How we handle your information

We collect very little. This page explains what, why, and who else is involved. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Who is responsible

This site is run by Tim Todd (Cruise & Maritime), who decides how your information is used. To ask a question about it, use the contact page.

What we collect

• Messages you send us. If you use the contact form we store your name (if you give it), your email address and your message, so we can read and reply to it.
• Following a ship, port or cruise line. If you ask to follow one, we store your email address and what you follow. We email you a link to confirm, and you only start getting emails once you open it. Each email has a link to change or stop everything, and stopping deletes your address from the follow list. We do not track whether you open an email or click a link.
• Reading list by email. If you ask us to keep your saved-stories list, we store your email address and the list (page addresses and titles) until you delete it. We email you a link to confirm and a link to get it back. Every link lets you delete the copy and your address. We use it for nothing else, and we delete unconfirmed requests after two weeks and lists that have not been used for two years.
• Weekly ships-in-port email. If you follow a port and tick the weekly option, we also email you once a week with the ships due there. You can switch it off from the link in any of those emails.
• Photos with a review. Photos you add to a ship review are stored on this site and shown publicly once approved. We re-save each photo, which removes hidden information such as the location it was taken. Please do not send photos of people who have not agreed to it.
• A scrambled form of your IP address. When you send a form we store a one-way hash of your IP address, to limit spam and repeated submissions. We cannot turn it back into your address.
• Ship reviews. If you review a ship we store your name, your email address, your rating and your review. Your name and review are shown publicly once approved. Your email address is never shown.
• Page counts. We count how many times each page is viewed and which website sent the visitor (for example a search engine). We do not store IP addresses or cookies for this, and we cannot tell visitors apart. We also count how many times each magazine PDF is opened or downloaded. We skip visitors who send "Do Not Track".
• Your own choices on your device. Dark mode, larger text and any stories you save to your reading list are kept in your browser, on your own device. They are not sent to us.

We do not run advertising or third-party analytics scripts on this site, and we do not set cookies for ordinary readers. Cookies are used only for the editor's sign-in.

Why, and on what basis

We use your messages to answer you, which is our legitimate interest in running the site and what you would expect when you write to us. We use the scrambled IP address to protect the site from abuse.

Who else sees it

• Our web host keeps standard server logs, which include IP addresses, for security and troubleshooting.
• Email. Messages and enquiries are sent to us by email through our mail provider. If you write to us we may send you a short email to say we have received your message.
• Fonts are hosted on this site, so loading a page does not contact Google or any font service.
• Videos. Some stories embed a YouTube or Vimeo video. Nothing is loaded from them until you press play. After that, their own privacy policies apply.
• Adverts. Any adverts we show are placed by us and are labelled. We do not use ad networks and we do not track who clicks. If you click one you leave this site, and the advertiser's own policies apply.
• Share links. Links to X, Facebook or email take you to those services only if you click them.

We do not sell your information.

How long we keep it

We keep messages only as long as we need them to deal with what you wrote, then delete them. Scrambled IP addresses are kept only to apply the spam limits.

Your rights

You can ask to see the information we hold about you, to have it corrected or deleted, or to object to how we use it. Use the contact page and say what you would like. If you are not happy with our answer, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.