Luckily, as a U.S. citizen, you can cruise without a passport! However, there are restrictions—you can only cruise without a passport on closed-loop cruises. So, should you cruise without a passport?  What is a Closed Loop Cruise? A closed-loop cruise is a cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port and only travels […]

Lounging by the pool while on a cruise is supposed to be relaxing, but every so often, you will meet people who don’t follow basic pool etiquette, which can be quite annoying.  You know who they are, those annoying people at the cruise pool- from chair hogs to hot tub hogs to the rowdy kids-

Are you going on a cruise where you will be getting off at a tender port? What this means is instead of simply walking off the ship, you’ll be taking a small tender boat to get to the cruise port. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when taking cruise tender boats. Tender Port vs

Do you want to feel like a VIP on your next cruise? Picture yourself surrounded by luxury and being pampered at every turn. Below are tips on how to get VIP treatment on your next cruise. 1. Upgrade to the Cruise Ship’s Exclusive VIP Category For the ultimate VIP experience, upgrade to the cruise line’s

This summer, why not shake things up and combine a cruise vacation with working remotely? With the Virgin Voyages summer season pass, you can do just that. Following the success of their European Summer Season Pass launch, Virgin Voyages has extended their “work from cruise” option to sailings departing from Miami. Imagine working from the

Cruising has become convenient with the shift to cashless transactions, you technically don’t need to bring cash since everything can be charged to your cruise card, including gratuities. No more tipping the cruise staff with envelopes! However, it’s still smart to bring some cash on board. Here’s why and what I always pay for in

Are you planning to go on a cruise? If so, you need to read this to avoid making costly mistakes that could result in missing your cruise ship and getting stranded at the cruise port or worse, denied boarding by the cruise line! 1. Miscalculating the Time It takes to Get Back on the Cruise Ship

Planning a cruise with kids? Packing for a cruise is challenging when you’re also packing for kids. It’s easy to forget things and make packing mistakes that can ruin your family vacation. Below are some of the worst packing mistakes to avoid when cruising with kids. Worst Cruise Packing Mistakes for Families with Kids 1.

Are you going on a cruise? Make sure you don’t forget to pack these essential items that you need on your cruise. These are the last things you’d want to forget to bring on a cruise because you’ll have a hard time finding a replacement. It can really ruin your vacation! Worst Things to Forget

Are you planning a multigenerational cruise? If so, you need to read this so you don’t make these common mistakes that can ruin your cruise vacation. Cruises are a very popular multigenerational vacation. According to a cruise industry report, a third of cruise travelers sail with at least 2 generations, and 28% of cruise travelers

Are you planning to go on a cruise for the first time? Then make sure to read this because newbies make many foolish and embarrassing mistakes that can easily ruin their cruise vacation. Below are common mistakes only first time cruisers make on a cruise. 1. Leaving Their Passports in Checked-In Luggage One common mistake

Alaska has a new cruise port! Located on the Pacific side of Prince of Wales Island, Port Klawock is the latest addition to Alaska’s cruise port circuit. This new port is approximately a 4-hour ferry ride from Ketchikan’s well-known cruise port, a popular destination for Alaskan cruises. The village of Klawock is one of Alaska’s

Are you going on a Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, or Bermuda cruise this year? If so, you need to read this. Unfortunately, the news doesn’t look good. Experts are already predicting 11 hurricanes over a span of only 6 months! What’s even more alarming is that five of them are expected to be major hurricanes, falling

Have you ever heard of people winning a cruise cabin upgrade but wondered how exactly it works? The process can seem like a mystery, with some getting an email invite to participate in bidding for a cabin upgrade while others don’t. If you’re one of the lucky ones with an invitation, the question then becomes,

I love going on cruises, but one thing that I hate about cruising is the final bill that I receive at the end of the cruise. It seems that no matter how careful I am with my spending, there are always extra expenses that crop up along the way. Having been on over 25 cruises,

Want to know how to get a free or cheap cabin upgrade on your next cruise? While upgrades are not very common, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. Here are some tips on how to get a cruise cabin upgrade. Why not give it a try on your next

Is your cruise stopping at the cruise line’s private island? If so, it’s a good idea to plan what to bring. The last thing you want to do is haphazardly throw things into your beach bag and then realize you forgot essential items. You’ll end up wasting money at the island’s shops to buy things

I must confess going to the cruise line’s private island is hands down my favorite part of a Caribbean cruise. I am one of those people who enjoy the private island cruise more than the other ports. However, there are some mistakes that can ruin your day on the private island. To avoid this, let’s

Everyone loves the thrill of sailing on a brand new cruise ship. If you’re wondering what new cruise ship options you’ll have in 2024, there are eight ships set to launch. One of them, the Sun Princess from Princess Cruise Line, has already made its debut. Sun Princess Princess Cruise just launched its biggest ship,

