One of the largest mainstream cruise lines in the world is Royal Caribbean, and they are known for their ships packed full of WOW factors and onboard thrills, from surfing and skydiving simulators to ice skating rinks, zip lines, rock walls, waterslides, and jaw-dropping Broadway-style musicals. 

In the excitement of an upcoming cruise, packing all that you need, those key must-haves can get lost in the shuffle. And while some things are nice to have, others are essential.  

Ever changing health protocols have added another layer of complexity to travel, making it easy to overlook some of the basics.  The last thing you want to do on a port day is run around looking for a forgotten item or pay 3 times the price for sunscreen. Time and money can be better spent elsewhere, especially on a cruise vacation.

Ships today, mega ships as they are known, are as big as some aircraft carriers, but how big are they and how do we measure them?

Cruise ships are evaluated based on their gross registered tonnage, which is a volume calculation based on how much inside space there is on a ship.  

Royal Caribbean continues to dominate the top spots for the biggest ships, coming in at around 248,000 gross registered tons. For context, the Titanic was a mere 46,329 gross tons, which means you could fit almost 5 Titanics in today’s biggest ship.

Debuting in the summer of 2022, Prima is the first in the new class of ships from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Prima means first in Italian, an apt name for the inaugural ship made in Venice, a region steeped in maritime glory.

For this new series, Norwegian did not go bigger but decided to reinvent the ship from the ground up, focusing on innovative design, upgraded amenities, and the latest technology, all with the cruiser in mind.

Ladies - this one's for you!

Are you cruising soon and need to start packing? While some might get overwhelmed packing for a cruise, I find that the attire needed is actually very predictable!

What you will be heavily based on your itinerary. From the Caribbean, to Europe, Alaska, and even Asia, each destination requires a slightly different wardrobe. Your planned excursions and day-to-day style will also need to be considered when deciding what to pack. 

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) introduced changes to their Latitudes, their loyalty rewards program effective January 10, 2022.

According to Norwegian, they wanted to refresh their loyalty incentives making sure it is relevant and rewarding for their guests, incorporating feedback that they have received from customers.

From the fresh sea air to white sand beaches, it can be tough to find the perfect words to describe your vacation feelings. There’s just something about putting your toes in the sand or breathing in the salty ocean air that makes you feel some-type-of-way.

Looking out at the sea from the top deck of a cruise ship leaves me speechless! The vast, blue ocean water appears to go on for miles and miles. I am convinced that there's no sunset on land that can compare to the ones you see while cruising.

Are you looking for the perfect caption for your next Instagram post?

In an industry dominated by men, Captain Kate McCue is making waves as the first American female captain of a mega cruise ship. McCue is a trailblazer and pioneer in the cruise industry - breaking the gender barrier and proving that women can take leadership roles in the same way that men can. 

In 2015, Kate McCue made history when she became captain of the Celebrity Edge at the age of 37 years old. Captain McCue was also the first commanding officer to sail from a U.S. port following the pandemic shutdown, which left the cruise industry crippled for 15 months. 

Leaders in the cruise industry, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean continue to push the envelope with innovative design and offerings on their latest ships.

Symphony of the Seas and Mardi Gras both provide what we expect from a mega ship, endless activities, fun for all ages and a great selection of food, drinks and entertainment.