In this, the third in our weekly video series keeping you up to date on the world of cruise news, we cover new builds from MSC, Virgin Voyages, and Carnival.  We also talk specifics on Cuba sailings for Norwegian, Regent, and Carnival.  We also announced that we'll be back on Independence of the Seas on January 5th, 2017.  

Be sure to follow us on Periscope so you can catch us live for these and other interactive broadcast.  We'll be live tomorrow from Port Everglades this weekend, talking ship and watching sail-aways!

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While I was on the Celebrity Reflection, Event Coordinator Zsofia Bak invited me to meet with her and Hotel Director Niyazi Korkmaz to talk about leadership, life on a cruise ship, and Celebrity Cruise line in general. We met in Cellar Masters at 6pm on the last night of the cruise. The following is a summary of the conversation and not a transcript. It should be taken as an indication of the topics discussed in the interview. read more

One of the most common questions I find myself passionately answering both in person and on online communities (I’m looking at you Reddit), is about how to actually book a cruise.  Should you use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise line?  I’ll tell you right out the gate that whether you’re looking into your first cruise or well on your way to the highest levels of a cruise line’s loyalty program, I highly recommend using a good travel agent, but let’s talk about why by addressing some common questions and misconceptions... read more

This is the second in our new weekly video series keeping you up to date on the world of cruise news.  Be sure to follow us on Periscope so you can catch us live for these and other interactive broadcast.  We'll be live tomorrow from Port Everglades broadcasting sail-aways of ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America.

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Carnival Cruise Line announced this week that they're testing updated dining policies on the Carnival Glory and Carnival Conquest.  On those vessels, dining times which had previously been 6:00pm and 8:15pm have been updated to 6:00pm and 8:00pm. saying that the change will enhance the dining experience for all guests.  Makes sense yet?  This will help: Carnival also announced that persons arriving more than 30 minutes late for dinner will not be seated in the main dining room, and be referred to the buffet dining area.  Presumably, the fifteen minute-shorter gap between first and second seating will be easy to accommodate as they can now guarantee that no meal service will begin more than 30 minutes after the scheduled time, and the final meals should end a bit earlier. read more

I woke up at about 5am and decided rather than staying in bed, I’d give myself a final tour of the ship. I watched from the balcony as we slowly approached Dodge Island and Port of Miami. I finished up my packing and set out to walk around the ship.

As I walked past the shops on Deck 5, I saw a uniformed security officer who I assume was on her way to prepare the gangway for departure. I shrugged my shoulders and said “I just don’t want it to end.” 

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