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
When booking your cabin for your cruise, there are a few things to keep in mind. Where your cabin is on the ship – and what is above and below it – can greatly impact your time onboard. It is … Read more
Hey hey hey, I hope you’ve had a fantastic week. It’s been a great one for me with two exciting things happening. ???????? The first is that I donated the money we raised from the latest versions of First Mate Rolo and Captain Hudson. In total, it came to $31,227, which is absolutely mind-blowing. The money will do SO much good, saving and changing the lives of humans, dogs and cats! ????❤️ As always I am so so proud of our community here and can’t thank you enough. If you are waiting for your…
Hey, I hope you’re having a lovely week! I’ve been doing one of my favourite things this week… researching potential cruises I’d like to book. ???????? The problem is, there are approximately 79547054 different cruises I’d like to take and so I need your help deciding! ???????????? If there’s a cruise line you’d love to see me try next, tell me here: Emma’s Cruise Line Survey You can tick as many as you’d like. So far, Holland America are in the lead. I’ve never cruised with them but I’m sure I’d enjoy…
How to sneak alcohol onto cruise ships is one of the most common tips people share online. It is something I would never recommend – and I certainly wouldn’t risk doing it myself! For a start, I don’t drink much … Read more
Hey hey hey, I hope you’re having a lovely week. ????❤️ I’ve just disembarked the brand new Norwegian Luna, where I was onboard for a little two-day launch press trip. I was on the ship’s first cruise EVER, and she’s heading to Miami now for her naming ceremony. I’m back home working on my video. ????????️ I managed to do so much in 2 days, including a 10-deck drop slide and an interactive adult only show. I usually run a mile from anything labelled as ‘interactive’ but I thought it would make a good…
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