After years of sailing and dozens of cruises, you learn a few things about how to make the most of your vacation. And you also start to notice that some tips you learn go completely against the grain of what you might think. That’s why I like these specific tips. They are all ones that, well, they just don’t feel right. They go against the conventional wisdom, but when you know them, you’ll be a smarter cruiser and have a better vacation. No Last-Minute Cruise Deals Think you can book a ticket last-minute for cheap? That’s not the case. Just like you, when I am reading online occasionally ads ..read more

In what’s become a bit of a dust-up, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald made the rules clear when it comes to gambling on the cruise ship. Put plainly, it’s only allowed in the casino onboard and nowhere else. Passengers aboard a Carnival cruise were told their personal game ran afoul of Carnival’s rules of gambling outside of the casino. The notice came on Facebook and was pointed specifically at a group of passengers sailing aboard Carnival Luminosa. That ship is on a 30-day repositioning cruise across the Pacific Ocean, sailing from Australia to Japan, Alaska, and finishing up in Seattle ..read more

Anyone that’s taken a cruise knows that food is a big part of the cruise. From the buffet to the dining room, from snacks to specialty restaurants, food is everywhere. There’s not a time of day that you can’t grab something to eat, and gaining weight on a cruise is a well-known right of passage on your vacation. Cruises are known for offering a lot to eat, but did you know just how much is spent on food? But have you ever wondered how much food is actually consumed on the ship? We dug into the amounts eaten and the costs, and what we found might surprise you. While by some measures the amounts ..read more

For more than a year, the cruise world was abuzz with the launch of Icon of the Seas, and rightly so. The mega ship from Royal Caribbean not only pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on a cruise, but also set the mark as the new largest cruise ship in the world. But if you think other cruise lines have been standing still, then think again. A number of new ships have been in the works across major cruise lines, and while they might not get the attention that Icon of the Seas created, they are nothing short of amazing. Case in point: MSC is building one of the largest cruise ships on the pl ..read more

Over the years, the “arms race” to provide cruise passengers with thrills has reached a fever pitch. Norwegian Cruise Line put go-kart racing aboard their ships. Carnival debuted roller coasters at sea. Royal Caribbean put in “Crown’s Edge” — a ropes course that features a harnessed ride out over the water. Now, MSC is offering what might be the most adrenaline-pumping thrill ride at sea. MSC just announced the new “Cliffhanger” — a swing ride aboard MSC World America — that takes passengers out over the water more than 150-feet above the ocean below. Next year, the cruise line is debuting its ..read more

If you are headed on a cruise from the East Coast, then chances are high that you’ll stop in Nassau. It’s one of the busiest cruise destinations on the planet with literally millions of passenger visiting each year. Having visited quite a few times, I’ve gotten a pretty good feel for Nassau and what to expect. So what do I wish I knew if I was a first-time visitor? Here’s what to know… Shore Excursions Are Ideal in Nassau After visiting Nassau quite a few times, one thing is pretty clear — if you’re going to do a shore excursion during your cruise — this is the port to do it in. There are som ..read more

What tips would the cruise line rather you actually not know? We aren’t talking about anything illegal or against the rules, but when you know what we’re about to share, you’ll save tons of money, know some of the secrets behind cruising most don’t know, and do things way differently than the cruise lines planned. The tips are ones you’ll want for your cruise, even if they aren’t the cruise lines’ favorite. Drink Packages Not Worth It For Many If you’ve taken a cruise to the Caribbean, you know cruise lines are very happy to sell you a drink package. You pay one set price and then you essent ..read more

The vast majority of people are excited to take their cruise. Between sun, shows, drinks, and exotic ports of call, there’s a lot to look forward to. However, there is a small segment that may be hit with something else: cruise anxiety. Most people are excited to take their cruise, but a few have strong phobias… such as fear of the open water. Why would someone that’s anxious about cruising be on the ship? While they might prefer a different type of vacation, sometimes people sail because they are pressured into it. For instance, maybe a family is having a reunion aboard a ship and the choice ..read more

Carnival is among the largest and most popular cruise lines in the world. It’s also known for offering some of the best values in the industry. The famous funnel is synonymous with Carnival Cruise Line, and Carnival is synonymous with affordable fares. That got us wondering, what exactly is the priciest Carnival cruise? What we found surprised us… It’s not unusual to find trips costing a few hundred dollars for an entire vacation — sometimes taking you to the Caribbean with room, food, and entertainment for less than a plane ticket would cost. But Carnival is much more than just simple, cheap ..read more

If you have questions about cruising, then we have the answers. Having taken dozens of cruises across (nearly) every major cruise line and spent time totaling months at sea… well, we’ve seen a lot. Having sailed a ton of cruises, we know the ins and outs. Below, we cover any question you might have about sailing. That’s why we decided to answer every question we could come up with to make you as experienced a cruise passenger as we are. And if we didn’t cover your question? Simply put it in the comments below and we’ll answer it, too. Cruise Booking Questions & Answers Before you can cruis ..read more