There is still a bit of a wait but readers have already decided on their “Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
Spectrum of the Seas is a future cruise ship that is currently under construction for Royal Caribbean at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Cruise Hive readers voted the ship as the “Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards.
The future Royal Caribbean vessel will be the first Quantum Ultra class ship, an evolution of the current Quantum-class ships. The ship will have a similar design but be larger than Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas. Spectrum of the Seas will be 168,800 gross tons and be able to carry 4,200 passengers at double occupancy. The future ship will arrive in 2019 and there is even a second sister ship on order for 2020.
Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship Results
In 2nd place in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards came Norwegian Bliss, a Breakaway Plus-class vessel for Norwegian Cruise Line which will arrive in 2018. Norwegian Bliss will be 167,800 gross tons and be able to carry over 4,000 guests at double occupancy.
In 3rd place with a fair amount of votes came the first ever Virgin Voyages cruise ship, which is being built by Fincantieri in Genoa, Italy. This adults-only vessel is set to be unique and offer a new style of cruising. The ship will sail from Miami, Florida and will be 110,000 gross tons carrying 2,800 guests. The future Virgin Voyages ship will arrive in 2020.
In 4th place came the future World Class ship for MSC Cruises. The ship is still far away from arriving in 2022, but we do know it will be powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), built by STX France, and be 200,000 gross tons. You can read more details about the original announcement by MSC in May 2017.
In 5th place came Aidanova for German-based Aida Cruises. This will be the largest ever cruise ship to be built for the Carnival-owned cruise line and there are more on the way for other cruise brands too. Aidanova will be completed in December 2018 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The future vessel will be 180,000 gross tons and be able to carry 6,600 passengers, more than any other ship in the industry.
At the bottom of the results, with the lowest number of votes, came the future global class ship for Asian-based Star Cruises. Not much has yet been revealed from the cruise line, but we do know the first ship will be 201,000 gross tons and be able to carry around 5,000 passengers. The is set to be delivered in 2019.
It’s the first time we’ve done this category for the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. We aim to focus on the cruise ships in our awards to make them different from most. Voting has been open since September 2017 and thousands of cast a vote. Readers were only able to vote once and any repeats were not counted.
Congratulations to Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas, and we look forward to finding out more about the ship, which the cruise line will release over time the closer it gets to being completed.
Carnival Horizon has been voted as the “Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2018” in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards.
Here comes the final result: Carnival Horizon, which is the second Vista-Class cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line, has received more votes than any other new 2018 cruise ship in its category. Carnival Horizon won the group by a huge amount of votes by Cruise Hive readers in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards.
Carnival Horizon is currently under construction by Fincantieri in Italy and will be completed in Spring 2018, with its maiden voyage departing Barcelona, Spain, on April 2.
The sister ship to Carnival Vista will sail a series of cruises in Europe before sailing a transatlantic voyage to New York. During the summer, the new Carnival cruise ship will offer cruises to the Caribbean and Bermuda. Finally, in September, the ship will begin its year-round service from PortMiami, Florida.
The ship is now in the final stages of construction and once complete will be 133,500 gross tons and carrying almost 4,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Photo By: Carnival Cruise LIne
Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2018 Results
In the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards, this is the final category we’re announcing it is the biggest with the most amount of votes. Carnival Horizon was up against four other major cruise ships from different cruise lines, which are arriving in 2018.
The 2nd place went to Celebrity Edge, a totally new generation of cruise ship currently being built for Celebrity Cruises. This vessel has some innovative features, including the Magic Carpet, which may have helped the vessel get to second place. The new class ship will debut in December 2018 with Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship will be 117,000 gross tons and be able to carry 2,900 guests. Celebrity Edge is under construction at the STX France shipyard.
In 3rd place came Symphony of the Seas, which will join the Royal Caribbean fleet in March 2018. When this fourth Oasis-class ship enters service, it will become the world’s biggest cruise ship, taking over the crown from sister ship Harmony of the Seas. We were surprised that this ship didn’t win the “Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2018” category due to the much attention it received in the cruise industry. The 230,000 gross ton Royal Caribbean ship will sail its inaugural season in Europe and will then be based out of Miami, Florida, starting in November 2018.
In 4th place for our reader awards came Norwegian Bliss, which is currently under construction by Meyer Werft in Germany. This ship will be operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and join the fleet in April 2018, and will eventually be based in Seattle, Washington, for cruises in Alaska starting in June 2018. Norwegian Bliss will be the third Breakaway Plus class vessel at 167,800 gross tons and will carry 4,000 passengers.
In the final position with the least amount of votes was MSC Seaview, the sister ship to MSC Seaside which just recently started cruises from Miami, Florida. MSC Seaview is under construction by Fincantieri in Italy and will debut in June 2018. The vessel will spend its inaugural year in Europe and then sail cruises in South America. MSc Seaview will be 154,000 gross tons and be able to carry over 4,000 guests.
The “most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2018” category was the most popular in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. Thousands of Cruise Hive readers voted and chose Carnival Horizon. Readers were only able to vote once since the 4th annual awards started in September 2017. Any repeat votes from the same IP were not counted, and all final positions were double-checked.
We have now announced all the winners in all categories, which can be read at our dedicated Cruise Ship Awards page. We must say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in our very cruise ship-focused awards. Congratulations to Carnival Horizon and all the other winners in the 2017 awards. We’ll see you once again when we open the Cruise Ship Awards once again for the 5th time later in 2018.
