A Northern Lights cruise had been on my bucket list for years, and I eventually booked one with the British cruiseline, Fred. Olsen. I sailed from Newcastle in the North East of England, far away from my home near the … Read more
People often ask me, “Which is the best cruise line to pick if I want to go on a Mediterranean cruise?” You have so many things to consider before you book. Which Cruise Line Is Best for the Mediterranean? The … Read more
When cruise lines describe themselves as “all-inclusive”, I’m always slightly suspicious. There’s usually an asterisk somewhere. The drinks might be included, but not those drinks. The restaurants might be included, except for the ones you actually want to eat in. … Read more
I recently sailed on Legend of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s enormous Icon-class ships. It can carry roughly 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew at maximum capacity. That means if the ship is full, there could be 9,950 people onboard! … Read more
Many people – particularly those in the UK – have heard of Saga Cruises. Saga Cruises is a small British cruise line headquartered in Folkestone, England, that caters exclusively to travellers aged 50 and over. They have been in the … Read more
P&O and MSC both sail from Southampton year-round and are the obvious choice for many UK cruisers when they want a no-fly cruise. Both offer very competitive prices, and both have large modern ships and older, smaller ships in their … Read more
I’ve just disembarked an adults-only cruise with the controversial cruise line Virgin Voyages. Virgin describes their cruises as “luxurious and fun”, but if you’ve ever seen Virgin cruises mentioned in a news story, it’s probably been about the crazy parties, … Read more
If you’re considering booking a Regent Seven Seas cruise, there’s probably one big question you want answered before spending that kind of money – what is it actually like? Regent is one of the world’s ultra-luxury cruise lines, and I … Read more
Normally, when you stay in a cruise ship cabin, you know what you’re going to get. There’s a bed, a bathroom and, if you’re lucky, some kind of chair or a sofa. Cabins don’t usually vary a lot – but … Read more
I haven’t sailed with Holland America myself, but my parents recently did, so I asked them what people actually wore onboard. Holland America has a reputation for being quite traditional, so you might expect the dress codes to be strict … Read more
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
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
Marella cruises often look more expensive upfront than some other cruise lines. But then you need to consider just how much is included in the cruise fare. You might get what you think is a cheap, bargain cruise, but by … 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 a cruise line says a sailing is “sold out”, it generally means all available cabins have been sold. It does not necessarily mean every available bed on the ship will be occupied. Cruise ships have two very different capacity … Read more
On my recent Legend of the Seas cruise, my port stop at Naples was unexpectedly cancelled. The Captain made an announcement in the evening that came directly through the speakers in our cabin. Because I have travel insurance that includes … Read more
There is no official age when a cruise ship is suddenly considered “old”. Personally, if a ship is under 10 years, I think of it as a new ship. Between 10 and 20 years, I would think of it as … Read more