In December 2012, I had the privilege to sail on a brand new ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet, the MS Riveria. Launched just a few months earlier, the 1,250 passenger ship was exquisite and the service was impeccable. The Riveria is the sister ship to the MS Marina which…
One of my most popular cruise reviews was the one I did in November/December 2014 when I sailed on the inaugural cruise for Royal Caribbean's newest, most technically advanced, not to mention most expensive cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas. Robotic bartenders, a radical departure in interior design, WOW Bands to open…
Regent Seven Seas Cruises raised the bar with luxury cruising when Seven Seas Explorer was launched in July 2016. Able to carry 750 passengers, she is considered one of the most luxurious cruise ships ever built with a price tag of $450 million. [caption id="attachment_10213" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Regent Seven Seas…
It's time to take a look at another “Steakhouse at Sea,” this time we cruise into Chops Grille which is featured on just about every Royal Caribbean cruise ship with a few exceptions. Like most steakhouses on land, Chops Grille is a dark wood, white tablecloth restaurant that features prime…
A cruise is a great way to spend a vacation relaxing, exploring new destinations, soaking up some sun and enjoying the serenity an ocean cruise offers. But there is also one other key ingredient to cruising... the food! It's no secret that eating is a large part of the cruise…
Let me see a show of hands, who's ready to hop on a cruise ship and visit Cuba? I know I am! Being American, the country famous for hand-rolled cigars, white-sand beaches, sweet rum and communism has been off limits. Of course, those crafty enough to figure a way into…
The main dining room (MDR) on a cruise ship used to be the only place where you would eat dinner with your fellow passengers. As times and tastes have changed, the MDR has made way to a plethora of specialty restaurants taking up more and more space on today's ships…
Unless you're very, very good friends with the Captain of the cruise ship you're on, chances are you're not going to get the opportunity to check out the Navigational Bridge or other parts of the ship that are labeled as “crew only” during your cruise vacation. A few lines like…
Last Thanksgiving I was on the inaugural sailing of what was then Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Quantum of the Seas. This year, I'll be celebrating another Royal Thanksgiving on Independence of the Seas on quick four-night Western Caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. Independence of the Seas is one of…
When it comes to cruise ship dining, there's no shortage of food, which explains why we usually gain a few extra pounds after a week at sea. From breakfast in the dining room or on your verandah, to lunch at the lido or poolside, to dinner in the ship's main…
