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. 10 things you didn't know about cruise ship kitchens and food
One of the best perks of vacationing on a cruise ship is that your food is included!
Unlike vacationing in hotels where you often will eat at a nearby restaurant, when it comes to cruising, most of your meals will be eaten on the ship. With how big ships are, and taking into consideration the number of crew, passengers, and dining venues onboard, you may be wondering how it exactly works. Luckily for us, every aspect of the dining experience has been carefully calculated by the cruise line, ensuring that there are enough supplies and variety for the duration of the sailing— and then some!
Here are 10 facts about cruise ship kitchens and food that you probably didn't know!
Read more: 10 things you didn't know about cruise ship kitchens and food
2. I’ve mastered packing for a cruise with these must-have items - and they’re under $25
When it comes to preparing for your upcoming cruise, packing is one of the most important action items.
All cruisers, both new and experienced, can be left confused about what they actually need to pack. You don’t want to end up using precious suitcase space with items you’ll never use, but you also do not want to forget anything important! If you have to fly into your cruise port, that can even further complicate the packing situation. Cruise.Blog writer Allie has cruised over 40 times and has confidently mastered her cruise packing list.
Whether you’re opting for just a carry-on or you plan to pack a larger checked suitcase, these items should be on your packing list.
Read more: I’ve mastered packing for a cruise with these must-have items - and they’re under $25
3. 11 Worst Cruise Drink Package Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most popular cruise add-ons is a drink package.
Instead of worrying about purchasing drinks individually, with a drink package, you can prepay for a set or unlimited amount of drinks onboard. This obviously appeals to many cruisers, as they won’t end up with a surprise bill at the end of their trip. However, if you are going to purchase a drink package, you want to ensure that not only are you getting your value out of it, but also that you aren’t making any mistakes!
Here are some of the (easily avoidable) mistakes not to make if you purchase the drink package.
Read more: 11 Worst Cruise Drink Package Mistakes to Avoid
4. 5 things I loved (and 4 I hated) about my vacation on the world's biggest cruise ship
When it comes to over-the-top cruise vacations, look no further than Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ship at sea recently launched last month, and our team had the chance to sail onboard. Jenna admits that while Royal Caribbean got almost everything perfect with their newest ship, there were still some things that she disliked about Icon.
Here are the 5 things she loved (and 4 things she hated) about her cruise onboard Icon of the Seas.
Read more: 5 things I loved (and 4 I hated) about my vacation on the world's biggest cruise ship
5. Disney Fantasy vs. Norwegian Encore: Differences between Disney and NCL
When it comes to taking a family cruise vacation, your options can quickly become overwhelming!
Cruise.Blog writer Hayley recently had the chance to sail on both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy last year. While both ships are newer, neither is the newest in their fleet. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t still have plenty to offer cruising families!
Here is her breakdown of how the Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy are both similar and different.
Read more: Disney Fantasy vs. Norwegian Encore: Differences between Disney and NCL
6. From Royal Caribbean to Disney: These 5 cruises are among the best, travelers say
Cruise vacations are continuing to be more popular than ever!
Cruise lines have recently posted record profits in earnings reports, showing no signs of the cruise industry slowing down anytime soon. A survey by Cruiseline.com of its community members took into consideration which cruise lines, ships, and destinations were the most popular of the bunch to get a sense of which cruise lines are worth booking.
From Royal Caribbean to Disney, here are the top 5 cruises according to cruisers!
Read more: From Royal Caribbean to Disney: These 5 cruises are among the best, travelers say
7. How Cold Was The Water When The Titanic Sank?
The “unsinkable” RMS Titanic is notorious for her unfortunate ill-fated journey across the Atlantic Ocean in 1912.
Equipped with only 20 lifeboats, accommodating roughly 1,178 people, there was only enough space for 50% of those onboard to fit on all of the lifeboats. In the end, the wreck caused roughly 1,500 out of 2,224 passengers and crew onboard to perish. This meant that many passengers ended up enduring the frigid waters while waiting for a rescue.
So, how cold was the water that these passengers were subjected to? Read on to find out.
Read more: How Cold Was The Water When The Titanic Sank?
8. 18 amazing beaches to visit on a cruise ship
When you imagine your next cruise vacation, you may be envisioning spending time on a tropical beach at one of your ports.
Cruises are a great way to experience many tropical destinations in one single vacation! From the turquoise waters of The Bahamas to the famous Belize Barrier Reef, there's no shortage of jaw-dropping beaches for cruisers to visit. However, with all of these options, it can be hard to narrow down which itinerary you want to sail on.
Here is our list of 18 amazing beaches that you can visit on a cruise ship to help you make your decision!
Read more: 18 amazing beaches to visit on a cruise ship
9. TikToker snuck Chipotle onboard a 7-day Norwegian cruise
When it comes to planning your cruise vacation, you may be starting to think about what food you will enjoy onboard.
However, for one cruiser, they ended up planning what food they were going to bring onboard. TikToker Dillion Wareham (@dillionwareham) couldn't go six days without his Chipotle fix while sailing aboard Norwegian Breakaway. On his account, he chronicled, throughout eight videos, his experience sneaking (and then eating) Chipotle while on the ship.
Read more to see the lengths he went to to keep his 789+ streak of eating Chipotle alive, even while cruising.
Read more: TikToker snuck Chipotle onboard a 7-day Norwegian 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.
