If you are looking for a hotel near the Los Angeles and Long Beach cruise ports, one of the perks you should look for is cruise parking included with your stay. It’s one of the little-known secrets about saving money on a cruise… and it can save you hundreds of dollars. The market for hotels is competitive, especially in a tourist destination like Los Angeles. That means hotels will … [Read more...]
This Cruise Line Is Taking a Page From Southwest Airlines’ Playbook (And It’s Great for Customers)
Can studying the moves made by Southwest Airlines help grow a cruise line? One line certainly seems to be giving it a shot, and that’s good news for cruise passengers. Virgin Voyages is positioning itself much like Southwest Airlines in that it offers a lot of value to customers without the extra fees. Southwest Airlines’ story is well known. The small upstart airline grew from a tiny … [Read more...]
What Your Should Know About Having a Cruise-Based Bachelor or Bachelorette Party
It may not be as popular as visiting Las Vegas, Austin, or Nashville for a bachelor or bachelorette party, but cruises still see more than their share of these celebrations. A cruise is a popular spot to have your party, but there are a few things you should consider before you book. And why not? Cruises offer a ton of advantages over land-based bachelorette parties, including lots of sun, … [Read more...]
Everything to Know About Internet on a Cruise (Speed, Cost, & More)
It wasn’t that long ago that having internet access at sea was a nice perk, but hardly a necessity. Today, most people must have wi-fi — even if they are on a cruise in the middle of the ocean. In fact, we always sign up for service every time that we sail. Wi-fi is widely available across any cruise. Below, we cover everything from connection speed to cost and much more. Of course, … [Read more...]
What Happens When a Port of Call is Cancelled
After two days at sea, you are almost at your first port of call. You already have the entire port day planned, can’t wait to get off the ship, and the beach is calling your name. And then, late in the afternoon there is an announcement from the captain. Due to an incident with another ship at the pier, your ship can’t dock safely at the scheduled port of call. As a result, the port is … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Suspends Calls on Labadee
In a story we’ve been following for days, growing unrest in Haiti has led Royal Caribbean to take action. President and CEO of the cruise line, Michael Bayley, said that its ships will suspend stops on the Labadee port located in the country. “We have suspended calls into Labadee, Haiti for the next 7 days and will continue suspension on a rolling basis with 3 days advance notification … [Read more...]
What Costs Extra on a Cruise
Think taking a cruise means that it’s all inclusive? Think again. Anyone that’s sailed before can tell you that what you pay for cruise fare is just the start of what you’ll spend on your vacation. In fact, the average passenger spends about 30-40% of their cruise fare on onboard spending, according to cruise line financial statements. There’s a lot that’s included … [Read more...]
12 Seattle Cruise Hotels In Easy Walking Distance of the Port
Having sailed from Seattle to Alaska, we can tell you personally that it is a wonderful city to visit before or after your cruise. It’s a shame if you don’t stay for at least a day to explore. To help you out, we’ve put together some details on places to stay that are both near the cruise port and within lots to do and see. Pier 66 is located right near downtown, offering lots of … [Read more...]
Virgin Voyages Offering MONTH-Long Europe Cruises for Just $5K Per Person
Don’t have summer plans yet? A new offer from Virgin Voyages may change that quickly. In what the cruise line is dubbing its “Scarlet Summer Season Pass,” Virgin is giving passengers the chance to sail Europe for an entire month aboard Scarlet Lady, starting at a price of just under $5,000 per person. This summer, passengers will have the chance to sail Europe for a month aboard … [Read more...]
Has Royal Caribbean Canceled Calls on Labadee, Haiti? Here’s What the Cruise Line Says
In recent days, major violence has rocked the Caribbean nation of Haiti. In the midst of unrest between armed gangs and the government, the gangs have stormed prisons in the capital of Port-au-Prince, gunfights have erupted in the streets, major airlines have halted flights to/from of the country, and thousands of Haitians have been displaced. Royal Caribbean operates a private destination in … [Read more...]
