Since the resumption of cruising, there has been a lot of talk about the types of rules and restrictions that have been put in place.  The nuances of these can vary by ship and sailing, but there are three main components that are semi-consistent: masks, testing, and vaccines.  As we change how we live with COVID on land, there are expectations that the rules for cruising will loosen up soon.  Will they?  Well, maybe… read more

While many people associate cruises with formal dining and being forced to eat with strangers, this certainly isn't a requirement.  Who you dine with, and where, are really up to you.  Making requests to dine the way you want is easy... read more

The Beach Club at Bimini is a resort-style destination with soft and beautiful beaches, nice pools, and great food.  When Virgin Voyages is in port, it becomes a specialized and exclusive destination only for Virgin sailors, and takes on some qualities and very much make it feel like a continuation of the shipboard experience.  On this tour, we discuss the amenities, logistics, activities, and what we love and don't... read more

Usually ships go in for dry dock every few years, and while staterooms are often left largely unchanged during dry dock, this is when you're most likely to see stateroom updates.  After a lot of guest feedback however, the brand new Scarlet Lady, from Virgin Voyages, is already having some work done, resulting in some big changes in her cabins... read more

I’ll admit I didn’t think it was going to happen, given recent updates to rules controlling whether ships could dock here, but with very few COVID cases onboard, we were alongside our berth in Nassau right on time and ready to make the most of our final day.  The biggest challenge turned out to be figuring out how to do it all on our last full day on Celebrity Apex... read more

Waking up with the sea moving by outside our window, knowing we had nothing to do but could enjoy everything we wanted, was a great way to start the day.  Those who haven’t cruised cannot fathom the relaxation that is a sea day, and that makes me sad.  We got an early start to embrace the day, but did it turn out to be needed for what was ahead? read more