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
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
Cruise ships seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Royal Caribbean, MSC and Norwegian seem to be launching massive new ships almost on an annual basis. The ships are like floating resorts, with varied entertainment, many eating options, water parks, … 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
I love a Christmas cruise! Being away at Christmas takes away a lot of the stress that planning and preparing for a Christmas at home can bring. I only have to visit the supermarket in the run-up to Christmas, and … Read more
You might be considering an MSC cruise out of Southampton, there are certainly some bargains to be had! I have cruised with MSC many times, both out of Southampton and in other parts of the world. The newer MSC ships … Read more
Note: This post was first written in 2017 and is updated once a year (ish). I love both American cruise lines and non-American cruise lines. ???????? So many of the big cruise lines we know and love are owned by … Read more
It’s not uncommon to hear about cruise ships undergoing refurbishment. With the high passenger turnover and the sheer number of people taking cruise holidays, it’s perfectly understandable that ships need a well-deserved makeover every so often. Sometimes, it is just … Read more
Think cruise ships are just about buffets and sun loungers? Think again! Large modern cruise ships are basically floating cities at sea, and many have features that many wouldn’t expect. It’s not unusual to find a cruise ship with a … Read more
In December 2024, Cruise Critic U.K. revealed its 2024 Best in Cruise Awards winners. They highlighted the best in cruising as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team. Cruise Critic Combines Editors’ Picks and Cruisers’ Choice Awards Cruise Critic has … Read more
I’ve been cruising with MSC for years, and I’ve always wanted to go through those MSC Yacht Club doors to the luxurious “ship within a ship” area. I’d heard about it, I’d seen pictures but never stayed inside. On my … Read more
Deciding on a cruise line as a young person can often be a difficult task. There is so much variety within the cruise industry and it’s incredibly important that you make the right choice for you. I have been cruising … Read more
If you have children, grandchildren, or other children in the family, you might be wondering whether a cruise would be a good option for your family holiday/ vacation. I have been cruising since I was a child, and now I … Read more
It may be hard to believe, but cruiselines sometimes cut their ships in half, and add a new section into the middle. This makes the ships longer, allows for more passengers onboard, and takes a fraction of the time of … Read more
I recently disembarked a cruise on one of the biggest and most exciting cruise ships in the entire world. I braved an 11-storey slide and went to a secret bar that doesn’t exist on the deck plan. The cruise was … 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 … Read more
If you are considering a cruise with MSC you might wonder which activities you can take part in free of charge. Activities onboard MSC ships vary from one to another, with the newer larger ships having more to offer. I … Read more
Normally if you take a cruise in a balcony cabin you can expect your own little private place where you can see out but nobody can see you. That isn’t what happened on my last cruise though because I booked … Read more
In this post, I interview Rebbecca, who had to cut short her cruise due to a family emergency back home. She was travelling with her young son and had to disembark the cruise in Hamburg, Germany. Please note all opinions … Read more