If you think you know Carnival but you've not sailed their new Excel class ships, think again. Watch our videos from this six night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Celebration, and find out if this class of ship changes your mind about Carnival. Whether it does or not, we're sure you'll be pretty wowed by some of what we found onboard.... read more
Cruising Norwegian Encore in Alaska is as much about the places you visit as the things your see passing by your verandah. Sipping hot coffee and watching wildlife pass by one day and exploring old mining towns or taking mountain hikes the next - there is so much to see. On our seven night cruise, we start by departing Seattle and sailing through Alaska's Inside Passage toward Juneau and then Skagway... read more
For years, Carnival’s fleet has felt a bit homogenous to me, but when Carnival Mardi Gras came out in 2021 I got a sneak peak and realized that the new Excel Class is something different. Excited by that visit, this summer I sailed the second Excel Class ship, Carnival Celebration. You can check out my videos about that ship, and our cruise on here, but in this article I want to share my just five favorite spaces on the 183,521 gross ton vessel. read more
Packing tips are a hot topic among cruisers, but how you unpack once you're in your in cabin isn’t often discussed. What is discussed a fair amount is what happens if you get back to the port late and miss your cruise ship. Those two things, however, can be quite related... read more
At a cost of nearly a billion dollars, the beautiful Celebrity Beyond is unique, even among her sister ships. In this video, we go deck by deck to see her larger open decks, new suite area, exclusive restaurant by Daniel Boulud, and more. You have to see the best of what... read more
I book a lot of cruises, but there is a method to what I pick. Whether I am cruising for a quick getaway, a special trip to see new places with my spouse, a fun time away with friends, or any other reason, there are a few things, beyond the more obvious criteria, that I check on and consider almost every time, and you might want to as well. read more
Since touring Carnival Mardi Gras (sister ship to Celebration) we were so impressed that we knew we needed to check her out for a proper cruise. I promise, these new Excel Class ships are NOTHING like you've ever seen (from Carnival or anyone else). Celebration and her sister aren't just the largest ships Carnival offers, but they have some truly innovative and wonderful features. In addition to Bolt, the first roller coaster... read more
Surprises on vacation can be fun, but seeing what your cruise ship looks like as it sails away without you onboard isn't something any of us want to experience. While we've got a lot of practice cruising, there's still a little part of us that worries about missing the ship in port, but if you do these five things you can almost certainly make it back onboard with just enough time to shower before realizing that you forgot about your dinner reservations. read more
Out of all the questions I’m asked about cruising, the one I find the most intriguing has to be, “In your opinion, what is the best cruise?”. The person asking may have heard me talk about how cruising isn’t only one thing and there are many options beyond the offerings they may have experienced - in terms of both the ship and itinerary. My response is usually... read more
It was less than a year and a half ago that a new cruise line started sailing in North America with the promise of being different. Suggestive marketing, tech-forward gimmicks like Shake for Champagne, and promoting themselves as a holiday for rock stars were cornerstones of the brand before Richard Branson’s Adult-by-Design Virgin Voyages even had a ship in the water. We’re not all young sexy rock stars though (spoiler alert, I know), and this led to a statement I hear a lot, “I don’t think they’re for me.” Funny enough, I’ve heard this from all sorts of would-be cruisers - er, sailors, as Virgin calls them... read more