Holland America Ships Explained and How to Choose the Right One — J.S. Whaldo Learn the differences between Holland America ships including size and class and how to choose the right one based on your cruise destination.

On Holland America Line, ship size changes everything from crowds to destinations.

And sometimes you don’t even get to choose. The itinerary does.

This is the next article in my Holland America series.

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#HollandAmerica #CruiseTips #TravelPlanning

Budget-Friendly Cruising: Insider Tips for Affordable Adventures — J.S. Whaldo Tips for scoring the best deals, maximizing rewards programs, and turning your dream vacation into an affordable adventure.

You don’t need a luxury budget to enjoy cruising. You need flexibility, curiosity, and a few insider tips. This guide covers affordable cruise planning, repositioning cruises, standby sailing, and other ways seasoned travelers save big at sea.

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You Don’t Need a Credit Score to Buy a Home, But There’s a Catch Show Lenders You’re Responsible and Buy a Home Without a Score

Think you need a credit score to buy a home? Not true. Lenders can approve mortgages using alternative credit like rent, utilities, and insurance. Find out how to qualify even with no score. Article by J.S. Whaldo

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Choosing the Right Holland America Cruise — J.S. Whaldo Learn how to choose the right Holland America cruise including when to go where to go and how to match your trip to your travel style.

Choosing a cruise sounds easy until you’re staring at hundreds of options.

After fifteen cruises with Holland America Line, I wrote out how we actually decide.

This is the next article in my Holland America series. It will save you a lot of second-guessing.

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Birding has taken us from window ledges to Costa Rica’s cloud forests. Here are some of the incredible birds we’ve seen along the way.

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#BirdingAdventures #WildBirds #NaturePhotography #BackyardBirding #BirdsOfTheWorld

A Hummingbird Chose Our Backyard — J.S. Whaldo Discover the magic of backyard birding with a hummingbird nest, two tiny eggs, and the unforgettable moment new life begins.

A hummingbird chose our backyard. Two eggs became fledglings, and we were there to witness it. Nature’s tiny miracles never get old.

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#Birding #HummingbirdNest #BackyardNature #Birdwatching #WildlifeMagic

I am not on Moob, so I cannot answer that. I would think that since it's a social site, someone is talking about it. 🤷‍♀️

Why We Keep Choosing Holland America Line for Every Cruise — J.S. Whaldo Discover what it is really like to cruise with Holland America Line including who it is for and why we keep coming back after fifteen cruises.

Holland America Line is not for everyone.

Quieter ships. More focus on the journey.

This is the first article in a series on Holland America cruises. If you’re planning a cruise and want the real story, start here.

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#HollandAmerica #CruiseLife #TravelPlanning

We’ve cruised fifteen times with Holland America Line and keep going back.

Not because it’s flashy. Because it fits how we like to travel.

This is the first article in a series about Holland America cruises.

www.jswhaldo.com/blog-2-1/why...

#HollandAmerica #CruiseTravel #TravelTips

Spring in Galway means sun, laughter, and a waterfront alive with families, friends, and music. Ireland travel doesn’t get more perfect than this!

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#Galway #SpringInGalway #IrishExperience #IrelandTravel

Have I Ever Told You About… — J.S. Whaldo Experience a perfect spring day in Galway, Ireland, with riverside music, waterfront walks, & lively streets full of joy.

Spring in Galway means sun, laughter, and a waterfront alive with families, friends, and music. Ireland travel doesn’t get more perfect than this!

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#Galway #SpringInGalway #IrishExperience #IrelandTravel

When a Behavioral Health Facility Says “We Need the Bed”: A Family’s 2,000-Mile Lesson in Discharge Failure — J.S. Whaldo When a medically vulnerable man is discharged to a bus station, his family begins asking hard questions about patient safety.

Medically fragile and traveling alone, he relied on love, persistence, and the kindness of strangers to reach safety. A journey no one should face.

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#Greyhound #CommissiononAccreditationofRehabilitationFacilities #Lumina #LuminaBehavorialHealth #LuminaattheManor

Illustration of an Older, blond-haired, heavyset man, sitting alone on a bench in a bus station. Next to him is his walker and two suitcases. On the bench next to him are two slices of pizza sitting on a napkin. This is a true story by J.S. Whaldo.

After my brother was discharged to a bus station, our family began asking questions about elder care safety, rehabilitation oversight, and accountability.

Read the true story now.

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#ArkansasAttorneyGeneral #CARF #patientsafety #HealthcareAccountability

When a Behavioral Health Facility Says “We Need the Bed”: A Family’s 2,000-Mile Lesson in Discharge Failure — J.S. Whaldo When a medically vulnerable man is discharged to a bus station, his family begins asking hard questions about patient safety.

A medically fragile man was discharged from a rehab facility and sent to a bus station with a walker and leg braces.

This is the story of what happened next.

#HealthcareAccountability #ArkansasAttorneyGeneral #CARF

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March is made for flower fields and festivals in San Diego! 🌷 From Carlsbad to Balboa Park, spring is bursting with blooms, butterflies, and outdoor fun. What’s on your spring bucket list?

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#FlowerFieldsCarlsbad #SanDiegoSpring #ThingsToDoInMarch #Staycation

Staycation in San Diego: Spring Hiking, Flower Fields, and Coastal Color — J.S. Whaldo Celebrate spring in San Diego! Discover wildflowers, hiking trails, Flower Fields, and Balboa Park blooms.

