Within the past year, I've sailed on identical cruise ships in different cabin categories. Although there was a $2,000 price difference between the two, I found the staterooms had more in common than expected. 

My first experience aboard one of Celebrity Cruises' Solstice Class ships was on a 5-night sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

Once you have placed the deposit on your cruise, you will gain access to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, the go-to website for pre-cruise planning. It's where you can purchase add-ons like drink packages, specialty restaurants, internet, shore excursions, and spa treatments. 

Although Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner is relatively easy to use and understand, some tips can help you get the most value out of it and make your onboard experience even better. 

Here's how to book cruise add-ons through Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner. 

Carnival cruise fans were initally excited to hear that the popular cruise line was going to overhaul its outdated loyalty program. However, excitement quickly turned into frustration and disappointment after they announced the revamped program would be a point-based system. 

Recently, I returned from my third European cruise. Having primarily sailed throughout the Caribbean as a child, I've become a more destination-focused cruiser in my adulthood. However, instead of exploring the sun-soaked Greek Isles or warm Mediterranean, my partner and I traded in our summer dresses and flip-flops for jeans and sneakers and headed north to Norway. 

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most well-known names in the cruise industry. However, MSC Cruises, a European line based in Geneva, Switzerland, has infiltrated the global market. 

MSC Cruises was founded in Naples, Italy, in 1988 as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has grown into the world’s largest container shipping business, operating a fleet of over 800 vessels. 

With unlimited food included in the dining room and buffet, many cruisers steer clear of extra-cost specialty restaurants. However, they are one of my favorite parts about a cruise vacation. 

Specialty restaurants offer a more intimate dining experience compared to the large dining room. The quality of the food is also better, often prepared with premium ingredients. 

Recently, I embarked on a weeklong voyage aboard Celebrity Eclipse from the Netherlands to Norway. While onboard, my partner and I dined at two extra-cost restaurants: Tuscan Grille and Murano. 

Shore excursion tickets are usually a great souvenir to remember the fun activities you've done ashore during your cruise vacation. However, Celebrity Cruises is making it easier for guests to access their excursion information through their cell phones and SeaPass cards.

Instead of providing passengers with physical tickets, Celebrity is streamlining the process by integrating shore excursions directly into its popular mobile app.

Carnival cruise fans are fuming over a major change to the dining experience at the line's brand-new private destination in the Bahamas. 

Carnival offers unlimited dining onboard, so guests can order as many poolside tacos and burgers as they want. Naturally, passengers would expect the same freedom and variety at Carnival-branded destinations, including Celebration Key. 

However, instead of the traditional all-you-can-eat beachside buffet, Carnival has allotted everyone just one complimentary meal that can be redeemed at one of 14 quick-service locations.

We are always sharing the latest cruise news, tips, and advice on Cruise.Blog, and this roundup is your chance to catch up on anything you might’ve missed recently. 

This week, we covered everything from a fire that stranded a cruise ship in Turkey to 9 big changes coming to Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas. 

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