Ecugrad

We always purchase trip insurance. Typically we book well over a year in advance (a necessity when going on small boats). A few hundred dollars is a cheap safeguard for a multi-thousand dollar trip.

I use a cross-body strap from BlackRapid for my camera. It is adjustable and you can accessorize it with an armpit strap that keeps it close when wandering about.

 

As for bags, I carry a small cross-body bag from PacSafe, both onboard and on excursions. It doesn't scream "camera!" but isn't what you would call trendy. They have all sorts of bags on their site (some trendy) and they serve double duty as protection for your items from cut-and-run pickpockets with steel cable embedded in the straps and bag body.

 

Very reasonable for the level of quality.

 

Dave

These two were going to be my suggestions as well.

I forgot to say: I think that solo cruising is better on smaller ships so as to see the same people and get to know them. Also, I am not averse to a more luxury cruise, albeit more expensive. Or a river cruise.

We've sailed several times with Un-Cruise Adventures. I can't speak highly enough of the crews and the overall experience. Their boats carry between 20 or so and 88 passengers. Passenger to crew ratios are about 2.5/1

We've pretty much given up on the larger ships. To us they've become like a floating circus. In the last 3 years, we've started going on much smaller ships (under 100 passengers). We like the more laid back styles and the more off the beaten path options. On first glance, they'll appear to be much more expensive than the mass market lines but nearly all of the excursions are included in the price. In addition, they are much more flexible in their scheduling. The only certain things on the schedule are the initial departure time and port and the ending disembarkation time and port. Places like Alaska are especially well suited to this type of cruise.

I carry a Nikon D800. If the camera will always be with me, I use an Aquapac dry bag. Otherwise I use a Pacsafe backpack with a cable lock.

I've had the Pentax and it didn't last. The Olympus TG3 has been extremely durable.

Least favorite:

Jamaica

Barbados

Aruba

Favorites:

Antigua

Bequia

Turks & Caicos