A cruise is a fun, relaxing getaway, but with ships getting bigger and bigger and carrying more and more passengers – the world’s largest cruise ships can carry more than 6,500 passengers on a single sailing – it is inevitable that not everyone will get along. With so many people sharing the same facilities for a few fun-filled days, it is no surprise that some annoying behaviors will emerge.
Once you realize how annoying these things can be to your fellow passengers, however, you can be sure not to do them, and you will know how not to let annoying behaviors ruin your vacation.
The Most Annoying Things People Do on a Cruise Ship
Everyone has different pet peeves, but these behaviors are fairly universally annoying to most cruise ship passengers.
1. Saving Seats
Whether it is staking out a lounge chair by the pool, reserving a block of seats in the main show lounge, holding chairs at the comedy club, or taking up extra space at the lido restaurant, no one is happy to see one person saving many seats in popular seating areas, especially at busy times.
While everyone understands briefly holding chairs while someone may go get a drink or pick up their meal, it is rude and annoying to save seats for extended periods, especially if there is no one actually there and instead there are just towels, pieces of fruit, or other tokens to stake out the territory.
Avoid being this person by keeping your party together when you need seats, and sending only 1-2 people at a time away from the seating so there is no confusion about how many seats you need.
2. Children Out of Control
A cruise can be a great family vacation, and there are plenty of activities to keep younger cruisers engaged and out of trouble. Those activities do end, however, and there are times when parents need to more closely supervise their children. Kids running down hallways, turning hot tubs into impromptu water fights, pushing all the elevator buttons, or having “sword” fights on the miniature golf course quickly irritate and annoy other passengers.
Parents should be aware of where their children are at all times, and recognize that while it is important to relax and have fun on vacation, there should still be rules and consequences if children misbehave.
Video Footage By: KPRC 2
3. Overusing the Elevator
There are plenty of stairs on a cruise ship, and after a busy day, big meal, or late night, it may seem easier just to push the button and take the elevator all the time. When you’re only going one deck up or down, however, it can be annoying for other passengers who are using the elevator to cross several decks.
Of course no one should get annoyed when there may be mobility issues or other concerns that necessitate elevator use, but if you can go up and down just a single deck, it is better to use the stairs, and will burn off some of those rich cruise food calories besides.
4. Cutting in Line
From buffets to bingo card sales to waterslides to tender boats, there are many different lines you may wait in during your cruise. Nothing can be more annoying that thinking you’re nearly done waiting, only to have extra people cut ahead of you where just one or two members of their party have been holding places – or even just cutting in line without anyone having saved places at all.
If someone forgets something in the stateroom or needs to leave the line, it is better to let other people pass ahead until the missing person returns.
A vacation may be the perfect time to cut loose, but it is always annoying when a cruise passenger knowingly breaks the ship’s restrictions or even local laws. This might be trying to smuggle contraband onto the ship, which will slow down the security line for everyone, or it could be smoking on balconies, which is prohibited for safety reasons, or it might even be underage cruisers trying to get alcoholic drinks from law-abiding passengers.
These violations can be severely punished and may even cut a lawbreaker’s cruise short if they are put off the ship before the cruise ends.
6. Overindulging
Cutting loose doesn’t have to mean breaking the law, but even legal overindulgence can annoy other cruisers. Anyone who is severely drunk, obsessively gambling, or otherwise overindulging to the point where they disrupt others or cause a scene can put a damper on other passengers’ vacations.
These out-of-control behaviors can also lead to other consequences, including fines, confinement to the stateroom, or even being removed from the ship if passengers get belligerent or violent.
Photo By: Russell Otway
7. Excessive Noise
Part of a great vacation is a chance to sleep in, take a nap, or otherwise relax in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, but passengers who are too loud will annoy everyone with their antics. It might be slamming doors, talking loud in narrow hallways, televisions or music turned up loudly, or yelling and carrying on at shows or by the pool, but it is never enjoyable for everyone else.
This is especially true on stateroom decks or in areas designated as quieter spaces, such as an adults-only retreat, the ship’s spa, or the library or chapel. Using an inside voice and respecting others’ desire for peaceful quiet is essential to be sure you aren’t the annoying noisemaker on board.
8. Disrespectful Attitudes
No one likes to be disrespected or bear the brunt of rude behavior, and it is also annoying to see that behavior inflicted on others. Anyone who is blatantly being rude or disrespectful to crew members, other passengers, or even tour operators or retailers in ports of call gives all cruise passengers a bad reputation.
It is always best to be courteous and respectful of other cultures, countries, and beliefs, and a cruise ship should be a wonderful opportunity to meet people from many places and learn about those differences rather than be annoying.
9. Filming a Documentary
Photos and videos are a great way to capture all the memorable moments of your cruise, but if you believe every single second of your getaway is worthy of recording, you will be one of those annoying passengers who can’t put the camera down.
Selfie sticks, constantly stopping for a new pose, and always getting in the way of others for your photos is very irritating behavior, and we should all be realistic – are you going to look at hundreds of photos or hours of video after your vacation ends?
Certainly, you want to take some great photos to share with friends and family members, but make sure you take time to put the camera away and just enjoy being on your cruise.
Photo By: Russell Otway
10. Hogging Equipment
While they may be filled with state-of-the-art features, cruise ships still have limited facilities and it can be annoying when a passenger monopolizes equipment.
This can be a common problem in the gym or fitness center, when there are only a few specific cardio machines yet one passenger may decide to spend an hour or more on the treadmill or elliptical while other passengers wait to use it.
