What’s a cruise without stops in port? Your trip will likely feature multiple stops in ports where you are free to go out and enjoy yourself. Most of the time, these ports of call are a playground for passengers to go explore and make memories. But there are some things that you absolutely never want to do whether for safety reasons, to avoid breaking the law, or to simply have a better … [Read more...]

For many people, the price of their next cruise on Carnival will be higher… and it could add up to hundreds more out of pocket. Rather big moves in pricing for drink packages and wi-fi could add hundreds to the cost of your cruise. We’ve noticed two big pricing changes to popular packages on the ship. This includes changes to both the popular CHEERS! drink package and a big price … [Read more...]

Cruising is often thought of as a family vacation, and for many, it’s exactly that. But then there are some that are interested in something a bit more… adult. Truth is, there are cruises that can get as wild — and sexy — as you want, even if they aren’t widely advertised. If you’re an adult looking to show a little more skin by the pool deck, then you have … [Read more...]

Many people dream of living at sea, living a life of luxury, sailing from port to port, and constantly being on vacation. The reality of it all brings most of those dreams back down to earth. There’s the logistics of actually living away from home, but also the costs can be a big hurdle. We’ve done the math and estimate the cost of sailing a full year on a cruise ship would come out … [Read more...]

While literally tens of millions of cruise passengers sail each year, there are some misconceptions that just seem to linger in the public’s imagination. Some of them are rumors spread online, some are opinions people have without actually ever sailing, and some are myths spread by the cruise lines themselves. But I’m pulling back the curtain and letting you know what things just … [Read more...]

If you’ve been on watching social media the past few days, you might have seen some cruise news that’s certainly had people talking. Carnival’s Brand Ambassador seemed to axe the posting of a certain symbol on cabin doors… but now that post seems to have been deleted. John Heald is a Brand Ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line. His popular Facebook page has nearly 600,000 … [Read more...]

July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of America’s founding — the USA’s semiquincentennial if you want the official word for it. And while there will be major celebrations across the country, at least one cruise line is taking the celebration to sea for tens of thousands of passengers. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Carnival has 10 sailings during July 4th that … [Read more...]

Packing for a cruise? Taking a cruise is different from any other vacation. Most other vacations don’t have you packing for everything from hanging out poolside to formal dining to casual wear, while also needing to bring things to make your room more comfortable. To some people, it might be overwhelming, but not to worry. After literally dozens of cruises, I have some of my top cruise-packing … [Read more...]

Cruising with an infant? Let us be the first to tell you it’s a whole other ballgame compared to cruising without a kid. (Read our advice and tips on cruising with a baby here.) But as a parent, we don’t have to convince you that things are so much different when traveling with a baby. Taking a cruise with a baby can get a fun time for everyone, but there are some definite things you … [Read more...]

In cruising, ten years can be an eternity. Go back just a decade, and in many ways today’s cruising is unrecognizable. There are bigger fleets, more cruise lines, and experiences that you’d never dream about on a cruise vacation are now commonplace. So what’s in store for the next 10 years? While no one can say for certain what the future will hold, there are some trends … [Read more...]

On a cruise, there’s nothing more luxurious than having your own private hot tub. While there are whirlpools sprinkled all around the pool decks on the ship, they are typically full of other passengers, leaving you sharing an intimate space with strangers. Private hot tubs are a luxury that few people see on a cruise ship. However, a CDC report links their use to an outbreak of Legionnaires … [Read more...]

On a cruise ship with literally thousands of people, your cruise cabin is your own private 160 square foot piece of the ship that’s yours and yours alone. It’s where you’ll sleep, relax, get ready for the day, make romance, and shower… although maybe not all in that order. After nearly 30 cruises, I’ve learned a thing or two when it comes to cabin tips that I think no … [Read more...]

Cruising is a lot of things, but one word you’ll rarely hear is “roomy.” Despite cruise ships soaring in size, the number of passengers on board has also grown. That means more rooms than ever on ships. So instead of cabins increasing in size as ships get bigger, they stay the same or in some cases even get smaller. If sailing as a couple, even the small size of a cruise cabin is … [Read more...]

Another year, another gratuity increase. Passengers sailing Royal Caribbean will see gratuity charges rise for all cabins, almost exactly one year after the previous increase. It’s become a seemingly annual tradition for many cruise lines to bump up the price of onboard gratuities. Now, Royal Caribbean is getting in on the action for 2024. In a change we noticed on the cruise line’s … [Read more...]

There’s no argument that you’ll the most time on your cruise aboard the ship. It’s where you’ll eat, sleep, relax, watch shows, and so much more. On a typical cruise, more than 80% of your vacation is spent on the ship. While you spend more time on the ship than in port, it’s these stops that you’re most likely to remember about your vacation. But the highlight … [Read more...]

