You've decided to take a cruise. You're excited. You start pricing it out, and then you see it: the cabin you want is listed at, say, $1,200 per person based on double occupancy. Simple enough. Except you're going alone. So the cruise line tacks on a single supplement fee, and…
For nearly three decades, Half Moon Cay has been one of the most celebrated private island stops in the cruise industry. Today, June 1, 2026, it officially entered a new chapter. Carnival Cruise Line — not Holland America Line, which technically owns the island — marked the completion of a…
Every summer, the same question floods cruise Facebook groups and travel forums: do I actually need a passport for my cruise? With Caribbean and Bahamas sailings selling like hotcakes leading into the 2026 summer season, here's the straight answer along with the part most people miss. The Closed-Loop Rule (And…
Our first full day at sea on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic and it was spent cruising towards Alaska, providing a great opportunity to acclimate to the time zone and weather changes. The day started with a definite chill as we cruised at just over 19 knots, directly into a…
People often ask me about Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, Club Royale. When it comes to casino programs at sea, this is the one I'm most familiar with. It's also widely considered one of the best in the cruise industry. I've spent years researching and experiencing it firsthand through trial…
South Florida Holland America fans may want to pay close attention to what's shaping up, or more accurately, what's not shaping up for the 2027/2028 winter cruise season. The line just announced it's going year-round in Europe, and the ripple effects for Fort Lauderdale and Miami may be significant. What…
If you've sailed on any Carnival Corporation brand in the past several years, you need to read this. The company has officially confirmed a data breach affecting nearly 6 million people and the stolen data goes well beyond a leaked email address. What Happened On April 14, 2026, Carnival Corporation's IT…
The Magic is calling once again with an all-new embarkation port and destinations. For the first time, the Disney Magic is sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, and heading to the Alaskan coast. For the next week, we'll be sailing to the Last Frontier looking for whales, dodging icebergs (I promise…
If you've spent any time in cruise forums or Facebook groups, you've probably heard someone mention repositioning cruises and became curious with the interesting itineraries these journeys sometime offer. They sound self-explanatory, but there's actually more to them than you'd think, and once you understand how they work, you might…
Cruise ship door decorations are one of those quirky cruise traditions that I will admit, I have never fully understood. You don’t roll up to a Hilton Garden Inn, check into room 427, and immediately start decorating your hotel room door with magnets, family names, dry erase boards, birthday banners,…
