All About Cruises

Category: General Cruise Information and Advice

  • What You Should Bring on a Whale Watching Cruise

    What You Should Bring on a Whale Watching Cruise

    Cruises are a great way of seeing whales. Many popular itineraries go straight through whale territory, so you’ll have a good chance of spotting the large marine mammals. But simply booking a cabin on the cruise isn’t enough to swing the odds in your favor. If you really want to maximize your whale spotting abilities, you’re going to want to have the right gear. Luckily, whale watching isn’t rocket science. (Just as luckily, it’s also not really marine biology either.) As long as you have the bare necessities, you should be ready to tick “seeing a whale” off your bucket list.

    The most important thing you can have in your whale watching kit is a pair of binoculars. While cruise ships do a good job of getting you near to the action, they can’t always guarantee that you’ll be up close and personal with the animals. Having binoculars enables you to actually watch what’s going on even if you are far away. This is especially key if you are on a large ship from a company like Carnival or Royal Caribbean. They can’t get nearly as close as a smaller vessel, so having binoculars is basically a prerequisite. You’ll also be able to spot smaller wildlife like birds and otters if you have binoculars with you.

    Depending on where you are, you should also consider bringing along several warm layers. Many whale watching cruises take place in cold areas as the whales migrate, and proper clothes will let you stay out on the deck for longer. You never know when a whale might appear, and having a jacket (or two) to keep you warm while you wait will help ensure you don’t miss anything. While many travelers just opt for down jackets, we also suggest bringing along a hardshell jacket as well. Not only will it help protect you from the wind, but it will also keep you dry in the case of rain or sea spray.

    Another critical set of items to have is everything related to sun protection. This includes sunglasses, sun hat, and sunscreen. Whether you are in a warm environment or not, these can all really help you out. Having the sun in your eye will directly impede your ability to spot whales, and sunscreen will make sure you can spend hours on deck without worrying about a burn.

    Finally, you’ll need to bring along tempered expectations. Although whale watching is incredibly exciting, going into it with the right mindset will ensure you don’t walk away disappointed. Be ready to spot whales if they appear, but remember that they are wild animals. If they decide not to show themselves on any particular day, just be happy to be out and enjoying nature. There will always be another chance!

  • Here’s What You Should Know About Cruise Ship Internet

    Here’s What You Should Know About Cruise Ship Internet

    The Internet has become an incredibly important part of our daily lives. Many travelers simply need to have an Internet connection when cruising. This might be because they need to work, chat with family members, or even just watch Netflix to fall asleep. Luckily, cruise ships have made it relatively easy to stay connected while out at sea. But still, there are some things you should know about wi-fi on cruise ships. It’s a little bit different than what you’re used to.

    The most important thing to note is that wi-fi is very rarely free on cruise ships. You can get excellent deals on an Internet connection by purchasing more luxurious tickets, but the price of wi-fi is still factored into that higher initial price. Although costs are going down as time goes on, it’s still pretty costly to use the Internet on a cruise ship. While some cruise lines offer daily packages that are more affordable, others ask you to pay per minute. That can really add up if you’re using the Internet for extended periods.

    You should also note that the Internet connection on a cruise ship isn’t going to be as good as what you have at home. Instead of using a landline that connects to a wireless router, cruise ships are forced to use satellites for their Internet connection. This is inherently less reliable than traditional wired Internet. The signal can – and probably will – be lost if there is something in between the cruise ship and the satellite. Load times will also inevitably be slower than your home Internet, so expect to do some waiting. Internet activities that eat up a lot of bandwidth like streaming or video calls will also be tough to do on a cruise ship, but it certainly isn’t impossible.

    The fact that cruises use satellite Internet also means that your surroundings greatly impact your connection. A river cruise through a heavily forested region will generally have a pretty bad connection, for instance, while an open ocean cruise on a clear day will work much better. Common cruise environments like the cliffs around fjords and large mountains will also pose potential problems.

    Finally, another important factor about cruise Internet is deciding which package to choose. Most cruise lines offer many different Internet packages that allow you to customize your experience. Be careful that you choose a package that doesn’t give you way more Internet time than you need. Additionally, be aware that some packages restrict what you can actually do. For instance, the cheapest packages will generally only allow you access to social media sites and nothing else.

    Cruises are a great opportunity to unplug and enjoy the natural world, but that isn’t possible for everyone. If you need an Internet connection, just keep these factors in mind. Although cruise Internet isn’t perfect, it’s not half bad for being in the middle of the ocean.

