The holiday season is among us, and it’s the busiest time of the year! As the holidays quickly approach, you might be looking for unique gift ideas, especially for those tough-to-shop-for loved ones in your life. Cruisers and travelers alike will always appreciate travel-savvy gear for the beginning of a new travel year.

2023 was a big year for Cruise.Blog! Between eight staff members, over 380 days were spent onboard cruise ships that sailed to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South Pacific, Antarctica, the Panama Canal, and South America.

Additionally, not all cruises were on the same cruise lines, as we had the opportunity to report on lines ranging from Royal Caribbean to Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises. 

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 last thing you want to happen on vacation is to see your cruise ship sailing away without you on it. 

Celebrity Ascent has been hyped to be the best ship in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet. Just as her name suggests, Celebrity Ascent was designed to be a cut above the rest. I set sail on Celebrity Ascent for one of the ship’s first sailings after a much-awaited debut.

If you're new to cruising, you might not be aware of the cruise duck tradition. While a relatively new phenomenon, hiding ducks on a cruise ship is a fun activity that connects cruisers from across the world. You might, for instance, find a duck hidden by a couple in West Virginia, even though you're from Los Angeles. 

Before a cruise, passengers will purchase (or craft) ducks to hide around the ship for others to find. Oftentimes, there will be a note attached that states the duck's origin. 

I just returned from a quick two-night sailing onboard the beautiful Celebrity Ascent, which is the newest cruise ship in Celebrity Cruises' fleet. Celebrity Ascent is the fourth ship in the revolutionary, award-winning Edge Class for the cruise line.

We just returned from a 4-night sailing onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva. This brand-new ship debuted in August 2023 in the Mediterranean, and we had the privilege of sailing onboard for her first cruise departing from the United States. 

When it comes to how you spend your hard-earned money and PTO, you want to ensure that you return home feeling as though your vacation choice wasn't a disappointment. From selecting the wrong stateroom to waiting to book shore excursions, many mistakes can negatively impact your cruise experience.