Smoking Everywhere! The days of being able to smoke freely onboard cruise ships are long gone. On the Titanic, there were a couple of non-smoking rooms, but apart from that, you could smoke pretty much everywhere. Smoking is banned in and around cruise ships, on balconies and cabins – with a few notable exceptions. There … Read more
If you are taking a cruise on a big cruise ship from either Royal Caribbean or MSC you might be wondering how they compare. I spent a week on MSC World Europa and Symphony of the Seas, both cruising the Mediterranean from Barcelona. In this post, we will explore the differences in ship design and … Read more
On my last cruise, I visited a bar that wasn’t listed on any of the deck plans. In this article, I’ll share how I was invited, what it was like inside the lounge, and how to locate it. The bar was onboard MSC World Europa and before I even set foot onboard, I had heard … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise on one of the biggest cruise ships in the world that can hold well over 8,000 people. The ship I was sailing on was Symphony of the Seas, which cost 1.3 billion dollars to build and is as long as 16 tennis courts. I’ve been cruising since I was a … Read more
In this post, we are going to learn about going ashore in the ports. Sometimes I get so excited about going on a cruise and everything happening on the ship, I forget to think about what happens when we get to port. It’s quite a big part! We are going to look at everything you … Read more
If you’re considering taking a cruise you may have heard about eating in the main dining room or in the buffet. You may be wondering which would suit you best, and whether the food served in both is the same. In this article we explore both options, look at the food served, opening times and … Read more
I recently tried out the “Magic Carpet” onboard the Celebrity Edge. The Magic Carpet is an orange platform that sticks off the side of the cruise ship. I was able to record a video 14 storeys above sea level! I’ve been following this ship’s journey since before she was launched, and ever since I saw … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise on one of the most exciting and expensive cruise ships in the world. I saw and did things that I didn’t know were possible at sea! The ship I was sailing on was Celebrity Edge, which was launched in 2018. She is home to the world’s first floating restaurant platform, … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise on one of the most exciting cruise ships in the world. I braved the 10-deck drop slide and raced other passengers around a three-storey race track on the top decks. The cruise was onboard the newest Norwegian cruise ship, Norwegian Prima and even though I’ve been cruising with Norwegian since … Read more
When I embarked Norwegian Prima in New York City I thought I knew what to expect. I took my first cruise with Norwegian when I was 11 years old and I’ve been on 9 Norwegian ships since then. It only took me a few seconds to realise though that this ship was very different to … Read more
If you’re planning a cruise, you may be wondering how long you’ll get to spend in each port of call. The amount of time a cruise ship spends in port can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the itinerary, the size of the ship, and the port’s facilities. I’ve been on cruises where … Read more
If you’ve ever seen an upside-down pineapple symbol on a cruise ship you’ve probably wondered why it was there. Whether you’re just curious about the symbol or you want to get to started experimenting with pineapples on cruise ships, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this guide. While most people would see it as … Read more
Normally if you take a cruise in a balcony cabin you can look forward to views of the ocean and the ports that you’ll be visiting. That is not what happened on my last cruise though because I stayed in what is called a ‘Conservatory Mini Suite’ which although it did have a balcony, had … Read more
When cruise lines advertise their cruises they’ll always show you the newest and the biggest ships. The average lifespan on a cruise ship is close to 30 years – and almost all major cruise lines have cruise ships that are well over 20 years old. I usually cruise on new, big cruise ships but when … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a luxury 5* cruise where I saw and did things I’ve never experienced on a cruise before. Even though I’ve been cruising since I was 11 years old, this cruise took me by surprise and changed my mind about a few things in ways I didn’t expect. In the past I’ve always … Read more
We have all seen videos of “Pier Runners.” Poor, unfortunate guests who miss the departure time for their ship leaving port, and are left standing on the quayside! And what happens if you never make it to your ship in the first place?– flight delays, roadworks, unforeseen circumstances – what will happen then? In this … Read more
Every year, 2.5 million people take a Carnival cruise and for years I’ve wanted to try it for myself. Most of the news on Carnival cruises sounds something like: ‘Carnival cruise fight’ ‘Carnival cruise brawl’ ‘Violent outbreak’ but we all know how one-sided the news can be. I’ve heard lots of good experiences about Carnival … Read more
If you are taking a cruise with teenagers or as a teenager yourself, you may be wondering about the age restrictions on cruise ship Spas. Cruise ship Spas often have different age restrictions for their thermal areas, cosmetic treatments, and massages, in this post we will explore all mainstream cruise lines and their restrictions. I … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a European river cruise on a 1930s barge that took everything I thought I knew about cruising and turned it on its head. Our cruise was a week-long, and on the cruise schedule was 225km of cycling across the German countryside from Bonn to Saarburg. I am definitely not a cyclist, so … Read more
I’ve just disembarked from a three-night 90s-themed cruise, on which we saw and did things that would be unthinkable on any other mainstream cruise. I originally booked this cruise way back in 2019, for years I’d promised my friends this amazing party filled with 90s bands and sunshine and fancy dress. I’d brought 5 first-time … Read more