Poll Position: A Pitstop in Giglio

More than eight months since the tragic sinking of Costa Concordia off the coast of Giglio, Italy, officials are working to remove the wreck and decide on a punishment for the captain whose poor judgment allegedly caused the accident. With all sorts of talk about a proper memorial for those who lost their lives, we [...]

A Cruise Back in Time: Fares Then and Now

While reading an old copy of a book that once belonged to my travel-loving grandfather, I was startled when a makeshift bookmark fell into my lap. It was a yellowed advertisement for cruises — specifically, sailings aboard Cunard‘s iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 — torn from a USAir magazine, circa October 1982. Itineraries noted on the [...]

Poll Position: Port Preparation

Many factors come into play when planning a voyage: cruise line, ship offerings and size, and price. But lately we’ve been wondering how itineraries (which ranked highest among our readers on a recent poll‘s list of things that affect bookings) factor into the equation, particularly as they relate to individual ports of call. With so [...]

What if Norwegian Breakaway’s Hull Was Designed By …

The first rendering of Peter Max’s Norwegian Breakaway hull has garnered mixed reviews. It’s the first cruise ship hull ever designed by a famous artist, so, naturally, we wondered: What if NCL had asked another art icon to tackle the massive project? Not that our four suggested picks are up to the task (they’re dead), [...]

Poll Position: It’s All in the Itinerary

We know price is important to most cruisers; there’s little else that’s as satisfying as enjoying a trip while knowing you snagged a great deal. But, cost aside, which other aspect of the cruise experience do you value most? We polled our readers to find out.

Poll Position: Time to Dine

There are lots of nuances when it comes to dining times. If you’re more traditional, you likely opt for a set time. However, there are issues to consider when requesting particular seatings. For example, earlier dining times will probably have more children, and later dining times can mean you have to wait an extra couple [...]

Poll Position: Are Balconies Best?

Despite recent cabin advancements on newer ships, there are still basically four main stateroom types: insides, outsides, balconies and suites. We here at Cruise Critic often debate among ourselves which is best. Our recent poll, which drew more than 5,500 votes on the subject, put one type clearly ahead of all others when it comes [...]

Poll Position: The Cost of Celebrity Cuisine

Lately it seems that every time a new ship launches, it includes some sort of fancy celebrity chef-affiliated dining venue. That would be fine and dandy if there weren’t so many extra fees to accompany all of the fuss. So, we wondered whether you think a celebrity name and associated cuisine is worth the cost.