For years, Carnival’s fleet has felt a bit homogenous to me, but when Carnival Mardi Gras came out in 2021 I got a sneak peak and realized that the new Excel Class is something different.  Excited by that visit, this summer I sailed the second Excel Class ship, Carnival Celebration.  You can check out my videos about that ship, and our cruise on here, but in this article I want to share my just five favorite spaces on the 183,521 gross ton vessel. read more

Packing tips are a hot topic among cruisers, but how you unpack once you're in your in cabin isn’t often discussed.  What is discussed a fair amount is what happens if you get back to the port late and miss your cruise ship.  Those two things, however, can be quite related... read more

At a cost of nearly a billion dollars, the beautiful Celebrity Beyond is unique, even among her sister ships. In this video, we go deck by deck to see her larger open decks, new suite area, exclusive restaurant by Daniel Boulud, and more. You have to see the best of what... read more

I book a lot of cruises, but there is a method to what I pick.  Whether I am cruising for a quick getaway, a special trip to see new places with my spouse, a fun time away with friends, or any other reason, there are a few things, beyond the more obvious criteria, that I check on and consider almost every time, and you might want to as well. read more

Surprises on vacation can be fun, but seeing what your cruise ship looks like as it sails away without you onboard isn't something any of us want to experience.  While we've got a lot of practice cruising, there's still a little part of us that worries about missing the ship in port, but if you do these five things you can almost certainly make it back onboard with just enough time to shower before realizing that you forgot about your dinner reservations. read more

Out of all the questions I’m asked about cruising, the one I find the most intriguing has to be, “In your opinion, what is the best cruise?”. The person asking may have heard me talk about how cruising isn’t only one thing and there are many options beyond the offerings they may have experienced - in terms of both the ship and itinerary. My response is usually... read more