The last thing you want to happen on your cruise vacation is to watch the ship sail away while you are left behind in a foreign port. Trying to figure out the logistics to meet up with the ship and being faced with last minute transportation costs is stressful and not how anybody wants to spend their vacation! 

While videos of people sprinting back to the ship at the list minute, or pier runners, might be common, not many people actually end up missing their cruise ship. 

Living in Florida certainly has its perks, such as the sugary, white sand beaches and unbeatable weather year-round. As a Florida resident myself, it almost feels like a vacation that never ends (except when I have to panic-purchase bottled water and gasoline during hurricane warnings).

But, some of the not-so-obvious perks of living in Florida include living close to major tourist attractions, such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and the world’s busiest cruise ports. 

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're 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.

Do you have an upcoming cruise and you’re looking to board your cruise ship as fast as possible? We can’t blame you - we always eagerly await starting our cruise vacations too!

There’s nothing worse than painstakingly waiting in a crowded cruise terminal. It can be frustrating to see everyone on the pool deck already having fun while you’re stuck in a barely-moving line, which is the opposite of fun.

Unfortunately, sometimes we need to cancel a cruise. Work, health, or any number of other things can pop up and change our plans, but no one wants to waste their hard-earned vacation money, regardless of the reason.

Cancellation policies are full of legal ease and something we tend to skip the details in the excitement of booking a cruise, especially if you scored a great deal.

Like with planning any vacation, you will benefit from learning a few things about cruises prior to booking one.

How does tipping on a cruise work? Are tips included? Should you carry cash around to tip individual crew members? Should I prepay gratuities or not?

These are all common questions for someone looking into booking a cruise for the first time. Without doing the proper research, you may be shocked when you receive your statement at the end of your vacation. 

Cruise ships sail around the world, taking guests to the some of the most diverse ecologies in the world. Every cruise you take is an opportunity to experience native wildlife - and we aren't even talking about the cute towel animals you find in your stateroom every night!

While booking the right cruise ship is essential to making sure that you have a great vacation, you also need to think about how you are going to spend your days in port. The destinations are just as important as the ship! 

Once you have placed the deposit, you can start to talk with your travel party about what kinds of excursions everyone wants to do. If you are going to Jamaica, maybe you will want to spend the day at Dunns River Falls. Perhaps you would rather find a culturally immersive tour. The options are endless!