We share lots of cruise updates and advice here, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week.
If you are busy but want to keep up with all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest look at the recent articles and updates we've shared
1. A look at how these two suites compare!
While Allie cruises frequently, she typically will opt for the lowest fare she can find, which usually ends up being an interior stateroom.
Recently however, she was able to sail in a Junior Suite onboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssesy of the Seas and also in an Ocean Suite on Carnival’s Mardi Gras. Since both of these ships are newer to their fleets, she was excited to see what these rooms had in common, and what set them apart.
Join her as she compares her experiences in Carnival’s Ocean Suite in comparison to Royal Caribbean’s Junior suite on two of their newer ships.
Read more: Comparing Carnival's Ocean Suite to Royal Caribbean's Junior Suite
2. Check out this tiny cabin designed for solo cruisers!
Now more than ever, there is a growing demand for solo cruising.
Cruise lines have seen the rise of this trend, and are beginning to offer solo cabins designed specifically for one passenger, or offering discounts to those cruisers that are traveling alone. Alongside the other growing trend in the amount of young adult cruise travelers, the demand for these solo or studio cruise cabins have never been higher.
Hayley recently sailed onboard Norwegian Encore to see exactly what a studio stateroom would be like.
Read more: I stayed in a $457 studio cabin on Norwegian Encore - Take a look inside my tiny cabin
3. These kinds of bed are quite common if you're sharing a cabin with a third or fourth passenger
Cruise cabins are known to be on the smaller side when it comes to travel accommodations.
It may have people wondering what the cabin setup would be like when they add a 3rd or 4th cruiser to their stateroom. While some staterooms will have a couch that can convert to an additional bed, many will feature pullman beds.
We have broken down what a pullman bed is and why you should be aware of them before your next cruise.
Read more: What Is A Pullman Bed?
4. The weather doesn't always cooperate on a cruise, so here's how to deal with it!
When you picture your next cruise vacation, you may be envisioning sunny, warm days.
However, you may encounter a day filled with bad weather and choppy seas. While no one wants this for their vacation, there are still plenty of ways to fill your day with great food and entertainment. With modern cruise ships having a high selection of activities to do onboard, you will be sure to find something to ensure you don’t become bored.
Here are our top 25 suggestions to make the best of challenging conditions and still have a blast on your cruise vacation.
Read more: 25 Tips to deal with bad weather on a cruise
5. How to easily take care of checking in for your Royal Caribbean cruise!
While you are counting down the days to your next cruise vacation, it is important to make sure you take the proper steps to help ease embarkation day.
For Royal Caribbean, a few weeks before your sailing you will be able to complete their online check in process. This multi-step process allows you to not only select an arrival time, but also provide the necessary travel documents and information to speed up your arrival and get you onto the ship faster. The rest of your check-in will be completed by a port agent at your embarkation port.
We have compiled everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s check-in process.
Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process
6. How long of a cruise is a good idea for your first one?
There are many things you will need to consider when booking your first cruise, with an important one being the length of the cruise.
While most cruises are under 8 nights, there are some that are longer in order to reach certain destinations and meet needs of different travel preferences. Some will also be shorter to cater to those that only have a few days to cruise, or prefer shorter itineraries. While shorter and longer cruises each have their own advantages, it can be overwhelming to figure out what is right for your first sailing.
Here is a breakdown of a good amount of days for a first cruise.
Read more: What’s a good amount of days for a first cruise?
7. Marella is cruising from Florida, but there's basically no way to book it if you're an American
In May 2023, the Marella Discovery set sail from Port Canaveral for the first time. The ship, previously sailing as Splendour of the Seas from 1996 to 2016, was sold to TUI Cruises in March 2015, eventually leasing the ship to Thompson Cruises.
While this ship is one of the smallest in Marella Cruises’, a British cruise line that is operated by TUI UK, it is also almost impossible to book a sailing on if you are an American.
8. Ever wondered what you could see in the ocean right below your cruise ship?
Have you ever looked over the railing of a cruise ship and wondered what may swim beneath the surface?
While sometimes you may see some fish, or even dolphins and whales nearby, there is always a sense of wondering about what is under there that you are not seeing. Greek photographer Odysseas Frolian sent a Go Pro underneath a Celebrity cruise ship to get a glimpse at what this underwater world is like.
Here is a video of what is captured by Frolian just beneath the surface.
Read more: Video shows the curious marine life under a cruise ship when a GoPro is dropped in the ocean
9. Check out what an inside room looks like on MSC Seashore!
Elizabeth recently sailed onboard the MSC Seashore on her first European cruise, staying in an interior cabin.
While interior cabins are typically known to be the cheapest option onboard, for this sailing she was cruising solo and ended up paying more than she would have if she was sailing with someone else.
She gives us a full tour of what this $1,175 interior stateroom looks like and features.
Read more: I stayed in a $1,175 stateroom on MSC Seashore - see what my room on this cruise ship looked like
10. Disney doesn't have everything other cruise lines do
It seems like cruise ships today are similar to floating cities that have everything you could imagine onboard.
One of the best parts of planning your cruise vacation, is selecting a ship with activities, attractions and entertainment that fits your travel party’s wants and needs. Each cruise line is known for having different offerings, and while some of them may be similar, each of them have distinctive offerings that others do not.
Disney Cruise Line has cultivated a unique cruising experience, however there are 10 things that you will not find on a Disney cruise ship.
Read more: 10 things you won't find on a Disney cruise
Nicole Feist
Nicole first fell in love with cruising as a teenager on a family vacation. Since then she's gone on to become a frequent cruiser, and even marrying her husband on a sailing. Living on the Gulf Coast of Florida, you'll find her cruising on the weekends whenever she can.
