First Aid Essentials You Should Always Bring on a Cruise

Cruises are meant to be relaxing sunshine, ocean views, great food, and stress-free days at sea. What most cruisers don’t plan for, though, is a trip to the ship’s medical center. And trust us: you don’t want your vacation budget disappearing because of a Band-Aid or a few pills.

The onboard medical facility is convenient and staffed with qualified professionals, but it’s also not covered by most health insurance plans and can be shockingly expensive. Something as simple as a minor illness or small injury can turn into a bill of several hundred dollars or more.

Top 5 Cruise News Stories for Aug 31, 2026

Passenger Dies After Falling From Balcony Aboard Norwegian Getaway

A passenger aboard Norwegian Getaway died Sunday evening after falling from a balcony onto a lower deck as the ship was returning to Miami. The incident occurred on the final night of a three-night Bahamas cruise. According to passengers, the guest fell from approximately Deck 10 or 11 onto the promenade deck on Deck 7.

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the incident, saying the crew responded immediately and attempted to provide life-saving measures, but the passenger did not survive. The cruise line said in a statement, “Our thoughts are with the guest's family during this very difficult time.”

Carnival’s Reservation System Will Be Down for 18 Hours This Weekend: What Cruisers Need to Know

If you were planning to book a Carnival cruise, make changes to an existing reservation or take care of some pre-cruise business this weekend, you may want to do wait.

Carnival Cruise Line is scheduled to take its reservation system offline for approximately 18 hours beginning Saturday, August 29, 2026, for planned maintenance.

This isn't an unexpected outage or another Carnival website glitch. The cruise line has scheduled the downtime to perform updates to its reservation systems and while 18 hours may not sound like a long time, it can be inconvenient if you happen to need access during that window.

New Video Friday and weekly Recap 8/28/26

Every Friday we release a new video on our YouTube Channel

This week we feature: How to navigate through MSC's MSC for Me APP

(CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKS VIDEO)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Royal Caribbean Ships With No Smoking Casinos in 2026 - If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2026 and wondering whether any ships have completely smoke-free casinos, the short answer is no, but there’s an important distinction that makes the policy a bit more nuanced than it first appears. (CLICK HERE TO READ MORE)

Royal Caribbean Is Asking Voyager of the Seas Guests to Give Up Their Alaska Cruise — Again

Royal Caribbean is once again asking guests booked aboard Voyager of the Seas if they're willing to give up their cruise. And this time, it's for an Alaska sailing scheduled to depart Seattle on September 4, 2026.

What's particularly interesting about this latest offer isn't just the incentives Royal Caribbean is putting on the table. It's the fact that this is another similar offer involving Voyager of the Seas in just a few months. In fact, we know firsthand what it's like to receive one of these offers.

We were booked aboard Voyager of the Seas for its July 17, 2026 Alaska sailing, and Royal Caribbean made a very similar offer to guests booked on our cruise. Now it's happening again.

Norwegian Aura: NCL Reveals New Dining, Wellness and Family Experiences Coming to Its Newest Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line is giving cruisers a closer look at what they can expect aboard Norwegian Aura, the line’s newest and largest ship to date.

The ship is the newest addition to Norwegian’s Prima Plus Class and will introduce several new concepts for NCL, including the cruise line’s first dedicated Indian specialty restaurant, a completely reimagined complimentary dining venue and what NCL says will be its most expansive Thermal Suite yet.

But Norwegian Aura isn't just about adding more restaurants and attractions. NCL says the ship has been designed around giving guests more space to relax, socialize and move between different areas of the ship.

Carnival Rewards Begins September 1: What Happens to Your VIFP Status?

For years, Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP Club was pretty simple: the more days you spent on a Carnival ship, the higher your status climbed. Cruise enough, and you moved from Blue to Red, then Gold, Platinum and eventually Diamond. That all changes on September 1, 2026, when Carnival launches its new Carnival Rewards program.

