Virgin Voyages has announced more details about their first ship, Scarlet Lady, and this time, it’s all about dining.  Guests, err, “sailors” on the adults-only line will have over 20 choices when it comes to picking a place to eat, and there’s something you probably won’t guess about many of these spots.  Like some lite-luxury and luxury lines, Virgin Voyages has opted to forgo the practice of specialty dining venues coming at an up-charge, and instead, will be including all dining within the cruise fare.  That means all the interesting things we discuss below are included in your cruise fare...

It’s not just the newest ships at sea that glimmer and host a great time but keeping the entire fleet fresh is the goal of every cruise line.  Often lines will spruce up entire classes of ships, adding the latest features and venues.  Carnival however has announced a drydock that represents the final phase of a $2 billion eight-year project, and this phase involves a real transformation.  Let’s look at some of the new features and venues still to come, how this all relates to pizza, and then get Billy’s take on how this positions Carnival compared to their competitors...

What do you enjoy while cruising?  Sipping a fruity drink, exploring new places, getting a tattoo?  The latter will soon be possible when Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady sets sail…

If you're visiting South Florida for your upcoming cruise you should probably know about red tide.  This algae can cause health issues and sometimes closes beaches - but doesn't mean you can't enjoy your pre or post-cruise stay.  In the past several weeks there has been an occurrence of red tide, first on the Florida's west coast, and now on the east coast.  We'll review the basic information, especially as it pertains to those about to cruise.

Several years ago I went out to Ft Lauderdale beach and used Periscope to share images of cruise ships leaving port.  This became popular, and as I answered people's cruise questions and shared my knowledge and experience of cruising, I kept being asked what my website was - I didn't have one.  Eventually I got the hint and started CruiseHabit.com.  Over the past years many readers and friends asked me if I had a podcast - I didn't.  Today however I'm pleased to announce...

Whenever a cruise line introduces a new class of ships, it’s easy to forget about the great ships they already have.  Last year, during the fanfare of the Edge class announcements, Celebrity Cruise Lines unveiled Celebrity Revolution.  Now the scale of this $500 million fleet upgrade program has become more clear, and we're even more excited. Partnering with over 500 architects, designers, and engineers, the goal of Celebrity Revolution is to bring the entire Celebrity fleet to the Edge.

We recommend booking your cruise as far out as possible to get the best price (and ensure you’ll get the cruise you want).  If you are flexible however, and you don’t have your heart set on a specific sailing, you can sometimes find some wild deals.  This is one of those times. 

Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2018 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses.  We'll make an effort to keep this current, but if you learn something we don't yet have posted please leave a comment below and let us know so we can keep things current.

Oceania Cruises announced that they're going to be doing significant work to "re-inspire" four of the line's six vessels in a $100 million project that is just the first project in an initiative they're calling OceaniaNEXT.  The project will mean that the 684 guest R-Class ships, Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, and Sirena, will each have 342 suites and staterooms redesigned with a whole new look, custom furnishings, a refreshed color pallette of soft sea and sky tones, lush carpets, and more.  Further, they'll introduce...

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages is sure to be an interesting cruise line when they start sailing in 2020.  The adult-only line focusing on unique experiences and a different take on cruising revealed more about what guests can soon expect, including how they'll help keep "sailors" (their term for guests) and the environment healthy.  They also took this opportunity to name their first vessel.