Celebrity Edge is the first in a new class of ship, and in less than a month, we'll be among the first to sail her. We talk about some of what makes her so different as Celebrity tries to redefine the cruise experience, and we discuss how we plan to see and do as much as possible on our December 6th three-night sailing. read more
Virgin Voyages has announced more details about their first ship, Scarlet Lady, and this time, it’s all about dining. Guests, err, “sailors” on the adults-only line will have over 20 choices when it comes to picking a place to eat, and there’s something you probably won’t guess about many of these spots. Like some lite-luxury and luxury lines, Virgin Voyages has opted to forgo the practice of specialty dining venues coming at an up-charge, and instead, will be including all dining within the cruise fare. That means all the interesting things we discuss below are included in your cruise fare... read more
Most cruise lines have programs that reward guests for their loyalty. The perks are as wide-ranging as cruise experiences, and different lines let you climb the ranks of these programs in different ways. What are some of the more remarkable benefits? How do we value these programs? We look at the various programs and help you understand how to take advantage of what is being offered. read more
It’s not just the newest ships at sea that glimmer and host a great time but keeping the entire fleet fresh is the goal of every cruise line. Often lines will spruce up entire classes of ships, adding the latest features and venues. Carnival however has announced a drydock that represents the final phase of a $2 billion eight-year project, and this phase involves a real transformation. Let’s look at some of the new features and venues still to come, how this all relates to pizza, and then get Billy’s take on how this positions Carnival compared to their competitors... read more
What do you enjoy while cruising? Sipping a fruity drink, exploring new places, getting a tattoo? The latter will soon be possible when Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady sets sail… read more
The cruise experience is inextricably tied to dining, but what is specialty dining? This concept may not be as new as you think, so we dive into what exactly specialty dining is, where it started, and we look at the types of experiences available now, plus some in the near future. read more
Some Royal Caribbean ships feature PADI dive shops. On those ships, the cruise line gives passengers the opportunity to see if scuba diving is for them under the watch of a certified diving instructor. On my Mariner of the Seas cruise, I tried my hand (and lungs) at scuba... read more
If you're visiting South Florida for your upcoming cruise you should probably know about red tide. This algae can cause health issues and sometimes closes beaches - but doesn't mean you can't enjoy your pre or post-cruise stay. In the past several weeks there has been an occurrence of red tide, first on the Florida's west coast, and now on the east coast. We'll review the basic information, especially as it pertains to those about to cruise. read more
Several years ago I went out to Ft Lauderdale beach and used Periscope to share images of cruise ships leaving port. This became popular, and as I answered people's cruise questions and shared my knowledge and experience of cruising, I kept being asked what my website was - I didn't have one. Eventually I got the hint and started CruiseHabit.com. Over the past years many readers and friends asked me if I had a podcast - I didn't. Today however I'm pleased to announce... read more
A lot of attention is paid the biggest ships with the most outrageous features - and for good reason. We discuss what megaships are, why they're so appealing to some people, and talk about how they fit into the bigger picture of the world of cruising. read more