Should We Stay or Should We Go - Our Travel Journal

We used to think all cruises were basically the same - you unpack once, let the world glide past your window, and wake up somewhere new each morning. And while that part holds true, we quickly learned that river cruises and ocean cruises offer very different experiences. Having done both, I wanted to share what stood out to me on each - the highs, the trade-offs, and which one might be the better fit depending on what you're looking for.

We are in the midst of planning our next trip. In June we are flying to Vancouver Island where we'll be spending two weeks exploring the island, soaking in its wild beauty, quiet beaches, and winding roads. We have both been there once before - separately, and each very briefly, so this trip feels like a long-overdue deep dive into one of Canada’s most stunning destinations. We’ve been mapping out our route, tweaking and reworking the plan to make sure we have enough time to see and do everything—though let’s be honest, is there ever really enough time? We’ve already had to deal with one flight cancellation, just to keep things interesting. But after a few adjustments, here’s the basic itinerary we’ve landed on: Day 1 - Fly to Victoria, pick up rental car and drive to Port Renfrew Day 2 - Port Renfrew Day 3 - drive to Tofino Day 4 - Tofino Day 5 - Tofino Day 6 - Drive to Campbell River Day 7 - Campbell River Day 8 - Ferry to Mainland and drive to Whistler Day 9 - Whistler Day 10 -...