One of the best parts about cruising is getting to visit incredible destinations with such ease. Once you’re onboard your cruise ship, you can conveniently visit numerous destinations without needing to unpack and repack your suitcase. The logistics and transportation are all taken care of-- all while enjoying fine cuisine and entertainment along the way.

I am so excited to be going on my first cruise to the United Kingdom in October! I am looking forward to a great adventure exploring much of the United Kingdom via cruise. Additionally, I am excited to see what a longer length cruise will be like to Northern Europe for the first time. 

This cruise is a 10 day voyage, making a roundtrip journey to and from Southampton, England. We will be visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, as well as the Isle of Man on this cruise. 

Earlier this summer, I cruised to Alaska on the Royal Princess, a 10-year old cruise ship by Princess Cruises. I almost always book a tiny inside cabin when I cruise, and this 7-night sailing was no exception.

I paid $2,494 for my interior stateroom on the Royal Princess. The cost of my cabin was for two adults and included all taxes, fees, and gratuities, bringing it to $1,247 per person, or around $178 per night.

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.

Explora I, the first ship for the brand-new luxury cruise line Explora Journeys, was delivered on July 20, 2023. 

Explora Journeys is an upscale brand that is owned by the MSC Group that aspires to create a unique "Ocean State of Mind" by connecting guests not only with the sea, but with themselves and other like-minded individuals on sailings to less common ports of call to evoke a sense of discovery.    

Construction on the $550 million Explora I began on July 10, 2021, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. 

In 2022, Norwegian launched Norwegian Prima, the namesake Prima Class ship. They had not released a new class of ship since the Breakaway Class in 2013. 

The second Prima Class ship, Norwegian Viva, expands on the exciting amenities that the cruise line added to its repertoire. 

Here's everything you need to know about NCL Viva, from the launch date to the itineraries offered during her maiden season, onboard amenities, and more. 

If you are reading this, you are probably trying to learn as much as possible to help you prepare for your upcoming cruise. 

Those who have taken cruises in the past love to share their knowledge to help brand-new cruisers get the most out of their time onboard. While the experience will vary from cruise line to cruise line, there are some helpful tidbits of information that are applicable to nearly every ship at sea!

Here are 10 reader comments about cruising and how to help make your experience more memorable

There are so many things you can do on a cruise ship, so to some, the ship is as much a destination as the ports of call. 

If you are looking to make the most out of your time onboard, consider an itinerary that includes a few sea days. It will be difficult to get the full experience, especially on larger ships, if you do a port-intensive cruise and only are onboard at night. 

After 19 cruises with Royal Caribbean, I booked a 7-night Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises, and here’s what I liked better.

Ever since I started cruising, I’ve almost exclusively sailed with Royal Caribbean. Like most cruisers, I tend to stick to the same cruise line in order to rack up loyalty points, which can lead to exclusive benefits like complimentary drinks and private lounge access.