Other areas that might have annoying usage hogs include casino games, games of chance, arcade games, hot tubs, hammocks, or the miniature golf course. To decrease the frustration, it is best if passengers – while feeling free to use whatever equipment they like – are mindful of others and limit their use of the most popular items so everyone can share.
11. Staying in the Spotlight
There are many chances to shine on a cruise ship, from winning trivia contests or deck games to volunteering to go on stage at a show, joining in a dance contest, or otherwise getting involved, and in fact getting involved can make your cruise even more memorable.
It is memorable to other passengers for all the wrong reasons, however, when one person constantly strives to be a star and get special attention. Whether that passenger is an enthusiastic adult or an attention-craving child, it is still annoying and once a person has had their shining moment, they should let others have theirs.
12. Being Late
Cruise ships can have very structured schedules, particularly when the day is crowded with different activities both on board and on shore. When one passenger is late, it can annoy everyone else waiting for the same event, whether that means starting a trivia contest over or delaying dining service to accommodate the latecomer.
Even if the activity is not delayed, such as an evening show, a late arrival will irritate other passengers when they are talking, moving in front of seated guests, or otherwise disrupting the event because they weren’t courteous enough to be on time.
13. Complaining, Complaining, Complaining
When something is upsetting, it can be helpful to talk it over with another person. When a passenger is constantly complaining about different issues, however, they might be annoying others enough to lodge their own complaints.
This is particularly true if the complaints are about relatively minor annoyances, such as long lines or crowded elevators, or things that are out of anyone’s control, such as poor weather. When something is a legitimate grievance, registering a complaint with the proper officials can be useful, but otherwise, nagging complaints should be kept to a minimum.
14. Excessive PDA
There’s no place better to celebrate love than on a cruise ship, whether it is for an onboard wedding, honeymoon, or just a romantic getaway with someone special. That romance shouldn’t spill over into everyone else’s vacation, however, especially when affectionate touching, kisses, and other behaviors might not always be seen as appropriate for public settings.
While friendly romance is certainly fine, if those gestures are better left for private areas, couples should retire to their cabins rather than annoy other passengers with too much physical friendliness.
15. Loyalty Bragging
It can be great to earn rewards by being a loyal cruiser to one cruise line, but it isn’t so great to brag about those rewards and demand special service with every voyage.
Past passengers should understand the benefits they’ve earned, but also understand that those benefits do not entitle them to behave rudely or otherwise annoy fellow passengers or abuse crew members with unreasonable requests.
If You Are Annoyed
Whether it is your first cruise or your fiftieth, you’re sure to encounter some annoying behaviors. The best way to handle that annoyance without overshadowing an otherwise fun vacation is to stay calm and polite at all times, walking away, or avoiding situations that are irritating.
While it may occasionally be necessary to seek help to resolve an annoying situation, such as calling security to handle extreme noise or asking servers not to delay dinner service for a perpetually late passenger, it is always best to remember the point of your cruise vacation – to relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself, not to worry about the behaviors of other passengers, and certainly not to let others ruin your cruise.
Carnival Horizon is the second Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, and there is one dining venue onboard that steals the show, and it’s called Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse.
Even though the smokehouse is featured on some other Carnival cruise ships, the space on Carnival Horizon is the first dedicated venue, which also features a brewhouse with exclusively brewed ales just for the ship.
We’ll go into more details further below, and all the things about Carnival Horizon’s BBQ venue, which is in partnership with Guy Fieri.
1. Smokehouse Favorites
One of the main aspects of Guy’s new smokehouse is the food! The BBQ-inspired dishes have been put together by Food Network chef Guy Fieri, who is also well known on Carnival ships for the popular Guy’s Burger Joint.
The restaurant includes the main BBQ favorites, including brisket custom-smoked for 12 hours, Memphis-style baby back ribs, dry-rubbed and grill-finished chicken, pulled pork, and cedar-smoked salmon with an apricot glaze.
The tasty favorites are, of course, all cooked low and slow. Guy’s very own rubs and spice are also added to add that extra special signature taste. All of this is served with coleslaw, sweet pickles, and golden honey cornbread or Texas toast.
2. Guy’s Signature Dishes
That’s not all! Diners can enjoy the smokehouse signature dishes including Dragon Chili Cheese Fries featuring smoked beef brisket, cheddar cheese, onions, and jalapenos; Trash Can Nachos topped with pulled pork; Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ sauce, and melted cheese; The Smokehouse Melt, with pulled pork, sliced brisket, double smoked pork belly bacon, two slices of cheddar cheese, homemade pickles and donkey sauce.
3. Exclusive Sources
To complete Guy’s BBQ food are the choice of different sources and side dishes. There are several sources to get the taste buds going and even some Carnival Exclusives including Smokey Chipotle, Gold Coast Yellow Mustard, Black Pepper, and Burning Tomato.
4. BBQ Side Dishes
The side dishes have also been created by Guy Fieri and they are Longhorn Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Beer-Braised Cowboy Pinto Beans, Sweet Potato Bourbon Mash, Mashed Potatoes with Red Eye Gravy and Burnt Ends, and Buttermilk Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Almonds.
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line
5. Brewery
Just like sister ship Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon has its very own brewery located inside Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse. This is where the head Carnival brew master, Colin Presby, puts together those exclusive beers, and guests can even see what’s going on through the windows as they get stuck into one of Guy’s signature dishes.
6. Craft Beers
So let’s take a more detailed look at those beers that are only available on the Carnival Horizon and first announced in January 2018. The four beers have been specifically created onboard to complement the BBQ dishes.
