When in the initial stages of the cruise planning process, you may feel overwhelmed with all the options available. You can find itineraries ranging from short weekend getaways to two-week-long transatlantic voyages! Of course, not everyone is in the market for those longer cruises, whether because of budget restraints, schedules, or available time off. 

While preparing for my first MSC cruise earlier this year, I had no idea what to expect. I had never sailed on a European cruise line before, and all of my previous cruises had been exclusively on Royal Caribbean.

Wanting to do something different, I booked a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship. I was excited to try the best of the best by MSC, from the ship’s dreamy pool spaces to her international dining venues.

I am so excited to be planning my first Disney cruise! Disney Cruise Line is one of the biggest names in the cruise line industry, and I am thrilled to be checking out this popular cruise line for the first time as an adult. 

There's plenty happening in the cruise world, so in case you missed any of it, we have a look at all the updates we shared 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 posted.

If you plan to sail on Carnival Cruise Line in the near future, you might want to take a look at your American Express credit cards for a new Amex Offer that will earn you thousands of extra points. That means you could save hundreds of dollars on your next Carnival cruise!

Many American Express cardholders are reporting new Amex Offers that provide an additional 25,000 Membership Reward points if you spend at least $1,000 with Carnival Cruise Line. This equates to around $400 - $500 depending on your redemption strategy - which is nearly 40% to 50% savings!

When you book your cruise vacation, you will notice that you have two options for dinner. You can either select a set time, meaning that you will dine at the same time each evening, or a flexible option that allows you to either make reservations in advance or show up to the main dining room whenever hunger strikes. 

Booking a cruise on a new-to-me cruise line is always exciting, as I never know exactly what to expect. Whether the food, entertainment, or activities, it’s always interesting to see the good and the bad of what other cruise lines have to offer.

I recently returned from my first-ever Princess cruise, a 7-night Alaska sailing on the Royal Princess. Princess Cruises is one of the most popular American cruise lines, and they are most well known for their Alaska itineraries, in which they are a market leader.

Amazon's Prime Day sale began today and will continue for 48 hours through July 12. While you can snag a deal on tons of different products, ranging from household items to fashion accessories, Prime Day is a great time to think ahead to your next cruise vacation. 

These deals can be accessed by anyone; however, Amazon Prime members will receive the best discounts. If you want, you can opt in for a 30-day free trial. Just remember to cancel it later if you do not want to continue being charged!

The MSC World Europa is the 6th biggest cruise ship in the world, and the biggest in MSC Cruises’ fleet. The launch of the MSC World Europa began a new era for MSC Cruises, as the ship is unlike any other launched by the cruise line before.

With 22 decks and a capacity of 6,850 passengers, there’s no shortage of things to see and do on this massive vessel, including a waterpark, 11-deck dry slide, and a bustling open-air neighborhood.