Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas is the first to make a big step forward in alternative fuels for cruise ships. While the glitz and glam future may appear to be focused on hydrogen fuel cells, LNG, and even farther out - perhaps even small nuclear reactors, renewable diesel for marine vessels is an important interim step that will allow for more sustainable operations and a net reduction in carbon emissions produced by the ship.
A full transit Panama Canal Cruise is one a bucket list cruises that many people dream of doing one day. Unlike most other cruises in North America, a Panama Canal cruise is going to be a very long voyage and so picking the right cabin is extremely important. While each person will have their own perspective in terms of what is most important to them, one of the biggest questions that we get is, which side of the ship should I be on?
Read more: Port Or Starboard, Which Is Best For A Panama Canal Cruise
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.
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.
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.
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.
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