Feature

I've spent 55 days at sea on five different cruise lines within the past year, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney.

My voyages took me everywhere from the Bahamas to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Greek Isles. Sailing on various lines also meant the onboard experience varied. 

Even as a frequent cruiser, I learned something from each trip. Here's some cruising advice I'm applying to my 2025 travels. 

Unlike weeklong Caribbean cruises, only so many ports can be visited on short Bahamas getaways. For example, a 3-night voyage from Florida likely calls at a cruise line private island, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay or Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

However, Nassau ranks poorly in customer satisfaction surveys, despite consistently setting one-day passenger records. On Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, the Nassau Cruise Port welcomed over 29,000 guests from six ships, breaking the previous record on Feb. 27, 2023. 

Nobody wants to sail on a nasty cruise ship, so the CDC routinely inspects ships to ensure a safe, healthy environment for passengers and crew members. Each year, they release their findings, and in 2024, they reported that out of 151 inspected vessels, 29 received a perfect score. 

The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conducts random inspections to ensure cruise lines meet health standards, rating ships from 0 to 100. Like restaurant and grocery store inspections, the goal is to minimize the risk of illness for passengers and crew. 

Smoking is permitted onboard cruise ships. However, you cannot light a cigarette just anywhere. There are restrictions as to where you're allowed to smoke. 

You can't, for example, smoke in your cruise ship cabin. However, many mainstream lines permit smoking in their casinos. If not, there's usually a smoking area on the pool deck on either the port or starboard side of the ship. 

Thankfully, you don't have to survive on nicotine patches while onboard. Here's everything to know about smoking on a cruise ship. 

Tipping on a cruise ship is a controversial topic. Most mainstream cruise lines will automatically add a daily gratuity to your onboard account. However, you also have the option to prepay them. 

2024 was a huge year for the cruise industry! 

With ships like Icon of the Seas, Disney Treasure, Utopia of the Seas, and Sun Princess making their grand debut, the Cruise.Blog team made it our mission to sail on as many new ships as possible to determine whether they're worthy of your hard-earned money and vacation time.

I've been on 20 cruises within the past two years, but no matter how many times embarkation day rolls around, I feel the same jitters as I did when I first started cruising! However, I've learned a thing or two that helps make the first day of any cruise vacation more enjoyable.

For example, certain cruise lines require you to print your boarding pass ahead of time. Forgetting can lead to unnecessary stress and delays at the terminal. 

Have you ever incorrectly called a "cruise ship" a "boat" just to be corrected by a nearby naval enthusiast? You aren't alone. Many believe "cruise ships" and "boats" are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. 

The difference isn't just a matter of terminology. It's about respecting the vessel's size, design, and purpose. Cruise ships, for example, are massive, multi-deck engineering marvels capable of carrying thousands of passengers and crew. They're decked out with restaurants, pools, theaters, and more, all meant to keep the guests entertained during their voyage.

If you've been on a cruise recently, you understand the feeling of your vacation passing in the blink of an eye. While it's important to live in the moment, photos can help us relive unforgettable moments and capture details we might otherwise forget. 

The most memorable cruise photos of 2024 ranged from breathtaking aerial shots to pictures that showcase the variety of destinations you can visit on a ship, such as Alaska and Norway.