The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has long played a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of passengers and crew aboard cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP). The VSP conducts unannounced inspections to evaluate cruise ships’ compliance with public health standards, focusing on areas…
This past weekend in Miami, Carnival Cruise Line unveiled more details about the two new Excel-class ships—Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale—the final two vessels in the class. With names that are a nod to the line’s history, these ships are going to be somewhat different than their current sisters, the…
Carnival Cruise Line has many of us shaking our heads with their announcement over the weekend of a new class of cruise ship dubbed "Project Ace." The first ship is set to debut in 2029, and will have a mind-blowing capacity of 8,000 passengers. The Project Ace ships, still unnamed,…
Cruising is one of the most popular vacation options out there, offering a mix of relaxation, adventure, and indulgence (aka: extra pounds from all the food you're going to eat) all rolled into one. But as you plan your next sea-bound escape, there’s one detail that often catches first-time cruisers…
The countdown is officially on! On April 12, 2025, MSC Cruises will debut its brand-new flagship, MSC World America, from Miami—and I’ll be onboard for the inaugural sailing, reporting on everything from the entertainment and new spaces to the multiple dining options the 6,700 passenger vessel will be unveiling. Whether…
If you haven’t stumbled across Margaritaville at Sea (MAS) yet, you’re not alone—it’s a smaller player in the cruise world, but it’s making waves (and earning fans) with its two ships: the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, sailing from the Port of Palm Beach, and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, based…
Back in 2005, I launched Scott’s Cruises with a single review of a cruise I’d taken—a no-holds-barred recounting of my experience aboard a ship, from the highs to the lows. What started as a one-off post has since grown into a passion project where I’ve spent nearly two decades sharing…
A recent social media storm has thrown Carnival Cruise Line passengers into a frenzy, sparked by a viral post featuring an authentic letter sent to a guest. The letter outlined that their upcoming cruise would revert to a traditional muster drill, requiring passengers to visit their muster stations, check in,…
The Bahamas remains a staple destination for cruise lines, with Nassau and Freeport serving as two of the most frequented ports in the region. Yet, despite their inclusion on countless Caribbean itineraries, these ports consistently rank among the lowest in guest satisfaction surveys. Frequent cruisers often describe Nassau as overcrowded…
If Southwest Airlines has been your go-to for wallet-friendly flights, you might want to sit down for this one. The airline that’s been chanting “Bags Fly Free” for decades is switching it up. Starting May 28, 2025, Southwest will charge for checked bags for most passengers—no more tossing two suitcases…
