Kaiya Hellard

Hi, I’m Kaiya

FROM HOLIDAY LOVER TO CRUISE CONVERT

I’ve always loved a good holiday. For years, I especially enjoyed five-star, adults-only, all-inclusive resorts, but then I discovered cruising, and it completely changed how I wanted to travel.

My first cruise was on P&O Arvia, a two-week Caribbean adventure visiting eight different countries. I went away excited about the destinations, the sunshine and the chance to dress up for dinner. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the ship itself.

Somewhere between the sailaways, sea days, restaurants and waking up somewhere completely new, I realised I’d found my favourite way to travel.

Four cruises later, with another six already booked, I’m still discovering new ships, cruise lines and destinations, and researching every little detail along the way.

‘I’M A PROFESSIONAL OVER-RESEARCHER

‘If I’m booking a holiday, I want to know everything.

Which ship? Which cabin? What’s included? Where should we eat? Is that excursion actually worth the money? Should we explore independently? And why is the cabin next door £300 more expensive?

I’ve realised that all that research can be useful to other people too.

So that’s what you’ll find here: the things I’ve learnt, the experiences I’ve had and the comparisons I’ve spent far too much time researching, all presented in a way that’s actually useful.

WHY I LOVE CRUISING

WHY CRUISING WON ME OVER

For me, the magic of cruising is being able to see so much of the world without constantly packing and unpacking.

I love settling into one cabin, exploring everything the ship has to offer and then waking up somewhere completely different the next morning.

One day you could be exploring a Caribbean island, the next you’re sailing through the Norwegian Fjords. And when you get back onboard, there’s still a restaurant to discover, a show to watch, a cocktail to enjoy or somewhere quiet to sit and watch the world go by.

It’s the combination of travel and holiday that keeps me coming back.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE
  • Cruise guides: everything from choosing a cruise to planning your days onboard
  • Ship reviews:honest first-hand experiences from the ships I’ve actually sailed
  • Cruise comparisons: breaking down the differences so you can decide what suits you
  • Travel guides: destinations I’ve visited, places I want to explore and things I’ve learnt along the way
  • Travel beauty: skincare, makeup and beauty favourites for holidays and everyday life
  • The Kaiya Edit: my personal take on what I’ve researched, compared and think is worth knowing about

I don’t believe there’s one cruise that’s perfect for everyone.

What I love might be completely different from what you want from your holiday. So I’ll show you the options, explain the differences, share what I’ve experienced and tell you what I’d choose, and why.

Research. Compare. Explain. Recommend.

That’s the Kaiya way.

WHEREVER YOU’RE GOING NEXT, I HOPE YOU FIND SOMEWHERE WORTH REMEMBERING.