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From those in culinary services, housekeeping, youth staff, and more, you are sure to interact with lots of different crew members during your cruise. 

While there is no denying that all crew members work to enhance your overall experience, there are some who can go above and beyond to make your cruise even more memorable. Sometimes it is the little things that matter most!

The next time you find yourself on a cruise, take a moment to seek out these crew members. Even if you do not introduce yourself at first, it is good to know what resources are available. 

Whether you are taking a cruise to the Caribbean, Europe, or Alaska, you are sure to need a bag to carry all of your essentials off of the ship with you while in port. 

The type of bag, though, may vary. If, for instance, you plan on spending most of your time ashore at the beach, you will want a good beach bag that is large enough to carry your towels, sunscreen, a hat, book, etc. 

If exploring different culturally rich destinations in Europe, you will want an anti-theft bag, as many of these places are, unfortunately, known for pickpocketing.

When planning the perfect cruise vacation, one of the most important considerations is the itinerary. On a weeklong cruise, you can visit anywhere from three different ports to six! 

Once you place the deposit on your cruise fare, you can begin to talk to others about what kinds of activities they want to do while ashore. You will want to make sure that you budget for tours to make the most of your limited time in each place. 

When traveling on a cruise ship, it is important to note that you will not have access to your cellular data like you would on land, meaning that you sometimes have to get creative with how you choose to communicate with your travel party. 

Cruises are popular family vacations because they offer something for everyone to enjoy, especially if part of a large party. Nobody has to worry about being dragged to the same activities or being together constantly for the duration of the cruise. 

If you are starting to pack for an upcoming cruise vacation, you will want to read into your cruise line's prohibited items. 

Packing something that is not allowed, whether it is inside of your carry-on or checked luggage, will delay your boarding process. If you try and hide something in your checked bag, you may find that it takes longer for the crew members to deliver the bag to your room. You do not want to be without your things for longer than you have to be!

While there is no denying that you will find plenty of people indulging in alcoholic beverages on your cruise, there are plenty of non-alcoholic, or zero-proof, cocktails for you to enjoy. It just is not a cruise without a tropical beverage by the pool! 

You do not have to limit yourself to soda or coffee, either. Thankfully, many of the most popular beverages can be made non-alcoholic by omitting the alcohol, and they are cheaper than cocktails! Cheers to indulging and saving money. 

Have you ever wondered what sea creatures lurk beneath your cruise ship? 

It is the middle of the day and you are enjoying cocktails up on the lido deck. Do you take the time to think about what sea animals are swimming alongside of the ship? 

You may have thought about this when returning to your ship after a fun day ashore, as you can sometimes see schools of fish gathered near the surface. 

A British cruise line has made Port Canaveral, Florida their new home base; however, booking a cruise on this ship is nearly impossible for American citizens!

In May 2023, Marella Discovery set sail from Port Canaveral, the world's busiest cruise port, for the first time. The ship, which was built for Royal Caribbean and sailed as Splendour of the Seas from 1996 to 2016, was sold to TUI Cruises in March 2015, who then leased the ship to Thompson Cruises. Initially, she sailed as TUI Discovery and was renamed Marella Discovery in October 2017.