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The Best Time to Book a Cruise Is Not When You Think
Most people wait for a sale. They figure the cruise line will drop prices closer to the sailing date and they can swoop in at the last minute with a deal. Sometimes that works. More often it does not, and they end up paying more for a worse cabin than the person who booked eight…
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Your Cruise Ship Cabin Steward Knows Everything About You
Your cabin steward has access to information about you that would make a private investigator jealous. They know your dining preferences, your sleep schedule, and whether you tip in cash or add it to your bill. They also know if you are celebrating an anniversary because it is in their system. They know if this…
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The Mystery of Specialty Dining Credits
Most cruise lines give you specialty dining credits with certain cabin categories or loyalty tiers. Then they watch passengers squander them on overpriced steakhouses while the real gems sit empty. Your credits work at any specialty restaurant. This includes the sushi bar tucked away on deck 5. The small plates concept restaurant that nobody talks…
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River Cruises vs Ocean Cruises
River cruises and ocean cruises are about as similar as a Prius and a pickup truck. Both will get you places, but the experience could not be more different. Ocean cruises put 3,000 people on a floating resort. You get Broadway shows, waterslides, and seventeen dining options. The ship itself is the destination. You might…
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Celebrity Edge Class Ships Are Still the Best Thing Celebrity Has Done
Celebrity launched the Edge class in 2018 and somehow made cruise ships interesting again. The Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent all feature the same brilliant design that makes other ships feel dated. The Magic Carpet alone justifies booking one of these ships. It’s a tennis court sized platform that moves up and down the side…
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Why Ketchikan Alaska Beats Every Other Port
Most Alaska cruise passengers treat Ketchikan like a bathroom break between glaciers. They are making a massive mistake. This town of 8,000 people sits on stilts above Tongass Narrows. It gets 150 inches of rain per year. The locals have learned to make the most of both facts. Creek Street runs along Ketchikan Creek right…
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The Cabin Selection Mistake That Costs You Sleep
Most people pick cruise cabins like they’re booking a hotel room. Big mistake. Hotels don’t move. Ships do. Deck 1 sounds like a bargain until you realize it’s directly above the engine room. The constant vibration will turn your romantic getaway into a week-long massage you didn’t ask for. Deck 2 isn’t much better. Your…
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Cruise News Roundup
Royal Caribbean announced they’re building another Icon class ship. The fourth vessel in this series will launch in 2027. They’re calling it Icon of the Stars because apparently they ran out of creative names after Icon of the Seas. This matters because Icon ships are massive floating cities with every amenity imaginable. If you like…
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Royal Caribbean Just Made Cruise Planning Way Harder
Royal Caribbean launched their new “Icon Class” ships with fanfare about being the biggest cruise ships ever built. The problem? They might be too big for their own good. Icon of the Seas holds 7,600 passengers when full. That means 45 minutes to get off the ship in port. It means restaurant reservations booked solid…
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The Art of Doing Nothing at Sea
Most passengers board a cruise ship with military precision schedules. Every port mapped out. Every dinner reservation locked in. Every show pre-selected. They miss the single best thing about cruising. Sea days. A proper sea day has no agenda. You wake up when your body decides it’s time. Coffee happens whenever you find it. Maybe…