Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's newest restaurants.

Since my first cruise in October 2023, I have sailed on five different cruise lines. 

NCL Latitudes is Norwegian Cruise Line's loyalty program that rewards cruisers who frequently sail with the line. 

After your first NCL cruise, you are automatically enrolled in the Norwegian Latitudes program. The more you sail with Norwegian, the better perks you'll unlock. 

CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas designed exclusively for the cruise line's guests. 

After completely renovating the island and reopening in May 2019, Royal Caribbean dubbed the new experience "Perfect Day at CocoCay." 

In fact, CocoCay was the first island of Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Collection, which is meant to bring a next-level private island experience to cruise itineraries. The next private destination, Perfect Day Mexico, is slated to open in 2027. 

Carnival requires all guests to provide them with their check-in information by completing the online portion and selecting their arrival appointment no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time before their cruise date. 

The multi-step online check-in process is easy and takes just a few minutes. It will go even quicker if your passport (or other travel documentation) and credit card are readily available. 

MSC Cruises is known for its low prices and budget-friendly offerings, but that is changing with its new luxury brand, Explora Journeys.

As a fan of MSC Cruises and, in particular, its incredible Yacht Club suite-only area, I was excited to try this new offshoot of the brand, hailed as an upscale spinoff with top-notch service and food.

Great reviews and an enticing itinerary made the decision a no-brainer, and I booked my first Explora Journeys cruise sailing to the Eastern Caribbean.

Carnival's Holland America Line has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing with over 100 ill passengers onboard. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Holland America Line's Rotterdam has 152 sick guests onboard its current voyage which departed on February 2, 2025. 17 crew members are also reportedly ill. 

Whether you need to adjust your travel dates, switch itineraries, or cancel your cruise, Royal Caribbean has rules about making adjustments to your reservation. 

Generally, as long as you cancel your cruise before the final payment date, you won't lose your entire cruise fare. After final payment passes, you will be subject to a cancelation fee, which varies depending on how far in advance you cancel. 

If you need to change your travel dates or switch itineraries, there's usually a rebooking fee applied. You will also have to pay the difference in fare. 

Cruise ships are prohibited from visiting one country in the Caribbean. However, U.S. travelers hope the restrictions will eventually be relaxed. 

President Obama eased travel restrictions to Cuba in 2016, so certain U.S. cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival, began offering voyages to Cuba. Before that, the country had been largely off-limits to American tourists.

Because I cruise at least 9 or 10 times per year, I usually sail in standard cruise ship cabins. However, I splurged on a suite aboard my Caribbean cruise on Carnival Vista, paying nearly $3,600 for a 5-night cruise.