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The world watched in horror and disbelief as a novel coronavirus spread like wildfire onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan. An illness that once seemed to only plague one region of the world quickly spread around the globe - leading to an unprecedented halt of the travel industry.

Other cruise lines started to deal with localized outbreaks, which garnered more media attention that no other sector in the travel industry had to deal with.

Today, cruise lines are constantly striving to outdo themselves. They want ships that are bigger, better, and more technologically advanced than anything else at sea. Of course, the definition of "bigger and better" varies from cruise line to cruise line. Regardless, they want their ships appeal to all cruisers by packing them full of different fun activities. 

Ask me about my favorite travel memories and I will, undoubtedly, start to ramble about the time I lived on a cruise ship for 100 days traveling the world. Anyone who has studied abroad will likely agree that it's one of the most formative and remarkable experiences of your life.

Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario for their cruise vacation. As much as we'd all like to believe that it is smooth sailing as soon as the deposit is placed, that is not always the case. Unexpected events, such as the sudden onset of an illness prior to embarkation or a delayed flight, can cause the vacation to be thrown off course.

Taking a cruise in 2023 will see a few changes compared to just last year.

2022 was a big year for the cruise industry. Not only was it the first full year of sailings after the shut down, but it also saw record bookings. 

You may be left wondering what's next for the cruise industry? Here are 7 changes that you can expect to see in 2023.

As children turn into teens, they may start to moan and goan when the words "family vacation" are brought up. They have their own likes, dislikes, and often are not ready to retire to bed at night when parents are. 

That is why cruising is becoming a more popular family vacation, as they offer something for everyone -- think countless destinations; dedicated venues for kids, teens, and adults; and unlimited food. 

Have you ever wondered what the average size of a cruise ship is? The answer is about 1,000 feet in length. But just how many passengers does the average cruise ship accommodate?

Read on to find out more about the average size of cruise ships sailing in the cruise industry today! 

The cruise line industry is large and an ever-expanding industry. There are ships that range from super small, almost yacht-like, to giant vessels that can best be described as floating cities! 

Can a bot give you good cruise tips and advice?

“Setting sail, on a ship so grand 
Leaving port, with a heart full of sand 
The ocean breeze, blowing through my hair
I’m feeling free, without a care”

When asked, the artificial intelligent chatbot ChatGPT was able to write a song about cruising that included two different verses, a chorus, bridge, and outro in less than one minute.

If the chatbot could come up with a song about cruising, I was curious as to what it would have to say in regard to the best cruise advice, so I asked!

You are preparing for your dream cruise vacation, you’ve made all of the arrangements, the bookings, you’ve made it to the airport - and then the worst case senecio occurs. Your flight is cancelled, and the result is that you miss your cruise! Now what?

If you are a savvy traveler, then you might be wondering how to best prepare for the worst case scenario when traveling. So let me help alleviate some potential stress for you! Read on to understand how to best prepare for any situation that may occur when making your way to your cruise.