Privacy Policy
Solo Cruising 101 • solocruising101.com
Effective date: October 18, 2026 • Last updated: October 18, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains what information Solo Cruising 101 collects when you visit solocruising101.com, how that information is used, and the choices you have. By using this website, you agree to the practices described here.
If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the website. Questions about this policy can be sent to [email protected].
Who we are
Solo Cruising 101 is a solo budget cruise travel blog. Our website address is solocruising101.com. In this policy, “we,” “us,” and “the site” refer to Solo Cruising 101.
Information we collect
We collect information in three ways: information you give us directly, information collected automatically when you use the site, and information from the services that help run the site.
Information you provide: your name and email address when you leave a comment, contact us, or subscribe to the newsletter; and any message or other details you include in that submission.
Information collected automatically: your internet protocol (IP) address, browser type, device and operating system, pages viewed, time spent on pages, referring website, and clicks. This is collected through hosting logs, WordPress, analytics tools, and cookies.
Information from third parties: for example, confirmation that you subscribed to the newsletter, or that a click on an affiliate link led to a booking or purchase, reported to us in aggregate by the affiliate program.
Comments
When you leave a comment, we collect the data shown in the comment form, your IP address, and your browser user-agent string to help detect spam. An anonymized string created from your email address (called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to check whether you use it. After your comment is approved, your profile picture, if you have one, may be visible next to your comment.
Please do not post private personal information in a public comment. Comments are public once approved.
Contact messages
If you contact us by email or through a contact form, we collect your name, email address, and the contents of your message so we can reply. We keep contact messages only as long as needed to respond and keep reasonable records.
Newsletter — The Solo Cruising 101 Letter
Our newsletter, The Solo Cruising 101 Letter, is managed through Kit (formerly ConvertKit). When you subscribe, Kit collects your email address and, if a form asks for it, your first name, along with signup date, IP address, and subscription preferences.
Subscribing is voluntary and opt-in. We will not add you to the list without your request.
Every newsletter email includes an unsubscribe link. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we will stop sending newsletter emails.
Kit may track opens and link clicks to help us understand which emails are useful, in line with Kit’s own privacy policy.
If you later ask us to delete your newsletter record, contact us at [email protected] and we will request deletion from Kit as well.
Cookies
This site uses cookies — small files stored on your device — and similar technologies. Cookies help the site work, remember preferences, understand traffic, and track affiliate referrals.
Essential and WordPress cookies: for example, a temporary cookie to check whether your browser accepts cookies when you comment, login cookies if you have an account, and a cookie that remembers your name and email for future comments if you choose that option.
Analytics cookies: help us count visits and see which posts are read most, so we can improve the blog.
Affiliate cookies: placed by affiliate partners when you click an affiliate link, so a booking or purchase can be credited correctly. The affiliate partner controls how long its cookie lasts.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you block cookies, some features of the site and of third-party services may not work as intended. Where a cookie consent banner is shown, your choices there control non-essential cookies.
Analytics
We may use website analytics to understand overall traffic and improve content. Analytics providers collect usage data such as pages visited, approximate location based on IP address, device, and browser. That data is reported to us in aggregate and is handled under the provider’s privacy policy. You can limit analytics tracking by blocking cookies or using your browser’s privacy and “do not track” settings where supported.
Embedded content and social media
Posts may include embedded content such as videos, images, maps, and social media posts, including content from Pinterest and Instagram. Embedded content behaves in the same way as if you visited the other website directly. Those websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional tracking, and monitor your interaction with the embedded content, including if you are logged in to that service.
Links to our Pinterest and Instagram accounts, and share buttons, take you to those platforms. Their handling of your information is governed by their own privacy policies, not this one.
Affiliate links and advertising
Some posts contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a booking or purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate programs use cookies or similar tracking to attribute the referral, as described in the Cookies section above.
Affiliate relationships do not change what information we collect about you directly. The cruise line, booking platform, or retailer you transact with collects and handles your payment and booking information under its own privacy policy. We do not receive or store your full payment card details from those transactions.
How we use information
To operate, maintain, and secure the website.
To publish and manage comments and respond to messages.
To send the newsletter and other emails you requested.
To understand traffic and improve posts, guides, and site design.
To track affiliate referrals and earn commissions correctly.
To prevent spam, fraud, and abuse, and to comply with legal obligations.
How information is shared
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as needed with service providers that help run the site, and when the law requires it:
Hosting and site services: our hosting provider (HostGator), WordPress and its plugins, spam-detection services, and backup and security tools.
Email service: Kit, for newsletter delivery and subscription management.
Analytics providers: for aggregate traffic reporting.
Affiliate partners: through referral tracking when you click an affiliate link and complete a booking or purchase on their site.
Legal and safety reasons: if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Solo Cruising 101, our readers, or others.
If you request a password reset for a site account, your IP address may be included in the reset email, in line with standard WordPress practice.
Data retention
We keep information only as long as needed for the purpose it was collected. Comments and their metadata are generally retained so follow-up comments can be recognized and approved more quickly. Newsletter records are kept until you unsubscribe or ask for deletion. Contact messages, analytics records, and server logs are kept for a limited period for operations, security, and record-keeping, then deleted or anonymized.
Data security
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect information, including keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins updated and using secure connections where available. No website or email transmission is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your privacy rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to opt out of certain sharing. Regardless of location, you can:
Unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link in any newsletter email.
Block or delete cookies in your browser settings.
Ask us to correct or delete personal information we hold about you, including a comment or a contact message.
Ask what personal information we hold about you.
To make a request, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request, and some information may need to be retained where the law requires it or to prevent fraud. Registered users, if any, can also view and edit their profile information in their account, except for their username.
Children’s privacy
This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, contact us at [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.
Links to other websites
This site links to cruise lines, booking platforms, retailers, and other websites we do not control. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. Review the privacy policy of any site you visit.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example when we add a new tool, affiliate program, or feature. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
Contact us
Solo Cruising 101
Website: solocruising101.com
Email: [email protected]
For privacy questions or requests, please use the email address above and include “Privacy” in the subject line so your message can be handled promptly.
Solo Cruising 101 — Privacy Policy • Last updated October 18, 2026