“Sorry! These chairs are TAKEN!” The woman spread another bright turquoise towel across the fourth empty lounger beside the pool. A passenger standing nearby looked from one chair to the next. Four loungers. Four towels. Not one person sitting in them. “Taken? There’s nobody sitting in ANY of them!” The woman didn’t budge. “My family […]
The ocean was calm. The late-afternoon sun reflected off the water as passengers relaxed on the open deck. Some were talking near the railing. Others were stretched out on loungers, enjoying one of those quiet cruise moments when nothing seems capable of going wrong. Then a horn sounded. BLAST. A 58-year-old passenger stopped and looked […]
Your first cruise ship can feel less like a vacation resort and more like a floating city. You quickly figure out where the buffet is. The pool deck isn’t difficult to find. And after a day or two, you probably know the fastest route back to your cabin. But some of the most useful areas […]
A lot of Carnival passengers make the same assumption at dinner: If you want the really good food, you have to pay extra. So they walk past the buffet and start thinking about a specialty restaurant before they have even looked at what is being served that night. That can be a mistake. Carnival’s dinner […]
Seven days sounds like plenty of time for a cruise—until you start comparing itineraries. One sailing offers three ports and several sea days. Another promises a new destination almost every morning. At first glance, the second option can look like the better deal. After all, shouldn’t you try to see as much as possible when […]
The cruise buffet may be one of the most casual places to eat on the ship, but “casual” doesn’t necessarily mean anything goes. That can surprise passengers who spend the morning by the pool and decide to walk straight into the buffet for lunch. What seems perfectly normal on the pool deck may not fit […]
The music was loud, the ocean was glowing in the late-afternoon sun, and the upper deck was packed with adults dancing around the DJ booth. It was exactly the kind of cruise party people imagine before vacation: music, sea views, laughter, and absolutely nothing going wrong. Then two kids walked straight past the sign. ADULTS […]
You finally make it through the cruise buffet line. Your plate is full. Your drink is balanced carefully on your tray. You’re hungry, and now you just need one thing: A table. Then you spot one. Four chairs. Nobody sitting there. No plates. No food. Perfect. Except there’s a jacket draped over one chair and […]
The dog was moving calmly through the cruise terminal when it suddenly stopped. Right beside one passenger’s suitcase. The woman froze. “Wait… why did the dog stop at MY bag?” A security officer stepped toward her. “Ma’am, please step over here with your luggage.” Her expression changed immediately. “Am I in trouble?” The officer remained […]
You’re walking along a cruise-ship promenade when you notice a tiny rubber duck tucked into an unexpected spot. Did a child lose it? Then another passenger tells you it may have been hidden there intentionally. Later, you walk down your cabin corridor and see doors covered with magnets and birthday decorations. At sailaway, passengers gather […]