Have you ever walked by a cruise ship and wondered what those metal pieces were that are attached to the mooring lines? Sometimes these are shaped like round discs and other times they have a more geometric pattern but one thing is for sure ... you'll always see them attached. The surprising answer is that these are an important first line of defense against rats and other rodents being able to enter the ship.

Written by: James Hills

Published: 26 October 2022

Last Updated: 31 October 2022

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Read more: What Are Those Metal Pieces Attached To A Cruise Ship Mooring Line?

Many Alaska cruises now offer a stop in Icy Strait Point, one of the most popular Alaska cruise ports and the 2020 Seatrade Port of The Year Award-winner. This cruise stop is owned entirely by the Alaska Huna Totem Corporation, which in turn is owned by the Huna, a native tribe. Profits from Icy Strait Point go directly to support the Huna tribe in Hoonah, Alaska. It’s for this reason that Icy Strait Point is both a historical museum and cultural learning center.

Written by: Aaron Turpen

Published: 20 October 2022

Last Updated: 21 March 2023

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Read more: Icy Strait Point Is A Great Alaska Cruise Port For Families

The town of Ketchikan is often the first or last port for most Alaska cruises. Situated as the southernmost city on the Inside Passage, this town of about 13,000 people started life as a fishing and logging community that morphed into a tourist destination. It occupies a 10-mile stretch of waterfront along the Tongass Narrows. This port offers numerous activities that are perfect for families, including the Alaska Lumberjack Show to walking tours and even fishing as well as whale watching expeditions.

Written by: Aaron Turpen

Published: 12 October 2022

Last Updated: 30 January 2023

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Read more: Fun Things To Do As A Family Visiting Ketchikan On An Alaska Cruise

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.

Written by: James Hills

Published: 05 October 2022

Last Updated: 14 November 2022

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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.

Written by: James Hills

Published: 01 October 2022

Last Updated: 03 October 2022

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Read more: We Did A Food and Beverage Preview On Celebrity And I'm Impressed