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Branson promised different, did Virgin deliver? A First Look at Virgin Voyages' Cruise Ships!

The Dock on the Stern of Virgin Voyages New ShipsVirgin Voyages has teased the world with their intriguing adults-only ships, creative events, and of course, unconventional names (sailors rather than passengers, for example).  What they hadn’t shared however, was what the spaces on their ships might look like…until now.  Let’s dive in to see not only what we can expect to see when they start sailing in 2020, but also, what those spaces mean for cru sailors, including an area that looks like it will excite guests while terrifying Virgin’s risk management team – and maybe cellphone insurers...

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Visiting Hawaii? State approves ban of certain sunscreens harmful to coral reefs. Only reef-safe sunscreens permitted.

For decades, Hawaii has been a popular destination for cruisers and non-cruisers alike.  Norwegian Cruise Lines even has a ship there all year-round, the Pride of America.  What you soon won't find however are thousands of sunscreens with chemicals known to harm coral reefs.  Joining the ranks of various resorts throughout the world, many parks in Mexico (including XelHa, Xcaret, Chankanaab, and others), and part of the Cayman Islands, Hawaii is taking steps to reduce the negative impact to their ecosystem caused by some sunscreens... read more

Famous Ocean Liner QE2 Opens as a Hotel in Dubai - Hotel Details, and a Touch of Queen Elizabeth 2's History

Cunard Line has had many famous ocean liners, but each with distinct legacies. The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) is just one of them, but her storied history is especially meaningful to those of us who have been lucky enough to sail her as well as those with an understanding of her place in history.  Last week in Dubai, UAE, the QE2 re-opened to guests, though these visitors will have a distinctly different experience as they wake up each day in the same place aboard a sparkling new hotel at Mina Rashid... read more

Comparing Cruise Line Credit Cards

Like department stores, airlines, and even gas stations, some cruise lines have their own credit cards promising perks and savings for cardholders.  We looked at a few of these offers and found there are far better deals to be had if you’re looking to save money and get benefits from using a credit card for travel.  We’ll break down the benefits, the cost, and tricks you might find helpful in using credit card perks to save money on your next cruise... read more

Celebrity Giveth, and Celebrity Taketh Away - November Preview Sailings Cancelled

We love sharing exciting news about Celebrity Edge, a ship which proves to be truly innovative, and you can find all of our Edge content here.  Launching new ships is real life though, and sometimes, that means it isn't all sunshine and lollipops.  Today Celebrity began reaching out travel agents, letting them know that the November 21st and 24th three-night preview sailings have been canceled... read more

Oceania Announces "Wavenet" - Faster WiFi Across Their Fleet, Plus Free Access

This week Oceania Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, announced "Wavenet", a new internet technology coming soon to the fleet, which includes free basic access for all guests.  WiFi on cruise ships was once, and in many cases still is quite expensive and slow, but it's become much better and cheaper over the past couple of years - changes certainly welcome by many guests as well as crew members... read more

Dining on the Edge - Multiple Complimentary Dining Rooms, Innovative Culinary Experiences, and More Revealed on Celebrity Edge

Normandie French Restaurant on Celebrity EdgeCelebrity has already released a lot of exciting details about the upcoming Celebrity Edge, but up until now, and except for Eden, they’d been mum on dining information.  Recently however, at an event in NYC, they’d spilled the beans on some of the exciting options available on this promising ship.  We’ll dive in to the 29 palate-pleasing venues in store for Edge guests and talk about a revolutionary venue that combines, cuisine, technology, and entertainment to create a journey, rather than just a meal... read more

Using Two-Way Radios to Keep in Touch on Cruise Ships

Keeping in touch with friends or family on a cruise is easy if you're going to be purchasing an onboard WiFi package, but often guests look to handheld radios or "walkie-talkies" for a cheaper way to coordinate happenings on ever-larger ships with countless distracting events.  This can certainly be an effective option for some, but you'll want to keep reading to learn about features, options, reasonable expectations, and a few "gotchas" before relying on two-way radios on your cruise.  Warning, I'm an amateur radio operator, used to work in radio communications, and a bit of a nerd - but I'll try to keep things simple. read more