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. 9 Things To Do As Soon As You Board A Cruise Ship
When it is finally time to step foot on your cruise, you want to make sure you get off to a good start.
Embarkation day can be both exciting and overwhelming. To ensure that your vacation goes smoothly, there are a few important things that you’ll want to cross off your to-do list on the first day. Forgetting could lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment later on, whether it's not being able to dine at a specific specialty restaurant or missing out on important safety information during the muster drill.
Here are 9 things you should do as soon as you board your cruise ship to help ensure smooth sailing.
Read more: 9 Things To Do As Soon As You Board A Cruise Ship
2. Cruiser complained her cruise ship balcony room is obstructed in viral video, and the internet let her have it
One Royal Caribbean cruiser received backlash from social media when she asked her followers on TikTok whether a railing near her cabin’s balcony should be considered an obstruction.
The TikTok creator, @abbiesnormal, posted to TikTok about her view from her oceanview balcony cabin onboard the new Icon of the Seas. In this viral video, she asked viewers if they would consider her ocean view “obstructed.” She pointed out in the video that below her balcony was a railing, which she claimed impacted her view.
Here is how the internet responded to her claims.
3. Royal Caribbean cancels visits to private destination in Haiti through September 2024
If you're considering booking a Royal Caribbean cruise to Labadee, their private destination located on the northern peninsula of Haiti, you'll want to hold off.
Due to the civil unrest in Haiti, Royal Caribbean has decided to suspend operations in Labadee through September 2024, prioritizing the well-being of both passengers and crew members. Though Labadee is roughly six and a half hours away from where the majority of the aggression is occurring in Port-au-Prince, Royal Caribbean is erring on the side of caution.
Here is everything that we know so far.
Read more: Royal Caribbean cancels visits to private destination in Haiti through September 2024
4. Is it better to book excursions through a cruise ship or separately?
When planning for your cruise vacation, it is important that you select your shore excursions wisely.
With such limited time ashore, you want to ensure that you are maximizing your time in port. When it comes to booking shore excursions, you have the choice of booking through the cruise line, utilizing a 3rd party service, or going off going independently. Of course, there are pros and cons to each. From convenience to guarantees and more, it is important that you do the research before booking.
Is it better to book excursions through a cruise ship or separately? Here's a breakdown to help you decide!
Read more: Is it better to book excursions through a cruise ship or separately?
5. I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s worst rated ship. Here's what it was really like
When it comes to cruise lines, there is always a top rated and lowest rated ship in their fleet.
Cruise.Blog writer Hayley has frequently sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line and recently had the opportunity to sail on NCL’s worst rated ship: Norwegian Epic. She was interested to see not only why it was rated so low but also if it was truly worthy of that rating. Prior to cruising, she was left wondering exactly why some passengers consider this the worst ship in Norwegian’s fleet.
After spending 12 nights aboard, she has a lot to share about this unique ship, from the vessel's layout to the onboard offerings.
Read more: I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s worst rated ship. Here's what it was really like.
6. I paid $1,090 for an interior cabin on the worst-rated cruise line, but got a balcony cabin for free—take a look inside
Have you ever wondered what it is like to sail on the one of the worst rated cruise lines?
Cruise.Blog writer Jenna recently had the opportunity to take a sailing onboard Costa Cruises’ Costa Toscana. While this is the world’s 8th largest cruise ship, Costa Cruises constantly receives some of the worst reviews in the cruise industry. She booked the cheapest cabin available and was interested to see what it would be like based on these reviews.
She shares with us pictures of what her cabin on Costa Toscana was like.
7. Photos show what tiny crew-only cabins on Icon of the Seas look like
Icon of the Seas has been all the cruise industry can talk about lately!
With passengers sharing pictures of their cabins, public spaces, experiences and more, chances are you’ve been able to see a lot of the ship - even without sailing on it! However, it is unlikely that many people have seen behind the scenes into crew-only areas. Thankfully, some crew members have taken to social media to give curious passengers a look into their accommodations.
From shared cabins with new innovative L-shaped beds to single rooms with connecting bathrooms, here's a peek at some of the crew cabins onboard Icon of the Seas.
Read more: Photos show what tiny crew-only cabins on Icon of the Seas look like
8. Cruise ship crew member accused of stabbing woman and two security guards with scissors
The FBI has arrested one cruise ship worker in Alaska after the man allegedly stabbed one woman and two security guards onboard the Norwegian Encore.
A South African man, identified as 35-year-old Ntando Sogoni, was arrested in Juneau, Alaska after he was accused of stabbing the cruise ship victims with a pair of medical scissors. The incident took place onboard Norwegian Encore while the vessel was off the coast of Vancouver.
Here is what we know about this incident.
Read more: Cruise ship crew member accused of stabbing woman and two security guards with scissors
9. 12 reasons I like this poorly rated Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Are the critics wrong?
Would you ever consider cruising on a cruise line’s worst rated ship?
Cruise.Blog writer Hayley recently returned from a 12-night sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, which is one of the cruise line’s poorest rated ships. Critics and travelers often remark that there's a reason this is the singular ship in the Epic Class. Regardless of these reviews, she boarded this transatlantic sailing to see for herself what the ship had to offer.
After 12 nights onboard, she discovered 12 things that she happened to enjoy about this unique ship and shares them with us.
Read more: 12 reasons I like this poorly rated Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Are the critics wrong?
10. I survived 7 days on the world’s worst-rated cruise line. Was Cruise Critic right about Costa Cruises?
Costa Cruises is well known in the cruise industry, but for the wrong reasons.
Often rated the worst cruise line out there, Costa Cruises doesn’t have the best reputation in the industry. Cruise.Blog writer Jenna recently booked a European sailing on Costa Toscana before realizing how poorly rated both the cruise line and ship were. Regardless of the negative reviews, she boarded the ship with an open mind and was interested to form her own opinions of the new-to-her cruise line.
With Costa Cruises’ website promised my vacation would be unforgettable, Jenna set sail to find out for herself.
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.
