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Welcome to my blog

Hi, I’m Owen - a traveling designer and content creator redefining what it means to work from home.

You can usually find me on a cruise ship, somewhere in Europe, or sneaking a beach day. I share beautiful photos, travel tips, and the occasional ‘why did I book this?’ moment.

Photo of Owen Places stood in the British Museum in London
Mykonos, Greece | Owen Places @owenplaces
Photo of Owen Places stood on Oasis of the Seas

My Middle East Cruise on Costa Smeralda: A Full, Honest Review

I just disembarked from a 7-night Middle Eastern cruise aboard the Costa Smeralda. One Cruise Critic reviewer described it as their 'worst vacation ever,' but was it really that bad? Let’s take a closer look.

Mein Schiff Relax: A Daring Choice for an English-Only Cruiser?
Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti

Royal Caribbean Cruise Excursions – Everything you need to know for 2025/2026
Photo of Owen Places for the blog title: How to become a travel content creator

How to become a travel content creator in 2025 – A complete guide
Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | Owen Places @owenplaces

Should you book Independence of the Seas in 2025?

Independence of the Seas was the first ship I ever sailed on! All the way back in 2019. But 6 years later, should you still consider her for your 2025 holiday?
Paradisus la Perla

Should You Consider Paradisus La Perla for Your 2025/2026 Luxury Holiday?

It's been over a year since I stayed at Paradisus La Perla resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. And every day I find myself wishing I was back there! But is it right for you? Well, read on to find out.

Is Virgin Voyages the Right Cruise Line for you?

If you're like me and you've yet to try Virgin Voyages, but you keep seeing them all over your Instagram. You might be wondering: Is Virgin Voyages right for me? Well, let's figure this out together.
Posts by Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean logo @owenplaces Owen Places
NCL logo @owenplaces Owen Places
MSC Cruises logo @owenplaces Owen Places
Costa Cruises logo @owenplaces Owen Places
Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean @owenplaces Owen Places

Is Royal Caribbean LGBTQ+ Friendly? A Full Breakdown

Is Royal Caribbean LGBTQ+ friendly? We cover all aspects in this blog post today! Come found out.
Cruising Ducks @owenplaces Owen Places

WTF Are Cruising Ducks? Discover a Unique Cruise Tradition

If you’ve ever set sail on a cruise, you might have come across something unexpected: little rubber ducks tucked away in unexpected places around the ship. This delightful phenomenon, known as "Cruising Ducks," is one of those iykyk sort of things in the cruise industry.
Dis-loyalty Rewards programme | Owen Places @owenplaces

Introducing Dis-loyalty – The Secret Travel Membership That Changes Everything

Have you signed up to Dis-loyalty yet? The new hotel discount membership that influencers are loving.
Posts by Destination

Alaska

Caribbean

Greek Isles

Med
Norwegian Star in Edinburgh, Scotland @owenplaces Owen Places

Cruising to Edinburgh? A Complete Visitor’s Guide for First-Timers

Cruising into Edinburgh? Consider this your go-to guide for getting from ship to city with ease. Whether you're joining an organised excursion or planning to explore on your own, everything you need to make the most of your day ashore is right here.
Royal Caribbean @owenplaces Owen Places

Is Royal Caribbean Still an Exciting Escape for Older Travellers?

For context, I am 30 years old, child-less, and I never cruise with larger parties. It's usually myself and my partner. Now that we're getting older (i know 30 isn't actually old), we're starting to wonder if Royal Caribbean is still right for us...
Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas @owenplaces Owen Places

5 of the Best Royal Caribbean Ships

Are you new to cruising and maybe want to give one of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships a try?! You'll be making an amazing choice.
Costa Smeralda | Costa Cruises | Costa Toscana @owenplaces Owen Places

7 Night Dubai Costa Smeralda Cruise: Complete Price Breakdown

One of the biggest draws of my Costa Smeralda cruise was the price – it seemed incredibly affordable. But once you factor in flights, drinks, and tips… is it still such a bargain?
Edinburgh Extreme Day Trip @owenplaces Owen Places

A Whistle-Stop Tour of Edinburgh: How to Spend 24 Hours in the Scottish Capital (Extreme Day Trip Edition)

Visiting Edinburgh on an extreme day trip? Fear not. Follow this quick and easy, local's guide to spending 24 hours in the Scottish capital.
Costa Smeralda | Costa Cruises | Costa Toscana @owenplaces Owen Places

10 Things to Know Before Your Costa Smeralda Cruise: Tips & Advice

I went into this cruise half uneducated, half prepared to be disappointed due to the raging reviews on CruiseCritic. So I actually wanted to put together a no nonsense list of 10 things I think everyone should know before booking or cruising onboard Costa Smeralda.
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas @owenplaces Owen Places

A Full Tour of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas

Ever wanted to learn more about a cruise ship but just can't be bothered to read? Well, here's a realistic, unedited, A-Z visual tour of Royal Caribbean's mega-ship, Oasis of the Seas. All images, minimal words.
Cruise Magnets onboard Oasis of the Seas @owenplaces Owen Places

Surprising Cruise Tip: Bring Magnets – You’ll Be Glad You Did!

Looking for expert cruise hacks? Well here's one you don't want to forget... Bring magnets! Yep, you read that right. MAGNETS!
Costa Smeralda @owenplaces Owen Places

Costa Smeralda: Daring to Take a Chance on the Worst Cruise

I've just booked on the Cruise Critics worst rated cruise line, Costa Cruises, and on the worst rated ship, Costa Smeralda. Am i going to regret this?
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