Icon of the Seas may be the most anticipated cruise ship in history - and we're excited to sail her maiden voyage. For all the excitement, however, we have to wonder if Royal Caribbean can avoid some mistakes that we've seen them make in the past...

Modern cruising offers seemingly endless amenities and entertainment onboard ships, but the destinations ships sail to are another reason that guests  choose this type of vacation.  Seeing new places and experiencing local cultures is a wonderful part of cruising, leading many to wonder, “Why don’t cruise ship stay in port longer?”  Like many matters, it comes down to multiple factors, and we’re going to discuss several of the reasons that cruise ships don’t stay in port longer hours.  Spoiler alert, it often comes down to money.

Everyone likes the idea of getting a good deal on an upgraded cabin, and a lot of cruise lines now offer this opportunity through a bidding process.  There are a lot of mysteries about how this works and what the secret to winning an upgrade bid is, so we’re going to help clear this up.  We’ll explain the bidding process, share some reasons cruise lines like this system (and they’re not all the reasons you’ll expect), and tell you what to do and what not to do in order to maximize your chances of winning an upgrade on your next cruise...

Alaska always had that mystical appeal in my eyes. I had often dreamed of its awe-inspiring landscapes and formidable fauna. After spending most of my adult life sitting on school benches with my nose in my books, I finally got to plan my first “adult” vacation and my heart was dead set on visiting the Final Frontier. I was only recently introduced to the wonderful cruising world, yet, exploring the 49th state by sea seemed like the obvious choice...

If you think you know Carnival but you've not sailed their new Excel class ships, think again.  Watch our videos from this six night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Celebration, and find out if this class of ship changes your mind about Carnival.  Whether it does or not, we're sure you'll be pretty wowed by some of what we found onboard....

Cruising Norwegian Encore in Alaska is as much about the places you visit as the things your see passing by your verandah. Sipping hot coffee and watching wildlife pass by one day and exploring old mining towns or taking mountain hikes the next - there is so much to see. On our seven night cruise, we start by departing Seattle and sailing through Alaska's Inside Passage toward Juneau and then Skagway...

For years, Carnival’s fleet has felt a bit homogenous to me, but when Carnival Mardi Gras came out in 2021 I got a sneak peak and realized that the new Excel Class is something different.  Excited by that visit, this summer I sailed the second Excel Class ship, Carnival Celebration.  You can check out my videos about that ship, and our cruise on here, but in this article I want to share my just five favorite spaces on the 183,521 gross ton vessel.

Packing tips are a hot topic among cruisers, but how you unpack once you're in your in cabin isn’t often discussed.  What is discussed a fair amount is what happens if you get back to the port late and miss your cruise ship.  Those two things, however, can be quite related...

At a cost of nearly a billion dollars, the beautiful Celebrity Beyond is unique, even among her sister ships. In this video, we go deck by deck to see her larger open decks, new suite area, exclusive restaurant by Daniel Boulud, and more. You have to see the best of what...

I book a lot of cruises, but there is a method to what I pick.  Whether I am cruising for a quick getaway, a special trip to see new places with my spouse, a fun time away with friends, or any other reason, there are a few things, beyond the more obvious criteria, that I check on and consider almost every time, and you might want to as well.