Going on a cruise during a pandemic comes with a lot of uncertainty. With COVID-19 still surging in many parts of the world and the cruise industry embarking on a measured return to business, many of us are wondering whether it’s safe to set sail again.

Having kept isolated in New York for 15 months due to COVID-19 we badly needed a break and were excited to return to the high seas. At the same time, we were nervous to leave dry land, still remembering the images of the pandemic taking over stranded cruise ships in early 2020.

The island of Sardinia in Italy is well known for its unique beaches, so when we were planning our cruise, as lovers of sun, sea and sand we were extremely excited about this stop. Even more exciting however was that our ship would be docking in Porto Torres, one of the lesser known ports on the north western side of the island, some 33 km from La Pelosa Beach (Spiaggia La Pelosa), acclaimed by many to be the best beach in all of Sardinia. Could this be true? We were anxious to find out or to at least see how special it really was.

Anna and I started cruising 8 years ago and to-date we have cruised to over 33 countries. Our journeys have left us with some of the the most rich and rewarding experiences that we’ve ever had together. Our goal is to cruise to every country on the planet. According to the United Nations, there are 192 countries in the world so we have just 145 more to go. Wish us luck!

Will I get sea sick on a cruise? And if so what do I do? Anna offers her tips for first time and repeat cruisers.

Many current or future cruisers instinctively associate going on a cruise with sun, sea and sand, but how about cruising in the cold? Anna answers your freezing questions.