Setting Sail: A New Blog & A New Adventure
Hi! Welcome to my brand new travel blog – a place for trip stories, overly-detailed planning, photos of sunsets I swear look better in person, and probably a few tales of me getting lost in airports around the world.
I’ve travelled quite a bit over the last few years, but I’ve never really documented it anywhere. I take a thousand photos and then… they just quietly wait in iCloud like forgotten digital houseplants. So this time I’m doing things differently. This blog is where I’ll share the journey – not just the destinations. Planning, mishaps, the tiny brilliant moments, the food, the chaos, the joy – all of it.
And that brings me to the first adventure I’ll be writing about here…
The Trip: A Caribbean Cruise
In December, I’m heading off on a 16-day trip that starts with a long-haul hop to Miami and then sets sail into the Caribbean sunshine. Consider this my early escape from the UK winter.
Here’s a quick look at the plan:
🛫 Flights & Stopovers
- Glasgow → London → Miami (I’ve been lucky enough to snag First Class tickets with my frequent flyer points, so excited for this)
- Overnight in Miami
- One night to settle in, relax, and accidentally spend money in Wallmart.
🚢 Cruise Ports
- Miami, Florida (Embarkation)
- Oranjestad, Aruba – Think bright houses, turquoise water, and that warm island breeze.
- Cartagena, Colombia – Colourful old town, streets full of music, and I will 100% melt in the humidity.
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica – I’ve already booked an ATV adventure because apparently I have decided I am now sporty.
- George Town, Grand Cayman – Catamaran + Stingray City. Yes, I am voluntarily getting in the water with large flat sea pancakes.
🏖️ Then back to Miami for a final night staying downtown, and a flight home just in time to finish the Christmas shopping I’ll definitely have not started yet.
Why This Trip Matters
This isn’t just a holiday – it’s a bit of a reset.
The last year has been… intense. Work, life, the usual plot twists. So this trip is a chance to take a breath, see new places, get some sunshine, and actually relax for a while. Also: rum cocktails. Let’s be honest.
I’m planning to write during the trip – little updates, photos, what I loved, what surprised me, where to eat, where not to eat, and how often I applied sun cream (a story for another day).
What to Expect on the Blog
- Honest travel impressions – not the polished Instagram version
- Tips I discover along the way
- Reviews of excursions, hotels, and random airport snacks
- A steady stream of sunsets and ocean views
If you’re reading this, thanks for being here at the start.
More to come soon
Matt 🌍✈️🛳️
Photo by Lex Melony on Unsplash