For many people, the price of their next cruise on Carnival will be higher… and it could add up to hundreds more out of pocket. Rather big moves in pricing for drink packages and wi-fi could add hundreds to the cost of your cruise. We’ve noticed two big pricing changes to popular packages on the ship. This includes changes to both the popular CHEERS! drink package and a big price … [Read more...]

Cruising is often thought of as a family vacation, and for many, it’s exactly that. But then there are some that are interested in something a bit more… adult. Truth is, there are cruises that can get as wild — and sexy — as you want, even if they aren’t widely advertised. If you’re an adult looking to show a little more skin by the pool deck, then you have … [Read more...]

Many people dream of living at sea, living a life of luxury, sailing from port to port, and constantly being on vacation. The reality of it all brings most of those dreams back down to earth. There’s the logistics of actually living away from home, but also the costs can be a big hurdle. We’ve done the math and estimate the cost of sailing a full year on a cruise ship would come out … [Read more...]

While literally tens of millions of cruise passengers sail each year, there are some misconceptions that just seem to linger in the public’s imagination. Some of them are rumors spread online, some are opinions people have without actually ever sailing, and some are myths spread by the cruise lines themselves. But I’m pulling back the curtain and letting you know what things just … [Read more...]

If you’ve been on watching social media the past few days, you might have seen some cruise news that’s certainly had people talking. Carnival’s Brand Ambassador seemed to axe the posting of a certain symbol on cabin doors… but now that post seems to have been deleted. John Heald is a Brand Ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line. His popular Facebook page has nearly 600,000 … [Read more...]

July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of America’s founding — the USA’s semiquincentennial if you want the official word for it. And while there will be major celebrations across the country, at least one cruise line is taking the celebration to sea for tens of thousands of passengers. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Carnival has 10 sailings during July 4th that … [Read more...]

Packing for a cruise? Taking a cruise is different from any other vacation. Most other vacations don’t have you packing for everything from hanging out poolside to formal dining to casual wear, while also needing to bring things to make your room more comfortable. To some people, it might be overwhelming, but not to worry. After literally dozens of cruises, I have some of my top cruise-packing … [Read more...]

Cruising with an infant? Let us be the first to tell you it’s a whole other ballgame compared to cruising without a kid. (Read our advice and tips on cruising with a baby here.) But as a parent, we don’t have to convince you that things are so much different when traveling with a baby. Taking a cruise with a baby can get a fun time for everyone, but there are some definite things you … [Read more...]

In cruising, ten years can be an eternity. Go back just a decade, and in many ways today’s cruising is unrecognizable. There are bigger fleets, more cruise lines, and experiences that you’d never dream about on a cruise vacation are now commonplace. So what’s in store for the next 10 years? While no one can say for certain what the future will hold, there are some trends … [Read more...]

On a cruise, there’s nothing more luxurious than having your own private hot tub. While there are whirlpools sprinkled all around the pool decks on the ship, they are typically full of other passengers, leaving you sharing an intimate space with strangers. Private hot tubs are a luxury that few people see on a cruise ship. However, a CDC report links their use to an outbreak of Legionnaires … [Read more...]

On a cruise ship with literally thousands of people, your cruise cabin is your own private 160 square foot piece of the ship that’s yours and yours alone. It’s where you’ll sleep, relax, get ready for the day, make romance, and shower… although maybe not all in that order. After nearly 30 cruises, I’ve learned a thing or two when it comes to cabin tips that I think no … [Read more...]

Cruising is a lot of things, but one word you’ll rarely hear is “roomy.” Despite cruise ships soaring in size, the number of passengers on board has also grown. That means more rooms than ever on ships. So instead of cabins increasing in size as ships get bigger, they stay the same or in some cases even get smaller. If sailing as a couple, even the small size of a cruise cabin is … [Read more...]

Another year, another gratuity increase. Passengers sailing Royal Caribbean will see gratuity charges rise for all cabins, almost exactly one year after the previous increase. It’s become a seemingly annual tradition for many cruise lines to bump up the price of onboard gratuities. Now, Royal Caribbean is getting in on the action for 2024. In a change we noticed on the cruise line’s … [Read more...]

There’s no argument that you’ll the most time on your cruise aboard the ship. It’s where you’ll eat, sleep, relax, watch shows, and so much more. On a typical cruise, more than 80% of your vacation is spent on the ship. While you spend more time on the ship than in port, it’s these stops that you’re most likely to remember about your vacation. But the highlight … [Read more...]

In a major move, one popular Caribbean port visited by multiple cruise lines is set to be taken over by one of the biggest players in the entire industry. And at least right now, it’s not clear if many lines will have to adjust their itineraries and sail elsewhere in the future. Costa Maya has grown to a popular stop in Mexico for multiple cruise line. Now Royal Caribbean is paying $292 … [Read more...]

Cruises have a reputation for being family-friendly vacations, and for good reason. There’s arguably no better place where anyone — whether 8 years old or 80 years — can all find something that they will enjoy on the ship. But not everyone is looking for a “Disney-fied” vacation. And while anyone taking a cruise isn’t going to expect an X-rated time, there are … [Read more...]

A drink package seems simple — you pay one daily fee and just get whatever you want, right? Anyone that’s bought one before knows there is much more to know before you drop literally hundreds of dollars on these offers. To help you out, I’ll cover it all, including the fine print of what you’ll wish you knew about drink packages before you sail and if these packages are … [Read more...]

Looking for a cruise deal? The truth is that while cruises still offer an affordable vacation, there’s no arguing that prices have gone up sharply. Going to a tropical paradise doesn’t have to break the bank. Three lines in particular offer inexpensive fares that can get you sailing for just a few hundred dollars. Right after cruises returned from the pandemic pause, sailings were … [Read more...]

I took my first cruise more than a decade ago. Since then, I’ve created an entire career about cruising. That includes this website, a YouTube channel with 100,000 subscribers and millions of views, and being quoted in major publications like The Wall Street Journal. Cruises are tons of fun, but after more than two dozen trips, there are some things that I wish could be improved to make the … [Read more...]

Anyone that’s taken a cruise knows that your cruise fare is just the start of what you’ll pay. There are opportunities to spend day and night on the ship. And some spots are worth it, while others definitely are not. As part of my job, I’ve spent literally tens of thousands of dollars across dozens of cruises over the years. There’s not much on a cruise ship that I … [Read more...]