Royal Caribbean has canceled stops to its popular private island, Labadee, in Haiti. This decision was made due to the country’s major violence and instability.  Royal Caribbean’s Labadee Labadee is a beautiful resort on the northern coast of Haiti. It has stunning white sand beaches, a 2600-foot zip line over the water, and an aqua

If you’re looking for last minute cruise deals, Holland America’s standby list program is worth checking out. This program allows you to book a spot on Holland America cruises for $49 per person per day. Essentially, you’ll be put on a standby list, and if there are any available cabins close to the departure date,

Are you wondering what to wear to dinner on cruise formal nights? Do men really need to wear tuxedos? Do women really need to wear formal ball gowns? As someone who has been on over 25 cruises and experienced most of the major cruise lines, I can tell you what passengers typically wear on these

Are you going on a cruise? You wouldn’t want to ruin your vacation by losing your luggage, which can be a real nightmare. Here are practical tips on how to keep your luggage safe throughout your cruise.  How to Keep Your Luggage Safe on a Cruise 1. Print Luggage Tags at Home The most important

Hearing the words “Man Overboard!” on a cruise ship is every passenger’s worst nightmare. It’s a distressing scenario where the chances of being rescued can be slim. So, what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? How can you increase your chances of survival if you go overboard? Below we’ll discuss the

Missing your ship is a nightmare cruise vacation scenario! We’ve all seen it on social media or read about it in the news- passengers have been stranded on a remote African island or missed their ship by just 20 minutes. But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you ship leaves you behind? Here’s

Getting left behind by your cruise ship is a nightmare scenario that nobody wants to experience. Recently, some Norwegian cruise passengers, including elderly and a pregnant woman, were left stranded on an African island off Nigeria with no medication or money. They had to chase after the cruise ship by traveling through seven countries, just

Are you going on a cruise? One of the best parts of cruising is the luxurious dining experience in the main dining room—fancy white tablecloths, bread baskets, attentive servers, and amazing food. However, many cruisers make common mistakes that can spoil their dining experience and, in turn, their cruise experience.  Cruise Main Dining Room Mistakes

As your cruise vacation comes to an end, it’s important to plan your last day on the ship. To make sure you don’t forget anything, I’ve compiled a list of important things to do the day before disembarking. I have also made a checklist that you can download and print out to help you stay

When it comes to cruising, gratuities are a big part of the cost of a cruise vacation.  While gratuities are a common practice in the cruise industry, there are certain aspects of tipping that I find frustrating. Here are things that annoy me about tipping on a cruise.   Why Can’t They Just Build In the

Are you planning a cruise vacation? Before making your cruise reservation, it’s important to be aware of some common mistakes people make while choosing their cabins. Avoid these cruise cabin mistakes; otherwise, they could ruin your vacation!  Cruise Cabin Mistakes to Avoid 1. Booking a Cabin that is Too Small A mistake people make when

If you’ve ever been to Juneau, you are probably aware of the crowds at the cruise port. As soon as you disembark from your cruise ship, you’ll see not just your own ship, but also a number of other cruise ships docked there. Each cruise ship brings thousands of passengers to Juneau, causing massive congestion

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know how it can quickly become stressful. Yes, cruises can be stressful! Like waiting too long for a table at the main dining room or trying to book shore excursions only to learn it’s already sold out, or being given a 9 pm dinner slot when you

If you’re planning to go on a cruise, you may be wondering if you need to have extra cash on hand to tip the cruise staff. Personally, even with the automatic gratuity that cruise lines add to my bill, I tend to leave extra tips for the crew. In case you’re wondering how much I

Are you going on a cruise? Knowing what to do on your first day is key to making the most of your cruise experience. Right after you board the ship, there are a few essential things you should take care of—things you should do immediately after boarding the ship. Getting these first day tasks out

Are you planning to go on a cruise but not sure when to go? You want to avoid sailing when the weather is bad or when the cruise ship is most crowded.  For a more comfortable and relaxing cruise, it’s best to avoid these months. Here are the worst months to go on a cruise.

Are you going on a cruise? Don’t make these common cruise packing mistakes that can ruin your vacation! You’ll regret it! Cruise Packing Mistakes to Avoid 1. Packing Your Passport in Your Check-In Bag One cruise packing mistake people make that that can ruin their cruise is that they pack their passports in their check-in

Flight cancelations and strikes in Europe are more common than you might think. If you’ve ever experienced a delay or cancelation in the EU, you may be curious about what kind of compensation you could receive. Fortunately, the EU has a generous flight compensation policy. When my flight from Paris to New York was delayed

Looking for a good laugh? Do you miss going on cruises? If so, then you need to check out these cruise memes! These memes are sure to make you laugh out loud with their relatable humor that only those who have been on a cruise can appreciate. Here are some of our favorite cruise memes

Are you going on a cruise? But before you set sail, let’s make sure you don’t fall into the trap of common cruise mistakes that can ruin your sea days. These mistakes could range from missing out on cruise activities to spending too much at the art auction. Don’t make these cruise mistakes that can