There are pluses and minuses to being the first on a cruise ship, either at its introduction or its return after a major refurbishment. It’s always nice to be the first to see, touch and play with the new features and amenities on the ship. It’s nice to be the first to sleep on the new bed, enjoy the room’s shower. But it also means running a risk that the trip may never even happen. Or, possibly even worse, some features may not yet be open or available for use. Read more...

This week, Carnival Cruise Line announced a restructuring of their fare system to take effect at the end of October. After a challenging year, for one of the world’s largest cruise lines, Carnival decided to simplify and streamline the pricing process. It isn’t without precedent. Read more...

The economy might feel a bit shaky, and the finances may not be strong enough to jet away right this second, but its still a great day to start planning a vacation. We get the question in the office a lot, “when is the best time to plan our next trip?” The answer: “Today!” In most cases, locking down a trip early helps guarantee good rates, good availability and has very little downside. And in the last few months of the year, the time is especially right to plan ahead. With fewer people looking to travel, tour companies and cruise lines are giving some of their best prices of the year, coupled with amazing amenity offers. Read more...

I’ve been on cruises where they had classes in napkin folding. I learned how to turn a simple dinner napkin into a candle, a fan, a tuxedo or some other fancy shape.

I’ve also learned towel art on cruise ships. Cruise directors and cabin attendants would demonstrate how to create an elephant, swan, monkey or numerous other critters out of white bath towels. Read more...

Any fan of the Real Housewives of Miami can tell you, there is plenty of drama in South Florida. Well, those girls need to make room for a new diva, because the MSC Divina is headed to Miami this fall, and she is something unlike what we’ve seen out of the Port of Miami before. The Divina, or “Diva” as she is affectionately referred to as, will be MSC’s first year round Caribbean dedicated ship, homeporting out of Miami beginning in November. Read more...

Miami has always been known for its warm weather, with summer like temperatures all year long. Norwegian Cruise Line is set to change that perception however, with its newest cruise ship, the Norwegian Getaway, set to sail from the Magic City this February. Like its sister, the Norwegian Breakaway, and fleet mate, Norwegian Epic, the Getaway will be outfitted with a bar that’s made entirely out of ice. Read more...

When I took my grandson Logan on a Disney cruise, he knew exactly what he wanted for a ship souvenir. And, as a 22-year-old college student, Logan was old enough to buy it.

“The Disney refillable beer mug is a great idea,” he says. “It’s much cheaper to have a beer every evening if you buy the mug. And you get to take the mug home so it’s a nice souvenir. Read more...

Golfing and cruising are two things that go pretty well together. Think about it, some of the best courses in the world are on islands, and accessible by ship – Bermuda, St. Martin, St. Thomas, to name just a few – and that’s not even considering all the great golf available in the British Isles and elsewhere in the world. In 2014, Celebrity Cruises is teaming up with the TOURAcademy to bring golfers on the high seas with a series of cruises designed to offer guests a chance to play amazing courses, improve their game and have a lot of fun. Read more...

I’ve seen hair-braiding booths set up on beaches and cruise ports to serve passengers on ships.

But I had never seen a hair braiding station on a ship, unless it was in a spa. That was a first when I saw a braider busily at work on a Disney cruise.

Butterflies flutter before our noses. Bubbles dance through the air. Our seats jerk and tilt as we stop at the edge of an abyss. And a dinosaur blow snot in our faces.

A dinosaur? Yep, in Thrill Theater all kinds of adventures await through the magic of 3-D technology. The new “multidimensional” theater is now drawing eager viewers on the Carnival Breeze. Read more...