Think of a cruise and you likely envision exotic ports, hitting the beach, or splashing in the clear blue water of the Caribbean. The truth is, however, the vast majority of your time on a cruise is actually spent on the ship. Consider that on a 7-day cruise, you might have three ports of call. Each of those port days consists of about eight hours docked. In other words, of the 160+ hours spent on … [Read more...]

Gratuity charges. Like death and taxes, it’s something that we simply can’t avoid. But it does help take the sting out of the payment — which can be hundreds of dollars for a cruise — when you understand what they are and how they work. For first-time Carnival cruisers, gratuity fees can come as a surprise when a passenger sets sail. While not included in the headline price of a cruise, these … [Read more...]

If you’re heading on a Carnival cruise, you likely know that you should bring your appetite. From the moment you step on board until you leave on debarkation day, there is food available all over the ship. In other words, you will never go hungry. But you might be overwhelmed by the amount of choices you have on the ship. In fact, Carnival Horizon — one of the line’s Vista-class of ships — has … [Read more...]

Sailing on Carnival for the first time? You’ve no doubt have some questions about what the experience is like. We’re here to give you a complete overview of what it’s like to sail on the cruise line. Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise line in North America, sailing from ports all over the United States to destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. Put … [Read more...]

Cruises aren’t back sailing just yet, but it looks like it’s finally going to happen in 2021. And that means if you’re willing to deal with some uncertainty, you can score some nice deals with this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. There’s little doubt that this year’s Black Friday will look different than in years past for most people. Instead of waiting out in the cold for the stores … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean is among the largest cruise lines in the world and extremely popular with passengers. That popularity is for good reason. While any cruise line can give you a great vacation, Royal Caribbean is at the cutting edge of what’s possible on a cruise ship. (Ice-skating? Bumper cars? Robotic bartenders? It’s all on Royal Caribbean.) Not only does the cruise line push the envelope of … [Read more...]

As a new feature on Cruzely, we wrap-up of what’s happened in cruising, what we’re watching, and more. The aim is to be informative, but also fun. Be sure to comment below and enjoy! Pool deck of the Norwegian Jade while docked in Miami. 1. More Cruise Cancellations Another week down… and another round of cruise cancellations. This time Carnival cancelled all their cruises through January 2021. … [Read more...]

Want to know what you’ll pay for gratuities on your cruise? It’s definitely smart to budget ahead of time as the cost of these charges can be hundreds of dollars. On a cruise, gratuities aren’t just expected to give a tip to the crew members if they go above and beyond. These days the cruise lines have made tipping expected, laying out daily gratuity amounts that are charged to each passenger’s … [Read more...]

While cruising can be among the most relaxing vacations, there are some aspects that can also be annoying. Particularly, it can sometimes feel like even though you’d paid for a cruise, you’re always spending more once you’re on the ship. In fact, onboard spending is big business. In Cruzely’s analysis of onboard spending reported by cruise lines, the amount spent once on the ship for an average … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line has extended its current suspension for another month, this time through January 31, 2021 for cruises sailing from all U.S. ports. In addition, cruises for most ports, including Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, New Orleans, and San Diego have been cancelled through February 28. Sailings aboard the Carnival Legend from Tampa are cancelled through March … [Read more...]

Perhaps no industry has been as tied to the negative aspects of the health crisis than cruising. But could your next cruise actually be safer than being in your own hometown? It’s been the stated goal of cruise line executives, and there is reason to think it may not be that far off. “We really do believe that it is possible to make it so that you are safer on a cruise ship than you are on main … [Read more...]

In total, more than 53 million people have tested positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began. That includes a number of high-profile names, including Tom Hanks, Prince William, and even President Donald Trump. And as for cruises, roughly 4,000 cases are reportedly tied to ships. That includes headline-making outbreaks like aboard the Diamond Princess at the start of the pandemic. But it … [Read more...]

There’s a major reason people love to take cruises. Yes, cruises are one of the best values for a vacation. And yes, the sun and the fun are huge draws. But more than anything, people love to cruise because it’s easy. You just pack your bags, find your cabin, and then you’re whisked away to exotic ports while everything you could want on vacation is just a few steps away. What could be … [Read more...]

Before cruises can get back to sailing, they must conduct “simulated voyages” per CDC requirements. These cruises are essentially practice sailings so that the crew, cruise line, and government officials can put healthy protocols in place and practice how real voyages will go. The cruises will have many of the same features as a regular cruise. To make it as realistic as possible, volunteer … [Read more...]

Wanted: Volunteers to take a cruise, eat, have a great time, enjoy the ship, and not pay a dime. The catch? You have to be willing to test an entirely new cruise experience that hasn’t been proven. Even so, the chance to sail aboard a ship before they return to sailing for the general public, and to enjoy taking a cruise for free is too good to pass up for many people. But not everyone will be … [Read more...]