State of the Union done. Now let’s talk state of the flowers! 🌷☀️ San Diego is bursting with wildflowers, hiking trails, & blooms that make every day feel like a celebration of spring.

Who’s ready to chase color today?

#SpringInSanDiego #Wildflowers #Spring

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Staycation in San Diego: Spring Hiking, Flower Fields, and Coastal Color — J.S. Whaldo Celebrate spring in San Diego! Discover wildflowers, hiking trails, Flower Fields, and Balboa Park blooms.

Spring in San Diego is alive with wildflowers, hiking trails, and sunny skies. 🌸🐝

Take a staycation in your own city this March and celebrate the colors, blooms, and buzz of the season!

#SpringInSanDiego #Wildflowers #Staycation #MarchInSanDiego

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Caribbean Cruise Ports That Surprised Us From Amber Cove to St. Kitts — J.S. Whaldo Caribbean cruise ports from Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, to St. Kitts offered us a mix of culture, history, and local charm.

If you are planning a Caribbean cruise and see Amber Cove or St. Kitts on your itinerary, do not treat them as filler stops.

Both gave us memorable excursions and local culture.

Details and tips are now on the blog.

#CruiseLife #CaribbeanTravel #CruiseExcursions

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St. Kitts Caribbean coastline with turquoise water, sandy beach, and the hillside of trees overlooking the whole scene.St. Kitts features a Caribbean coastline with turquoise waters, a sandy beach, and hills of trees overseeing the entire scene.

Caribbean Cruising had some surprises.

Amber Cove in Puerto Plata had more culture and history than we expected, and St. Kitts delivered stunning coastal views from the Scenic Railway.

Full story available now.

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#CaribbeanCruise #CruisePorts #StKitts #AmberCove

Love gets better when you grow together.

Love is shared airport delays and early beach walks.

Happy Valentine’s Day from San Diego. 💕

Writing about travel, and the second chapter at JSWhaldo.com

What does love look like for you?

#ValentinesDay #Marriage #TravelLife #SecondAct #WritersLife

A Caribbean Winter Escape With Stingrays, Rainforests, and Hidden Island Adventures — J.S. Whaldo Escape winter with Caribbean adventures: stingrays in Antigua, rainforest hikes in Dominica, and hidden island experiences full of wonder.

A sandbar in the middle of the sea.
Wild stingrays brushing past.
A rainforest island rebuilding through tourism.

This is the Caribbean travel story that's not about white sandy beaches.

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#TravelStories #WildlifeEncounters #HiddenGems

Winter storms in the United States.
Stingrays and rainforests in the Caribbean.

This trip reminded me why meaningful travel matters. Antigua and Dominica surprised us in the best ways.

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#CaribbeanTravel #MeaningfulTravel #TravelWriting

An Unplanned Day in the Scottish Highlands — J.S. Whaldo A spontaneous taxi tour in Scotland leads to Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, and an unforgettable day in the Highlands.

We stepped off our cruise ship in Invergordon, Scotland, with no plan and hired a local taxi for the day. Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, castles, Highland cattle, and stories you only get from someone who lives there.

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#ScotlandTravel #Invergordon

A Small Christmas Story, Just Because Originally posted at JSWhaldo.com

As the year winds down, I like to pause and appreciate the small moments that matter most.

This year has been full of stories, learning, and a lot of joy in unexpected places. I hope your holidays bring you warmth, laughter, and maybe even a little magic.

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We went to Vancouver for a cruise and stayed for Stanley Park.
Raccoons, herons, lagoon birdwatching, totem poles, Tube Steaks, and fireworks over English Bay. Some places just stick.

Full story:
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#StanleyPark #VancouverCanada #TravelWriting #WildlifeTravel

Stumbling Into Vancouver Magic at Stanley Park and English Bay Fireworks — J.S. Whaldo A first time wander through Vancouver leads to Stanley Park trails, birdwatching, kind strangers, and English Bay fireworks magic.

Stanley Park is where Vancouver won me over.
Wildlife, seawall walks, kind strangers, a lost phone returned, and fireworks at English Bay. This park is not background scenery. It is the heart of the city.

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#VancouverTravel #StanleyPark #EnglishBay #TravelStories

Have I Ever Told You About… — J.S. Whaldo A warm holiday memory about young motherhood, a tight budget, and finding joy in the simplest gift.

A tiny holiday story from the days when I was a young mom trying to create Christmas magic on almost nothing. One simple gift changed everything.

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#Parenting #Motherhood #HolidayStory #ChristmasMemory #WritingCommunity #TravelWriter #LifeStories

Cruising Alaska by Sea Is the Adventure You Didn’t Know You Needed — J.S. Whaldo Experience the glaciers, wildlife, and scenic beauty that make Alaska cruises unforgettable, from whale watching to Glacier Bay adventures.

Alaska cruises offer whale sightings, Glacier Bay adventures, and some of the world's most scenic waterways. What would you be most excited to see on an Alaska cruise?

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Grateful for you this Thanksgiving! From all the adventures to every story shared, thank you for joining me on the journey. Wishing you a day full of gratitude, good food, and happy moments.

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