Today we boarded Nieuw Statendam, a new Pinnacle Class ship from Holland America Line (HAL). Our seven-night sailing will take us to Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. Usually I start with separate post explaining out upcoming cruise, why we chose it, etc, but since I’m starting right off on embarkation day, I’ll share a tiny bit of that information before jumping into our day... read more
Recently we had a chance to tour Carnival Conquest in Port Everglades and were rather surprised to experience a ship that is very different than any other we've been on. We'll share some of what stood out on Carnival Conquest, along with a number of pictures and video so you can get a feel for the ship's unique look. At the end we'll offer up our take and even talk about who we think might really appreciate Carnival Conquest... read more
Virgin Voyages has been teasing out the many things that will set them apart from traditional cruise lines and their latest announcement is no different (though it's not quite tattoo parlor on a ship different). Today they've announced that their first ship, Scarlet Lady, will feature an onboard record shop called Virgin Vinyl, a private gaming and karaoke lounge called The Groupie, and curated music and performances by up-and-comers as well as industry trendsetters. read more
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.
Norwegian's most senior vessel, Norwegian Sky, has come out of an extended dry dock in Freeport with extensive changes and additions to public areas and staterooms. Sky may not be the biggest or flashiest ship in their fleet, but guest feedback remains positive, and after reading about some of the changes, including a Starbucks, sushi restaurant, revitalized staterooms, and more, she just may make it on to your "need to cruise" list. read more
MedallionNet, Princess Cruises' high speed shipboard internet/WiFi service, part of the Ocean Medallion program is itself picking up steam. While available only on Regal Princess just months ago, the service, allowing guests fast and affordable internet access, as well as a number of guest experience enhancements, is now available on four Princess ships, and will soon be available on a total of ten ships - nine of them before the end of 2019... read more
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.
Over the past couple years we've had the opportunity to watch a new cruise line emerge. With details of Virgin Voyages trickling out at a pace that leaves us constantly wanting more, we thought we'd take this episode to share what we know so far about Sir Richard Branson's first dive into cruising. We talk about who is behind the line, what the ship will be like, the things that make Virgin Voyages so different - and even tattoos. Check out the links below for photos, renderings and more information.
Today Virgin Voyages allowed previously deposited guests to start booking passage on Scarlet Lady, the lines first ship. As we've anticipated, the experiences Virgin has been promising look to come at a premium set of prices, though it's important to consider what is included. Interestingly, there are still some big unknowns, including stops on itineraries marked, "Secret Location"... read more
Carnival Cruise Line has for many years been the most popular cruise line around, carrying millions of passengers and promising a fun experience and celebratory atmosphere - “the fun ship”. In recent weeks however, the line has revealed a number of details about what will be their largest ship to date, and it shows the line is looking to compete in new ways. Let’s dig into the ship’s details, some photos, discuss what makes it unique, and even talk history before getting Billy’s take... read more