I just returned from a 7-night European cruise with Celebrity Cruises. This was the first time my husband and I were cruising on a premium cruise line together. 

While I have cruised on other Celebrity Edge Class ships before, this was my husband’s first time on Celebrity Cruises! As loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers, we were excited to see what a more luxurious cruise experience would entail.

Trying a new cruise line for the first time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when you’ve been loyal to one brand. You might find the grass is greener on the other side - or you might return to the brand you’ve been loyal to.

Between exploring new ports of call, enjoying the onboard amenities, and indulging in delicious meals, you'll need a place to rest while on your cruise— enter your cabin. Also referred to as "staterooms," your onboard accommodation, whether an inside room or lavish suite, offers a retreat amidst the excitement of your cruise adventure. 

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.

The buffet is a staple of the cruise experience, promising guests an all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Unlike the Main Dining Room, however, you don't have servers taking your order or bringing food to your table. You don't have to worry about clearing the table because the dedicated wait staff will remove and refresh the dishes for the next guests after you've finished. In the free-for-all buffet, however, many passengers wonder what to do with their dirty dishes. 

Over the last two years, I have sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line seven times. From my first NCL experience to my most recent, there is always something new to discover on my sailings, which keeps me wanting to come back time and time again. 

Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the leading brands in the cruising industry, with 19 operating vessels in the fleet and more on the way! With the debut of new and exciting itineraries, Norwegian is one of the go-to cruise names prospective guests look at when considering a cruise vacation.

Between 2024 and 2028, over 25 new ships are expected to enter service across the globe. From the Disney Adventure for the Asian market to two more Icon Class ships for Royal Caribbean by 2026, there's a lot to look forward to in the cruise industry! 

Here's a list of cruise ships making their debut this year and beyond. 

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two of the biggest names in the industry for mainstream cruise lines; however, the cruise lines are also major competitors for affordable, family-friendly vacations. Even still, there are many differences between the two cruise lines.

Did you know that if you gamble enough in your ship's casino, you could earn a free cruise? 

Graham Bernard and his wife Jodie recently experimented to see how much they'd have to gamble on Royal Caribbean to reach Prime status within the cruise line's Club Royale Rewards Program. 

According to his Facebook post, they were able to reach Prime status after 10 hours of gambling and betting $7.25 per spin on the slot machines. While the couple spent $2,260 in the casino, he claims the total value of the Prime status exceeds the cost.