For my very first cruise, I knew I wanted to start big.

I booked a 7-night sailing on Wonder of the Seas, one of Royal Carribean's Oasis Class ships and the current largest cruise ship in the world. This title, however, will be taken by Icon of the Seas at the end of the month. 

For the length of this cruise, I stayed with my sister in a 172-square-foot inside cabin.

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

Sometimes when on a cruise, I will see another ship in the distance. Curosity always gets the best of me, and I begin to try and figure out which ship it is. If they're close enough, I might be able to tell from the funnel— it is impossible to mistake Disney or Carnival's funnels! Usually, though, they're too far. Even if I can see, it is fun to learn where the ship is heading. Is their cruise almost over, or did they just depart? 

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise has set sail! From day-in-the-life videos to cabin tours, we are able to get a glimpse into what this one-of-a-kind voyage is like thanks to social media. 

It's not too late to book your 2024 cruise vacation. Whether you're hoping for a quick getaway to The Bahamas or a dream cruise around Europe, the best time of the year to book a cruise is now while wave season is ongoing. 

Wave season is when the cruise industry tends to run their biggest sales and promotions of the year. While actual deals and conditions vary, wave season deals tend to include anything from additional onboard credit, free upgrades, discounted excursions, prepaid gratuities, etc. 

Interior cabins are typically the most affordable staterooms that you can book on a cruise ship. These no-frills staterooms might not be super spacious, but you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay. Over the years, interior cabins have evolved to be much more functional and stylish thanks to improved designs.

When planning for land-based vacations, you often do not have to think twice about bringing a steamer or whether there'll be an iron available to you or not. Cruises, however, are different. 

In addition to simply being more prepared with common household items that won't be readily available while you are on a ship, there's a list of items that cruise lines ban from their ships. Both steamers and irons are on many cruise line's lists of prohibited items due to the fire hazard that they pose. 

When planning your cruise, one of the most important decisions you'll have to make is what kind of stateroom category you want to book. The cheapest option is usually a standard interior room. These no-frill cabins have no natural light and are often the smallest rooms onboard. Does that mean that interior cruise rooms are bad, though?

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