Emma Le Teace 
Holland America has a reputation as a more traditional and premium mainstream cruise line, but what is it really like? My parents have just returned from a bargain, last-minute cruise on Nieuw Statendam. It was their first Holland America cruise … Read more
I’m often asked where people can buy the little cruise ship models I have at home. These are the souvenir models of individual cruise ships that are usually sold in the onboard gift shop. The frustrating bit is that they … Read more
When you sail on a cruise ship, you might find rubber ducks hidden in unexpected places! It has become a bit of a tradition with some to bring small rubber ducks onboard and hide them around the ship for other … Read more
My parents recently took a Holland America cruise and they didn’t pay extra for any speciality food. In this post, we’ll look at what is included in the cruise fare and how they found the trip. Overall, they were pretty … Read more
I’ve just disembarked from a cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship, which holds well over 9,000 people at a time. The ship is made up of 8 different neighbourhoods – each one like a floating city and more mind-blowing … Read more
I cruised on both Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship, and Legend of the Seas, an Icon Class ship, in the last couple of years. Icon Class is newer and larger, but it clearly builds on many of … Read more
I haven’t personally cruised with Holland America yet, but my parents recently sailed on Nieuw Statendam and stayed in the cheapest, guaranteed inside cabin. My Mum very kindly shared this review with me. Inside cabins are usually the cheapest way … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise where I spent 8 days in a balcony cabin that faced inside on the world’s biggest cruise ship. The cabin did have outside space, but it had no privacy and no view of the ocean … Read more
When you first board the ship, it is unlikely that you will be able to go straight to your cabin. Cabins are often ready between 1 pm and 2 pm, although this varies by cruise line and sailing. This can … Read more
When you reach your cruise terminal, you normally hand your suitcases straight over to the porters outside. Those suitcases are screened, sorted and delivered to cabins separately, so you may not see them again until later that afternoon or evening. … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise on a cruise ship that divides opinion like no other. Some people describe her as the world’s ugliest cruise ship, but what she looks like from the outside is just the start of why she’s … Read more
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you find a cruise ship you would love to try, but the price is much higher than you expected? Why not try searching to find out whether your chosen ship has … Read more
Norwegian Epic was not originally intended to be a unique ship. Norwegian ordered two ships under its ambitious “F3” project, with an option for a third. Unfortunately, a major disagreement with the shipyard resulted in the second ship being cancelled. … Read more
Designing a new cruise ship is enormously expensive, complicated – and risky. Once a cruise line and shipyard have developed a successful design, it usually makes far more sense to build several versions of it than to start again from … Read more
I recently went on a cruise, and I stayed in one of the world’s strangest cabins. The design is so unusual that there are no other cruise ships with this layout at all. Even the cruise line that owns this … Read more
I have vivid memories of my first cruise on Norwegian Spirit, and how excited I was about going to the midnight chocolate buffet! It wasn’t about being hungry – it was about being able to stay up late and eat … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise where I spent 4 days on a luxury yacht. We sailed out from central London in the middle of the night, and even though I’ve been cruising since I was 11 years old, this cruise … Read more
Most cruise passengers only ever see the public areas and cabins of a cruise ship. They see the restaurants, theatres, pools and cabins, but cruise ships are basically floating cities with huge hidden operational areas underneath the passenger decks. If … Read more
Many people automatically look at cruises during the busiest and most expensive times of year – school holidays, summer and Christmas. They assume that must be the “best” time to go. Experienced cruisers usually do the exact opposite. Regular cruisers … Read more
The classic cruise advice people always give is either: “Book as early as possible” or “Wait for last-minute deals” Both of these methods can genuinely save money, but which one is the right option for you? In this article, we … Read more