’ll say “I still do” to.

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • A vow renewal can happen on a cruise - onboard or on land!

  • Did you enjoy watching “The Love Boat”?  So did I!  We renewed our vows onboard Valentine’s Day 2019 with our daughters being our photographer / videographer! And yes, maybe we kissed a little too long, too!

  • It is totally okay to be naked! Naked toes, that is! Bare feet are always welcome on the  public beaches for vow renewals (bring something cute to wear above the knees, though!)

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Cruise Weddings

Simply imagine the beauty and wonder of looking into your soulmate’s eyes, turning them from your fiance into your spouse with two little words, just like magic. When your dream backdrop for this magical moment is the water, don’t stop at simply the shore. Make the entire ocean your venue. Weddings aboard a luxury cruise make planning a breeze; catered, officiated, and no delays due to traffic. The reception can go all night long with all-inclusive drink packages, then watch the sunrise from the deck looking out to sea. When all is said and done, the happily married can start their honeymoon off right at their ports of call, surrounded by family and friends. A wedding at sea is the perfect way to ‘wave’ hello to your new life together!

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • “I do!”  And yes, WE DID! 

  • These words on the beach still resonate with me every year watching our cruise wedding video on our anniversary: “Having heard the vows you have just made with each other, made by the sun, sand and sea …. I now pronounce you husband and wife”.

  • Cruise weddings are onboard either before or during the cruise, or at a port of call. Turn your wedding day into a wedding week!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Resort Vacations

Vacationing all-inclusive is the one-stop shop for making sure you have everything at the ready without the need to lift a finger all trip long. Resort packages include dining, accommodations, entertainment, and a la carte additions like excursions and upgradable packages. You can rest easy knowing the whole party is being entertained on the premises while you enjoy your vacation, sitting back with a drink beside the pool. Many resorts are world-renowned, so you could be looking forward to Michelin-ranked restaurants onsite, extraordinary spa services, and private beaches. Or maybe you’re looking for more family-friendly fare, packed with fun and excitement at every corner, sure to appeal to a family where the younger members outnumber the adults. Resorts come fully stocked and are the ultimate way to book a trip with no extra hassle. After all, this is your vacation; leave the extra work for when you get back!

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • While I specialize in cruises, I have over 50 recent site inspections at various resorts in different countries on top of my own personal travels. 

  • I can offer honest comparisons of the experiences. Cruises take up my business hours but my knowledge is so much more diverse!

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Theme Parks

Let’s face it, vacationing is wonderful, but even beaches can get boring once you’ve been to enough. Theme park vacations break up the monotony in a fun and immersive way. Parks like Disney and Universal Studios are globally known for a good reason. Their production value and emphasis on customer service are unmatched anywhere else. With the option of staying on park properties for extra perks, you can make your resort vacation as in-depth as you’d like. You never have to leave Disney property all vacation-long if that’s your preference! With the option of a Disney cruise, you can even begin or end your trip with bonus park visits; two vacations in one! Resorts cater to a wide scope of ages, so child-friendly magic can be enjoyed at Cinderella Castle one day, then older children can engage with magic with their very own wands at Hogwarts Castle the next. Meanwhile, adults will appreciate the top-notch rides, the enchanting feeling of being transported, and the adult beverages with fun, themed twists.

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Are you an adrenaline junkie and need to tie it into your cruise?

  • Did you know we can merge your interest in seeing the Baltics with Walt Disney’s original inspiration?

  • Flying to Florida to cruise from Port Canaveral, and need a day or two to visit Disney or Universal? (Yep - I am indeed certified and have visited both!)

  • Need to get your game on with virtual reality, race go-karts, or get the plunge on a waterslide? Yes, I test these out - I go so you know! 

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

US Itineraries

Adventure can be as far-flung or as close to home as you’d like. If the idea of reaching for your passport doesn’t excite you, there are breathtaking locations throughout the U.S. begging to be explored. From the tropical thrills of Hawaii to the untamed wild beauty of Alaska, there are oceans, forests, mountains, and rivers to find. Speaking of rivers, U.S. river cruises are an incredible way to tour multiple ports and cities. River cruise ships are the height of luxury, and with limited capacity, you’ll never feel like you’ve been lost to the shuffle. Enjoy regional shops, flavors, and music while winding down one of America’s charming rivers.

Specific Travel Tips for This Vacation Type...

  • Having visited almost all of the 50 states (just a few left!) I have a pretty good feel for our own country on land!  

  • Want to explore on a river cruise up the Mississippi or the river waters of Oregon?

  • What about a small luxury cruise that transverses the Great Lakes?

  • Enjoy wines? Maybe a Pacific Coastal cruise?  

  • Or how about some Fall Foliage in the northeast with some yummy fresh lobster while hiking Cadillac Mountain?

Enjoy the Ultimate Cruising Experience with Mandy.

Babymoon
Birthdays
Couples
Educational
Family Reunions
Girls Trips
Group Trips
Holiday Cruises
Just BC
Vow Renewals
Volunteer
Cruise Weddings
Resorts
Theme Parks
US

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Cruise by Mandy

Mandy Goddard 

Elite Cruise Counselor

Cruise by Mandy, LLC

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