Feature

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. 

Most cruise cabins are equipped to accommodate a maximum two guests. Families and friends, however, may opt to travel three and four to a room for either safety precautions or to save some money, as the cruise fare for the latter two guests is less expensive than the first and second. 

If you are planning on having more than two guests in the stateroom, you might be wondering how sleeping arrangements will work. Staterooms do not have the space for two double beds like many land-based hotels do. Even in most suites, you will not find two standard double beds!

Have you ever wondered what the Captain's quarters are like on a cruise ship?

The captain of a cruise ship is a professional who oversees all onboard operations to ensure that the vessel is safely operating during each and every voyage.

Captain Kate McCue, the current captain of Celebrity Beyond, posted a TikTok in August 2020 showing what her living quarters were like while she was the captain of Celebrity Edge. 

While most people will dine in the cruise ship's buffet at least once for breakfast or lunch, it is often overlooked when dinner time rolls around. With so many other options, such as the complimentary dining rooms and specialty restaurants, you might be looking forward to the elevated dining experiences on your cruise. 

Before your first cruise, there's some ship terminology that you should become familiar with, including port, starboard, forward, aft, bow, and stern. You may also heard the words "lido deck," which will not do you any good if you do not know where that deck is located. 

In 2012, Costa Concordia, a cruise ship owned by Costa Cruises, capsized off of the coast of Italy shortly after departing from Civitavecchia. While not as deadly as the infamous sinking of the Titanic in 1912, this incident resulted in some modifications to the safety guidelines within the cruise industry. 

These days, there’s no denying that cruise lines are focusing their efforts on building mega cruise ships that are bigger and more innovative than ever before. While newer cruise ships are certainly flashy and stylish, all cruise lines still rely on their older ships to cater to specific destinations and demographics.

Nobody wants to go on a disappointing vacation. It is a time that you are supposed to relax, have fun, and escape from your day-to-day life. Not to mention the fact that you are spending your hard-earned money on the experience!

Cruises are popular vacations for many reasons, including the convenience and ability to visit different destinations in a single trip. If, however, you do not manage your expectations and take steps to help ensure a smoother vacation, you may find yourself swearing off cruising for awhile. 

While the main purpose of any vacation is to take a break from your everyday life, you cannot forget to act with common courtesy. 

During your cruise vacation, it may seem obvious to show respect and consideration for other passengers and crew members. There are, however, some other rules of cruise ship etiquette that are good to know prior to getting on the ship. 

Here are 20 rules of cruise ship behavior to prepare you for your next cruise.