Marilyn Olson

Before I became a travel advisor, I had never been on a cruise. Why? Because they scared the heck out of me. If I go to a hotel and don’t like it, I can leave and check into another one. Cruises aren’t like that. Once you’re out to sea, like it or not, that cabin is your hotel room for the duration. I’d always wanted to take my family on an Alaskan cruise, but that felt like a big, expensive roll of the dice. As I believe is my professional duty, I took one for the team. I convinced my sister to join me for a “mini” cruise—she’s easier to experiment on than my husband and kids—and we did five days on Virgin Voyages in the Caribbean. Turns out cruising isn’t just for retirees. It’s actually way more fun than we expected, and it’s a surprisingly relaxing way to cover a lot of new destinations.

This cruise was part of a Seminar at Sea, where I was invited by Norwegian Cruise Line to experience the Norwegian Encore firsthand as part of my professional development as a travel advisor. My goal was to deepen my understanding of the ship and Alaska’s Inside Passage so I can confidently guide future clients toward the sailing that best fits their travel style. Even as the season wound down in early October, the landscapes were breathtaking and the onboard experience offered a perfect mix of education, exploration, and indulgence.

One of my dearest friends from college grew up in Solvang, California, and she and her wonderful family have been welcoming us there for a very long time (You don’t need to know how long!). Tucked away in the stunning Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is equal parts quaint country town, wine lover’s dream, and foodie’s delight, with some celebrity magic sprinkled on top. Come for the vibes, stay for the kindest people and the way the golden hour light hits the glorious Coastal Live Oaks. Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley are about to steal your heart.

My friend’s daughter was doing a semester in Madrid, so we decided to build a girls’ trip around that. Our three nights in Barcelona were nowhere near enough! The vibe here is wonderfully relaxed and the people are charming. We had a fantastic time — on a budget — and can’t wait to go back!

Portugal has always been on my bucket list. When my girlfriends suggested we spend time in Spain, I chose to tack on four days on my own. Porto spoke to me because it is so full of history and culture, and seemed much more manageable than Lisbon as a solo traveler. I fell in love with the food, the glorious views and some of the nicest, most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered. Porto captured my heart and I cannot wait to return.