These are the questions people ask before they book – and the ones they’re sometimes embarrassed to ask at all. Do you need to dress up? Will it feel crowded? Can you find a quiet corner on a ship with 6,000 people on it? I’ve been cruising long enough to have honest answers to all of them
At first glance, a cruise ship cabin looks like a hotel room, but once you stay in one, the differences become very obvious. Millions of people cruise every year, and many first-time cruisers are surprised by how different cabin life … Read more
As you would expect, cruise food varies a great deal from one cruise line to another. Where the cruise line is based massively affects what ends up on your plate. MSC has Italian roots. It is the third-largest and fastest-growing … Read more
I have heard cruises described as “floating caravan parks” or “holiday camps at sea”. While there are some surface similarities if you sail with some of the more budget lines, the price structure, destinations and experience make cruises feel very … Read more
In this article, we look at what cruising is actually like. It is aimed at people who are worried they might book a cruise – and then hate it! It addresses common worries and misconceptions and explains why many first-time … Read more
I often see cruise ads on television or YouTube, but what they are advertising doesn’t seem to bear much resemblance to the cruising I know and love! Often, they focus on high-octane excitement, waterslides, go karts, flashy entertainment, and perfect … Read more
Step 1: Choose Where To Cruise Where you choose to cruise will have a huge impact on your cruise experience. It’s not all about beaches and hot destinations! You might want to take a cold-weather cruise to Norway or an … Read more
If you are considering or taking a cruise, adding on a stay either before or after can be a great way to extend your trip. You’ve already paid for the flights and spent the time on the plane, so you … Read more
I’ve been on cruises with Fred Olsen, P&O, MSC and Ambassador where I have been assigned a shared table with strangers for dinner. These aren’t the only cruise lines that do it but some cruise lines like NCL and Marella … Read more
With many cruise lines, like MSC, Royal Caribbean and Cunard, you can bid for an upgrade to your cruise cabin. The idea is that you offer to pay more to upgrade your cabin category, but not the full amount the … Read more
Cruise Wi-Fi has improved massively in recent years, especially with the introduction of the “Starlink” network- but that doesn’t mean that it always works the way people expect. Most passenger frustration seems to stem from the fact that they think … Read more
I have been lucky enough to go on quite a few excursions while on cruises, some with the cruise line and some independently. If there is somewhere you particularly want to visit that isn’t near the port area, excursions can … Read more
I recently took a mystery cruise with the British cruiseline, Fred. Olsen. We took a five-day trip from Portsmouth, and we had no idea where we would be sailing to. The ship itself felt surprisingly British – small and slightly … Read more
Cruise lines run sales throughout the year, not just on Black Friday. Knowing when these sales are likely to happen will help you understand people’s typical cruise booking patterns. It will make you realise that these well-advertised sales aren’t always … Read more
Recently, I sailed from Portsmouth – and I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward it was. It’s a smaller cruise port than Southampton, but that can actually make things easier and simpler. Also, it is about 15 miles closer to … Read more
Cruiseline excursions can be great in some situations. If you are a first-time cruiser, a nervous traveller, or are a long way from home in an unfamiliar country, they can be the perfect solution. Most of the time, I either … Read more
I took a Transatlantic crossing onboard the last Ocean Liner at sea, Queen Mary 2, in winter. That probably wasn’t a very sensible plan, as I know that I get seasick when things get rough. I had always wanted to … Read more
Cruise lines are brilliant at making optional extras look essential, especially for first-timers. It is in their interests to make you spend as much money as possible with them whilst you are onboard. As a seasoned cruiser, I only spend … Read more
Picture the scene, you have a wonderful cruise, get back home tired, but happy – then you realise you have left something behind on the ship. How on earth are you going to get it back? In this article, we … Read more
The cruise industry tracks the number of cruise ships sailing to the Caribbean and also the volume of passengers visiting the region. Numbers reached record levels in 2023 and 2024. The Caribbean has the largest share of global cruise itineraries. … Read more
When I first set foot on a cruise ship, way back in 2005, my eleven-year-old mind was blown by all the amazing food and drink options, the entertainment, and the many things I could do onboard that I couldn’t do … Read more