Norwegian Cruise Line has been a pioneer in the cruise industry for decades and it has consistently led the trend of open seating for dinner, something which nearly every cruise line has since emulated to one degree or another. The Breakaway, however, takes this a step further with 26 different dining options on board ship, including 15 different premium dining experiences, including two restaurants by Iron Chef star, and New York restauranteur Geoffrey Zarkarian. Read more...

The Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest flagship, set sail for the first time from New York City last week, and the ship is truly an evolution in cruising from the Northeast. Truth be told, its not too often that the newest and best ships in the fleet sail from New York, but the Norwegian Breakaway’s Big Apple debut is the continuation of a trend that Celebrity started with the Silhouette and Royal Caribbean is happy to continue with its upcoming Quantum of the Seas. During our short voyage out in the Atlantic Ocean, we had a chance to explore the ship from top to bottom – and one of the most comfortable spots on the ship is the studio complex. Read more...

I admit it. I love “Dancing with the Stars.”  I always look forward to hearing who the new guest celebrities will be on the popular TV show and learning which pro dancer will be paired up with which new partner forthe season.

I also love cruising.  So I was doubly happy when I heard that Holland America is combining the two for an exciting new cruise theme – “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea.” Read more...

Cruise lines seem to be in a continual game of one-upmanship. Royal Caribbean built an ice-skating rink aboard their vessels, Norwegian Cruise Line countered with a bar made entirely of ice. Carnival added a ropes course, and then Princess built a ship that has a glass-floored walkway that juts out over the ocean. With the latest announcements regarding the Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is upping the bar yet again. Read more...

The library is a popular spot on the Carnival Breeze. Not only for the books, magazines and games, but also for the card-key operated wine dispensers and literary cocktails.

Maybe sip a Hemingway’s Papa Doble while enjoying a good novel?

Surprised? The Carnival Breeze does indeed have a bar in the library, along with a first for Carnival Cruise Lines – card-key operated wine dispensers. Makes sense to me. Read more...

The announcements have been coming fast and furious with the new ships due out over the next couple years, and some of the biggest announcements dealt with the Godmother of the ship who christens and names the ship at its launch. The New York bound Norwegian Breakaway will have the Rockettes, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas made a splash at the Oscars by naming Kristen Chenoweth, and this week Princess Cruises found a Princess of their own, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – the wife of Prince William. But what makes a cruise line name a Godmother anyway? Read more...

It’s that time of year when cruise lines start announcing new itineraries and ports of call for the coming year or two, and this week Princess Cruise Line announced that it’s heading to Singapore with the Emerald Princess. Already a popular port of call, Princess will be the first major cruise line to begin using the Asian city-state, well known as a luxury travel destination, as a long-term home port. Read more...

A first-time Disney cruiser wondered about needing a bed rail for her 3-year-old son. Should the mother carry a portable railing from home or would one be available after she arrived on the ship?

Wanting to be prepared, the mother sent her question to a Walt Disney “moms panel.” Read more...

It’s probably the best kept secret in upscale cruising. But the adventures are just so incredible that we can’t keep the secret any longer. As the European cruise season starts to take shape in the next couple months, one small-ship cruise line is standing out with special values and offers that simply nobody else is offering. Azamara Club Cruises has always had a sterling reputation on service, but in 2013, the focus is on the journey as much as the service with the introduction of Azamazing Evenings. Read more...

With the Norwegian Breakaway nearing completion, Norwegian Cruise Line is starting to reveal details about the next new ship to be introduced in 2014, the Norwegian Getaway. Based in Miami, this new ship, like the Breakaway before it, will be themed around the city it sails from. And with Miami being the Magic City, the Getaway is bound to be full of magical experiences. Read more...