The Most Hated Cruise Line ‘Added Fee’

These days, experiencing a mega-ship’s full raft of options requires a willingness to pay extra — at the for-fee alternative restaurant, for the late-night room service and pizza delivery, for the opportunity to wear a bathrobe. Sure, these extras are optional, but there are still certain fees that leave cruisers emotionally spent.

Wave Season Superlatives: Which Lines Have the Best Deals?

Call us Scrooges, but we find it hard to be impressed with Wave Season offers. Every January, we get excited about forthcoming cruise deals only to be disappointed by the actual promotions. Perhaps that’s because we want to see really cheap prices and amazing upgrades, rather than the same old onboard credit, upgrades within the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Winning a ‘Free’ Cruise

Onboard Norwegian Gem on a sea day, as we cruised back to New York from the Bahamas, we were watching the Czech Republic get routed by Russia in the 2012 Euro Cup when my husband reminded me it was time for the final bingo session of the sailing — the one at which they give [...]

Would You Book This ‘Bad Balcony?’

I’ve long subscribed to the sentiment that there’s no such thing as a bad cruise ship balcony — but my opinion might be changing. Onboard the brand-new MSC Divina in a forward-facing balcony cabin, you understand the need for the pictured wall of windows: It’s to protect occupants from the blustery winds that front-of-ship cabins [...]

Deal or No Deal: Is This Package Deal Worth Unwrapping?

When it comes to cruising, identifying a truly great deal can be a challenge. Fares don’t typically vary by more than a few dollars between the cruise lines, or from travel agency to travel agency. Savvy shoppers know that the things to really look out for are added amenities and package deals that offer savings [...]

Deal or No Deal: Will You Really Save on This Costa Offer?

If you’re a big Princess or Carnival fan, check your e-mail inbox for a missive from sister line Costa, which apparently is reaching out to Carnival Corp. siblings to fill its ships. We received an offer this morning dangling up to $300 in onboard credit if we booked a Costa cruise.