Whether traveling by land or sea, paying for things can be a bit different in different countries.  Years ago, you simply changed currency at the purser’s desk on your cruise ship, but this is rarely done anymore.  Technologies and customs can make the simple process of paying for a meal, cab ride, or souvenir a bit confusing, but we’ve got some tips to keep things simple and more importantly, save you some time or even money... read more

MSC Cruises, a Swiss-based Italian line, and the largest privately owned cruise line in the world, had several big pieces of news this week.  From details of their 200,000 gross ton "World" class of ships, to Cirque du Soleil on Meraviglia, to taking delivery of their latest ship, there is a lot to unpack.  Take a look at details on the innovative design, new technology, and exciting entertainment options...

To keep things from getting confusing, it should be noted that the name of this class of ships is "World", so when I say World Class I mean "World" class, not the world-class. Not confusing at all, right? read more

Today is a sea day, and the last day of our Empress of the Seas cruise to Cuba, and we’ve got the “last day blues” in a big way.  Being at sea was a welcome change, as somehow the days felt short this week and I didn't get to enjoy the ship as much as I’d have liked.  This summary will be a short one though, as we worked hard to do very little but relax – a vacation within a vacation, but we did get to explore the ship some... read more

Day 3 of our Empress of the Seas cruise took us to Havana Cuba, the highlight of the cruise for most guests, I’m sure.  I’ve lived in South Florida my entire life, been lucky enough to travel much of the world, some of my closest friends were born in Cuba, and yet I was hopeful but never sure that I’d get to visit the island nation just a short distance away from my home.  Summing up this trip and walking away would sell it short... read more