We share lots of cruise updates and advice here, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week.
1. Maybe you shouldn't try to bid for a cabin upgrade
Sometimes when you’re getting ready to go on your cruise vacation, you’ll be given the opportunity to upgrade your cruise ship cabin.
You may be wondering why someone may pass up on that upgrade, especially when going from an interior room to an ocean view or from a balcony to a suite. Typically, even with cruise lines that allow you to bid on cabin upgrades, you could be saving potentially hundreds of dollars on the upgraded cabin. Sounds like a dream right?
Well, there are some reasons why you should decline a cruise ship cabin upgrade.
Read more: 7 reasons to decline a cruise ship cabin upgrade
2. I spent $2,300 on a 4-night Virgin Voyages cruise. Here is what everything cost from a $116 trolley ride to $67 worth of souvenirs
Nicole recently went on her very first Virgin Voyages cruise.
While Virgin Voyages is known for being one of the more expensive mainstream cruise lines, they do include a lot more in their standard fare than other lines, such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean. You won't have to worry about purchasing cruise add-ons like internet packages or specialty dining.
Here is what she spent on the sailing from a $116 trolley ride to a $67 worth of souvenirs.
3. 58 Best Norwegian Cruise Line Tips, Tricks & Hacks (2023)
While cruising is a great vacation for everyone, there are some tips and tricks that can always enhance your cruise experience.
Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the biggest cruise lines in the industry and is known for their relaxed “freestyle cruising” model. With NCL being such a popular cruise line for many families, you may be wondering what are the best ways to maximize your experience while onboard.
There are plenty of "tricks of the trade" out there, so if you want to know the best Norwegian Cruise line tips, check out this list of helpful tips that you are sure to benefit from before setting sail.
Read more: 58 Best Norwegian Cruise Line Tips, Tricks & Hacks (2023)
3. The $135 dinner on Disney Cruise Line isn't cheap, but the fancy food sold me on it being worth it
Disney Cruise Lines is known for adding magic to their cruises wherever they can.
However, what some cruisers may not know is that Disney Cruise Line has an adults-only upscale restaurant, with a menu created by a world-class chef. Hayley recently sailed aboard Disney Fantasy and was able to snag a reservation at this popular restaurant: Remy. Known for being one of the most luxurious dining experiences onboard a cruise ship, she was excited to test it out.
Here is what she thought about eating at one of Disney Cruise Line’s most exclusive, and expensive, restaurants.
Read more: The $135 dinner on Disney Cruise Line isn't cheap, but the fancy food sold me on it being worth it
4. 10 things I loved and hated about my first Virgin Voyages cruise
No matter how many cruises you have sailed on, you are bound to experience things that you love and things that you wish you could change on each sailing.
Nicole recently tried out her first Virgin Voyages sailing on Scarlet Lady, sailing from Miami to Key West, Florida and Bimini, Bahamas. She was excited to try this new-to-her cruise line after hearing mixed reviews about it. Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line and is known for their trendy, sleek, and modern cruise ships.
Here are 10 things that she loved and hated about her first Virgin Voyages cruise.
Read more: 10 things I loved and hated about my first Virgin Voyages cruise
5. Balcony cruise ship rooms: are they worth the splurge?
When planning your next cruise vacation, one of the most important decisions you can make is what type of cabin to stay in.
A popular choice amongst many cruisers is balcony cabins. Typically cheaper than suites, these rooms offer natural light and fresh air into your cabin. However, they are almost always more expensive than interior and ocean view rooms, which may leave you wondering if they are worth the splurge. Of course, at the end of the day, your travel preferences and budget will help lead you to your decision, but if you are on the fence, there may be things you haven’t thought about.
Here are 8 reasons why you should spend the extra cash on a balcony cabin for your next cruise.
Read more: Balcony cruise ship rooms: are they worth the splurge?
6. Everything you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise
A common question we hear from cruisers is just how early they need to arrive for their sailing.
Unlike staying at a hotel, you can’t just show up whenever you feel like it. When it comes to cruising, if you arrive too early you will be stuck sitting in the terminal until it’s time to embark. If you arrive too late, you can risk missing your sailing altogether.
So, just how early should you arrive at the terminal? Here's everything you need to know about cruise boarding times!
Read more: Everything you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise (2023)
7. Six convincing reasons to avoid booking cruises with lots of sea days
When you are planning out your next cruise, one of the things that you will want to pay attention to is the itinerary.
Some sailings will be packed with port days, while others offer plenty of sea days. Depending on what type of cruiser and traveler you are, you may have a strong preference for one or the other. You may be looking for a relaxing vacation, allowing you to sit with a cocktail in hand by the pool. Or, maybe you find sea days boring and want to maximize your time in port.
Here are 6 reasons to avoid booking a cruise with a lot of sea days.
Read more: 6 convincing reasons to avoid booking cruises with lots of sea days
8. Norwegian drops a stateroom perk and doubles down on solo cabins
Cruise lines are always thinking of new ways to entice their cruisers.
Norwegian Cruise Line is making some fairly big changes to stateroom categories onboard all ships in their fleet. Depending on what your travel preferences are, this may either be exciting or disappointing news for you, as they are removing the spa category of staterooms. For those who are interested in sailing solo, there is some exciting news as they plan to add about 1,000 solo cabins across all of their ships, increasing your odds of scoring a studio cabin.
Here is everything you need to know about these changes for future Norwegian Cruise Line sailings.
Read more: Norwegian drops a stateroom perk and doubles down on solo cabins
9. Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered
When it comes to cruising, there can be a lot of things that create questions for first-time and even experienced cruisers.
A lot of these questions have to do with cruise cabins, as these will be your “home away from home” during the length of sailing. You don’t want to end up booking the wrong room or being surprised about what is and isn’t included when you get onboard. Even if you think your questions are dumb, it is valid to want to know everything you can before getting onboard.
Here are some common cruise ship cabin questions and their answers, so you can feel confident moving forward in the planning process!
Read more: Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered (2023)
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.
