Small ship luxury cruising is in a whole different world when it comes to the level of attention and opportunity to truly explore unique experiences and enjoy the world's best food and drinks. Oceania Cruises is no exception to that. As one of the world's leading culinary focused cruise lines, it is always exciting to see what new ideas they bring to the table (or bar top?). With the launch of their newest ship, due next spring, we're sure to see even more of this creativity and diversity as they introduce an elevated, innovative bar program aboard the 1,200-guest Vista debuting May 20, 2023. Vista, the first of the brand's all new Allura Class ships, will feature the latest cocktail-crafting trends and techniques such as flavored smoke bubbles, an extensive selection of low- and no- sugar wines and zero-proof cocktails, plus Negronis aged in wooden barrels and specialty beverage carts like the Bubbly Bar and Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar.
Read more: Oceania Cruises Unveils Elevated Bar Program For Vista Cruise Ship Debuting in May 2023
There's only one major cruise line brand that I've never sailed with, Celebrity Cruises. However, they are now investing in the west coast market with cruises out of San Pedro, Los Angeles on the Celebrity Solstice through the end of April before heading north to Alaska for the summer. This is the first time that the company has had a ship sailing out of Southern California in nearly 20 years and we were excited just with that fact. However, I was really intrigued by their claim to truly be a cruise line for foodies. Despite this, aside from fancy photos ... I wasn't convinced. However, after spending most of the day onboard Celebrity Millenium during a port visit in San Diego, I'm very excited to learn more about the brand and hopefully share more about them with you guys in the future.
Read more: We Did A Food and Beverage Preview On Celebrity And I'm Impressed
Scenic Eclipse made a quick stop in San Diego yesterday and we were invited aboard to take a tour of this incredible "Discovery Yacht". I was first introduced to Scenic at Cruise World in 2019 but never thought I'd actually have a chance to visit this incredible ship in person. At the time I was simply wowed by the visual beauty, features like having both a helicopter and submarine, as well as the technology features like being able to hold a position without an anchor due to it's industry leading technology. What I didn't quite "get" was that as any experienced cruiser knows ... the hard product is only one part of the equation.
Read more: Cruising On Scenic Eclipse Is More About True Luxury Than Just A Set Of Posh Amenities
There are a lot of things that folks who love cruising do to make the adventure even more fun. While some folks look to pineapples, a much more wholesome and family-friendly game has developed in the past few years around hiding rubber duckies on cruise ships and then sharing your finds with others on social media. In fact, entire online communities have evolved to embrace this activity and frankly ... it is one of those things that is as fun to give as it is to get!
Read more: Why Are People Hiding Ducks On Cruise Ships And How You Can Join In The Fun
Sunglasses and eye protection might seem like something more important on warm-water cruises in the Caribbean or Mexican Riviera but it is essential to protect your eyes on Alaska cruises too. Despite the fact that the weather may be cloudy and sometimes raining, having a great pair of glasses like these Wiley X Boss ones actually does more than simply "protect" you eyes - it actually makes seeing those important things like bears, whales, and eagles easier since they cut through the glare, keep your eyes warm, and can even help them focus faster and adjust to different light conditions since the shielding reduces penetration by cold dry air that can make vision blurry.
Read more: Wiley X Boss Sunglasses Kept My Eyes Protected On Our Alaskan Cruise
I’m hooked on cruising, sure. Open seas, long days of tropical drinks and warm breezes, cares and cell phones put away for a full week. But for me, the real bang for my buck comes long before. For us planning weirdos, the logistical fun before, during, and after is almost as good as being on the cruise. Each time we book, I spend hours looking at shore excursions, hotel reviews, port maps and other sundry details, and I mentally plan out my wardrobe. It makes waiting for a trip months or years away a little more tolerable.
Read more: Cruise Planning Tips I Wish I Knew Before Our First Family Alaska Cruise
San Diego is hands down the finest embarcation port for west coast cruises (with an honorable mention nod to Vancouver). This is the only port city that combines an ambundance of hotels at various price points, a destination you might want to spend a couple days doing a pre or post-cruise stay, and best of all - easy access to the port by train, car, as well as plane. With summer Alaska cruise season windinding down, we're thrilled to have our friends from Disney, Princess, and Holland America Line back in town along with some new friends that will be visiting San Diego this year.
There's an inclination when selecting your cruise hotel to get as close to downtown or the cruise port as possible but at the same time going where the tourists go since that's all you know and the guide books drive us in that direction too. I'm guilty of that too but in reality if you are going to be taking a ride from the hotel to the cruise port then there are a lot of options beside being just a few minutes closer. That's why we're sharing a gem of a hotel that offers everything great about San Diego - food, sunshine, craft beer, and history - located in the hip harbor-front neighborhood of Point Loma.
