Over the years, Galveston has grown from a sleepy port with seasonal service into a major player in the United States cruise industry. Today, it is among the busiest ports outside of Florida. And now it is on track to be even busier. Royal Caribbean has announced that Allure of the Seas — one of the cruise line’s largest ships — will homeport in Galveston, Texas starting in November 2022. This … [Read more...]

You’d be forgiven if you didn’t know how far out cruises are cancelled. Over the past year, it’s been a whirlwind of suspensions, with extensions happening seemingly every month since the CDC put in a new framework to return to sailing back in October 2020. In the latest round of suspensions, the major cruise lines have pushed out their return dates through at least May, meaning a potential to … [Read more...]

Normally the introduction of a brand-new cruise ship is reason enough to get cruisers interested. But in this case, Royal Caribbean’s announcement regarding who can sail on that ship is what is raising eyebrows. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean. In the case of the cruise line’s upcoming sailings for the new Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean announced that it will offer “fully vaccinated … [Read more...]

Notice: During the cruise suspension, many hotels have paused ‘Park & Cruise’ offers. Hotels listed below all offered parking before cruises stopped and likely will again once sailings return. We will update with the latest details once cruises are back. In the meantime, we suggest contacting the hotel for the current details before booking. Port Canaveral is among the busiest cruise ports in … [Read more...]

Will cruises to Alaska still sail this year? It’s far from certain, but there is at least a glimmer of hope. The 2021 Alaskan sailing season was thought to be lost for the second year in a row when Canada extended a ban on large cruise ships sailing in its waters until February 2022. This ban, which Cruzely covered here, stated that any “cruise vessels carrying more than 100 people” could no … [Read more...]

The past year has been nothing short of a nightmare for the travel industry, especially when it comes to cruising. With sailings from the United States paused in March 2020 and cruise lines pushing returns until at least June 2021, it will be well over a year that cruises will have been halted before they sail again. But cruise line executives continue to see encouraging signs, including … [Read more...]

Working while on a cruise? It is possible, even if it may not be what you had in mind on your vacation. While Internet connectivity has allowed us the ability to work from everywhere — including the middle of the ocean — it has also made us seemingly “on call” around the clock. That can mean that even when we are supposed to be relaxing on a vacation, we can still be bothered by meetings, email, … [Read more...]

It’s been a rough year, but the future looks brighter. That’s the main takeaway from a recent investor call Royal Caribbean Group held to update the public on its current business. In the hour-long conference call, company executives covered everything from vaccines to what’s happening with the CDC regarding a return to sailing, demand for cruises, and even enthusiasm among crew members to get … [Read more...]

Looking for a Spring Break getaway? What’s better than hitting the water, sailing to the Caribbean, and enjoying some of the most beautiful beaches in the world? What about doing all of that without spending a fortune? In fact, we’ve found some Spring Break cruises that allow you to sail — with a cabin and meals included — for in some cases less than a flight to the Caribbean. The truth is, Spring … [Read more...]

Looking for what your kids can do while you cruise as a family? If there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about, it’s hearing the words “I’m bored!” while you sail. Not every cruise ship is the same, but when it comes to the large lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC, they design ships to have something for everyone. So whether you are 8 years old or 80, there will be … [Read more...]

Looking for the least expensive way to get from Orlando to Port Canaveral for a cruise? Your options are nearly unlimited. It goes without saying that tourism is big business in Florida. If there is a need by even a handful of people who are visiting, a business will pop-up to cater to them. That includes getting to the port. If you are flying into Orlando for your cruise, then you have the most … [Read more...]

Is there anything that sounds better than retiring on a cruise ship? You get to see the world, be waited on hand and foot, eat lots of good food, and there’s always something to do. There are no dishes to wash, no lawn to mow, and you don’t even have to make your bed. Of course, we all know that those benefits to living on a cruise ship don’t come free. In fact, we’ve run the numbers and even … [Read more...]

Want an easy way to double your cruise money? That’s exactly what Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is offering with a new CruiseFirst offer that’s ongoing through February 19. With this program, you can buy a CruiseFirst certificate — essentially a gift certificate for a future cruise — at half-price. The voucher gives you $500 in credit for an upcoming cruise, at a cost of just $250. In other words, … [Read more...]

Looking for Port Canaveral parking during your cruise? The good news is that you’ll have plenty of choice across all price ranges. These days, Port Canaveral has turned into one of the busiest — and most popular — ports in the entire nation. Millions of passengers each year take cruises from the terminals near Orlando. Of course, that means millions of people each year have to make their way to … [Read more...]

Will I need a vaccine to cruise? It’s one of the biggest questions regarding the return of sailing.  Our opinion? Vaccines will come to cruising. With the vaccine rollout there is lots of optimism that the dose can get us over the health crisis and back to some semblance of normal. At the same time, some people have worries about the vaccine, aren’t eligible to receive it, or simply can’t get … [Read more...]

One of the most popular cruise ports in the world, Port Canaveral sees millions of passengers sail annually. Whether you want to sail Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian, or Disney, they all offer service from the port. Of course before you start your cruise, you have to figure out how to get to the ship. While Port Canaveral is often referred to as “sailing from Orlando,” it’s a decent … [Read more...]

While the Alaskan cruise season wasn’t slated to begin for months, it has likely already ended. Today, the Canadian government announced it is banning cruise ships from its waters until 2022. Ports like Vancouver will not allow cruise ships in 2021, stopping Alaskan cruises. According to a statement released to the public: Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced … [Read more...]

Cruises aren’t sailing from the United States, but if a new order from the CDC is still in place whenever they do sail, it could mean a big change to what many people expected. The new order requires masks to be worn on transportation methods like planes, trains, and ships. But it doesn’t spell out exceptions for areas like pools on cruise ships that are outside and where it is possible to … [Read more...]

It used to be that sports betting was the realm of Las Vegas or a local book that would take bets. But over the past several years there has been a revolution in opening of sports betting markets. Today dozens of states now permit some form of sports bets, with many offering the ability to place bets online. Image courtesy of Princess Cruises Now you can add cruise ships to places that offer … [Read more...]

Months ago, with the CDC publishing a new framework to return to sailing, it seemed like a no-brainer that cruises — while already suspended for months — would definitely be back for 2021. In the past several weeks, however, there’ve been more questions of that thinking. Will cruises set sail again in 2021? Or will they continue to be stuck at the dock? First, cruise lines have continued to push … [Read more...]