On most cruise lines, an automatic gratuity is added to your onboard account to cover staff tips. Increasingly, cruise lines are including gratuities in the cruise fare. I’ve cruised with a number of lines that include gratuities, and I much prefer this. In this post, we will look at the cruise lines that include gratuities … Read more
Cruises are often advertised as ‘all-inclusive’ but this all-inclusive fare rarely includes alcohol. There are a number of cruise lines, however, that do. In this post, we will be looking at the cruise lines that include alcohol as standard in the cruise fare. Many cruise lines do offer drinks packages that, when purchased in advance, … Read more
In The Media The Guardian I was recently mentioned in The Guardian which was SO cool. I’ve not bought a newspaper for years but I bought this copy and I intend to keep it forever. The article used me as an example of why the ‘instagram generation’ are cruising more frequently. The online version of … Read more
If you are considering a cruise you may be wondering how much Mediterranean cruises ACTUALLY cost. I’ve been on 3 Mediterranean cruises and have spent a lot of time researching the cheapest ways to cruise. In this post we will look at the prices of Mediterranean cruises on the following cruise lines: Costa Cruises, Marella … Read more
If you are looking to book a cruise you may have come across “Repositioning” cruises. Repositioning cruises offer great value for money but they start and end in different places, so are not always the most convenient option. I have been on a few repositioning cruises and in this post, we will explore what a … Read more
If you have been on a cruise you have probably seen a member of staff called the Cruise Director on board. You may be wondering who they are and what they do on board the ship. To answer these questions I interviewed a cruise director who has worked on multiple Royal Caribbean ships and surveyed … Read more
When considering a cruise, many people feel overwhelmed trying to weigh up the pros and cons! There are multiple positives and negatives to taking a cruise vacation – and cruises aren’t for everybody. I believe that almost everybody will be able to find a cruise line that will suit them. Having said that, cruises can … Read more
Considering your first cruise? In this post, we have tips from cruisers on a range of cruise-related topics. This article will guide you through from pre-cruise right through to disembarkation helping you to avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes. Before The Cruise Cruise Tip #1: Check Your Cruise Documents Are up to Date Before You do … Read more
If you are taking a cruise you may be wondering if you can bring alcohol on your cruise. I’ve been on multiple cruises and have encountered a variety of rules regarding alcohol. On some cruise lines, you can take a certain amount of alcohol onboard, but they will charge you a “Cockage Fee” if you … Read more
In this post, we will explore whether cruise ships have air conditioning. I’ve been on 60 cruises to date and have put together this guide to air conditioning in public spaces and cabins. We will also talk a little about when cruise ship air conditioning goes wrong and when the first air-conditioned cruise ships went … Read more
During this post, we will explore how early you can board a cruise ship based on advice from the following lines: We will also look at whether you have to keep to the embarkation time given to you by the cruise line. How Early Can You Board a Cruise Ship? The earliest that guests can … Read more
Cruising with a family can be expensive. I’m often asked which cruise lines I’d recommend for families so I decided to put together this guide. I have personally been on all of the cruise lines mentioned and I have been cruising since I was 11 years old. As well as talking a little about my … Read more
If you are taking a cruise you might be wondering if you need to bring your own shampoo and/or conditioner. I’ve been on multiple cruises, and each has provided different toiletries. This can make packing really tricky so I’ve put together this guide split by cruise line. Do Cruises Provide Shampoo and Conditioner? Most cruise … Read more
Sapphire Princess Sapphire Princess was built in 2004 and last refurbished in 2018. She’s the sister of Diamond Princess and carries around 2600 passengers. I visited her in April 2019, and in this post, you’ll find photos (and a video) of the ship post-refurbishment. The refurbishment took place in Singapore and took two weeks to … Read more
If you’re looking to book a cruise you may be wondering if they are “All-inclusive.” I’ve been on a number of cruises ranging from premium to budget lines, what is included in the cruise fare varies dramatically from one to another. That is what we will explore in this post. Are Cruises All Inclusive? Cruises … Read more
We’ve all heard horror stories that claim that you’ll put on a pound a day during a cruise, but cruise ship weight gain isn’t inevitable. I’ve never put on weight on a cruise and in this post, I share with you seven easy things you can do to prevent weight gain while still treating yourself. … Read more
My first Royal Caribbean cruise My first ever Royal Caribbean cruise was onboard the Independence of the Seas. I had booked the cruise to try Royal as I had heard really good things and wanted to experience them for myself. There was plenty to do onboard the ship, it was difficult to explore everything in … Read more
Many cruise lines sail from Barcelona, It is the biggest cruise port in the Mediterranean. Where do Cruise Ships Dock in Barcelona? NOW: Adossat Quay Terminals – Most Common There are five main cruise terminals in Barcelona, these are the Adossat Quay Terminals, and they are numbered A to E. All of the biggest, mainstream … Read more
Carnival Cruise Lines Celebrity Cruises Costa Cruises Cunard Line Disney Cruise Line Holland America Line Marella MSC Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line P & O Cruises Princess Cruises Royal Caribbean