And while Carnival Rewards brings some things that we think are genuinely interesting, it also changes one of the things many longtime Carnival cruisers have valued most: knowing that the status you worked to earn would stay with you. For us, that's a pretty big deal.

We're currently Carnival Gold, and under the old VIFP system, we were only 10 days away from reaching Platinum. Now those 10 days don't carry the same meaning they once did and because we live a long way from the cruise ports, that's frustrating.

Top 5 Cruise News stories for Aug 24, 2026

Carnival Valor Suddenly Lists in Mississippi River, Sending Pool Water Onto Deck

Passengers aboard Carnival Valor got quite a scare during the early morning hours of August 17 when the ship suddenly listed while making its way up the Mississippi River toward New Orleans.

The 110,000-gross-ton ship was returning from a four-night Western Caribbean cruise when passengers say the ship made a sudden, hard turn. Some guests reported that the maneuver was made to avoid a cargo ship that had apparently lost power in the river, although Carnival has not confirmed that detail.

Carnival "Dive in Movies" for September

Here are the "Dive in Movies" that will be shown on the outdoor screens on most Carnival ships. On ships without a outdoor screen they will be show in a indoor venue. For specific movies that are playing on your cruise, check your daily printed Fun Times schedule or the Carnival HUB app. 

Disclosure Day - If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? (WATCH TRAILER HERE)

Goat - A small goat with big dreams gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball, a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. (WATCH TRAILER HERE)

Royal Caribbean Ships With No Smoking Casinos in 2026

If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2026 and wondering whether any ships have completely smoke-free casinos, the short answer is no, but there’s an important distinction that makes the policy a bit more nuanced than it first appears.

Across the Royal Caribbean fleet, smoking is still allowed inside the casino on most ships. However, nearly every ship that operates in standard North American and European itineraries now features designated non-smoking casino sections, meaning you can still enjoy gaming without being in the smoking area. The key issue is that these sections are not always fully separated rooms, and that difference matters a lot depending on your sensitivity to smoke.

New Video Friday and weekly Recap 8/21/26

Every Friday we release a new video on our YouTube Channel

This week we feature: Day 4 of our Carnival Glory cruise when we visit Nassau and experience a thunderstorm on the ship. 

(CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKS VIDEO)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

MSC Cruises Reveals New Catalina Sugar Beach Destination in the Dominican Republic - MSC Cruises is getting ready to give Caribbean cruisers another reason to look forward to a day in the Dominican Republic. (CLICK HERE TO READ MORE)

MSC World Asia Will Bring a New Level of Wellness to the Mediterranean

We've been following MSC World Asia for quite some time as the newest addition to MSC Cruises' World Class fleet continues to take shape. Now we're getting a closer look at another part of the ship that passengers will be able to experience when the ship enters service later this year.

MSC Cruises has revealed more details about the ship's MSC Aurea Spa, which the cruise line says will be its most comprehensive wellness offering yet.

MSC World Asia will enter service on December 4, 2026, sailing seven-night Mediterranean cruises visiting some of the region's most popular destinations. The itineraries will include Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Messina and Valletta.

We're Heading Back to Carnival! Join Us on Mardi Gras in August 2027

We have another cruise booked!

We're excited to announce that we'll be sailing aboard Carnival Mardi Gras on August 23, 2027, and we can't wait to share the experience with all of you.

If you've followed us for a while, you know that although we enjoy sailing with several different cruise lines, we somehow always seem to find our way back to Carnival. That decision wasn't necessarily an easy one this time.

Should You Keep Prescription Medications in Their Original Bottles on a Cruise?

One of the most common questions we hear from cruisers is: "Do I need to keep my prescription medications in their original bottles, or can I use a daily pill organizer?" It's a great question, especially for anyone who takes multiple medications each day. Pill organizers make it much easier to stay on schedule, save space in your luggage, and eliminate the hassle of sorting medications once you're onboard.

The answer, however, isn't always as simple as yes or no. It depends on where you're traveling, how you're getting there, and the countries your cruise will visit.

