MSC Cruises' premier Yacht Club experience offers guests a long list of benefits and unique services that make any cruise vacation better. This high-end style of cruising has a ton of extras, some of which you may be surprised to learn about. 

Whether it's saving you time, money, or one of a kind events, there are lots of ways to take advantage of all the perks and benefits that this ship category offers. 

While most people will dine in the cruise ship's buffet at least once for breakfast or lunch, it is often overlooked when dinner time rolls around. With so many other options, such as the complimentary dining rooms and specialty restaurants, you might be looking forward to the elevated dining experiences on your cruise. 

Planning your shore excursions is a vital part of any cruise vacation. With a limited amount of time in each port of call, you do not want to be fumbling to make plans at the last minute just to settle on whatever is available. You might miss out on some incredible experiences if you wait!

It's tough to get up to speed with everything happening in the world of cruising, so we have a look at everything from this past week in a single post!

Whether you were busy this week, or just didn't read every single article we posted, we have a round-up of this week's articles so you don't miss a thing.

Prior to your cruise vacation, it is important to read about different tips and tricks that will help you have a better experience. Some, however, sound better in theory than when you actually implement them. 

I have taken ten cruises and have four more planned between now and November, so while I am no pro, I have learned some things that help me maximize my time onboard, as well as save time and money! 

Can you still have fun on an older cruise ship? I recently sailed on both MSC Divina and MSC Seascape, the oldest and the newest MSC ships currently sailing in the Caribbean, in a bid to answer this question. 

MSC Cruises is known for its competitive pricing, and I was able to get a super cheap four-day cruise, followed by a 7-day cruise on the much newer MSC Seascape. 

Once you have decided what cruise line, ship, and itinerary best meets your travel needs, you can book your cruise and officially start the countdown! After that, you will need to start thinking about other logistics. 

Do you, for instance, plan on flying or driving to the port? Have you thought about what cruise add-ons you might be interested in? Do you know who will be able to bring in your mail while you're gone? 

On nearly every cruise ship, there is one place that is typically the most crowded — and I am not talking about the main dining room. On sunny days, you'll hear swimmers splashing, upbeat music, and the cheerful chatter of vacationers soaking up the sun. You may also smell the aroma of fresh food being cooked, on top of the sweet, salty ocean breeze.

This vibrant social heart of the ship is called the lido deck. It is one of many cruise terms you may hear while on your vacation. It's an infamous deck that typically is a selling factor when it comes to picking a cruise.

This year I have had the privilege of sailing on both the Norwegian Encore and the Norwegian Bliss cruise ships. These massive Norwegian Cruise Line vessels are very similar, but they have some small differences as well.