Royal Caribbean is bringing more and more ships back into service. Before each ship can sail with paying guests, they complete what the CDC calls a Simulated Voyage with volunteers, where the line demonstrates proper protocols can be followed onboard. We got an surprise in our inbox recently, as we’ve been invited to sail the Simulated Voyage for Mariner of the Seas this week... read more
The count is over, at four hundred and ninety-two days. That’s how long Virgin Voyages, the newest cruise line, just for adults, was delayed in setting sail due to the pandemic. In early 2020 many were eagerly awaiting the April 1 maiden voyage, but the change of date was no joke. For a group of lucky British sailors (that’s what Virgin Voyages calls guests), they set sail today from... read more
Picking the right cabin on a cruise can be confusing. There are multiple types and many categories - but the differences aren't always clear. In this video we share some tips and tricks so you can pick the right stateroom for your next cruise... read more
Last week we saw Royal Caribbean and Celebrity begin requiring pre-embarkation COVID testing regardless of vaccination status, and now Carnival Corporation has announced the same for their three major North American brands. Further, they've updated their guest mask policies... read more
Carnival Mardi Gras is the line’s newest ship, and a new class of ship from the largest cruise line in the world. In addition, she’s the largest ship in the fleet, the first ship with a roller coaster, is powered by LNG, and has more dining options than any Carnival vessel. We were fortunate enough to be among the very first to experience just some of what Mardi Gras has to offer. Did Carnival meet our expectations of something truly different? read more
St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands, is a popular vacation destination offering picturesque beaches and gorgeous views from its lush tropical mountains. If you want to get out on the water and enjoy the salt air though, then there may be no better way than on a catamaran ride to the neighboring island of St John... read more
With more people than ever enjoying the flexibility of remote work, and broadband technology improving, much of the world can be your office. What about cruise ships though? Working from cruise ships may be possible for some, but it’s critical to understand whether it’s possible for you, before setting sail... read more
In this episode of Billy's Cruise Takes we discuss Carnival's return to service, the importance of Alaska sailings resuming, mixed vaccines, the state of the Conditional Sail Order, and a new cruise that we just booked
The last time a large cruise ship was in Alaska was September of 2019 - until now. That might not matter to some, but if you’re one of the 8,500 residents of Sitka, AK, the return of cruising is the ability to breathe again. Just like when cruising returned to the Caribbean in early June of 2021, it was Royal Caribbean Group that was first to bring that oxygen to the community, this time in the Last Frontier, with Serenade of the Seas and her 2,143 guests. read more
Want to get away this August? We stumbled upon a deal that just can't be beat, starting at $179 per person in a verandah! MSC Meraviglia came out toward the end of 2016 and is visually stunning, and now she's one of the first ships cruising the US with MSC. We were already considering sailing her soon to try out a different class of ship on MSC (having previously sailed on MSC Seaside), so for us, this deal was just too good to turn down and not share...