Planning

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!

Like on land, you can't walk up to a cruise ship bar at 17 and expect to be served a cocktail. There are other age restrictions when it comes to cruises to help keep all passengers safe. 

For example, most cruise lines don't let 18-year-olds sail by themselves. Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, have stricter policies that say if there's anyone under the age of 21 in the cabin, there must be an adult 25 or older staying in the same room. 

Wondering about the casino cruise age limit and other key age-related policies? Keep on reading!

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

It's not too late to book a cruise for 2025. While cruise fares have increased over the last few years, you can still find a great deal by booking in advance, choosing less popular travel dates, or being open to last-minute deals. 

Certain times of the year, such as the shoulder and off-seasons, see more competitive pricing due to less demand. For example, those looking to stretch their budget as far as possible will want to browse early spring or fall sail dates rather than the peak summer months.

Many cruise lines offer cruises to the Bahamas year-round, so choosing the perfect one can be difficult. 

Most are either 3- or 4-night cruises that depart out of Florida. You can, however, opt to take a longer Bahamas cruise that leaves from a port further north, like New York or Baltimore.

Everyone's preferences are different, and you might be looking for a quick weekend getaway! On the other hand, you might not want to fly all the way to South Florida just for 3 or 4 nights. 

With mega-ships like Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras calling Port Canaveral home, it's no wonder that over six million cruise passengers visited here in 2023, making it one of the world's busiest cruise ports. 

However, unlike Miami or Fort Lauderdale, the closest airport isn't just down the road. If you have to fly to Florida for your cruise out of Port Canaveral, it'll likely require more planning. 

Wondering how much an Alaska cruise costs? 

Unfortunately, there's no cookie-cutter answer. Some can cost as little as $500 per person for a seven-night cruise in an inside cabin on a mainstream line, or upwards of $10,000 per person for a week in a suite on a luxury cruise ship. The price varies greatly depending on the cruise line, ship, departure date, and itinerary.

Plus, you will need to factor in airfare, hotel stays, shore excursions, and other costs to determine the total price of an Alaska sailing. 

First-time cruisers will face the hardest decision of their planning process early on: choosing the right cruise line. With hundreds of ships and dozens of cruise lines, from budget-conscious options to luxury experiences, finding the perfect fit can feel overwhelming.