I spent 225+ nights and 34 cruises at sea in one year. This reflection explores balance, purpose, community, and what comes next.

Reflections on living aboard the Carnival Miracle for 42 nights—cruise ship life, Europe itineraries, community at sea, and what comes next.

— Gen Maldonado What if your entire life could be summed up by one simple sentence: “having fun is free”? Circumstances shape us all. Pain, joy, love, loss — they leave their marks. But happiness? That’s a choice. Just like having fun. I’ve seen this truth play out in some of the most unexpected places. Like that catamaran tour in the Seychelles, where the crew crafted beautiful, heartfelt music with nothing more than milk jugs, spoons on a countertop, and a lone tambourine.

Some dreams land. Some stay just out of reach. A reflection on waiting, becoming, and finding home at sea.

A ten-night Alaska cruise aboard the Carnival Legend filled with whales, glaciers, family time, and unforgettable moments at sea.

This is Forty-Three Twenty-two days of travel since I left home on February 19th, and today, I’m celebrating my birthday in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Celebrity Apex departed the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11th, and we’ve been sailing through fairly rough seas ever since, making our way to Ponta Delgada, Azores. We’ll arrive there on Sunday, March 16th, before eventually disembarking in Barcelona on Friday, March 21st. There hav

When I land home in Grand Junction late on the night of Sunday, February 16, I will have completed the longest single trip of my life—88 nights. Seven cruise ships, five hotels, Disneyland… and a bite from a jaguar. I’ve traveled all over the Caribbean and Mexico, revisiting familiar destinations and exploring several new ones, including Dominica and Honduras—bringing my total country count to 44. Ironically, my final stop before returning to the U.S. was Puerto Vallarta, Mex

To say that things happen for a reason is probably the biggest understatement in the world. I’ve spent the last seven days onboard the Carnival Celebration with stops in Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), San Juan (Puerto Rico), and St. John via St. Thomas. It’s a ship that I am very familiar with, having spent two weeks onboard in January 2023 during my first solo cruise—the beginning of my journey to setting foot on all seven continents. I sailed again in March 2024 for a we

Today marks my 51st day of travel since I left Grand Junction, Colorado, on November 20th, meaning I have 37 days to go before I fly home on February 16th. Pinch me—I don’t want it to end. The majority of my time has been spent onboard Carnival ships, while this week’s voyage has been aboard the award-winning and Forbes Four-Star-rated Celebrity Apex . To say the experiences between cruise lines are different is an understatement, but I’ve found myself enjoying the variety mo

After a year of purposeful travel, life at sea feels different. A reflective journey through Cartagena, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and beyond—searching for meaning again

Five Caribbean ports in five days while cruising from NYC—reflecting on friendships, life at sea, and gratitude during a winter spent onboard.

Setting sail from NYC aboard the Carnival Venezia to begin a winter in the Caribbean—eight-eight nights at sea, new friendships, and life lived between ports.

Multiple sea days, forced relaxation, shipboard routines, and unexpected connections—life aboard the Carnival Spirit unfolds slowly as we sail south towards a full Panama Canal transit.

A raw reflection on solo travel, heartbreak, growth, and why a cruise ship remains my happy place during life's transitions.

A reflective look back at a 7-night Bermuda cruise featuring an iconic NYC sail away, pink sand beaches, and immersive port days.

Celebrating Christmas in Antarctica with zodiac rides, penguins, ship traditions, and unforgettable moments at the end of the world.

From whales sightings to homemade karaoke, this spontaneous Antarctic night proved that the best moments can't be planned.

After kayaking icy Antarctic waters, I stepped onto my seventh continent—an unforgettable milestone worth celebrating.

Crossing the Drake Passage and arriving in Antarctica felt like stepping onto another planet filled with icebergs and whales.