Planning

Whether you’re buying a drink at the bar or thanking your cabin steward for excellent service, gratuities are now a standard part of cruising.

When planning a cruise, you have several booking options: directly with the cruise line, through a travel agent, or with a third-party travel website like Expedia.

Most of us are accustomed to booking travel online. While it’s easy to book most of your travel online these days, many cruisers still prefer to make reservations through a travel agent.

How old do you have to be to go on a cruise by yourself?

Growing up, a rite of passage was partaking in Senior Beach Week. After graduating high school, it is customary for graduates to rent a house or condo to celebrate their accomplishments with their friends before going off to college in the fall.

Growing up, my family and I would cruise occasionally, sometimes taking two trips a year, but as my love for cruising has grown, I've started to sail much more often. Last year, my travels reached an all-time high, as I embarked on 11 cruises to places like the Bahamas, Alaska, and Europe. 

I've found that cruising doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, I think it's one of the most affordable ways to travel, especially when you consider how much is included in the price. 

The cruise industry is preparing for another record-breaking year. Following the success of 2024, industry experts are predicting that 2025 will see even greater growth, with booking numbers surpassing previous highs. 

Already, Carnival Corporation said that all eight brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line, were almost 75% booked for 2025. 

It's hard to believe I've been cruising for two decades. 

When I was five, my family embarked on our first cruise aboard the Disney Magic to the Eastern Caribbean. Since then, I've visited the Caribbean countless times on lines ranging from Royal Caribbean to Carnival, and I have five cruises to the Caribbean planned for 2025. 

When it comes to picking a cruise line to try in 2025, who better to ask than someone that works with all of them?

Esteemed travel agent Jenn Greene from MEI Travel shared her top picks of cruise lines she would recommend to a client that wants to give it a try.

Not all cruise lines are the same, and after having booked hundreds of cruises for her clients on just about every line out there, Ms. Greene has seen just about everything.

The day has arrived—the start of your cruise vacation! To no surprised, everyone is eager to board the ship as quickly and early as they can. 

Cruise lines do a remarkable job loading thousands of passengers in a short couple of hours, navigating through the required processes efficiently, but there are a few things that cruisers can do to make embarkation day even better. Similarly, when it comes time to leave the ship, there are some disembarkation day mistakes you should avoid!

From daydreaming about sipping tropical cocktails by the pool to researching once-in-a-lifetime excursions, planning a cruise vacation is exciting! However, before you can get too excited, you must set a budget and figure out how much you're willing to spend.