Hey there, JFC-ers!

We’ve all been there, sitting at the beach or by the pool, and then it’s time to take a dip and cool off. But what do you do about your valuables? You can’t just leave your phone, keys, passport, etc. lying around unattended, after all. 

Earlier this week, AFAR shared an article recommending various products to help keep your valuables safe during those toasty seaside outings this summer. And naturally, that got the JFC team chatting about all their beachy security hacks! 

From burying cash, to secret zip compartments, and even stashing belongings in nappies (unused, we presume), it turns out most of us are pros at the old anti-theft techniques. 

So tell me, how do you do it? Hit ‘Reply’ to share all your top tips (and biggest fails!) in next week’s Detour.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas,

Last time, we embarked on the great cruising debate. From the highs of hopping between hard-to-reach islands and endless top-quality service, to the lows of missing out on authentic cultural experiences and a significant carbon footprint, we found plenty to talk about. 

That’s why I decided to save my personal cruise experience—highs and lows—until this week. Back in February, my husband and I took off on our honeymoon. Not satisfied with just one type of holiday, we combined three—a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, followed by a New Orleans city break over Mardi Gras, before taking to the Costa Rican cloud forest for 5 days. 

Unsurprisingly, a lot of research went into that trip! It quickly became apparent to me that a major factor in how much we’d enjoy the cruise portion of our adventure would come down to the choice of cruise line. 

Pretty unfairly, cruises have a reputation of being purely for an older demographic, or for unadventurous and lazy travellers. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that each company and ship has its own vibe. You get expedition cruises around the Arctic and Antarctic, cruises that are essentially music festivals on the ocean, others that cater to young adults or singles. And yes, you get cruises aimed at seniors who want (and deserve!) an easy trip to exciting places.

We opted to travel with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Much of that was based on the itinerary on offer (Dave was looking for destinations that would remind him of a youth spent playing Monkey Island), but honestly, if we’d just been looking for any old western Caribbean cruise, we could have taken any number of ships. 

What sold us on NCL (aside from the rather agreeable price!) was the more informal approach they take to cruising—getting all dressed up for dinner and worrying about etiquette just wasn’t what we were after. We were more into the late-night stand-up comedy, somewhat embarrassing quiz games (top tip for Brits on American ships—learn what Jeopardy is before you volunteer to join in!), and the never-ending list of tasty cocktails.

Runner-up in our research (and definite potential should we cruise again) was adults-only Virgin Voyages. Among many others, JFC-er Paul thoroughly rated his trip with them, and agreed that it's all about the ship you pick: 

“Did Virgin Voyages as my first cruise in May and loved it. Great way to see different places and was such a fun few days. Think you have to research carefully to see if a certain cruise line is for you, but there is something for everyone. Never thought I'd be a cruise person but now I have 3 more booked over the next few years!”

Another common thread with our cruise fans was the safety and entertainment on offer if you’re travelling with kids. From the kids’ club taking care of younger sailors to the well-stocked buffet keeping teens stuffed, it makes things easy in the same way as an all-inclusive resort, but with the added bonus of visiting several of those harder-to-reach spots.

For what it’s worth, we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. I had previously taken a Mediterranean cruise that didn’t float my boat (ahem), while Dave had never been on one. But we knew we wanted to do something special, and this was just one part of the larger adventure.

That said, we did experience many of the caveats that would be enough to put many travellers off cruising again.

In the Bahamas, we landed on NCL’s private island. The pros: all food and drink was included just like on the ship, the sand was powdery and white, the water turquoise and teeming with life. There were plenty of watersports and other activities to choose from, and we managed to grab a tour to an island where you could swim with pigs. 

The cons: hiring snorkelling gear cost an extra $40, we had to queue to eat in the same place as the other 4,000-odd passengers, and we didn’t even set foot on an island inhabited by Bahamians. While the pigs were rescues and well-cared-for, with the freedom to escape visitors, they were very much there for the bits of apple provided as snacks, and we were just there to feed them and take pictures. 

Oh, and once the heavens opened, everyone attempted to decant off the island via tender at the same time. You can imagine how that went. In fact, it was so chaotic and soggy that we heard several other passengers swearing off cruises for good. That was only day two!

