All-Inclusive Or A Cruise?

Aside from the appeal of visiting several ports after only unpacking once upon boarding, a cruise is a great way to “sample” destinations and possibly discover one you’d like to return to and spend more time there. While I’ve visited Ocho Rios, Jamaica numerous times as a cruise passenger, my husband Mel travels to Jamaica on business frequently and often speaks positively of the friendly people

Making Cruise Memories At Sea

Cruise Diva's friend and writing colleague Georgina Cruz says, “Making memories at sea, to carry with me always, is a priority for me whenever I sail. I want to remember a special meal, activities and other aspects of life onboard, places I visited–I want to remember it all so I can place it on a prominent shelf of my mind to enjoy it at will whenever the mood strikes and to own it forever.

Cruise Travel Cost Control

Those boarding passes/room keys... ultimately, they are "Sail 'n Spend" cards.To keep your vacation budget from sinking, Cruise Diva offers Money Saving Tips that you can use when planning your cruise as well as once you are on board. We also clear up the confusion about What's Included In Your Cruise Fare (and what isn't).You have to get to port before sailing, so we take a look at Air & Sea

Snorkeling & Island-Hopping: It's A Caribbean Bar Mitzvah Cruise

While it’s fairly common knowledge these days that couples can arrange to to have their wedding during a cruise and that other celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries are easy to organize, there’s little information available about other types of significant celebratory occasions that can be held during a cruise. When the Krauss family of Tucson, Arizona, decided to make their son Sam’s

Cruise Wear: Look So Right in a Sarong

Cruise Diva is always on the hunt for new apparel items to add to her cruise wardrobe and has discovered the Boomerang Sarong: a Sarong So Right™ and ideal for cruise travel. These figure flattering sarongs can be worn day or night—at the beach and as a pool cover-up on board, or even for dinner with a coordinating solid color top. Where ever you wear one, you'll feel fashionable, comfortable,

Cruise Travel: A Holiday Gift For Cruise Ship Fans

As the year draws to a close and we're all shopping for unique holiday gifts for special people, here's one that cruise ship and ocean liner aficionados alike will treasure. The 2011 desk calendar from P.K. Productions features twelve images of passenger ships of all shapes and size, captured by cruise journalist Peter Knego during a busy year of travel in 2010.The vessels range from the former "

Cruise Food: Thanksgiving Dishes

First, from Carnival Cruise Lines, we have a soup for the season that would be delicious on any cold night, but is particularly appropriate for Thanksgiving. Of course we mean their popular roasted pumpkin bisque with turkey and walnut quenelles. It's bound to warm you up on a blustery evening. Come to think of it, this recipe would an ideal day-after-Thanksgiving treat (and a way to use leftover

Your Cruise Vacation: Shopping

Nearly everyone who goes on vacation, and especially a cruise vacation, does a bit of shopping. It's the law. My motto is that there's no such thing as a "bad" souvenir if it brings you pleasure and reminds you of an enjoyable trip. Pictured here is one of my favorite and funky buys—turf for your tootsies from The Lawn Club shop aboard Celebrity Solstice.Cruise Diva offers suggestions on how to

Cruise Travel: An Updated Paper Luggage Tag Solution

As we reported on CruiseDiva.com some time ago, while most passengers have no complaint about printing e-documents for their cruise, luggage tags printed on paper are a cause for concern. Frequent cruiser George Hall said, "Someone will have to explain to me how these paper tags stay on through the process." Cruise Diva has had occasion to print out and use the paper tags and offered suggestions

Americans "Lose" an Average of 459 Million Vacation Days Each Year

Over-worked, over-tired, and stressed-out American workers have one more thing to worry about this coming Labor Day—how many vacation days they could potentially be losing this year. And if the President of the United States, who famously has enjoyed numerous vacations this year, can find time to get away so often, then shouldn't everyone?The fact that people are not using all of their vacation

Cruise Travel: Effective Complaining

Sadly, there’s no such thing as a perfect vacation and things can go just as wrong at sea as they do on land. Minor quibbles can be brought to the attention of the crewmembers you come in contact with on a regular basis. However, for the really big problems, you should work your way up the managerial ladder to the top until you are satisfied.The most important thing to remember is that you should

Halfway Through Hurricane Season 2010

Hurricane Season officially started on June 1st and lasts until November 30th, so we're almost halfway through it for 2010. Thus far, it's been pretty quiet out there in the Caribbean, but savvy cruisers know... storms happen. They're a fact of life. And, quite frankly, Mother Nature isn't interested in whether or not she spoils your cruise vacation. She does what she wants and when she wants to

Trusting Your Cruise Travel Resources

Every now and then I receive an email inquiry about something specific regarding a particular ship or a cruise line's policies. I try to answer such questions as responsibly as possible, either from first hand experience or by asking a trusted contact for details. I cover the cruise industry exclusively and won't write about subjects with which I'm unfamiliar. You really wouldn't want to read a

Cruise Travel: What You Can... & Can't Bring Home

You know you can't bring your cabin steward home at the end of a cruise, but what you may--and may not--take with you when you prepare to disembark might be a bit confusing.Cruise Diva clears up what You Can & Can't Bring Home. You may be surprised by our advice and our revelations.

What to Expect On Your Cruise: Days in Port

Land Ho!The Captain deftly inches your cruise ship alongside the pier as line handlers scurry to grab the ropes and secure them. The gangway appears and everyone is anxious to proceed ashore. But first there is a delay until the announcement that the ship has "cleared."What's that all about? Simple... before anyone can leave the ship, local immigration officials must give their approval—or "clear

What to Expect On Your Cruise: Sea Days

You've embarked on your cruise and are looking forward to a day at sea. What's that like?Keep in mind that all days at sea aren't identical, but they do have a lot in common. Most ships schedule activities, port talks, lectures, games, and fitness programs on a non-stop basis. Your daily schedule will be your guide to what's happening on board.This is the time to personalize your cruise

No Cuba Libre From Our Brit Cousins

Richard Sasso, CEO and President of MSC Cruises USA (pictured here), is one of the cruise industry’s savviest executives and when he speaks it's wise to pay attention. According to a recent article in the Palm Beach Daily News, Sasso’s opinion is that “Even if the United States lifts the travel ban to Cuba, don’t expect Havana to be a port of call for American cruise lines any time soon.”The Palm

What to Expect On Your Cruise: Embarkation Day

No two cruises are identical. Are your expectations realistic?Once the planning, packing, and anticipation are behind them, veteran cruise passengers sometimes view embarkation day as anticlimactic. However, for first-time cruise travelers, embarking on their first ship can be more than exhilarating—it can be downright intimidating. What exactly can you expect?First of all, keep in mind that your