ParchedPig Smoked Porter
Brewed with in-house smoked malt, this robust, full-bodied beer offers big and bold flavors and notes of molasses and hickory smoke, providing the perfect complement to Smokehouse|Brewhouse’s BBQ favorites
ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale
This lightly hopped beer is distinguished by its blond color, fruity and complex character, with mild spice notes that balance the brew’s dry finish
ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale
Highlighted by its rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit, this beer is well balanced, smooth, and highly drinkable
ParchedPig West Coast IPA
The embodiment of a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale, this hoppy, intense beer is loaded with bitterness, with a bright flavor profile and distinctive aroma of citrus and pine
7. The Bar
The is a nice long bar near the entrance of the specialty restaurant where guests can relax and not just enjoy the craft beers. The bar has it all including cocktails, bottled beer and a wide selection of whiskeys.
A major highlight is the venues Hig Sampler as seen in the image further above. Guests can try all four of the specially brewed Carnival Horizon craft beers. It only costs $.75 to try them all! Of course, a regular sized beer can be ordered too along with an exclusive “Stay Cold Growler” costing $48.95.
8. Free Menu for Lunch
On embarkation day and sea days on Carnival Horizon Guy’s Pig & Anchor, there will be a free lunch menu available. This will be a good way for guests to try out the venue before going all in on one of the evenings on a la carte basis.
It will be a buffet service starting from noon until 2 PM. This could change in the future so do check first when you get on the ship.
Just imagine enjoying smoked food, refreshing craft beer, a view of the brewery all with live music too! When the barbeque restaurant is open there will be a live band playing music into the night. Expect some great all American tunes to delight diners.
10. Inspired Decor
This is the first full BBQ restaurant in the fleet, and the venues feature the type of style you would think of when eating this type of food. There is a very rustic feeling with lots of brows and grays.
There are red broken walls and a wooden floor with a seating area inside and outside on the deck. There is a seating capacity of 138, and it is located on the ship’s Promenade deck.
Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse is Where You Should Be!
If you ever do take a cruise on Carnival Horizon, then this is a must-visit dining venue onboard. It is the first in the fleet and opens full from 5 PM every evening, staying open until late at night.
Towel animals are a fun cruise tradition that many passengers of all ages look forward to each evening as a new, fluffy friend appears in their cabin. But what do you know about these terrycloth visitors and how can you find your favorites?
About Towel Animals
The exact origins of cruise ship towel animals are unknown, but the tradition is often linked to Carnival Cruise Line – after all, these creative creations add a bit more fun to a Fun Ship cruise. Today, towel animals are popular on many different lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Holland America Line. While they aren’t as common on more reserved cruise lines, they can still make surprise appearances, particularly if there are younger cruisers in the cabin.
Creating different animals out of bath towels, hand towels and washcloths is a fabric folding art related to napkin folding, origami and other decorative folding arts. While towel animals aren’t as elaborate as more advanced techniques, cruise ship cabin stewards have designed an impressive array of creatures from simple towels that may be folded, rolled, creased and twisted into different fun shapes.
Most stewards even add eyes and nostrils to their creations, and some may even add accessories to personalize the friends, such as sunglasses, caps, beads, rose petals or other accents.
Carnival Cruise Line even goes a bit further with its towel animals. Puppets of the most popular animals are unofficial hosts before evening shows in the main lounge, each cruise has a Towel Animal Theater puppet show for young cruisers and guests can even buy a book on Carnival’s towel folding techniques.
A popular activity on most Carnival cruises, as well as on other lines, is a towel folding demonstration class where guests can learn how to turn their own towels into fun friends, as well as see a wider variety of terrycloth creations on display.
Towel Animals You May See
There are always new and exciting towel animals appearing on different cruise ships. More easily recognizable animals are some of the most common and popular designs, including pigs, dogs, cats, frogs, elephants, gorillas and dinosaurs. More exotic creations do appear as well, including stingrays, seals, bears, snails, rabbits, turtles and anteaters.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
While these animals are typically placed on beds during the evening turndown service, some may even be hung from vents, window frames or mirrors, and bats and monkeys both make regular dangling appearances for guests.
You can actually buy Towel Animal books from Amazon right here.
Some cabin stewards may make much larger creations from multiple towels, such as alligators or even human-like figures, or romantic options such as hearts, flowers or a sweet pair of swans or peacocks may visit couples’ cabins.
The sizes, expressions and poses of towel animals can vary, all depending on the cabin steward’s creativity and what towels they choose for each creation. Guests who hope to find their favorite towel animal can always ask their steward about a particular animal or leave a note with a polite request.
It is important to be aware, however, that cabin stewards have many other duties, and it may not always be possible to meet more exotic requests. If the day has been very busy or a difficult situation arises, some nights may not feature towel animals at all.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
These fuzzy friends are a fun extra stewards add to guest cabins to make a cruise more enjoyable and memorable, but making towel animals is not an official part of a cabin steward’s duties.
Cruise passengers don’t have to wait for the evening turndown service or ask their steward to see their favorite towel animals, however. The towel stations near pools often have a pal or two on display, or can even make one if asked.
Housekeeping carts on different cabin decks often have a friendly towel animal keeping the staff company as well. On family-friendly cruise lines, there may be a big parade or display of towel animals at some point during the cruise, often in a large lounge or near the main pool where a whole menagerie of animals will gather.
When towel animals appear in your cabin, you are welcome to keep them around throughout the cruise, but it can be helpful to the cabin steward if you gently disassemble any you don’t need to keep. Multiple towel animals can quickly take up valuable space in small cabins, and if all the animals stay put for the entire cruise, that is a lot of towels the steward will need to take care of at the end of the trip.
