There are few things cruise passengers complain about more consistently than chair hogs. No, it's not the so called "smart" elevators, or Carnival only offering bacon every other day at the buffet, and it's not even the insane prices for WiFi. It’s the people who head to the pool deck…
Holland America’s Project Evolution is officially moving from just a press release to "here's a deck plan to look at," and today we're getting our first look at just how massive an undertaking this is by checking out the first ship to go under the knife, Oosterdam. On May 6,…
Well, Carnival has finally put the terms and conditions out there for its new Carnival Rewards program which everyone must agree to and accept, and if you’ve been anywhere near cruise social media lately, you already know this new program has not exactly been met with a warm round of…
Well, I don’t know about you, but “suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship” was not on my 2026 bingo card. Norovirus? Sure. That one makes the cruise news cycle every couple months. Somebody uses the bathroom, skips the handwashing station, heads straight for the buffet tongs, and suddenly half…
If your cruise is stopping in Nassau on Tuesday, May 12, there’s one important thing you need to know before you start planning your day ashore. The Bahamas is going dry. Well, temporarily dry. As part of The Bahamas’ general election day, alcohol sales will be prohibited nationwide during election…
If you’ve followed along with any of my daily cruise reports, you already know that one of my favorite things to do during a port stop is simply wander. Not wander aimlessly into questionable situations, of course, but wander in the best possible way. I like getting beyond the immediate…
For those who followed along with my MSC World America cruise last week, one theme came up several times throughout the sailing: crowds. MSC World America is a very large ship. At full capacity, she can carry nearly 7,000 passengers. Our sailing was below that, with passenger counts in the…
Cruising can be one of the best vacation choices for seniors. It offers the opportunity to visit multiple destinations while unpacking only once, with meals, entertainment, transportation, and accommodations all included in one trip. For many older travelers, that convenience is a major part of the appeal. There are no…
Puerto Plata is one of those cruise ports where the answer to “Can I just walk around?” depends entirely on where your ship docks at. Because yes, Puerto Plata can be a great walking port. There are colorful streets, historic buildings, ocean views, local restaurants, little shops, and plenty of…
Cruise lines have gotten very good at finding new ways to charge for things, and Royal Caribbean may have just found one of the more creative ones. The latest is called Early Access, and it applies to guests who booked a guarantee stateroom. For a $30 fee per cabin, Royal…
