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Though it's not uncommon for cruise passengers to spend time on their private balconies, it's rare to see guests drag bedding outside. However, TikTok user @naomijaneadams did just that on her recent sailing to Antarctica with Albatros Expeditions. 

Mega cruise ships like Icon of the Seas and massive aircraft carriers are engineering marvels. These impressive vessels can carry thousands of people and feature an array of amenities that rival small towns. However, cruise ships and aircraft carriers serve different purposes. 

While both are bigger than standard pontoon boats, the operational focus and facilities are tailored to their specific functions. Instead of multi-story dining rooms and expansive buffets, for example, aircraft carriers have traditional mess halls. 

Did you know there are certain items allowed in your checked baggage for air travel that are prohibited on cruise ships? While you may not encounter issues in the airport, cruise lines have a longer list of banned items due to safety and environmental concerns. 

Nobody wants to be embarrassingly pulled aside during the physical check-in process because they're trying to smuggle something onboard—even worse, something they didn't know was prohibited! 

Within the past year, I've set sail on 10 cruises, venturing to the Mexican Riveria, Western Mediterranean, Bahamas, Caribbean, and Alaska. When I first began working as a full-time cruise writer, I'd try and save money whenever possible. Now, I've learned a few experiences are always worth the extra cost, namely specialty dining.

Between 2024 and 2028, over 25 new ships are expected to enter service across the globe. From the Disney Adventure for the Asian market to two more Icon Class ships for Royal Caribbean by 2026, there's a lot to look forward to in the cruise industry! 

Here's a list of cruise ships making their debut this year and beyond. 

Did you know that if you gamble enough in your ship's casino, you could earn a free cruise? 

Graham Bernard and his wife Jodie recently experimented to see how much they'd have to gamble on Royal Caribbean to reach Prime status within the cruise line's Club Royale Rewards Program. 

According to his Facebook post, they were able to reach Prime status after 10 hours of gambling and betting $7.25 per spin on the slot machines. While the couple spent $2,260 in the casino, he claims the total value of the Prime status exceeds the cost.

While you're busy preparing to disembark the ship and return home, crew members are already thinking about the next set of guests scheduled to board the same day. Though passengers may think of it as embarkation or disembarkation day, those within the cruise industry refer to it as turnaround day. 

When guests are enjoying their final moments on the ship before getting off, crew and port employees restock the ship with the supplies necessary for the sailing, refueling, cleaning, offloading and reloading luggage, doing laundry, and so much more.

Could you imagine living on the same cruise ship for over one year? Marty and Jess Ansen, a retired couple from Australia, spent over 450 days—longer than many of the crew members—aboard Princess Cruises' Coral Princess, booking 51 back-to-back cruises on the same ship. "We welcome the different captains onboard," Jess told A Current Affair. 

A viral TikTok shows you're never too old for a girls' trip.