Instead, if the animals are disassembled after being enjoyed for the evening, the same towels can be reused for new friends the next night. If there is a towel animal you want to keep throughout your cruise, however, you can move it to a safe location on a nightstand, table or desk, adorn it with your own accessories, or leave a thank you note to let your cabin steward know you want to enjoy the friend a bit longer.
Towel animals can be a fun part of your cruise vacation, bringing a bit of whimsy to your cabin and giving you even more to smile about as you enjoy a great getaway. Which ones have you seen?
With over 20 million people choosing to go on a cruise each year, the cruise industry is booming. While cruising is relatively affordable, many cruises charge extra for drinks and entertainment. Then, there are the costs associated with any of the locations you visit.
If you’re not careful, going on a cruise can really get expensive. Savvy passengers are always looking for a cruise price drop. Especially since the average person who goes on a cruise is over 50 and earns a median income of $109,000 and it becomes even more important to find ways to save.
With savings in mind, we’re sharing with you eight ways to check for a cruise price drop. Keep reading to learn what to look for.
1. Location Is Everything
Certain cruise lines will charge their passengers different amounts for the same class level of rooms that are just located in different locations on the ship.
A room on a higher deck might look the same as a room on a lower deck, but their prices might vary. That’s because it’s deemed to hold more value for passengers.
To enjoy a cruise price drop, ask to be placed automatically at the lowest room rate. You can also try getting a “cabin guarantee” which means you’ll get a cabin in at least the category specified. You also might get an upgrade.
Ship lines like Carnival tend to discount their guaranteed cabin bookings about $50 to $100 per person off their advertised fares.
2. Be Flexible With Cruise Dates
There are certain times during the year when you’ll witness a more dramatic cruise price drop. Those are usually the fall months when the kids are back at school and adults are back working after taking off time during the summer. You can also find lower rates between New Year’s and Spring Break. Most people are either hibernating during the winter or trying to pay off their holiday bills.
Other times like the period between Christmas and New Year’s fetch much higher prices. In fact, the rates are often double what someone would pay during the offseason. You’ll also find higher rates around other holidays and during summer when families with children prefer to cruise.
3. Older Ships Tend To Have Cheaper Prices
While this isn’t an actual rule, it’s common to pay much less to sail on an older ship than it is to sail on a newer one. You’ll find older ships are kept up well and are comfortable. What you won’t find is extra space and a full range of amenities that the larger, newer ships offer.
However, not everyone is looking for a floating amusement park. Ships built in the past 3-5 years often feature amenities like waterslides, robot bars, ice rinks, and walking promenades.
If that’s not for you, then look for an older ship. You’ll find it’s much calmer and less expensive. And while it’s difficult to compare, a 5-day cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas – which is a new ship in Royal Caribbean’s feet is around $711.50 per person in September.
A 5-day cruise in November aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas – which first sailed in 1988 is $329 per person.
4. Get A Cruise Price Drop Using Social Media
If you love social media, then you’ll love this tip to find a great cruise price drop. Twitter is a great place to search for last-minute cruise bargains. Nearly every agent and agency are already out there tweeting about their latest and greatest promotional offers.
All you need to do is find and follow them – you can start with @royalcaribbean. You can also go one step further by customizing a list of deal tweeters. You can use Twitter’s list function to do that. Check out Facebook and other social media outlets as well. You might be able to join groups on social media who are dedicated to going on cruises.
5. Book In Advance
Even though you want to get a great deal, it doesn’t always mean you’re willing to cut corners. There are some ways to get a great cruise price drop without making sacrifices.
If you’re really looking to book at the same time and for the same destination as everyone else, book early. In fact, book at least a year in advance. The best spots on popular new ships will sell quickly, which pushes fares up even higher. Search for early-bird specials that offer added value like onboard credit or free upgrades.
If you’re worried about committing so far in advance or missing out on a deal you find after booking, don’t worry. Most deposits are refundable prior to your final payment.
If the price drops after you’ve booked, you can either rebook at the lower rate or even request the difference as an onboard credit. Luxury cruises are also known to list their best prices early. If you wait, their lower rates will disappear.
6. Bundle Your Vacation Package
Many cruise lines offer package deals. Those deals include airfare, hotel, and even tours as well as the usual cruise fares. Search for packages offered by the major lines. You’ll find you can save on individual costs.
7. Book In Groups
There’s a saying, “the more, the merrier.” For a vacation on a cruise line, this is not only true, but you’ll probably end up enjoying a lot of savings as well.
If you’re able to book in bulk, many cruise lines will give you free berths in return, depending on the number of passengers you bring. Most of the time, you’ll need to book at least a minimum of 10 guests to earn a free berth.
But that’s not the only perk available for groups. Some cruise lines like Crystal throw in freebies like onboard credit, free photos, and even discounts on select group excursions.
And throughout the year you’ll find that many cruise lines offer promotions that give free cruise fare for any third or fourth passenger booked into the same cabin. Don’t forget to look for deals that include extra bonuses like drink packages or prepaid gratuities.
8. Sign Up For Savings Emails
One of the easiest ways to check for a cruise price drop is to sign up for e-mails from various cruise lines. Then all you have to do is check your inbox to see what savings are available.
Most cruise lines and agencies still use e-newsletters to help them fill vacant spots on their ships. Cruise lines like Norwegian, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival all offer deals in e-mails with ongoing promotions.
