Great memories are made on cruises.  Whether a family get-together, a honeymoon, or just a trip with friends – we all like to have photos to help preserve these memories, and most of us carry a camera around all the time (in our phones of course).  Does that leave a place for shipboard photographers or are they just an interruption at dinner and embarkation?  Let’s dig into the pros and cons of this offering and learn a bit more about it… read more

Most weekends we do a live interactive broadcast from just outside of Port Everglades at Dr V D Mizel - Eula Johnson State Park.  Occasionally however we head South to see some different ships and different scenery.  If you want to watch ships as they leave PortMiami, it's not hard to get to South Pointe Park in South Beach, but watch the below video so know know exactly where to go and avoid what is sometimes a stressful parking situation... read more

Planning a cruise can be fun, but the ultimate goal is to sail, relax, and enjoy.  Because part of your cruise planning will require some documentation, let's look at what you need to do in order to ensure you're able to sail if the name on your passport, birth certificate, or other documents does not match the name on your reservation... read more

This week Norwegian Cruise Lines unveiled more details about their upcoming 16^th ship, the Norwegian Bliss.  The Breakaway Plus class vessel will feature several superlatives, including the largest competitive racetrack at sea and open-air laser tag.  Let’s dive into some of the new and unique features that will be gracing the seas around Alaska and the Caribbean, and as always, wrap it up with our take… read more

Celebrity Cruise lines announced this week that Captain Nathaly Albán will command the exclusive Celebrity Xploration through the archipelago of the Galapagos.  This marks the first time in cruise history that a woman will navigate the region as captain and continues the history-making promotion of qualified women to senior officer roles in the cruise industry, including appointments by lines such as Cunard and sister-company Royal Caribbean International... read more

We all want lower cruise fares, but getting charged for odds and ends may not be very relaxing either, so some guests prefer cruising where everything they want to do or purchase is included.  While all inclusive cruises are nothing new, there are more options than ever, and ways of packaging certain amenities for a flat cost, or even bundling some things in with your cruise fare on lines that aren't typically thought of as all inclusive.  Let's look at what it means to be an all inclusive cruise, what some cruise lines offer, and how to budget your next cruise including things you'd otherwise pay a la carte. read more

When you’re on a cruise there is one universal truth - you can’t wait to be on another one! Cruise lines are ready to abide and offer incentives for you to book future cruises while you're onboard. Some of the programs offer greater benefits than others, but the bottom line is that if you know what you want, and you're ready to book, you can only win by using these programs.  Below we compare the cost and incentives for booking on land vs onboard for several popular cruise lines... read more