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. 4 things I loved about Carnival Elation (and 4 I didn’t)
The cruise industry seems to be all about the newest, and largest, ships that have been debuting lately.
However, there are still plenty of fantastic older ships still in service that are able to offer a great vacation. Cruise.Blog writer Elizabeth recently returned from a sailing onboard Carnival Elation, which is Carnival’s smallest ship at sea. After sailing on Carnival’s newer and larger ships, she was interested to see what Elation was able to offer cruisers.
Here are the 4 things that she loved and 4 things she hated about sailing on Carnival Elation.
Read more: 4 things I loved about Carnival Elation (and 4 I didn’t)
2. Cruise luggage tag holders for every cruise line
When it comes to the nuances of cruise vacations, one of the items you will want to be prepared for is luggage tags.
Luggage tags help streamline your embarkation process, as they allow the crew to know where your luggage needs to end up once it makes it onboard the cruise ship. However, luggage tags vary in design between different cruise lines. This can make it difficult to know which luggage tag holders you should utilize when preparing for an upcoming sailing.
Here are the cruise luggage tag holders for each cruise line.
Read more: Cruise luggage tag holders for every cruise line
3. I took an expedition cruise to the Galapagos on Celebrity Cruises. Here's what a Sky Suite looks like
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take an expedition cruise?
President & CEO of MEI-Travel, Beci Mahnken, recently took an expedition cruise to the Galapagos on Celebrity Cruises. This cruise was on Celebrity’s newest expedition vessel, Celebrity Flora, which sails exclusively to the Galapagos. Offering a premium experience while sailing to awe-inspiring destinations, Celebrity Flora is the largest vessel to operate in the Galapagos.
Beci shared with us photos of what her 330-square-foot Sky Suite onboard Celebrity Flora looked like.
4. I have been on Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest and newest ships: Here are my top 11 tips
Cruise.Blog writer Elizabeth recently has had the opportunity to sail on some of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest and oldest ships at sea.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, her experiences on all ships, regardless of being a part of the same cruise line, were significantly different from one another. However, she was able to gain some unique insights into what the different experiences onboard ships within the same cruise line are like, as well as what to expect when onboard. Whichever ship you may be sailing on, it is always possible to have a fantastic cruise vacation!
Here are her top 11 tips for making the most of your Carnival cruise experience.
Read more: I have been on Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest and newest ships: Here are my top 11 tips
5. 20 things I loved and hated on my MSC Seaside cruise
When it comes to vacationing, there are always going to be things that you love and things that you wish would have been different.
Cruise.Blog writer Chantal recently flew to an exotic French island in the Caribbean to board a southern Caribbean cruise aboard MSC Seaside. While she is no stranger to sailing with MSC, she was not sure what sailing on an older ship would be like. However, she was able to snag a great deal on this 7-night cruise and decided to give it a try.
She shared with us what she loved and hated on her MSC Seaside cruise.
Read more: 20 things I loved and hated on my MSC Seaside cruise
6. Photos show Carnival Cruise Line's newest and most impressive ship yet
Carnival Jubilee is the newest FUN ship to debut for Carnival Cruise Line!
This mega-ship is permanently sailing from the Port of Galveston and made her debut in December 2023. Part of Carnival’s Excel Class, Carnival Jubilee is the sister ship to both Carnival Celebration and Carnival Mardi Gras. While she may share many features with her sister ships, Jubilee has some unique features of her own.
Take a look at Carnival’s newest and most impressive ship yet!
Read more: Photos show Carnival Cruise Line's newest and most impressive ship yet
7. 20 things to know before going on a cruise
When it comes to trying a new style of vacationing, you may have a lot of questions.
Cruises are no exception! While we can almost guarantee that you will have a great time and gain amazing memories, there can be a lot of unknowns when it comes to this specific form of travel. Of course, you want to make sure that you are well prepared so you can board your ship making the most of your vacation.
Here are 20 things that you should know before you go on a cruise.
Read more: 20 things to know before going on a cruise
8. I went back onboard Margaritaville at Sea to see what has been improved
Have you ever considered sailing onboard Margaritaville at Sea?
Cruise.Blog writer Hayley had the opportunity to sail aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise ship for the first time in 2022, after only being in service for 3 months. Shortly after her sailing, Paradise went to a dry dock and received a multi-million dollar renovation. She was interested to see what the renovation consisted of and how the experience would be different from her first cruise, so she packed her bags and recently sailed once more on Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise.
Excited to see what amenities and experiences had been improved upon since her first sailing with them, she shared her experience on how this new sailing went.
Read more: I went back onboard Margaritaville at Sea to see what has been improved
9. When is the best time to buy a cruise drink package?
One of the best feelings is finally getting onboard your cruise vacation and having a tropical drink in hand!
However, cruisers often wonder when exactly the best time to buy a drink package is for their upcoming cruise. To make sure that your vacation budget goes far, you want to know that you purchased at the right time for the right price. Of course, each cruise line has its own ways of managing drink packages, which can make it even trickier to know when to make the purchase.
Here is our advice on when the best time to buy a cruise drink package is, so you’re not losing money!
Read more: When is the best time to buy a cruise drink package?
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.
