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Luxury Cruising vs Family Cruising: Two Completely Different Animals
Luxury cruising and family cruising exist in parallel universes. They happen on water. They involve ships. That’s where the similarities end. Luxury cruising means Regent Seven Seas or Silversea. Your suite has a marble bathroom bigger than most cruise cabin bedrooms. The champagne flows freely because it’s included. So is the caviar. The loudest noise…
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Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Is Exactly What You Think It Is
Icon of the Seas launched this year as the world’s largest cruise ship. It holds 7,600 passengers when full. That is not a typo. Royal Caribbean built this ship for people who want everything. Eight neighborhoods. Six water slides. The largest waterpark at sea. Multiple pools including an adults-only area. Rock climbing walls. Mini golf.…
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Tasmania Is the Australia You Never Knew You Wanted
Most people cruise to Sydney and call it good. Meanwhile, Tasmania sits 150 miles south like Australia’s best kept secret. This heart shaped island delivers everything the mainland promises but without the crowds. You get dramatic coastlines, world class wine, and wildlife that actually wants to pose for photos. The Museum of Old and New…
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The Real Cost of a Cruise
Your cruise costs $899 per person. Except it doesn’t. That advertised rate covers your cabin, meals, and entertainment. Everything else costs extra. The average cruiser spends an additional $50 to $100 per person per day on top of the base fare. Gratuities run $14 to $16 per person per day. Wi-Fi packages start around $20…
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Cruise News Roundup
Royal Caribbean announced they’re adding a fourth Oasis-class ship to their Caribbean lineup for 2025. Wonder of the Seas will join her sisters sailing year-round from Florida ports starting next spring. This matters because it means more availability on the most popular ship class to the most popular destination. Good news if you’ve been shut…
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Every Cruise Line Says Their Food Is Amazing
Every cruise line claims their food is restaurant quality. Every cruise line is lying. The truth is cruise food ranges from cafeteria decent to actually impressive. Most falls somewhere in the middle. You are not getting Daniel Boulud at sea unless you are literally on a ship with Daniel Boulud. The main dining room serves…
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The Main Dining Room Actually Has a Secret Menu
Every cruise ship has a main dining room. Most passengers think they know exactly what that means. Order from the printed menu, eat your food, leave. Here’s what they don’t tell you in the brochure. Almost every main dining room has items that aren’t on the printed menu. Your server can get you a simple…
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River Cruising vs Ocean Cruising
Ocean cruises get all the attention. River cruises get the destinations. On an ocean cruise, you wake up to water. On a river cruise, you wake up in the middle of a European village or floating past castles. Your ship docks right downtown. No tender boats. No hour-long bus rides from some industrial port. Ocean…
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Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas Is Still the Biggest Thing Floating
Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 as the world’s largest cruise ship. It holds 7,600 passengers when full. That is more people than live in most Ohio towns. The ship runs seven night Caribbean cruises from Miami year round. Royal Caribbean built it with families in mind. There are six water slides including…
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Tasmania Is Having a Moment
Most cruise passengers skip Tasmania entirely. They sail past Australia’s island state on their way to New Zealand or the mainland ports. Big mistake. Tasmania just opened its new $75 million Museum of Old and New Art waterfront pavilion this month. The museum was already weird enough to be worth the trip. Now it’s getting…