If you’ve ever wondered whether travel and sobriety can truly go hand in hand, episode 10 of the Sober Curator Podcast, “Hooked Travel with Darci Murray,” is about to open your eyes—and your heart. In this vibrant, laughter-filled discussion, host Alysse Bryson and co-host Tamar Routly welcome Darci Murray, founder of Hooked Alcohol Free Travel, for an inside look at adventuring around the globe—without booze.
Darci’s journey to sobriety is deeply personal, but her passion for redefining travel experiences is universal. As a mom of four boys and a veteran travel agent, she reached a pivotal moment when alcohol simply stopped serving her—and began hindering her day-to-day life, especially as a parent. Her decision to embrace sobriety wasn’t only about removing alcohol, but about actively choosing a fuller, richer life: “If I want to be the best mom possible, I need to quit drinking,” she says. This clarity led Darci not only to shed shame, but to channel her expertise and entrepreneurial spirit into creating Hooked Alcohol Free Travel—an inclusive community where like-minded explorers can discover the world, remember the journey, and truly enjoy every moment.
How Hooked Alcohol Free Travel Began
Hooked was born from a coffee date where Darci and a friend realized there was a gap in the travel industry for sober adventurers. Why should sober trips be limited or exclusive? Darci’s answer was simple: “Let’s launch like a completely sober travel company.” Given her 20-year background as a travel agent, creating unforgettable itineraries was already her forte. Hooked quickly grew, launching its first group trip after the pandemic lockdowns in 2022, and is now celebrated for its vibrant, inclusive approach to global exploration.
Through Hooked, Darci champions travel that isn’t about bar-hopping or waking up hungover, but rather about immersing yourself in new cultures, savoring authentic experiences, and forging deep connections with fellow travelers. In her words, “We all have that commonality, and it just kind of goes from there. It’s really a remarkable thing to watch.” Every trip—whether it’s Tanzania for safari adventures, the Maldives for stunning seascapes, or even vibrant Vegas—emphasizes true presence, genuine connection, and all the pinch-me moments that travelers actually remember.
Darci also dispels any notion that sober travel is limiting or less fun. She shares that sober travelers want the same adventurous destinations as anyone else—be it Ireland, Greece, or all-inclusive cruises—but with the support of a like-minded community. It’s about inclusion, adventure, and the joy of memory-making.
Upcoming Adventures and the Sober Love Boat
One of the major highlights discussed is the upcoming Sober Love Boat cruise to Alaska in 2025, with Alysse Bryson (celebrating her 50th) joining the festivities. Princess Cruises has leaned into the sober movement by offering outstanding alcohol-free beverage options, including Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz line and a variety of zero-proof spirits and mocktails. For Hooked travelers, this means the freedom to enjoy world-class amenities and dazzling destinations—minus the booze—with themed parties, games nights, group excursions, and even a murder mystery experience in the works.
Darci also reveals plans for other group trips, including a dry grad adventure to Thailand with an elephant sanctuary experience, and an alcohol-free wine tour through Germany and Austria—proving the demand and excitement for sober travel is on the rise.
Darci’s enthusiasm is palpable. Founding Hooked let her trade private shame for public pride: “Opening Hooked has completely changed me as a person…I’ve created a space for like-minded people to enhance their lives through travel.” For her, sobriety isn’t about giving things up, but gaining everything: family connection, adventure, laughter, and real memories. Her travel brand is about saying yes—to the world, to new friends, to wild experiences, and, most of all, to herself.
Ready to Join the Sober Adventure?
Learn more about upcoming Hooked trips (like the legendary Alaska Sober Love Boat cruise, Thailand dry grad, or the Germany-Austria alcohol-free wine experience) by heading to Hooked Alcohol Free Travel’s website or following Darci on Instagram at @hooked.alcoholfreetravel.
Listen to the Episode Now
Hosted by Alysse Bryson & Tamar Routly, and produced by Podcast Impact Studio, The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture, & recovery to the mic. Alongside Alysse & Tamar, rotating global contributors join as co-hosts to explore zero-proof drinks, sober travel, quit lit, entertainment, & mental health. This is sober media with personality, perspective, & a glitter bomb of honesty. Sober-curious or living alcohol-free, we’ve got you! We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober: and love it.
A note before you listen: we recorded this episode in late July, several weeks before Hayden Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36. We are publishing it as recorded rather than editing her out. Her cause of death has not been released and we are not speculating. We recorded a separate conversation about her death, and it is the episode right before this one. If this is landing hard for you: 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text. SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357, free and confidential, 24/7.
Three memoirs. Three completely different humans. One question: what does it cost to numb yourself when the whole world is watching?
Alysse and Tamar pull three of The Sober Curator's most avid readers into a panel on the year's biggest quit lit: “Famesick” by Lena Dunham, “We Did OK, Kid” by Anthony Hopkins, and “This Is Me: A Reckoning” by Hayden Panettiere. Nobody read all three. Everybody has opinions. Sobee scores at the end, and house rules say you cannot score a book you didn't read.
In this episode:
– Amy Liz Harrison's book hack from her 10th grade English teacher days: first paragraph, last paragraph, skim the middle, finish in an hour
– Why The Sober Curator was almost called The Sober Critic, and the epiphany that killed the name
– “Famesick”: medical trauma, opioids, and a memoir that flatly refuses to be a before-and-after
– “We Did OK, Kid”: the blackout drive Anthony Hopkins had to be told about afterward
– Patti Clark and Alysse on what actually stops you, and it isn't what you'd do to yourself
– “This Is Me: A Reckoning” Hayden Panettiere on acting at 11 months old, a mother who was also the manager, and postpartum depression nobody names out loud
– The Sobee score lightning round, plus a quarter-point scoring controversy
Sober Shots:
”Quit lit used to mean one shelf on a bookstore nobody browsed on purpose.” (Alysse)
”There are books that I just wanna eat like a really juicy nectarine and just bite into it and just get sticky.” (Patti)
Mentioned in this episode:
– Mixtape with The Sober Curator zine: https://shopthesobercurator.com/collections/the-mixtape
– Cover Story Retreat, November 1-4, Scottsdale: https://evolveretreats.co/cover-story-hermosa-inn/
– Anne Marie Cribbin's Famesick review: https://thesobercurator.com/famesick-lena-dunham-review-addiction-recovery/
– Toni Will, Rebellious Success: https://amzn.to/4x65SeD
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/
This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200
SC RESOURCES:
– Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide
– Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide
– LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide
CONNECT: www.thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/ | @thesobercurator on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube + Pinterest
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Hosted by Alysse Bryson with co-host + producer Tamar Routly. For informational and entertainment purposes only; not a substitute for professional advice.
Music: TSC S2 theme ”Sober Shots” created by Alysse Bryson using Suno AI, under Suno’s commercial license.
WHAT A TRIP! Discover the Serenity of Alaska on the Boozeless Cruise with Hooked on Travel – July 2025 – CABINS STILL AVAILABLE!
SOBER UNBUZZED FEED: 25 Reasons Not to Miss the 2025 A.A. International Convention in July…Even if You’re Not in A.A.
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