  • Is Upgrading Your Cruise Cabin Worth It?

    Is Upgrading Your Cruise Cabin Worth It?

    Upgrading your cruise cabin is a difficult decision to make. Is it worth the extra money to have nicer accommodations? Well, it really depends on your personal preferences. Some travelers may find that the most basic cabins are fine for them. Others can’t stand them. Cabins can get pretty expensive depending on what kind you go for, so it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before upgrading.

    The most basic – and the cheapest – cabin that cruise travelers will find is an inside room. These rooms are not only smaller than most others available, but they are also quite literally inside of the ship. That means that you have no view of the outside world. You have no windows, balconies, or anything like that. Next up is the oceanview cabin, which is very similar to the inside room aside from the fact that it’s located on the perimeter of the ship. This means that you can have a window. The next upgrade is an oceanview cabin with a balcony. The choices after this will depend on the cruise line, but they are just generally bigger, more luxurious, and have better views.

    So the question remains: is upgrading from the inside room worth it? For many people, this decision relies on how much time you plan to spend in the room. If you are a traveler who spends the entire day out in the sun and exploring a location, having an inside room may not be a big deal. If you’re only sleeping in it, then you don’t need a view or fancy amenities.

    If you’re on the cruise to relax, though, an inside room may be a poor choice. They are undoubtedly stuffier and smaller than all other options. It’s usually not fun to spend hours on end just hanging out in an inside room. Those who want to chill in their cabins might want to go with a more comfortable option.

    Another factor to consider is whether you get motion sick or not. Having an inside cabin with no view of the horizon will make your nausea much worse. The last thing that you want is to be stuck feeling sick in a room that worsens your sickness.

    Our final tip for deciding whether it is worth it or not to upgrade is to simply compare prices. The price of an upgrade differs for each cruise line, so you may find that you can snag a balcony room for a great deal. If it’s only a bit more money to have a great view, why not just go for it?

    At the end of the day, upgrading your cabin is a very personal decision that hinges on your style of travel. For many people, the extra comfort is certainly worth the extra money. For others, the cabin is just a place to sleep. Think about how you like to cruise and make your decision based on that.

  • What the Cruise Industry Can Do to Help the Environment

    What the Cruise Industry Can Do to Help the Environment

    The cruise industry and the environment have a tenuous relationship. Many argue that cruise ships harm the natural world. Indeed, cruise critics point towards the industry’s environmental impact as one of its biggest detractors. A study published as recently as September 2021 found that the cruise industry needed further monitoring and regulations to prevent negative impacts. Additionally, it came to the conclusion that the industry was “a major source of environmental pollution and degradation, with air, water, soil, fragile habitats and areas and wildlife affected.”

    Staunch fans of cruising are often quick to jump to the industry’s defense in the face of criticisms like this. However, this approach could be seen as anti-scientific. If the data points towards cruising having a negative impact on the world, that shouldn’t be ignored. But it also doesn’t mean that cruising needs to be entirely abandoned. There are lots of changes that the industry could adopt in order to become more environmentally friendly. In fact, some of these changes are currently ongoing.

    The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is a group of cruise lines including some of the biggest names in the industry. Carnival, Disney, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and more are all part of the organization. And one of the tenets of the CLIA is to focus on environmental stewardship. In a post on their website, they detail the actions they are taking to make the cruise industry more sustainable.

    One of the most important points from the CLIA is that their cruise lines are all working on reducing emissions through a variety of different means. According to them, more than $1 billion has been invested into finding new ways to lessen air pollution. Additionally, they say, “Energy efficient design standards will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2025.”

    The most promising path towards decreased emissions in the cruise industry is liquefied natural gas, commonly known as LNG. LNG has been known to reduce emissions in cruise ships by up to 30%, making it the perfect tool to get to CLIA’s 2025 goal. Multiple cruise ships have already begun adopting LNG fuel, including some of the newbuilds for the world’s biggest cruise lines. AIDA and Costa are two of the leaders in this field.

    As for how an individual cruise traveler can lessen their impact, it really comes down to showing your support for ships that are using innovative technology to be more environmentally friendly. The best thing you can do is show these companies that your money will always go to the option with the least negative impact on the world. As they say: money talks.

  • What Is It Like Working on a Cruise Ship?

    What Is It Like Working on a Cruise Ship?