Top 5 Cruise News Stories for Aug 17, 2026

Carnival Launches Shoe Recycling Program Across Its U.S. Fleet

Carnival Cruise Line is giving cruisers a new reason to think twice before throwing out those old shoes.

The cruise line has become the first cruise line to partner with Sneaker Impact, a Miami-based organization that keeps unwanted footwear out of landfills. The new program is being rolled out across Carnival's U.S. fleet and will collect shoes left behind on ships as well as footwear donated by guests and crew.

Once collected, the shoes are sent to Sneaker Impact's facility in Miami, where each pair is evaluated. Shoes that are still wearable can be provided to small business owners in developing countries, allowing them to sell the footwear while providing affordable shoes to communities where they may be harder to obtain.

MSC Cruises Reveals New Catalina Sugar Beach Destination in the Dominican Republic

MSC Cruises is getting ready to give Caribbean cruisers another reason to look forward to a day in the Dominican Republic.

The cruise line has revealed more details about Catalina Sugar Beach, a new beach destination on Catalina Island, just off the coast of La Romana. The destination is being developed in partnership with CTL Maritime and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas and is scheduled to open to guests in November 2026. Catalina Sugar Beach will be available to cruise passengers sailing with MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, as well as guests staying at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. For MSC Cruises, the new destination is part of a bigger change coming to its Caribbean schedule.

New Video Friday and weekly Recap 8/14/26

Every Friday we release a new video on our YouTube Channel

This week we feature: The Doubletree Seattle Airport where we stayed before our Alaska cruise

(CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKS VIDEO)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Norwegian Sky's Final NCL Cruise Canceled Before It Can Even Set Sail

The farewell cruise for Norwegian Sky has been canceled before the ship even gets the chance to say goodbye.

(CLICK HERE TO READ MORE)

Carnival Guests Experience First Ever Solar Eclipse Cruise

Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever solar eclipse cruise gave guests a front-row seat to a rare celestial event from the open waters. The 11-day Carnival Journeys voyage aboard Carnival Legend departed Aug. 9 from Dover, England and is taking guests to destinations in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France, with the eclipse serving as the sailing’s signature moment when the ship is at sea.

On Aug. 12, guests gathered on deck to safely watch the moon pass in front of the sun as the ship sailed through the path of totality, placing guests directly beneath the eclipse's shadow for a rare view of the total solar eclipse.

Can You Smoke on Your Cruise Ship Balcony?

               Star Princess on March 23, 2006

One of the most common questions cruisers ask is:

"Can I smoke on my balcony?"

The answer is simple: on most cruise lines, no.

While there are a few exceptions around the world, the vast majority of major cruise lines serving North American travelers prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies. If you're planning a cruise and you're a smoker, it's important to understand the rules before you sail.

There was a time when smoking on cruise ship balconies was fairly common. However, many cruise lines changed their policies following a tragic fire aboard the cruise ship Star Princess on March 23, 2006.

Top 5 Cruise News Stories for Aug 10, 2026

Norwegian Sky's Final NCL Cruise Canceled Before It Can Even Set Sail

The farewell cruise for Norwegian Sky has been canceled before the ship even gets the chance to say goodbye.

Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled the ship's September 9, 2026, sailing, which was supposed to be the final voyage for the 27-year-old ship under the Norwegian flag. The original 21-day itinerary was scheduled to sail from Athens through the Suez Canal and into Dubai, but concerns about the ongoing situation in the Middle East had already forced Norwegian to make changes to the voyage.

Now, NCL has decided the safest option is to cancel the sailing completely.

New Video Friday and weekly Recap 8/7/26

Every Friday we release a new video on our YouTube Channel

This week we feature: Day 3 of our Carnival Glory cruise

We visit Celebration Key!

(CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKS VIDEO)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

9 Things Every Cruiser Should Do Right After Boarding - You've finally made it onboard! After months of planning, counting down the days, and dreaming about your vacation, it can be tempting to head straight to the nearest bar and order that first vacation drink.

