Cruising in the late summer and fall can be a fantastic deal. Part of that reason is because the weather doesn’t always cooperate – it is hurricane season after all. But the truth is that when a storm isn’t in your area, the weather is fabulous and the ports of call are as vibrant as they are at any other time of the year. However, there are some things that you can do to minimize the impact of a storm on your travel plans – even without changing your schedule. We’ve put together a list of three things that anyone can do to ensure the best possible experience for a cruise. Read more...

Cruising the Caribbean, its hard to get excited about those private island destinations sometimes. It might just feel like another day at the beach when in reality, the ship’s pool might work just as well. But cruise lines are making these private destinations a real attraction and something worth visiting. Royal Caribbean has Labadee, off the coast of Haiti, and they make the client experience very special. Here’s a quick video about all the fun that Labadee has to offer. We’ll see you on the zip line! Read more...

These days, it is sort of a given that Holland America Line has some of the best food at sea for the larger mass-market cruise lines. The buffet tends to be out of control good, the main dining rooms provide excellent food on a regular basis, and the Pinnacle Grill set an industry standard for fine dining at sea.  But this commitment to good eats isn’t limited to mealtime on Holland America Line ships. Read more...

It’s all about the outdoors on the new Royal Princess coming this June. With some really incredible new features, the top deck is where everyone is going to want to be on Princess’ new megaship, improving on their signature “Movies Under The Stars” feature and also adding some new features that are both a first for the industry and will create some really amazing passenger experiences. Read more...

Ever wonder where the cheapest places to extend your cruise vacation would be? We know that London or New York isn’t likely to make that list of cities, but the answers of which ones do might actually surprise you!  Trip Advisor recently put together its list of the least expensive and most expensive cities to visit, and we’ve decided to simplify the list for you… and let you know the least expensive and most expensive places to stretch out your cruise vacation. Read more...

One of the things everyone talks about after their cruise is how good the food is. Oceania Cruises has a love affair with their food, and it shows. From Executive Chef Jacques Pepin on down, the cruise line really places an emphasis on quality and attention to detail, especially when it comes to meantime. And Oceania’s newest ship, the Riviera, really places a huge emphasis on it with ten different dining venues aboard this small ship. Read more...

The Celebrity Reflection hits the seas this week on its inaugural passenger voyages. It does a short schedule in Europe before crossing the Atlantic down to Florida in December. New features on Celebrity’s latest and greatest include art classes on the Lawn Club from Art Center South Florida, the addition of Aqua Class suites and a unique to Celebrity spa which includes a hammam, sensory showers and an infrared sauna. Guests can even book their own private cabana space on the lawn with the addition of the Alcoves. Read more...

Azamara Club Cruises is a small ship, upscale cruise line that has consistently been a winner when it comes to on board experience and service, and every year the product just seems to get stronger. In 2011, the two ship line changed its focus to a more inclusive atmosphere with more overnights and longer times in port, as well as including your gratuities and wine at dinner on every voyage. For 2013, Azamara Club Cruises is introducing three new key enhancements which will make any cruise a truly “Azamazing” adventure. Read more...

With every new ship, there’s always something brand new to cruising. And Carnival’s latest ships, this is no exception. Starting with the Carnival Magic and continuing on to the Breeze and the Sunshine over the next few months, Carnival is introducing the Sportsquare area – which is exactly what it sounds like. Read more...

One of the pleasures of finding yourself in a place that you know nothing about is that, every so often you’ll find out something special that your guide book never clued you in on. When I was in Southern Nicaragua, this happened to me. San Juan del Sur barely registers a page in the Lonely Planet Central America guide book, but it was my favorite spot on my vacation – and nowhere do they mention the turtles. Read more...