They also send out e-mails with last-minute deals and even short sales. If you don’t want to deal with all those e-mails in your inbox you can either set up a separate account just for bargain hunters.
Make It Easy For Yourself
Time is money. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time looking for great cruise line rates, don’t worry. That’s what we’re here for. To find the latest and greatest promotions on your favorite cruise lines, click here.
You pack carefully for your cruise, choosing just the right attire and accessories for elegant formal nights, exploring ports of call, or just lounging by the pool. Furthermore, your luggage also contains other essentials such as medication, personal identification, travel documentation, electronics, and more.
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It can be disconcerting, then, to hand your bags over to a porter at a crowded drop off zone or check-in area long before you are on the ship, knowing that you may not see your luggage again for several hours and it could be changing hands several times.
You may also be nervous that your bags could be sitting in a public hallway next to your stateroom door while you’re enjoying lunch or out exploring the ship. How can you protect your luggage and ensure your valuables are always safe?
Keep Your Luggage With You
The easiest way to protect your luggage from loss or theft on a cruise is to be sure it stays with you until you can safely lock it in your cabin. Most cruise lines allow passengers to carry their own bags onto the ship. There will be no porters to assist with manhandling bags up and down narrow hallways and multiple stairways, however, and elevators may not be available as the crew completes embarkation day tasks.
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Furthermore, bags must fit through the port’s security screening equipment. The scanners are similar to those at airports so most bags will have no difficulty, but very oversized or awkward bags may not be able to be carried onto the ship.
Once onboard, passengers may not have access to their cabins immediately and must be prepared to keep their bags with them until they can get into their staterooms.
Passengers with suites or other priority reservations may be able to get to their cabins right away, such as with Carnival’s Faster to the Fun program, but passengers without those privileges must tote their bags along to the lunch buffet or find a convenient waiting spot until they can enter their cabin.
Most cabins will be open to guests no later than 1:30 or 2 p.m. on embarkation day, so passengers arriving later in the day can go to their cabins with their bags right away.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
Pack Light
It is essential to pack light to protect your luggage. Not only will this make it easier if you are carrying your bags with you, but minimizing valuables in your bag will ensure there is less to worry about if you do turn your luggage over to someone else.
Cruise ship staterooms, while efficiently laid out, are often short on storage space, and fewer bags will be easier to tuck into narrow closets or under beds to keep them out of the way during your cruise.
Carefully consider everything you pack. Instead of your most expensive jewelry, for example, consider choosing costume pieces that will still look fabulous in your formal portraits.
Trim down the electronics you bring as well – you might use your phone, tablet, and laptop frequently at home, but will you really use them during the cruise, when the itinerary is filled with exciting ports of call and fun activities? If you pack fewer valuables, you won’t worry as much if your bags are out of your control at any time.
Pack Protectively
When you do need to pack valuables in your luggage, pack them so they will still be protected. First and foremost, put as many valuables as possible in a smaller bag that you can carry on to the ship yourself, even if you will turn larger bags over to porters. Expensive jewelry, travel documentation, medication, and other irreplaceable items should always be in your carry-on bags.
If larger valuables need to be in bags you may turn over to others, tuck those items deep into the bag and never put them in exterior pockets that can be quickly ransacked. Fold clothes around the items to cushion and conceal them, and take note of what valuables may have been packed in which bags just in case something is disturbed.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
Lock It Up
Simple locks can help keep your luggage safe, especially if you turn bags over to porters as you board the ship. Opt for TSA-approved locks that will be suitable for airline use as well, and you can be confident your bags are safe for all your travel plans.
If you prefer not to lock your bags, however, or if locks are cut off for security screening, you can still secure zippers using a twist-tie or a bit of string to knot around the zipper pulls and keep them closed.
Anyone seeking to invade luggage will be looking for fast, easy access, and even a simple, low-tech solution like a piece of string can help discourage snooping and theft.
Many times luggage that has been tampered with or gone missing is not, in fact, theft or any malicious act, but simply mistaken identity. There are hundreds, even thousands, of pieces of luggage loaded onto every cruise ship, and a great many of them are black, navy blue, or other popular colors with very similar sizes and shapes.
By making your bag distinctive, it’s less likely to be mistaken for another passenger’s luggage and accidentally be opened or shuffled through. Use colorful wraps around the handles or body of the bag, tabs on the zipper pulls, bold luggage tags, or even patches or stickers on the sides of the luggage to help it stand out so there are no errors.
These bursts of distinctive color can also help you describe your bag to ship’s security if it is missing.
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Label, Label, Label
If you do hand your luggage over to porters to have it delivered to your stateroom, it is possible that the bag may accidentally end up in the wrong location. Use the cruise ship’s luggage tags and place them firmly around handles for easy identification.
Use bold permanent markers to write your name and cabin number on the luggage tags in clear, block printing so there is no mistaking the designated deck or cabin number.
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It is possible that the tags may loosen or be lost, however, so place a spare tag inside the bag in case it is misdirected. During the evening of embarkation day, if all your bags have not been delivered, notify the guest services desk with a description of your bag so it can be located and returned quickly.
It can be worrisome to turn your luggage over for hours just as you leave on your cruise vacation. By taking simple steps to protect your bags, however, you don’t have to worry about your valuables and you’ll be ready to enjoy every minute of your cruise with all your luggage intact.
Cruise lines are well known for their endless eats. On Carnival Cruise Line, each ship offers a variety of delicious dining options included in your cruise fare, from the great variety of the Lido buffet restaurants to the gourmet menus in the main dining rooms to extra snacks through room service, pizzerias, delis, ice cream machines and more.
