Stuck between a cruise to The Bahamas and one that sails further south to the Caribbean?

While cruises sail all over the world, from Alaska to Northern Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and even the South Pacific, if you are looking for a tropical getaway, you are probably debating between The Bahamas and Caribbean. 

It can be hard to decide, especially since both promise white-sand beaches and fun shore excursions. Plus, you will find cruises to both year-round. 

Norwegian Star is one of the oldest ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. She made her debut in September 2001, making her over two decades old! We were curious to see how this old ship would hold up to our experiences on some of Norwegian’s newer vessels. 

Are you wondering what the best cruise line is?

There are a ton of different factors that go into the decision, and the best cruise line for you might be different than the best cruise line for your parents or coworkers! 

U.S. News & World Report released their 10th edition of the Best Cruise Lines rankings that highlights 17 different cruise lines across six different categories, including best cruise line for families, best cruise lines in the Caribbean, and best cruise lines for the money.  

After fifteen cruises, I have learned a thing or two about what you should never do while onboard a cruise ship. 

While vacations are a time to forget about your daily responsibilities, all cruise lines have rules in place to help foster a safe environment for both passengers and crew. 

Some are explicit, such as only smoking in designated areas, and others are implied. You should not, for instance, be rude to any crew members simply because you are having a bad day. 

After fourteen cruises onboard Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises, I decided it was finally time to try Carnival!

I recently sailed onboard Carnival Celebration, their newest ship at sea that launched in 2022, and had a wonderful vacation. I am already looking forward to my next cruise onboard Carnival Vista. 

As with any trip, though, there were things that I thoroughly enjoyed and a few things I wish I could have changed; no vacation can ever be perfect. 

Here are 15 things I loved and hated about my first Carnival cruise. 

Are you curious as to how many people will be onboard your cruise ship? 

Maybe you are hoping to score a last-minute upgrade or just want to relax on the lido deck with fewer people around. 

It is pretty common for cruise ships to sail at full capacity, even if you are sailing during the shoulder season. In fact, you should not be surprised if your ship is actually sailing over capacity, as some cabins are able to accommodate more than two guests. 

While ships have been a popular mode of travel for centuries, cruise ships as we know them today have existed for far less time. 100 years ago, you would not have seen a mega-ship with roller coasters, surf simulators, or go-karts onboard! 

While still a tropical storm, Tammy is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, and she's already caused some cruise ships to alter their itineraries. 

Tropical storm warnings have already been issued for some of the Leeward Islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy. 

This is not the first time a storm has forced cruise lines to alter itineraries this year. Back in September, for instance, Hurricane Lee caused some Bermuda cruises to sail to the Bahamas instead. 

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