We decided we’d go for a locally-operated free walking tour when we docked in Falmouth, Jamaica. Our guide was great, teaching us about the town’s history, taking us to a local fishing village, and generally showing us as much of his town as he could. It felt as different as possible to the constructed tourist town surrounding the port where our ship docked.

And then he told us that he expected $250 as a tip for the supposedly free walking tour, because that’s what visitors usually give him. We had planned to tip him, of course, but nowhere near that much. It was clear that he was trying his luck, and no doubt it sometimes paid off.

In the Cayman Islands, we went for a trip to the Crystal Caves run by a local tour company. Storm damage meant that we had to dock on the opposite side of the island than planned. With no communication from the tour company, we had no way of knowing that they were indeed collecting us at the new port, while we spent the best part of an hour trying to reach the original pick-up point. But we made it, and the caves were stunning!

Then came Cozumel, Mexico. Popular for beaches and snorkelling, but we’d never been to Mexico before and really wanted to see a bit more, so we took a jam-packed day trip to the ruins at Tulum, followed by a quick dip in a cenote. Since this one was offered by NCL, at least we didn’t need to worry about the ship leaving without us if we faced any delays!

We knew the transfers would eat into our day, that it would be rushed, and we wouldn’t experience much of Mexico at all. But I’m still glad we injected a little culture instead of sitting on the beach. Our guide, Carlos, was great, too, teaching us about the Maya people and culture, and even giving us a little language lesson!

So where does that leave us? Well, I can understand why cruises aren’t for everyone—it’s not how I’d choose to spend every holiday. But if you’re willing to just enjoy the convenience and comfort, and accept that every moment won’t be a cultural experience, the occasional cruise might actually be right up your street.

Dave’s top tips: don’t scrimp on the all-inclusive drinks and Wi-Fi packages! And take a good book or two. You’ll be grateful for them during those sea days. 

JFC-er Lauren wrote in to share her feelings on cruises and summed it all up pretty well:

“Of course, cruising doesn't have everything. There isn’t lots of time to explore, you generally don't see nightlife, you don't always contribute hugely to local economy, and you may feel your carbon footprint is high (though for how many people travel and the offset from the companies it is better than we think). 

But that's why, to me, cruising is one way to travel a few times—no not every time, but maybe an amazing supplement to what you may already do. So for me, that is solo travelling, city breaks, long-haul holidays and staycations, and usually now a cruise a year. 

I've been to 98 countries (100 comes in September to India) over 6 continents and really think cruising is just one way, but a very good way, to see more remote parts of the world, or to see if it's "worth" the investment of a week's precious annual leave!”

However, with all the economic and environmental factors at play, it feels like the destination really has to be worth it for many of us to consider a cruise. You can decide to be a conscientious cruiser and do your best to offset the negative aspects, but you have to be up for the challenges and choppy seas that may come with it.

Or maybe, as JFC's Member Experience Lead Jo suggests, it all just comes down to the individual:

“The destination-less cruise I took (3 days out to sea) was great, as I was able to take a long weekend break that didn't require accommodation, food, and entertainment planning. All the emphasis was on enjoying time on the ocean with no expectation to fill my day with activities, and I really had a good time onboard.

I feel like pretty much any place can be suited to a cruise—it’s less about the destination and more about people being suited to a cruise. Some people are just better suited to it than others.”

What would you like us to cover next in The Detour? Let us know via the form below 👇

Lucky for you, reader, I save all my favourite spots in each city on Google Maps so I can find them again later! 

I'd recommend sticking to the Oltrarno (staying below the river Arno), because you'll be able to get away from the very touristy spots of the centre. Here are my suggestions for a memorable (and tasty!) evening:

Start at this cosy wine bar for aperitivo, or take in the views from a rooftop!

And then for the actual food:

- Alla Vecchia Bettola - a light-hearted Trattoria 

- Trattoria Cammillo - for a more traditional Trattoria

- Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino - a funky osteria famous for its offal dishes (really love this one)

- Santarosa Bistrot - cute bistro with a nice little garden

- Enoteca Spontanea - born as a natural wine bar, they now serve food too!

To end the night on a fun and kitschy note, make a stop at this Fotoautomatica. The photo booth has been sitting on the corner of the road for ages, and its extra-saturated vintage-looking photos are so, so pretty. I make sure to stop there every time I go to Florence!