Meet the traveler behind Guiding Harbor
Hey, I’m Micki.
I’m a cruise enthusiast, travel planner, storyteller, and the Laptop Lady behind Guiding Harbor. I believe a good trip should feel exciting long before you leave home—and that planning it should not require forty-seven open browser tabs.
Here you’ll find practical advice, honest observations, and the little details that can turn a perfectly fine vacation into one you keep talking about.
How it began
One cruise led to another.
I love cruising because it gives you a front-row seat to the world without making you unpack every other day. Over time, that love became more than a vacation habit. It became stories, strong opinions about cabins and specialty dining, plenty of packing experiments, and eventually the Cruisy Susy books.
Guiding Harbor is where all of that comes together: real trips, real people, and real advice for travelers who want help sorting through the choices without losing the fun.
What you’ll find here
A friendly shortcut to better trips.
Cruise know-how
Ships, cabins, dining, solo travel, sea days, ports, and the things nobody explains until you are already aboard.
Places worth going
Resorts, cities, embarkation ports, and firsthand notes to help you decide what belongs on your list.
Packing that works
Capsule wardrobes, practical favorites, and ways to bring what you need without moving your entire closet.
I’m not here to make every trip look perfect. I’m here to help you choose one that feels right for you—and enjoy more of it once you get there.
Have a travel question?
Ask the Laptop Lady.
Wondering about a ship, a port, packing, crew life, or traveling after 50? Send it my way.
Ask your question ✦