Giveaway: The Man of 1,000 Cruises

After 1,000 cruises, it’s fair to say Douglas Ward has an opinion or two. One of the most esteemed names in cruise writing, Ward has spent more than 30 years taking scrupulous notes and making honest appraisals of main dining room cuisine, cruise ship cabins and at-sea service. (That’s after years working on ships in [...]

Cruiser on Your List? You (Almost) Can’t Miss With This Gift

Looking for a can’t-miss, last-minute gift for the cruiser on your list? Give the gift of onboard credit. Mainstream, big-ship cruising has always been a la carte — but these days there are more added-fee options than ever, from specialty dining to babysitting to upcharge entertainment. (See how readers rate these fees on the Nickel [...]

Can an Adult Couple with No Kids Have Fun on a Disney Cruise?

During the recent national conference of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. cruise sellers, I had the opportunity to sail on Disney Dream for three nights. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew I’d be able to have my photo taken with Mickey and his pals, as well as the Disney princesses if I wanted – [...]

Kill a Virus, Win a Prize

Along with the secrets to losing weight onboard while still stuffing yourself at the buffet and a surefire way to attain a free cabin upgrade, many cruisers are also searching for the Holy Grail of norovirus protection. From obsessive hand washing to investing in all sorts of hand sanitizers, Cruise Critic members have likely tried [...]

Grandma Forsakes Gambling for Grandkids

Veteran cruiser CaroleR‘s four-day Bahamas cruise aboard Disney Dream was a scouting expedition to see if Disney cruises were a good bet for her grandchildren. She was just sorry to have to relinquish her own betting to do so. She missed gambling in a casino at sea, but wouldn’t try bingo for fear it would [...]

Steal of the Week: Cruise the Bahamas from $48 Per Night

Everyone is looking for the deal of the century. So how do you choose the one that’s right for you? Check the Lido Deck each week to get the scoop on our favorite deals — then grab the phone and pack your bags. THE DEAL: Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a five-night cruise aboard Carnival [...]

Honeymoon Cruise: A Marriage That Will Definitely Weather Rough Seas

Something tells us that cruising virgin Happy New Cruiser‘s new marriage is going to last. He and his wife just returned from their honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean aboard Holland America’s Noordam. Why do we think this relationship will weather marriage’s rough seas? It could be that he describes missing embarkation due to airplane mechanical [...]

Steal of the Week: Cruise Across the Atlantic from $47 Per Night

Everyone is looking for the deal of the century. So how do you choose the one that’s right for you? Check the Lido Deck each week to get the scoop on our fave deals — then grab the phone and pack your bags. THE DEAL: MSC Cruises is offering a 15-night transatlantic cruise aboard MSC [...]