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. Tropical Storm Tammy disrupts major cruise line itineraries. Here are the major changes so far
If you are cruising during hurricane season, you will always want to keep an eye out on the weather.
Hurricane Season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 - November 3 and can often cause issues to cruise sailings. This week, Tropical Storm Tammy caused some ships to alter their itineraries. This was due to the storm warnings being issued for some of the Leeward Islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy.
Here's what Tropical Storm Tammy meant for Eastern Caribbean cruises.
Read more: Tropical Storm Tammy disrupts major cruise line itineraries. Here are the major changes so far
2. Have you heard of the Prinzessin Victoria Luise?
It seems like today, cruisers have more ships than ever to choose from when picking their next cruise vacation.
The cruise ships of today often feature jaw-dropping thrills, entertainment, and attractions that are a far stretch from what the industry started with. The first credited purpose-built cruise ship was the Prinzessin Victoria Luise. Built for the Hamburg-America Line, she was launched in June 1900. Yes, before the Titanic!
Read more to find out more about the first cruise ship and what it means to be a cruise ship.
Read more: What was the first cruise ship?
3. I took my first Carnival cruise on its newest ship. Here are my honest thoughts
Elizabeth has been cruising for most of her life and has enjoyed over a dozen cruises.
However, she had yet to try out Carnival Cruise Line. She had always been hesitant to book a sailing on one of Carnival’s ships, due to the party atmosphere it is known for. Though recently, she decided to see what it was all about and if it lived up to its reputation. She booked a 7-night sailing onboard Carnival Celebration, their newest ship.
Here are her honest thoughts about her first-ever Carnival cruise.
Read more: I took my first Carnival cruise on its newest ship. Here are my honest thoughts
4. If you want to check if your sailing is full or not, there are a few ways of doing so!
If you have an upcoming cruise vacation planned, you may be wondering if you will be sailing on a full ship.
For those looking to snag a last-minute upgrade or who want to relax on the ship with fewer people around, having a full sailing could impact those plans. However, today it is very common for cruise ships to be sailing at full capacity, even in the shoulder season. Every cruise line aims to sell out every cabin onboard, as they are aiming to maximize their profits.
If you're wondering whether your sailing is full or not before you get onboard, here are some ways that you can check!
Read more: How To Find Out If Your Cruise Ship Is Full?
5. Here's what Elizabeth loved and hated about Carnival Celebration
After fourteen cruises onboard MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line, Elizabeth set out for her first-ever Carnival cruise.
She recently returned from her cruise sailing onboard their newest ship, Carnival Celebration. She was happy to report that she had a wonderful vacation and is looking forward to her next cruise onboard Carnival Vista. As with all cruises and vacations, there were certain elements that she loved and others that she didn’t.
She shares with us 15 things that she loved and hated about her first Carnival cruise.
Read more: 15 things I loved and hated about my first Carnival cruise
6. 17 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Ship
Whenever you travel, you want to be aware of what you are and aren’t allowed to do.
Cruise ships are no exception, and, in fact, have quite a few things that every cruiser should avoid doing. This is to provide a safe environment for not only yourself but for fellow cruisers and crew. Of course, some of these things are explicit and well-known. Others, however, are things that you may not be aware of.
Here's a list of 17 things that you should not do on a cruise ship.
Read more: 17 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Ship
7. Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or a first-timer, there's a cruise line out there that's perfect for you!
If you are planning a cruise vacation, you may be wondering what the best cruise line is.
This, of course, can be a very complex decision, as each cruise line attracts different types of cruisers. At the end of the day, you need to determine what your preferred travel style is, and then align that to the cruise line and ship that best fits your needs.
U.S. News & World Report released their 10th edition of the Best Cruise Lines rankings that highlights 17 different cruise lines across six different categories, including best cruise line for families, best cruise lines in the Caribbean, and best cruise lines for the money.
Here is a full breakdown of the best cruise lines for 2024.
Read more: What are the best cruise lines of 2024 for every traveler?
8. Jaw dropping cruise ships with family suites
When you are planning your next cruise vacation, you will be tasked with picking out the perfect room for you and your travel party.
Luckily for you, cruise ships have a wide variety of cabins to accommodate every type of passenger and budget. That being said, if you have a larger family - say five, six, or seven people -, you will need to either book a suite or split your party into two separate rooms. If that sounds like your travel party, you’re in luck.
Here are some jaw-dropping cruise ships with family suites that you should consider for your next vacation!
Read more: Jaw dropping cruise ships with family suites
9. 19 things I loved and hated about a 20 year old cruise ship, NCL Star
Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the most popular mainstream cruise lines in service.
Hayley recently returned from a sailing onboard one of NCL’s oldest ships: Norwegian Star. Debuting in 2001, this ship is over two decades old. She was interested to see how the ship held up over the years and how it compared to other vessels in the NCL fleet.
Here are 19 things that Hayley discovered she loved and hated while onboard Norwegian Star after spending 10 nights onboard during a European sailing that visited the United Kingdom and British Isles.
Read more: 19 things I loved and hated about a 20 year old cruise ship, NCL Star
10. Caribbean vs. Bahamas cruises: Which should I take?
If you are trying to plan a cruise, you may be wondering if you should sail to The Bahamas or venture further south to the Caribbean.
While you can find cruises venturing to areas across the globe, some of the most popular itineraries feature both The Bahamas and the Caribbean. This can be a hard decision to make, as both regions will offer you picturesque turquoise waters and white sandy beaches with a tropical climate year-round.
Here is a guide to help you decide whether you should take a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise; however, you should know that whether you should take a cruise to The Bahamas or Caribbean will vary based upon your personal preferences.
Read more: Caribbean vs. Bahamas cruises: Which should I take?
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.
