Planning

During your cruise, you'll have a dedicated cabin steward, or stateroom attendant, who will maintain your "home away from home" throughout your cruise. Like other crew members, they work to make sure that you have a memorable trip! 

From unlimited buffets to multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room, there's no shortage of food on a cruise ship. However, when you are finalizing your packing, you might wonder if you can bring your favorite snack onboard, especially if you're a picky eater or have certain dietary restrictions. 

Whatever the reason, while cruise lines have specific rules regarding bringing food onboard, most allow small quantities of non-perishable snacks. Some may even allow alcohol to be brought onboard on embarkation day!

Tired of visiting the same generic pool and atrium bars on your cruises? Step up your cocktail game by exploring some of the most unique bars at sea. 

From floating bars with panoramic views to futuristic bars with robotic bartenders, each cruise line offers a distinctive drinking experience. While there's nothing wrong with visiting the classic martini bar or your go-to poolside spot, venturing beyond the standard offerings can elevate your cruise. 

Cutting corners to save money on a cruise vacation can be worthwhile, especially if you’re trying to stretch your budget. There are many ways to cut costs when planning a cruise, such as booking a cheaper cabin or forgoing a drink package.

Moreover, cruising continues to be one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel. Although costs have certainly increased over the last few years, there is great value in cruising with meals, entertainment, transportation, and accommodations included in the base cruise fare.

What happens if your cruise crosses paths with a hurricane? Thankfully, the chances of you coming face-to-face with a monster storm are minimal. In the days leading up to a sailing, cruise lines will monitor the weather and make any necessary changes to the itinerary, keeping passengers and crew out of harm's way. 

While luxury cruise lines have menus crafted by Michelin-star chefs, they're not the most affordable vacation option on the market. Sailing on a mainstream line doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a high-quality dining experience, though. From nightly meals in the Main Dining Room to fast-casual bites by the pool, the food is one of the most highly-anticipated aspects of any cruise. 

I've been cruising to the Caribbean since I was five years old, starting with my first voyage: a 7-night sailing to the Eastern Caribbean onboard the Disney Magic, calling at St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Disney's Castaway Cay.

Five years later, my family embarked on our second cruise. Once again, we sailed to the Eastern Caribbean; however, we ventured from Disney, sailing on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. Since then I've been on 19 other cruises, most of which have been to the Caribbean. 

Just like within the airline industry, it's not uncommon to hear about cruise lines overselling voyages as a buffer for last-minute cancelations. Unlike flights, however, moving passengers to another sailing isn't easy. 

Though being booted off a flight can derail plans, your entire vacation, whether a 3-night getaway to The Bahamas or weeklong sailing around the Mediterranean, will likely be ruined if you're denied boarding at the terminal. 

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. According to Travel Bash, they represent 25% of the wedding market, compared to 5% just a few years ago. 

If you're in the beginning stages of wedding planning, first, congratulations! While planning your special day is exciting, considering a destination wedding adds another layer of anticipation.