Hi, I'm Mary, and I'm glad you're here.

I'm a retired registered nurse, entrepreneur, baker, traveler, and lifelong learner who believes you're never too old to start something new.

After spending more than 25 years as a registered nurse, I retired and began focusing on other passions and business ventures. What started as a new chapter quickly turned into several exciting adventures, including my custom cake business, Fran's Cakes, my publishing business, Peaceful Pages Press, and now Cruising Style.

Travel has always been one of my greatest joys. Over the years, my husband Val and I have taken more than 30 cruises, visited incredible destinations, and collected enough stories to fill a book. Some adventures have gone exactly as planned, while others involved lost luggage, weather delays, unexpected surprises, and memories that still make us laugh years later.

Cruising Style was created to share practical cruise tips, travel inspiration, destination ideas, and real-life experiences from someone who has spent decades exploring the world one cruise at a time.

When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me planning my next trip, working on one of my many projects, spending time with family, or being supervised by our diabetic cat, Skeeter, who firmly believes the household revolves around him.

My husband Val deserves special recognition for keeping me fed, grounded, and occasionally reminding me to take a break when I have too many projects going at once. Together we've shared countless adventures, from Caribbean cruises and international travel to the everyday moments that make life interesting.

One thing I've learned over the years is that life doesn't stop after retirement. In many ways, it's the beginning of a new adventure. Whether I'm creating cupcake bouquets, writing articles, planning cruises, or building new websites, I enjoy learning, creating, and helping others along the way.

My goal with Cruising Style is simple: to help fellow travelers cruise with confidence, avoid common mistakes, discover new destinations, and create unforgettable memories of their own.

Thank you for visiting. I'm glad you're here.

Safe travels,

Mary