Report: Royal Caribbean Crew Member Arrested After Allegedly Setting Up Camera in Guest Cabin
In a disturbing story, several news stations report that a Royal Caribbean crew member has been arrested for allegedly setting up a hidden camera in a cabin to secretly record passengers. The incident took place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, shown here docked in Cozumel. The crew member, who worked as a stateroom attendant, was arrested on March 3 by port authorities … [Read more...]
Seattle Cruise Parking (Where to Park): Prices, Profiles, & Map
Driving in for a cruise from Seattle and not sure where to park? We have all your options below. If you’re sailing from Seattle, honestly the best option is to have someone drop you off at the port. It’s faster, cheaper, and more convenient than having to park. We know, however, that’s not an option for everyone and thousands of people drive to the port every week to set … [Read more...]
7 Easy Ways to Get from the Seattle Airport to the Cruise Port
Headed to Alaska from Seattle? Before your cruise can start, you have to get to the port first! If you’re from the area, that might not be a big deal. But if you are flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, you likely need a little help in navigating from the airport to the cruise port or from an area hotel to the terminal. There’s no shortage of ways to get around Seattle to … [Read more...]
What I Wish I Knew Before I Sailed Royal Caribbean
Today, Royal Caribbean is a monster cruise line, and I’ve sailed it time and time again. In fact, it’s one my favorites. But I’ll be honest, if you haven’t sailed the line much, there’s a lot that you likely don’t know. Even for me, there was a learning curve with everything from how things work onboard to CocoCay to pricing and more. So what do I think people … [Read more...]
Answered: What Time Should I Get to the Cruise Port?
What is the best time to get to the cruise port to board your cruise? After all, you likely want to get your vacation started as soon as possible, but you also don’t want to face huge crowds or long lines to get on the ship. We’ve personally sailed dozens of cruises and arrived at all times — both early and late. In that experience, we have a definite time that we prefer to … [Read more...]
Carnival Jubilee Official Christened by Gwen Stefani (Plus, See Photos of the New Ship)
Carnival Jubilee — the cruise line’s newest ship — was delivered to its new homeport in Galveston just before Christmas. Since then, the ship has already taken tens of thousands of passengers crisscrossing the Gulf of Mexico. But Jubilee has done all that without an official naming ceremony and a godmother… until now. Carnival Jubilee arrived in Galveston in December and … [Read more...]
Carnival Announces $100 Million Expansion to Private Destination… Before It’s Even Opened!
Just a few months ago, Carnival announced the name of its new private destination in The Bahamas — Celebration Key. A new rendering released by Carnival shows a $100 million pier expansion to accommodate four ships at once. Image courtesy of Carnival. The massive project, already slated to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars will transform a massive stretch of Grand Bahama into a … [Read more...]
Cruise Ship Buffets: What to Know From a Veteran Cruiser
When it comes to eating on a cruise ship, there are tons of restaurants, but without a doubt the spot where you’ll eat the most meals is the ship’s buffet. We estimate you’ll eat here at least once a day during the cruise. Don’t be fooled by the small amount of people in this photo, cruise ship buffets are the most-dined spot on the ship and get busy. This spot is a staple … [Read more...]
Princess Plus & Premier Offers: Package Details and if it’s Worth it
Princess Plus and Princess Premier are two packages offer a more all-inclusive experience for cruise passengers… but they comes at a price. So is it worth it? Princess Cruises offers two packages — Princess Plus and Princess Premier — that offer things like gratuities, wi-fi, and a drink package included. But are they worth it? For years, some cruise passengers have complained … [Read more...]
12+ Questions & Answers About Food on a Cruise Ship (Is it Good?)
Our first cruise, we had no idea what to expect when it came to dining. After dozens of cruises, that’s not the case anymore. One of the biggest stereotypes of cruising is that there’s a lot of eating and drinking onboard. In this case, the stereotype is absolutely true. From tons of restaurants for you to enjoy to some eateries that are open 24-hours a day, food is everywhere. So what … [Read more...]