    Lots of people dream about working on a cruise ship. It must just be like taking a cruise vacation every day, right? Well, not exactly. A job is a job, and a position on a cruise ship is no exception. You still need to do hard work, and the reality isn’t as sweet as most people imagine. But with that said, there are lots of pros to balance out the cons. Let’s go over what it’s actually like to work on a cruise ship.

    First of all, let’s talk about the downsides, as you probably already have a good sense of the upsides. According to some who have worked on ships before, the hours can be pretty ruthless. A waiter from a Carnival ship once wrote about how he had no days off, and he wasn’t exaggerating. He said that he would regularly work 80 hour weeks, and they were completely exhausting. The days are incredibly busy for anyone working on a cruise ship, and it can definitely take a toll.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that working on a ship – no matter what position you have – will keep you away from the people you’re close to. If you’re looking for a fresh start, this could be a pro. But for most people, spending so much time away from family and friends is quite the hardship. Cruise contracts usually last for around nine months. It’s not easy to just say goodbye to your daily life and the people in it for that long.

    Living conditions are also not always great. When you’re just starting out, you can expect a small, cramped cabin. Many cruise workers liken it to a dormitory-style of living. If you’re an adult with your own home, that’s a hard adjustment to make. If you’re not social, you’ll probably suffer.

    But here’s the thing: for some people, the best parts of working on a ship outweigh all of these negatives. The main draw is the fact that you are always traveling. As part of your job, you’ll visit new countries – even new continents – and you’ll constantly be introduced to new things. For many, this is more than enough reason to sign a contract with a cruise line.

    There are other upsides too. Because living expenses are part of the contract, you won’t be paying rent or a mortgage while you’re on the ship, and that adds up to a ton of money saved. On top of that, you’ll also get a generous vacation once your contract is over. You’ll have weeks of time to yourself before you hop on the next ship. Finally, those who stick with this lifestyle are rewarded as time goes on. Promotions come easily to those who dedicate a lot of time and effort to the cruise worker lifestyle.

    It should be obvious that working on a ship isn’t for everyone. If it sounds like a chore to you, you should probably look at more traditional career paths. But with that being said, there’s a certain kind of person that really thrives in cruise positions. If that’s you, you’ll truly be able to enjoy the rewards of a travel-focused lifestyle.

  • Bigger Isn’t Always Better for Cruise Ships

    Bigger Isn’t Always Better for Cruise Ships

    Bigger is better, right? That seems to be the current ethos of the cruise industry. Cruise lines are always competing to see who can have the largest ship possible. The most popular vessels of today are absolutely massive. The current record holder, Royal Caribbean’s recently-completed Wonder of the Seas, clocks in at 236,857 tons. It has a maximum capacity of nearly 7000 passengers, and it boasts 18 total decks. The ship is almost 1200 feet long.

    Just stop and think about that for a second. That ship is big. And, of course, that’s nothing new. Royal has always been known for constantly one-upping themselves, but other cruise lines are doing it too: Costa’s biggest ships are almost 200,000 tons, and companies like MSC and Carnival aren’t far behind. It seems like cruise innovation is centered around making ships larger than ever before.

    Does this focus make sense? Well, kinda. The popularity of cruises is only growing, and many cruise lines have reported record bookings even despite the coronavirus pandemic. It stands to reason that there will be a large increase in cruise travel once the pandemic is over. Cruise lines would be wrong to not try and capitalize on that.

    But only building larger ships is a bit short-sighted. Sure, there seem to be more guests than ever before, but that doesn’t mean that all of those guests are looking for the exact same experience. They don’t all necessarily want to be crammed into the same ship. Many new cruise travelers will want a more personalized and intimate experience. Travelers always have unique tastes, and this is definitely true for those that enjoy cruises.

    Beyond that, though, is something else to be considered. Will cruise veterans really be excited to just get on bigger and bigger ships that are more crowded than they were before COVID-19? As more guests flood onto ships, some of the old regulars are also going to start craving an experience that feels more like their own. They’ll start to want to get on smaller ships.

    Large ships make a lot of economic sense, but small ships also stand to give cruise lines a different kind of value proposition. Imagine a Royal Caribbean ship that was small and luxurious. Brand regulars would probably flock to give it a try. Sure, their large ships would still be the focus, but a more exclusive experience could still be quite desirable.

    Luxury shouldn’t be the goal of every cruise line. But there comes a point where the ships are so large that it just doesn’t make sense to keep making them bigger. And as the cruise demographic changes over the coming years, we may see a much larger demand for smaller, more intimate experiences.

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