Which cruise line is best for me? The differences between cruise lines.
Author: Bill
It's not too likely that many people talk to a travel agent about visiting Alaska and leave convinced that instead, they want to take a cruise...to the Caribbean. For that reason, instead of talking about destinations right out of the gate, I want to cover the question of which cruise line to try out. I so often see the question, "What is the best cruise line?" Well today I will share with you the answer to that question... read more
Among the most common reasons people give for not taking a cruise vacation is seasickness. While it's true that you're on a moving ship, it's nothing like going on your friend's fishing boat: the movements are slow and much less pronounced. On newer ships you often don't even feel like they're moving. Let's look into why seasickness is rarely an issue and what you can do - from picking the right cabin, to wearing 
The most important part of any cruise is actually being able to sail on it. Let's have a look at the requirements that the US has for citizens traveling onboard a cruise ship, as there is a lot of confusing information out there. While the short answer is, no, you don't need a passport to take most cruises out out of a US port, there are exceptions as well as some really important reasons to have a passport even if you don't otherwise need it, and even some things to keep in mind if you already have a passport... 
Gratuities, service charges, or tips – no matter what you call them it’s hard to know what is appropriate and how to pay – especially on cruises. Cruise lines have long had crew members who work long and hard hours, thousands of miles from family to make your vacation a great one. Many of these hard working, dedicated people are compensated primarily with gratuities. 
Having a vacation ahead of you is a great feeling. You've chosen your cruise and you're happy with what you're getting for your money, but what happens when the price of your cruise drops after you've already booked? Let's look into what your options are so you can make sure you're getting the best deal possible... 
I get a lot of questions about taking a first cruise, so this time I wanted to turn the conversation back around a bit - people other than me have great cruise tips too. A week or so ago I reached out on social media and asked Reddit users on 
Packing has become pretty automatic for us, but as we prepare for a sailing on Independence of the Seas we figured we should slow down and take a look at just how we pack for a short Caribbean cruise... 
One of the most common questions I find myself passionately answering both in person and on online communities (I’m looking at you Reddit), is about how to actually book a cruise. Should you use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise line? I’ll tell you right out the gate that whether you’re looking into your first cruise or well on your way to the highest levels of a cruise line’s loyalty program, I highly recommend using a good travel agent, but let’s talk about why by addressing some common questions and misconceptions... 
Many of us cruise with quite a few battery-powered devices that we want to keep charged, but cruise ship cabins don’t have as many outlets as we’d like. Common power strips are prohibited from cruise ships for safety reasons, and there aren't "cruise ship power strips", but there are alternatives. Let’s look into your options, and briefly cover why power strips aren’t allowed... 
No matter if it’s your first cruise or your one-hundredth you’ll probably agree that the first day of your cruise is the most exciting, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider to make it as simple and enjoyable as possible. I’ve come up with the below list of twelve tips, in chronological order that you should consider on embarkation day... 
Whether you want to share your vacation memories as they happen or you're looking to be able to keep in touch with those back home, many of you have asked questions about staying connected while cruising, and there is no single answer. In the past couple of years cell phone carriers have made international roaming a bit more palatable, but cell phone roaming rates on ships are still completely impractical, at least for calls and data. What are your options if you want to stay in touch while cruising? We've got 11 tips to keep you connected without breaking the bank... 
Airlines and other carriers restrict the size and weight of bags, have limits on the number of carry-on bags, etc. What about cruise lines? There is no shortage of advice about 
Whether traveling by land or sea, paying for things can be a bit different in different countries. Years ago, you simply changed currency at the purser’s desk on your cruise ship, but this is rarely done anymore. Technologies and customs can make the simple process of paying for a meal, cab ride, or souvenir a bit confusing, but we’ve got some tips to keep things simple and more importantly, save you some time or even money... 
Most cruises are about both the fantastic onboard experience as well as the ports of call you visit. Whether sailing the warm Caribbean or historic Mediterranean, you’ll likely want some sort of plan for while you’re in port. From guided tours to resort passes, or even helicopter rides to glaciers, you can book a number of tours through the cruise line - but should you book independently instead? Let’s look at the risks and benefits of each. 
The first day of your cruise is filled with excitement as you explore the ship and start your vacation, but safety is the priority, so you'll invariably be participating in a muster drill. It may not be the most fun part of your vacation, but let's go over what muster drills are, why they're important, and how you can make the best of this "lost time" on embarkation day. 
Onboard credit may be completely new to you, but even if you’re a seasoned cruiser there are probably things we can shed some light on. Commonly abbreviated as “OBC” or referred to as "shipboard credit", onboard credit can be thought of as a gift card of sorts for a specific cruise - money that you can use on your cruise for any number of things, including beverages, shore excursions, retail purchases, and more. What many people don’t realize is there are actually different types of onboard credit, which can affect how you can use it. Let’s look at how you get onboard credit, what you can do with it, and what happens if you don’t use it... 
