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
Our July sailing on MSC Seaside was interesting for many reasons - one of them being that MSC is still new to the North American market, and the sailings they offer have had very mixed reviews. Recently we sat down with Doug Parker of Cruise Radio to talk about our Seaside cruise on episode 502 of the Cruise Radio podcast. read more
You can take cruises all over the world, sometimes sailing for a week just to arrive at your destination. There are some cruise destinations however for which those leaving from Florida don't have to travel very far. On this episode we discuss excursions, sites, tours, and dining in The Conch Republic, The Southernmost Point: Key West. read more