Read more: The Monsaraz San Diego Makes A Great Pre-Cruise Hotel Option
Virgin Voyages may not be sailing to our favorite west coast destinations yet but they continue to be a global leader in improving the cruise industry. Not only with hotel operations improvements regarding sustainable practices and progressive staffing changes that break the conservative standards that most cruise lines seem locked to, but they are now addressing the key to moving any marine vessel forward into a more sustainable future - improved Marine Fuel.
Read more: Virgin Voyages Partners With Sustainable Marine Fuel Providers
One of the top reasons why people spend money to cruise in Alaska is a chance to experience one of the last unspoiled fronteirs in America. This is a land of clean air, clear water, bountiful fish, and exotic animals like orcas and bears. As cruising continues to become even more popular it is that much more important to help protect the environment and do what we can to make sure that future generations can experience the wonder that we enjoy today. That's why I'm so excited to see moves like this one from Holland America Line to introduce a commitment to sourcing fresh, certified sustainable Alaska seafood on it's ships during Alaska cruises.
Read more: Holland American Line Introduces Sustainable Alaska Seafood Program on Alaskan Cruises
If you're looking for a fun, relaxing vacation with your elderly parents, a cruise may be the perfect option! Cruising can be a great way for seniors to see new places and enjoy all the amenities of a luxury ship. However, it's important to take some precautions to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable trip. In this blog post, we'll share some tips on cruising with seniors.
Read more: Cruising with Your Elderly Parents: How to Stay Safe on a Cruise Ship
Our family just returned from our first Alaskan cruise. And it was one of the best vacations we’ve ever taken. On board were myself, my wife, our three kids (aged 11, 12, and 13), and my mother-in-law. Our cruise was a 7-day adventure from Seattle, Washington to three ports of call in Alaska, one in Canada, and the spectacular Tracy Arm Fjord. This was, coincidentally, not our first cruise, but was our first family cruise with everyone on board.
Read more: Why Carnival Splendor Is a Great Choice for a Family Alaska Cruise
This is the first of our new Cruise Stories feature and we look forward to hearing (and seeing photos of) your incredible cruise experiences sailing the Pacific waters. We're going to start things off with an interview from myself, representing my other site, ManTripping.com as I share the story of Heather and I's adventure on the first cruise out of San Diego follow the COVID restart.
Read more: James's California Coastal Cruise On Holland America Line Koningsdam
Repositioning cruises have historically been a great option for folks that love sea days and saving money. While some repositioning cruises are historically unpredictable in terms of when they will happen, repoisitioning cruises from Vancouver (as well as Seattle) are pretty easy to predict since they happen each year at the end of the Alaska cruise season.
Read more: Is A Repositioning Cruise From Vancouver The Right Choice For You?
This is a question than I hear many first time cruisers ask but luckily we've never had to find out. However, in theory though, while it would be an unpleasant and dangerous experience - yes a cruise ship could probably withstand all but the worst areas of the strongest hurricanes. That isn't the complete answer though since it is almost impossible that this scenario would ever be tested with major cruise ships that we see sailing from lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, or Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Heather and I had a debate yesterday about what the guys who carry your luggage onto the cruise ship are called? She insisted they were called porters and I said stevedores though I have called them porters in the past as well. What do you guys think? What's the right name for these hardworking men (and a handfull of women) that take our bags when we drop them off at a cruise port before checking in?
Read more: What Do You Call The Guys That Take Your Luggage Onto The Ship?
Aside from the Golden Gate Bridge, there is nothing more iconic than the historic San Francisco cable cars. This cable car system dates back to 1869 when the inventer Andew Smith Hallidie came up with the idea as a replacement for the then standard horse-drawn streetcars that were being used in the city. Over the next 150 years this system became both an urban nessecity to move people throughout the city and later one of the most popular tourist attractions in California.
Read more: The San Francisco Cable Car Museum Is A Great Shore Excursion Idea
If you just got back from your cruise vacation and are feeling unsteady on your feet, you may be wondering what's going on. Aren't so-called "sea legs" a good thing that helps you adapt to motion caused by unstable water? Well, after spending several days - or even weeks - traveling on the ocean, your body has adapted and now it needs to adapt to life back on land again. This is the quick answer to why people feel like they are still swaying ... even after the cruise is over.
Read more: Motion Sickness, Sea Legs And How to Stop Swaying After Getting Back From Your Cruise