Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 5, 2026

Cruise Side by Side (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website at cruisesidebyside.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit the Site, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.

If you have questions about this policy or how your information is handled, email us at [email protected].

Information You Provide to Us

We only collect the information you choose to give us. That includes:

  • Newsletter signup. Your name and email address when you subscribe to our list.
  • Free Cruise Planner Checklist. Your name and email address when you request the download, so we can email it to you.
  • PartnerSHIP and collaboration inquiries. Your name, email address, brand or company details, and the content of your message when you pitch a partnership.
  • Comments. If you comment on a blog post, the name, email address, and comment content you submit, along with your IP address and browser information.
  • Direct correspondence. Anything you include when you email us.

You are not required to provide any of this to browse the Site.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, the Site and our hosting provider automatically record certain technical information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring page, the pages you view, and the date and time of your visit.

We use this information in aggregate to understand which content is useful, to keep the Site secure, and to diagnose technical problems. We do not use it to try to identify you personally.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. The Site uses:

  • Essential cookies that make the Site function, remember your form progress, and keep it secure.
  • Analytics cookies that help us count visits and see which pages and videos are popular.
  • Third-party cookies set by services embedded on the Site, such as YouTube video players, our spam-prevention tools, and our accessibility widget.
  • Affiliate cookies set by affiliate programs when you click a partner or product link. See “Affiliate Links and Sponsored Content” below.

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you refuse cookies entirely or warn you before one is set. If you block essential cookies, parts of the Site may not work correctly.

Third-Party Services We Use

We rely on established third-party providers to run the Site. Each one only receives the information it needs to do its job, and each has its own privacy policy governing how it handles that data:

  • Pressable (an Automattic company) — website hosting and server logs.
  • Jetpack (Automattic) — visitor statistics, security monitoring, and subscription features.
  • Brevo — email list management and newsletter delivery.
  • Mailgun — delivery of transactional emails, such as your checklist download and form notifications.
  • Google reCAPTCHA — protects our forms from automated abuse. Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
  • Akismet (Automattic) — comment and form spam filtering.
  • YouTube (Google) — hosts and serves the videos embedded on our Vlogs pages.
  • accessiBe — powers the accessibility toolbar on the Site.

We do not control these companies’ privacy practices, and we encourage you to review their policies directly.

Affiliate Links and Sponsored Content

Cruise Side by Side participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Associates Program. This means some links on the Site — particularly in our Ship Shop and within posts and videos — are affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

When you click an affiliate link, the affiliate program may set a cookie or record a referral identifier in order to attribute the sale to us. That tracking is performed by the affiliate network or merchant under their own privacy policy, not ours, and any information you enter on their site (payment details, shipping address, account information) goes to them, not to us.

Some content is created in partnership with brands. We only partner when the product or service fits our audience, and we disclose those relationships. We share only what we would actually use ourselves.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information described above to:

  • Send you the newsletter, checklist, or other content you requested;
  • Respond to your questions, comments, and partnership pitches;
  • Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site;
  • Understand which cruise topics and content our audience finds useful;
  • Prevent spam, fraud, and abuse; and
  • Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not rent or trade our email list.

How We Share Information

We share personal information only in these circumstances:

  • With service providers listed above, so they can perform services for us;
  • When required by law, such as in response to a valid subpoena, court order, or other legal process;
  • To protect rights and safety, including enforcing our Terms of Service or investigating potential violations; and
  • In connection with a business transfer, such as a merger or acquisition, in which case we will note the change on this page.

We do not share your information with advertisers for their own independent marketing.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep newsletter subscriber information until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it. Form submissions and partnership inquiries are kept as long as needed to respond and to maintain a record of the conversation. Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely so we can recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically. Server logs and aggregate statistics are retained on a rolling basis by our hosting and analytics providers.

Your Choices and Rights

Email. Every marketing email we send includes an unsubscribe link. You can opt out at any time, and we will stop sending marketing messages.

Access, correction, and deletion. You may ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. Email [email protected] and we will respond as required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

If you are in the EEA or UK. We process your information on the basis of your consent (for example, when you subscribe), our legitimate interest in operating and securing the Site, and where necessary to comply with legal obligations. You have the right to withdraw consent, object to processing, request portability, and lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

If you are a California resident. You have the right to know what personal information we collect, to request deletion or correction, and to not be discriminated against for exercising those rights. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Browser signals. The Site does not respond to Do Not Track signals, because no common standard for honoring them has been adopted. You can still control cookies through your browser as described above.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, email [email protected] and we will delete it.

Data Security

The Site is served over an encrypted HTTPS connection, and we rely on reputable hosting and email providers with their own security programs. No method of transmission or storage over the internet is completely secure, however, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send sensitive information such as payment card or passport details through our forms or by email.

International Visitors

We operate from the United States, and our service providers may store and process information in the United States and other countries. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in a country whose data protection laws differ from those in your own.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the Site, our tools, or the law change. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be noted on the Site. Continuing to use the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.

Contact Us

Questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your information can be sent to:

Cruise Side by Side
Email: [email protected]
Web: cruisesidebyside.com

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