While you can dine quite sumptuously on a Carnival ship without ever spending extra on food, there are a number of delicious options you may want to consider spending a little more to enjoy.
Why Pay More for Food?
With so many free dining options available onboard Carnival ships, why would passengers want to spend more money on dining extras? While the free dining options are delicious, there are exclusive extras available only from the extra-charge dining venues.
Couples who want a romantic dinner, for example, may prefer to pay for a restaurant that offers a more intimate atmosphere than the large dining rooms, and where they can be assured of getting a private table instead of being grouped with tablemates.
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Specialty restaurants often offer exclusive menu options that aren’t available elsewhere on the ship, and may even incorporate local flavors to represent ports of call along the itinerary. Portions may be more generous, and the food quality could be superior even to the already excellent options available elsewhere on board.
Some extra venues also feature different experiences, such as cooking demonstrations, exclusive wine pairings or even the opportunity to dine with the ship’s captain or another high-ranking officer.
The exact restaurants available vary on each Carnival Cruise ship, and different venues charge differently. Some feature a per-person surcharge regardless of the menu choices, while others have a-la-carte pricing that depends on each individual selection.
Payments are charged to the dining passenger’s sail and sign account, however, so there is no need to worry about other forms of payment when indulging in these delicious options.
Extra Tastiness Worth Paying for on a Carnival Cruise
Every Carnival ship has at least a few dining options that may cost a little more, but are well worth the fee for their deliciousness.
Cucina del Capitano – This restaurant serves a homestyle dinner menu that blends Italian and American cuisine. Meals are served family-style, and while reservations are not required, they are recommended.
Bonsai Teppanyaki – This intimate, interactive restaurant features Asian fusion cuisine for lunch and dinner. Seafood, meat and tofu options are available, and meals are accompanied by a cooking show.
Steakhouse – Most Carnival ships include an elegant steakhouse featuring surf and turf options, appetizers, salads, sides and desserts, along with an extensive wine list. Reservations are recommended.
Seafood Shack – Enjoy the fresh catch of the day for lunch or dinner at this fun New England-themed venue, pleasantly positioned so you can always see the sea while you enjoy your lunch or dinner.
Bonsai Sushi – Enjoy your favorite sushi, sashimi, sake and other delectable tastes for lunch or dinner at this fun venue with its counter seating so you can watch each bite as it is expertly prepared.
Chef’s Table – The ultimate in cruise ship dining, this guided dinner is a very intimate experience that features a gallery tour, expertly paired wines and an exclusive menu as part of the culinary event.
Shake Spot – Nothing says vacation fun like indulging in a handcrafted shake or float. From classic tastes to tropical creations to adults-only spiked treats, this venue will shake up your taste buds.
Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ Smokehouse | Brewhouse – Richly smoked meats, classic sides and delicious homebrews are on the menu at the smokehouse, exclusively on Carnival Horizon and coming soon to Carnival Panorama.
Late Night Room Service – If you’re feeling snacky after hours, Carnival’s late night room service menu can cope with all your cravings, including specialty salads, wings, pizza, sandwiches and desserts.
No matter what tastes you prefer or what your budget may be, there are delicious options waiting on your next Carnival Cruise!
Cruise ship cabins are notorious for their small size and it can be frustrating to take a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation only to feel crowded and cramped in your stateroom. By carefully packing, however, you can easily fit everything you need in your luggage and stateroom without clutter, squeezing or leaving essential items behind.
Why Pack Less?
Why is it so important to minimize your luggage on a cruise? Cruise ships may claim their cabins have multiple closets and ample storage space, but that storage space is nearly always smaller than expected once you’re actually in the cabin.
Closets are typically small, drawers are usually narrow and shelves are often tiny. Furthermore, some storage space is often taken up by mandatory life jackets or spare pillows and blankets, and you don’t want to be tripping over overflowing closets throughout your cruise.
The less you pack, the less hassle you’ll have getting your luggage on and off the ship, particularly if you opt for self-assist embarkation and debarkation and tote all your bags yourself. Less luggage also means you may avoid hefty baggage fees from airlines if you’re flying to and from your cruise. A little extra room in your luggage also gives you room to bring home souvenirs without overstuffing your bags.
Fortunately, it is easier than many passengers realize to pack less for your cruise and still feel well-equipped for setting sail.
25 Ways You Can Pack Less for a Cruise
1. Use Only Smaller Bags
It’s a strange, unwritten rule of packing that you inevitably fill up your bag, no matter what size it is. If you automatically start with smaller bags when packing for a cruise, you won’t be tempted to fill up extra space with too much stuff to fit in your cabin.
2. Use Hard-Sided Luggage
Soft-sided luggage may collapse easily to fit in smaller spaces, but it also expands more easily if you’re trying to cram too much into every corner. If you use hard-sided bags, you’ll have to pack more lightly to fit everything in, and what you do have in your bags will be more protected.
Before packing, be sure your luggage is completely empty. You don’t want to waste space by accidentally taking along anything left in a hidden pocket during your last trip. Similarly, empty out your wallet or purse before your cruise so you aren’t taking along anything you won’t need.
4. Don’t Pack Luggage in Luggage
Don’t use valuable luggage space by packing extra empty bags. That beach bag you want for your day on the sand? Use it as a piece of luggage itself instead, already packed with your beach essentials so you’re ready to hit the sand.
