After 20 cruises to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Mexican Riveria, I decided it was finally time to explore a cooler and more rugged region: Alaska. 

I knew it would be far different than sailing to the tropical Caribbean. I'd be trading in my flip-flops and sundresses for sweatshirts and jeans. In return, however, I'd be in the midst of jaw-dropping landscapes, sailing through dramatic fjords with snow-capped mountains, icebergs, stunning greenery, and more. 

When you book a cruise, you're often able to choose the specific cabin that you'll be staying in. From selecting the right category, deck, and location, there's a lot that needs to be taken into consideration before making any decisions. 

Would you sail on a cruise ship with a 2.8 star rating out of 5? Recently, I did just that, and by the end of my week onboard, I couldn't wait to disembark for good.

While researching European cruises earlier this year, I came across a cheap 7-night cruise on Costa Toscana, the world’s 8th biggest cruise ship, which launched in 2021. Wanting to try something new, I booked the cruise on a whim for $1,090 as a solo traveler.

Celebrity Reflection is a Solstice Class ship that launched in 2012. Though not the largest in the fleet, there's certainly enough to appease a variety of travelers. Whether you're a fan of taking advantage of all the complimentary venues or splurging on specialty dining, you'll never be bored of repetitive options! 

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

Online reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, but after spending 7 days on Cruise Critic’s worst-rated cruise line, I can’t help but agree with the rating.

In the age of online reviews, it’s no secret that prospective cruisers do thorough research before booking a cruise line, ship, and itinerary. Cruise Critic is one of the most popular websites to browse when planning a cruise, as it offers reviews on nearly every ship imaginable.

This past month, I sailed onboard the only ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic Class, the Norwegian Epic! 

I was able to get to know the Norwegian Epic quite thoroughly after a 12-night Transatlantic voyage from Orlando, Florida to Rome, Italy. I had plenty of time to explore each deck and adequately see everything the Norwegian Epic has to offer its passengers, as well as investigate why this is one of the least popular ships in the Norweigan's fleet. 

The FBI has arrested one cruise ship worker in Alaska after the man allegedly stabbed one woman and two security guards onboard the Norwegian Encore.

A South African man, identified as 35-year-old Ntando Sogoni, was arrested in Juneau, Alaska after he was accused of stabbing the cruise ship victims with a pair of medical scissors. The incident took place onboard the Norwegian Encore while the vessel was off the coast of Vancouver.

Even if you haven't had the opportunity to cruise onboard the world's largest cruise ship, you've likely seen photos of the cabins and public venues. Glimpses into crew-only areas, however, are more difficult to come by.