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. Pros and Cons of a Royal Caribbean Cruise
If you are considering planning a cruise vacation, the first step you’ll want to take is deciding what cruise line is right for you.
With so many cruise lines catering to different needs, it can seem overwhelming at first. However, with over 25 ships in their fleet, including the largest ship at sea, there is no wonder why Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular mainstream cruise lines today. If you haven’t sailed on a Royal Caribbean ship before, you may be wondering if it’s the right line for you and your travel party.
Read on to find out the pros and cons of sailing on Royal Caribbean!
Read more: Pros and Cons of a Royal Caribbean Cruise
2. 3 reasons why a cruise is the best during the holidays — and 2 reasons it should be avoided
One bucket list activity for a lot of people is spending the holidays on a family vacation!
If that is the case for you, you may want to consider booking a cruise for your next holiday celebration. While the holiday season is traditionally when families get together, that doesn't mean you have to spend time at home. No cooking, cleaning, and warm temperatures? Sounds like a dream come true!
Here are the reasons why taking a cruise over the holidays is the best and worst idea.
Read more: 3 reasons why a cruise is the best during the holidays — and 2 reasons it should be avoided
3. 5 cruise ship extras you can avoid paying for with these smart hacks
After you have finally booked your cruise vacation, you may be overwhelmed with all of the add-on options available.
Luckily for you, some of these extra costs are totally avoidable. While some of these may be necessary, such as going into port while your ship is docked, others are items that we believe you can skip. There is nothing worse than seeing other passengers overspending for things they could have gotten for free or at a reduced cost.
Here are our top five easy ways to save money on your next cruise vacation.
Read more: 5 cruise ship extras you can avoid paying for with these smart hacks
4. I sailed on a cruise line you know nothing about—here are 5 reasons why you should give it a try
Would you sail on a cruise line you’ve never heard of before?
What if that cruise line offers an itinerary to one of the most exclusive destinations in the world? Well, Jenna recently did just that! Last month, she boarded a cruise to Antarctica on a cruise line that she knew nothing about. Being an experienced mainstream cruiser, this was a first for her.
Here is exactly why she chose this cruise line, and why you should consider giving it a try, too.
Read more: I sailed on a cruise line you know nothing about—here are 5 reasons why you should give it a try
5. 15 things I loved and hated about Norwegian Viva
The cruise industry has been making a splash with the debuts of new ships across many cruise lines!
Hayley recently got back from a trip onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva. She took a quick 4-night sailing visiting both Nassau and NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay. This was also a sailing on one of the cruise ship’s first sailing departing from the United States.
She shares with us some of her favorite and least favorite things about this brand-new ship during her quick cruise.
Read more: 15 things I loved and hated about Norwegian Viva
6. The extra step you should take so you aren't delayed getting onboard a Carnival cruise
The last thing you want to do when beginning your cruise vacation is delay getting on the ship.
Unfortunately, the boarding process isn’t standardized when it comes to cruise ships, and travelers can experience many different methods to get onboard depending on which line they are sailing on. If you have your first Carnival cruise scheduled, you’ll want to ensure that you are prepared, so you can start your cruise vacation sooner!
To avoid getting delayed during boarding, make sure you take this extra step before your next Carnival cruise.
Read more: The extra step you should take so you aren't delayed getting onboard a Carnival cruise
7. The most-read cruise stories of 2023
2023 was a big year for the cruise industry!
Here at Cruise.Blog, we made sure to stay on top of all of the news, tips and tricks, and ship reviews that you need to know about. While cabin tours were the most popular across the board, readers were also curious as to how they could beat chair hogs and the pros and cons of cruising solo onboard Norwegian Cruise Line.
Here is a recap of our 10 most-read articles of the year!
Read more: The most-read cruise stories of 2023
8. 8 reasons to avoid the main dining room on a cruise ship
If you have your next cruise vacation booked, you may be looking forward to the variety of food you can expect to eat onboard.
From the all-you-can-eat buffets to quick-service pizza and main dining rooms, there are plenty of venues to keep you full on every ship. However, one of the more traditional aspects of cruising is eating dinner in the main dining room.
Whether you've cruised numerous times before or don't mind straying from cruise ship norms, here are 8 reasons to avoid the main dining room on a cruise ship.
Read more: 8 reasons to avoid the main dining room on a cruise ship
9. I tried Norwegian's and Celebrity's newest cruise ships to see how they compare
When it comes to choosing a cruise ship to sail on, it is hard to pass up the appeal of sailing on a brand-new cruise ship.
Allie recently had the opportunity to sail on both Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships! Celebrity Ascent and Norwegian Viva both debuted this year and were highly anticipated by travelers. From dining to entertainment, itineraries, and even stateroom accommodations, these ships did not hold back!
After sailing on both ships, here is how Allie found the newest ships from Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises compared.
Read more: I tried Norwegian's and Celebrity's newest cruise ships to see how they compare
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.