In a major move, one popular Caribbean port visited by multiple cruise lines is set to be taken over by one of the biggest players in the entire industry. And at least right now, it’s not clear if many lines will have to adjust their itineraries and sail elsewhere in the future. Costa Maya has grown to a popular stop in Mexico for multiple cruise line. Now Royal Caribbean is paying $292 … [Read more...]

Cruises have a reputation for being family-friendly vacations, and for good reason. There’s arguably no better place where anyone — whether 8 years old or 80 years — can all find something that they will enjoy on the ship. But not everyone is looking for a “Disney-fied” vacation. And while anyone taking a cruise isn’t going to expect an X-rated time, there are … [Read more...]

A drink package seems simple — you pay one daily fee and just get whatever you want, right? Anyone that’s bought one before knows there is much more to know before you drop literally hundreds of dollars on these offers. To help you out, I’ll cover it all, including the fine print of what you’ll wish you knew about drink packages before you sail and if these packages are … [Read more...]

Looking for a cruise deal? The truth is that while cruises still offer an affordable vacation, there’s no arguing that prices have gone up sharply. Going to a tropical paradise doesn’t have to break the bank. Three lines in particular offer inexpensive fares that can get you sailing for just a few hundred dollars. Right after cruises returned from the pandemic pause, sailings were … [Read more...]

Sailing MSC and wondering about the service charges — also known as gratuities — that you will see? Almost no matter which cruise line you sail, these daily charges are a part of life. That includes MSC Cruises. MSC charges gratuities (also known as service charges) to most passengers on the ship. Here’s what to know before you sail. And the cost can be significant. In general, … [Read more...]

I took my first cruise more than a decade ago. Since then, I’ve created an entire career about cruising. That includes this website, a YouTube channel with 100,000 subscribers and millions of views, and being quoted in major publications like The Wall Street Journal. Cruises are tons of fun, but after more than two dozen trips, there are some things that I wish could be improved to make the … [Read more...]

Anyone that’s taken a cruise knows that your cruise fare is just the start of what you’ll pay. There are opportunities to spend day and night on the ship. And some spots are worth it, while others definitely are not. As part of my job, I’ve spent literally tens of thousands of dollars across dozens of cruises over the years. There’s not much on a cruise ship that I … [Read more...]

Unless you like seeing a view of the ship from land, then you want to avoid something that millions of people do on a regular basis while on your cruise. If you don’t want to get kicked off your cruise — or not even allowed to board — then make sure you don’t do something that literally tens of millions of people do regularly. And while there’s no issue if you do it … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean is making a move that will make lots of passengers happy if recent history is any guide. Several years ago, Royal Caribbean spent hundreds of millions to transform its then sleepy private island CocoCay into essentially a beach-themed amusement park. Today, Perfect Day at CocoCay offers a waterpark, zipline, beaches, a massive pool, an adults-only area, private beach club, cabanas, … [Read more...]

The Caribbean is filled with cruise ships, but one place that’s noticeably empty is Florida — despite it being the world’s busiest spot for boarding a cruise. This map shows the path and wind history for Hurricane Milton. The storm reached 180 mph winds, but has since weakened some. With that weakening, however, the wind field has grown as the storm nears Florida. It’s all … [Read more...]

How much income do you need to afford to take a cruise? Cruises — such as this one from MSC — can start at just a few hundred dollars, but can also run well into the thousands. So how much income do you need to afford to sail? It’s likely less than you think, but we wanted to put a specific number to the answer. The result is that a person with a relatively average should have no … [Read more...]

A major hurricane has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, with likely widespread impacts from the Yucatan Peninsula to the entire width of Florida. Hurricane Milton’s projected path takes it across the Yucatan and into western Florida as it crosses the state. Just a few days ago, what’s now Hurricane Milton was nothing more than a cluster of thunderstorms. It has rapidly intensified and as … [Read more...]

Celebrity Cruises is known for being a higher-end cruise line, and for a long time, it was one of the few major lines I hadn’t sailed. That’s all changed. In the past year I’ve sailed Celebrity multiple times and gotten a feel for what it does well, what it doesn’t do as well, and some ways that it’s completely different than what I expected. So what do I wish I knew … [Read more...]

Norwegian Cruise Line is saying goodbye to one of its most popular offerings, but it’s actually something we think passengers are going to appreciate. That is, if they are also ok with also paying significantly more in gratuity charges. For years, NCL’s “Free At Sea” offer has been a staple of the cruise line. Now it’s going away and being replaced with “More At … [Read more...]

Sitting just 65 miles off the coast of Miami in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay (pronounced Ocean “Key”) is an absolute gem in the lineup of private islands run by major cruise lines. Ocean Cay is the pride of MSC Cruises, which calls on the island for extended visits, including overnight stays. If you’re sailing from the East Coast, the odds are high your cruise will have a stop … [Read more...]