Once you’ve decided to book a cruise to Alaska, the next step is to start thinking about how you want to spend your time ashore. Every cruise line offers a variety of shore excursions, and they can be a great way to explore a destination, learn more about the places you are visiting, and have peace of mind that the travel logistics are handled for you. 

Carnival joined Holland America and Princess Cruises as the next cruise line to introduce a special solar eclipse cruise for 2026. 

The next total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 12, 2026, and the three mainstream cruise lines have teamed up to offer a great line-up for itineraries for passengers who want to witness this celestial spectacle at sea. 

I’ve just returned from my first Celebrity cruise, and there were a few aspects of my cruise vacation that I preferred over Royal Caribbean.

From the time I started cruising, I’ve booked the majority of my cruises on Royal Caribbean. Despite having twenty excellent cruises with the line, I occasionally like to switch up my vacations. Thus, I recently booked a 7-night Norwegian fjords itinerary on Celebrity Silhouette.

Star of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class cruise ship, but this new cruise ship is anything but a copy of the first ship.

Instead, Royal Caribbean identified a series of focal points to help evolve Star of the Seas and offer guests a similar yet new product. 

From exciting roller coasters to thought-evoking trivia events and robot bartenders capable of crafting unique libations created by you, cruise ships are filled with activities to keep passengers busy. 

You won't have to worry about being bored, that's for sure! If you're debating whether or not you'd have fun on a cruise, here's a list of 101 of the best things to do! 

Offerings vary by ship and cruise line, so you'll want to research which ship is best for you before booking.

Cutting corners to save money on a cruise vacation can be worthwhile, especially if you’re trying to stretch your budget. There are many ways to cut costs when planning a cruise, such as booking a cheaper cabin or forgoing a drink package.

Moreover, cruising continues to be one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel. Although costs have certainly increased over the last few years, there is great value in cruising with meals, entertainment, transportation, and accommodations included in the base cruise fare.

Measuring 140,600 gross registered tons, Celebrity Ascent isn't a small expedition ship. The vessel can hold 3,260 passengers at double occupancy and has over 1,400 crew members onboard. 

Unless you are sailing on a luxury cruise line, your cruise fare is not going to be all-inclusive. 

Outside of complimentary food and beverage options, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between ports of call, you will be responsible for paying for cruise add-ons. These range from specialty dining experiences to drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and more. 

Some cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, have begun to roll out different types of fares meant to make your cruise more inclusive. 

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 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 shared.