Cruise Archives

The best time to book a cruise to save money

There are two types of people: Cruise people and people like me who would rather do anything else. Don’t get me wrong, I get the appeal. Being stuck on a boat for days on end just isn’t my thing.

For all the friends who have tried to convince me otherwise, this one is for you. We rounded up info on the best times to book to score a hot new cruise or a great deal on a last-minute trip.

Booking early: The pro move

The inside scoop from Cruise Critic: The most sought-after cruises post their best deals right at the start. Rates climb as seats fill, especially for top-tier experiences like Disney cruises and fresh-off-the-dock ships.

Play the waiting game: For the risk-takers

If you’re the type to skirt around peak seasons or don’t mind an older ship, here’s a tactic: Wait it out. As departure dates near, prices can dip or perks get thrown in.

But it’s a gamble. You might snag a deal, but your cabin options can be limited. This strategy is gold for those with flexible schedules, like freelancers or the retired gang.

Tracking rates: The smart play

Wondering when to pull the trigger? Track those rates! It sounds tedious, but tools like the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic can alert you to price drops, sparing you some legwork.

Optimal booking season is …

January through March if you’re in it for a deal. Known in the biz as “wave season,” it’s ripe with industry-wide sales. Plus, it’s promo heaven — think freebies, onboard perks and more.

7 best beaches of the world

For a relaxing vacation, it’s hard to beat a sunny destination. What’s better than sipping your favorite beverage while catching some rays? The sand, the sun and the clear blue ocean with a nice warm breeze, it’s simply paradise! But how do you know which beaches are duds, and which are worth visiting? I’ve rounded up seven of my absolute favorites!

Continue reading →

🛳️ Cruisin’ together

Five little essentials to pack for your voyage on the high seas — or, really, any summer vacay:

Pocket-sized router: Think of a travel router as your own private hub on the ship’s network. Pay for the internet for one device but share it using this. Score: Under $34 right now.
Outlets for everyone: Buyer beware: Cruise staff will confiscate regular surge protectors. Opt for this cruise-approved model with three outlets, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports — now 29% off ($9.98).
Li’l nightlight: Cruise cabins get dark at night. Light your path to the loo with a motion sensor nightlight that runs on AAA batteries. Right now, it’s 25% off ($17.99).
Hangin’ out: Hang your towels, shirts, toiletry bag, sunnies — whatever ya got — on these super-strong magnetic hooks.
Cruise juice: A dead phone battery on an off-ship excursion? What a disaster. This portable power bank is 40% off ($17.99).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

California shuts down GM's Cruise robotaxi

Open/download audio

What are some of the reasons? Here’s why I won’t be getting in a driverless car any time soon. Plus, stay tuned! I’ll answer a question from our listener mail.

🚢 “Cruise” into a virtual train ride: VR is coming to a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The restaurant is in a digital train car. Passengers sit in fancy booths with simulated sceneries on giant displays that look like windows. Subwoofers in the seats simulate the vibrations of the tracks. The first theme? Western. Giddyup!

$2.4 to $15 million

Cost for your very own apartment on a luxury yacht that travels the world. Luxury liner “The World” will never call itself a cruise ship, trust me. It’s made up of 165 privately owned apartments, ranging in size from 290-square-foot studios to a 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom pad. Would you live on this?

Tomfoolery: Don’t waste your time falling for “Olympics Has Fallen,” a fake documentary narrated by a phony Tom Cruise. It’s actually Russian disinformation about the Paris Olympics, loaded with AI tricks and a Netflix soundalike intro. Creative, but there are tells throughout, with “Tom” using non-American lingo like “hockey match” instead of “hockey game.”

🚢 Shipwrecked: A Kentucky family of six’s $15,000 Carnival Cruise vacation was a no-go just two days before setting sail. Why? The vacation-ready mom posted the cruise itinerary to Facebook — including the booking number. Some troll then used that number to make a Carnival account and cancel their penthouse suite reservation. PSA: Post your pics only after your vacation.

$2,000,000,000

Cost to build the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. The world’s largest cruise ship measures 1,198 feet in length, making this 250,800-ton giant five times larger than the Titanic. It can hold up to 7,600 guests, many of whom are getting ship-faced and a little nauti.

TY-3R is a Chinese drone that turns into a lifebuoy to rescue drowning swimmers. It spots trouble with a 720p camera, lands on water, transforms into a flotation device and then signals rescuers. It’s also pretty strong — it can take off in heavy winds and support up to two adults at once.

Tesla tragedy: In Washington, a motorcyclist died after a Tesla on autopilot rear-ended him at high speed. The driver said he trusted the Tesla to drive for him while he was scrolling on his phone. Now he’s charged with vehicular homicide. So, so avoidable. Autopilot is not “self-driving;” it’s just glorified cruise control and lane assist.