5. Use What the Ship Offers
Don’t pack anything the ship will provide for you. Most cruise ship cabins are already equipped with shampoo, body wash and conditioner, as well as tissues, beach towels and hangers. There is no need to pack along these items when they’ll already be waiting for you on board.
6. Know Your Cruise Lifestyle
Be truthful about how you want to spend your cruise vacation. If you plan on spending most of your time by the pool, you may need an extra swimsuit, but you won’t need extra shorts or additional tops. Keep in mind your shore tours when packing as well, and don’t take what you don’t need.
7. Skip the Camera
Of course you want to capture the fun moments of your cruise with a series of snapshots, but most smartphones have cameras that can take photos perfectly good for sharing on social media. There is no need to pack along a bulky extra camera if you aren’t a professional photographer.
8. Download Your Entertainment
You may want to bring along books, DVDs or other entertainment on your cruise. Don’t pack bulky items, though, and instead download your favorite books, shows and movies onto a tablet or phone to reduce what you pack and save space.
9. Travel-Sizes Are Your Friend
If you want to bring along specific products, such as soaps or shampoos, opt for travel sizes rather than full-size bottles you won’t finish during your cruise. If your favorite products don’t come in travel sizes, buy small bottles and decant what you need into smaller sizes.
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10. Count Pills and Daily Needs
If you take daily vitamins or medication, count how many you need into a small bottle instead of bringing more than you will need for your cruise. Of course you will want extra in case of delays, but it is unlikely that you’d need to bring a full month of medication for a shorter cruise.
11. Choose Outfits Beforehand
Planning your daily outfits before you travel can help you keep from packing clothes you won’t wear. Check out the dress code for your cruise line to be sure you have the right attire, but don’t pack so many options that you’ll be struggling to fit extra clothes in the tiny closets.
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12. Bring Only Versatile Clothes
When choosing your cruise clothing, opt for versatile selections that can be reworn with different accessories or matched up differently to create different looks from the same clothes. The same is especially true for bulky shoes – only bring shoes you will definitely wear more than once.
13. Pack With a Buddy
If you’re traveling with friends or family members who share your sizes and style, consider swapping clothing throughout the cruise so you have more options without adding extra luggage. This is especially true for children who may be able to share clothes for different looks with ease.
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14. Plan to Do Laundry
Cruise ships always have small laundry rooms available for passenger use, or you could opt for the dry cleaning or valet laundry services. This will allow you to rewear outfits even if they’ve gotten excessively dirty, and you won’t need to pack extras for a longer cruise.
15. Eliminate Non-Essentials
Before you put anything in your bags, make sure you will absolutely use it on your cruise. For example, ladies may not need products for their menstrual cycle if there’s no chance it will happen during their cruise. Extra makeup, jewelry options, multiple ties and other non-essentials can also be trimmed.
Photo By: Russell Otway
16. Minimize Devices and Accessories
It can be difficult to unplug while on vacation, but minimizing the devices you bring on a cruise can help you tune in to what’s happening around the ship rather than staying glued to a screen. Similarly, bring chargers and cords that can be shared between devices to minimize accessories.
17. Leave Work at Home
A cruise is supposed to be relaxing, so don’t feel guilty about leaving work at home. That includes the laptop or paperwork that might be essential for work, but certainly isn’t needed for a getaway. Cruise ship internet is slow and expensive, anyway, so leaving work home will save more than just space.
18. Skip Unnecessary Backups
Don’t duplicate anything in your luggage. Nights may get cool even in the Caribbean, for example, but do you really need both a light jacket and a sweatshirt? What about those extra glasses you never wear, or a second swimsuit when you usually only visit the pool once? Leave the backups behind.
19. Trim Toiletries
It isn’t necessary to pack along your entire bathroom for a cruise. If you only use a foot scrub, deep conditioner or face mask once a week, for example, see if you can go without when you’re on your cruise and you’ll save space in that tiny bathroom.
Small travel toiletries are suggested, take at these handy bags to put them in.
20. Skip the Snacks
With so much food available on a cruise, don’t stress about bringing snacks along. You can always get ice cream, pizza, cookies, room service and more if you’re ever a bit peckish, without needing to haul along extra food in your luggage. The same goes for soda and water, which you can get on board easily.
21. Know What You Can’t Bring
Be aware of prohibited items that you aren’t allowed to bring on a cruise ship, and save space in your luggage instead of packing items such as candles, scooters, drones, pool toys and other unwelcome items. Check your cruise line for the exact policy on which items are not permitted on board.
While prices may be higher, it can be easier to get some items – such as large bottles of sunscreen – on the ship. You can even save room in your luggage and opt to wear souvenir shirts that you buy along the way instead of packing more clothes.
23. Spread Out Your Stuff
When you think you have selected everything you want to pack, spread it all out before adding it to your bags. This will help you evaluate your choices and ensure you aren’t packing any duplicates or unnecessary items. Try to eliminate a few extra items before you put anything in your luggage.
24. Pack Early
Waiting to pack at the last minute will make you feel panicked and rushed, and make it more likely that you overpack for your cruise. Instead, start packing several days early so you can make better choices and don’t feel pressured to pack more than you really need.
25. Pack for Density
When you are ready to pack your bags, use every bit of available space wisely. Pack socks or underwear inside shoes, for example, to save space and help your shoes keep their shape. This will help you fit everything you need into a smaller bag that will be easier to handle.
While not every tip will work for every passenger or every cruise, with so many different ways to pack less, you’re sure to find some ways to trim down your luggage so you have less hassle and more space to enjoy during your vacation, no matter where you are sailing.