But before you fully switch into cruise mode, there are a few things you should take care of first. Getting these items out of the way early will make the rest of your cruise smoother and help you avoid long lines later in the day. (CLICK HERE TO READ MORE)

Carnival Cruise Line Ships With No Smoking Casinos in 2026

One of the most common questions from Carnival cruisers in 2026 is whether any ships in the fleet offer a completely smoke-free casino. It’s an understandable concern, especially for guests who enjoy spending time at the slots or tables but prefer to avoid cigarette smoke. The reality, however, is that Carnival’s casino smoking policies are still based on designated areas rather than fully smoke-free casinos across the fleet.

As of 2026, Carnival Cruise Line does not operate any ships with a completely smoke-free main casino. Smoking is still permitted in designated casino areas while the casino is open and active, and this policy remains consistent across most of the fleet. What has changed over the years is not a full elimination of smoking, but rather the introduction of better separation between smoking and non-smoking sections on select ships.

Juneau Preparing for Seasonal Glacier Flooding: What Alaska Cruise Passengers Should Know

If you're sailing to Alaska in the next few weeks, you may be hearing about the potential for flooding near Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Don't panic.

While local officials are preparing for another seasonal glacial outburst flood, the good news is that most cruise passengers are unlikely to see major disruptions to their visit.

MSC Cruises Unveils Expansive Retail Offering Aboard MSC World Asia

Guests can discover a world of sophisticated and diverse shopping aboard MSC Cruises' newest flagship, MSC World Asia, when she begins sailing the Mediterranean in December 2026.

Whether searching for the perfect gift, a luxury statement piece, or a unique keepsake, guests will find a curated collection of boutiques and world-renowned brands all in one dynamic shopping destination at sea.​

Top 5 Cruise News Stories for Aug 3, 2026

Dog-Friendly Cruise Promoted as First of Its Kind Turns Out to Be a Scam

A cruise that promised to let passengers bring their dogs onboard has ended in disappointment after organizers admitted the event was never officially approved by the cruise line.

The sailing, promoted by a company called Cruise Tails, was scheduled to take place aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander from Tampa in November 2025. It was advertised as the first-ever dog-friendly cruise, inviting pet owners to "put the bark in em-bark."

However, Margaritaville at Sea later confirmed it had never authorized the event and was not affiliated with the promotion. As questions mounted, the organizers acknowledged they had not secured an agreement with the cruise line before selling the concept.

Would You Book a Cruise Without Knowing the Ports? Windstar Cruises Thinks You Might.

Most cruise vacations begin with months of planning. Cruisers spend hours researching ports, booking shore excursions, and watching YouTube videos to decide what they want to do in each destination. But what if you boarded a cruise without knowing where you were going? That's exactly what Windstar Cruises is offering with its unique Spanish Mystery Cruise sailing in 2026.

The seven-night sailing departs from Barcelona on November 4, 2026, aboard the Star Legend and ends in Málaga but here's the twist: Passengers won't know which ports they'll be visiting until the cruise is underway.

9 Things Every Cruiser Should Do Right After Boarding

You've finally made it onboard! After months of planning, counting down the days, and dreaming about your vacation, it can be tempting to head straight to the nearest bar and order that first vacation drink.

But before you fully switch into cruise mode, there are a few things you should take care of first. Getting these items out of the way early will make the rest of your cruise smoother and help you avoid long lines later in the day.

1. Complete the Muster Drill

The muster drill is the first thing you should take care of after boarding.

If you're new to cruising, the muster drill is a mandatory safety procedure designed to familiarize you with your muster station, the location you'll report to in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Many cruise lines now use an e-muster system where you watch a safety video on the cruise line's app or your cabin television and then check in at your assigned muster station. Other cruise lines may still conduct a more traditional drill.

Since every cruise line handles it a little differently, it's best to complete the process as soon as possible so you can enjoy the rest of your day.