#cruise-alumni

#cruise-alumni

These reefs are living, breathing snapshots of a watery world that you can peek into: refreshing oases where the noise of the land falls away; in its place, an intricate and utterly at-ease slice of life that you're lucky enough to witness.

I had booked the wrong room, packed the wrong clothes, and selected the wrong excursions. I went home with so many regrets that cost me money, sleep, and luggage space.

For cruise lines, fuel is one of the single largest operating expenses. But not all three major operators are equally exposed. Carnival does not hedge its fuel purchases. That means every dollar oil climbs hits Carnival's margins directly, with no buffer. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line both have fuel hedges in place, which is exactly why they are holding up comparatively better today.

Our guests continue to tell us they value greater flexibility in how they spend their time on board, and Express Dining was designed with that in mind. The cruise giant says that the new dining experience is designed to offer a freshly prepared multi-course dinner experience in under an hour for groups of six guests or fewer.

I've been on lots of cruises, but my sailing to Alaska on the Disney Wonder really stands out. From the exciting excursions to the stunning views from the boat, the trip was unforgettable. I'd absolutely take another Alaskan cruise in the future. As a frequent traveler, I've sailed with several different cruise lines on itineraries throughout the Caribbean, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean. But out of everywhere I've been, my favorite vacation was an eight-night sailing on board the Disney Wonder to Alaska.

When booking a seven-day cruise on Carnival Legend for my family of five, I decided to split us into two rooms. On past vacations, we've all stayed in the same hotel room. Once, we all crammed into the same tiny cabin on a cruise. This time, though, I had reserved two 185-square-foot staterooms on the Carnival Legend's Riviera deck for more space and privacy.

Whether you prefer river or ocean voyages, many of the best cruises for couples are all-inclusive, with unlimited food and alcohol, free Wi-Fi, plenty of onboard entertainment, and other perks. Some cruise lines even throw in unlimited shore excursions, free spa access, airfare, and private transfers-so there's no need to bring along extra cash. For a tranquil onboard vibe, couples can opt for an adults-only sailing or a ship with exclusive spaces for grown-ups.

Both cruises and all-inclusive resorts promise stress-free vacations, thanks to upfront pricing and built-in entertainment. But despite similar perks, the travel experiences couldn't be more different. Choosing between a floating resort that whisks you between several ports and a property that promises everything in one place depends on personal travel style. Do you crave variety and a busy schedule, or prefer settling into a single destination? Do you thrive with structure, or prefer flexible days at your own pace?

This is something that was initiated and driven by our guests,

From humongous megaships to luxurious yacht-like vessels, cruise travelers all love to grumble about the same thing-taking time out of their first day on board to complete the mandatory safety drill. Despite the efforts cruise lines have made to make them shorter and easier to complete, some guests are tempted to ignore the calls to report to their muster stations-especially in the rare occurrence of a full, in-person drill.

Aboard the brand-new Star Seeker, there are 112 suites featuring either a veranda or floor-to-ceiling "infinity windows." This ship has new-to-the-line stateroom categories, including a pair of aft-facing, 548-square-foot Horizon Owner's Suites with wraparound balconies; 30 Infinity Suites with windows that slide downward from the top (as on expedition ships); and 10 Ocean-view Suites with mosaic glass showers. I was on board for the christening, but because the ship was sailing at full capacity, I was not able to tour them.

Onboard/Offboard is a series that explores the can't-miss highlights of our favorite cruises-from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up. A new ship sometimes needs time to work out the kinks, but at this point-more than 100 vessels later- Viking has the routine down pat. In early November, I boarded the Viking Vesta, the line's 12th ocean vessel, in Istanbul, a few months into service.