We all want lower cruise fares, but getting charged for odds and ends may not be very relaxing either, so some guests prefer cruising where everything they want to do or purchase is included. While all inclusive cruises are nothing new, there are more options than ever, and ways of packaging certain amenities for a flat cost, or even bundling some things in with your cruise fare on lines that aren't typically thought of as all inclusive. Let's look at what it means to be an all inclusive cruise, what some cruise lines offer, and how to budget your next cruise including things you'd otherwise pay a la carte. 
Planning a cruise can be fun, but the ultimate goal is to sail, relax, and enjoy. Because part of your cruise planning will require some documentation, let's look at what you need to do in order to ensure you're able to sail if the name on your passport, birth certificate, or other documents does not match the name on your reservation... 
Whether sipping a fruity drink by the pool or enjoying a pint at a pub, alcoholic beverages are ubiquitous with cruising. The cost of those drinks can certainly add up, but in the past 10-15 years, some cruise lines have started serving up unlimited drink packages and other options which allow you to better manage your bar tabs and even coffee expenses. The cost, benefits, and restrictions can vary by cruise line, so let’s explore the overall concept of beverages packages, and some of the things unique to the offerings on each cruise line... 
Bringing extras with you on any trip can mean baggage fees and other inconveniences, and we're often struggling to pack less - not more. There are, however, some items you can bring along which could save you money. In many cases they're even things you already have at home... 
One thing every great vacation has in common is a beginning. On a cruise, that's called Embarkation Day. From when to show up at the terminal, to where to find food, but avoid crowds when everyone else is heading to the buffet, we're covering everything you need to know about your first day onboard.
Cruise pricing can require a lit bit of explanation, but sales and promotions can be even more confusing. Some promotions aren't combinable, sales can take percentages off rates that aren't easily found, and different packages offer different levels of value depending on what you're looking for. Whether you're hunting for the best deal, or just trying to understand how much a cruise will cost you, we'll try and make it a bit easier to understand.
Planning a cruise requires a lot of decision making. Some things come down to preference, but if you're looking for the cheapest time of the year to cruise Alaska or the Caribbean we can help. After analyzing thousands of price points across the year, we go over the most economical and most expensive times to sail, as well as why the time of year matters.
Most major cruise lines now have apps or mobile websites that you can access on your smartphone to view the day's schedule, book shore excursions, chat with other guests, and more. Generally, these apps are free to use, but it can sometimes be a bit confusing since we often see costs associated with "WiFi". Really, this confusion is just a matter of wording, and we'll clear it up so you can use your device worry-free... 
Packing is an important step when preparing for your cruise, but of course all your stuff needs to actually make it onto the ship. There are several options for this, as similar to when you fly, bags can be carrier on or checked. There are advantages and disadvantages to each – both at the start and end of your cruise... 
Sometimes we cruise for the destinations, like the beautiful sights in Alaska or the clear waters of the Caribbean - other times we cruise for the onboard experiences available on mega-ships, or the unparalleled service offered on luxury lines. No matter why you're taking a particular cruise though, there may be ports of call that are less interesting to you than others, and if that happens, you have options. We'll address some common questions below, but make sure to check out some examples of cruise activity schedules at the bottom of this post. 
Sometimes your cruise ship may be too large to dock at certain destinations. When this happens, you'll likely board a tender, which is a smaller boat, and take that to shore. In this video we go over everything you need to know about tendering...
Whether you’ve cruised before or seen and heard about cruising through ads and friends, there is a good chance you’ve only really been exposed to one type of cruising: contemporary lines. These lines include Royal Caribbean International, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, and others. They can all be great options, provide excellent entertainment, and value. There are however many other types of cruise lines out there, including premium lines – and they don’t necessarily come at a higher cost. 
When someone says "formal night" everyone just knows you're talking about a cruise. Whether you look forward to donning a three piece suit, or you try as best as you can to avoid wearing shoes, you'll want to plan for whatever the more "dressed up" evenings are on your next cruise. There is no maritime law for formal night schedules - those things are usually reserved for safety concerns and how to handle emotionally distraught cruise blogger that's been on stuck on shore for months. Let's look at a few ways you can... 
Whether cruising the Caribbean, Alaska, or Europe, make sure you consider these five things before picking a shore excursion... 
No matter the cruise line or itinerary, cruising offers a wide variety of things you can do while on vacation. There are however some things you cannot do on a cruise. While some of the things on our list are rules related to safety or laws, other are a matter of practicality. We'll go over eight things you can't do on a cruise, and include some exceptions... 
While many people associate cruises with formal dining and being forced to eat with strangers, this certainly isn't a requirement. Who you dine with, and where, are really up to you. Making requests to dine the way you want is easy... 
Whether getting ready for your first cruise or at the top of a loyalty program, most agree that the first day of your cruise is the most exciting. To make sure that excitement turns into a great cruise follow along with our list of 12 things you should do on embarkation day... 
