Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas both visited Coco Cay on August 22, 2025 which happened to be my birthday. I was there! Join me for a mini tour of Coco Cay, some 5 ball juggling, amazing cruise ship spotting and way too many emotions I battled the heat to explore this […]
When did going to the midnight buffet become dangerous? Disturbing footage shows the moment a massive melee broke out on a Carnival Cruise ship among fuming passengers seemingly upset over “chicken tenders.” The violence among about two dozen brawlers erupted aboard the Carnival Sunrise at about 2 a.m. Monday — the last day of its […]
Disney Cruise Line is rolling out their 2026-2027 itineraries and they are adding more cruises from Texas and California.
Early bookings for these new cruises will open on August 25, 2025 for Disney Cruise Line Castaway members and to the general public on September 2, 2025.
Disney Magic will sail from Galveston, Texas on a variety of four-, five- and seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and The Bahamas.
Ports on these newly announced cruises include Cozumel, Progreso, Nassau and Castaway Cay.
Disney will base two cruise ships in San Diego for the first time ever for the 2026-2027 season.
Disney Magic will offer three-, four-, five-, six- and seven-night cruises from the port before repositioning to Galveston. The repositioning cruise in November 2026 will be a two-week sailing through the Panama Canal.
Disney Wonder will sail a variety of three- to seven-night cruises from San Diego with port stops in Cabo, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta and Catalina Island.
In addition to these sailings, Disney Cruise Line will have five ships sailing from Florida and one in Singapore (Disney Adventure offering three- and four-night cruises).
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The debate about cruising during hurricane season comes up every—well, hurricane season. For some travelers, especially first-time cruisers, the idea of a hurricane interrupting their plans can be very stressful.
While I completely understand why it would add stress to the planning process, for me, a major storm is not just something I don’t worry about; it’s something I tend to embrace.
Just recently, Hurricane Erin caused dozens of cruise ships to alter their routes or change their schedules, affecting at least nine different cruise lines.
But as an avid cruiser, I can tell you, my favorite time to sail is during hurricane season. While others are stressing about storms and potential cancellations, I’m booking my trips, knowing that I’m likely to get a great deal and have a great time.
A recent Reddit thread titled “Hurricane Stress” perfectly captured the anxiety many people feel. A user was panicking about a last-minute trip, worried about a hurricane and the lack of travel insurance.
But the responses, from fellow cruisers and seasoned travelers, were overwhelmingly reassuring. They echoed the same sentiments I hold true: cruise lines are experts at navigating storms, and an itinerary change is a small price to pay for an incredible vacation.
Here’s why I’ve learned to “go with the flow” and embrace cruising during hurricane season:
The most important thing to remember is that cruise ships are not going to sail directly into a hurricane. Obvious, I know, but it has to be stated.
Each cruise line has their own weather experts that track these storms and give up dates on the most recent information. In most cases, the ship can simply go around the hurricane or sail in a different direction.
Try that with a land resort or even an Airbnb rental. If a major storm is going to be hitting that area, the only option you have is to cancel or wish you booked a watertight bunker.
But with cruising, they will reroute the ship, change the order of port visits, or even substitute an entirely new destination to keep passengers and the vessel safe.
One commenter noted on Reddit, “You’re safer on a ship than on land where a storm may visit.”
While a missed port might be a bummer, it’s not the end of the world. Yes, it’s disappointing you might not get to experience that same amazing excursion you planned for months, but there’s a certain element of adventure in a “surprise destination”.
In fact, there are even cruises that offer mystery ports where the exact destinations are not revealed until you’ve almost arrived on the ship. You can read about how Windstar offers those sailings here.
In the Reddit thread, a one user shared their experience of a recent cruise where they lost a day in Bermuda due to a hurricane but gained an extra sea day and a different port. They still had an “amazing time.”
This “roll with the punches” mentality is key. The cruise line’s priority is to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable vacation. This often means more sea days, which are perfect for relaxing by the pool, trying out a new restaurant, or catching a show you might have missed.
If the storm is so severe that the cruise line has to cancel the sailing, you’ll get a full refund. This is a crucial point that some don’t realize. Even without trip insurance (which you should always have anyway by the way), you will at least get your money back to plan another vacation if the weather situation is so bad that the ship cannot sail at all.
Of course, the key is to remember that this applies only if the cruise line cancels the trip. If you choose to cancel on your own, you’re out of luck unless you have a “cancel for any reason” policy.
We’ve written before on the cheapest times of the year to take a cruise, and it remains true that hurricane season is one of the best times to sail from a financial perspective.
For me, the price difference can be huge, often 30% or more compared to peak summer or holiday sailings. This isn’t just about saving money on one trip; it’s about being able to take more trips. When a one-week Caribbean cruise that would normally cost $1,500 drops to around $1,000 or less, I can afford to book more cruises.
The potential for a minor itinerary change is a small price to pay when you consider the savings. After all, those savings can be applied to a more luxurious stateroom or an extra perk I normally wouldn’t get.
This is a point I can’t stress enough, and it’s something some have to learn the hard way. While the cruise line will keep you safe on the ship, they are not responsible for your pre- and post-cruise plans. If a hurricane causes flight delays or cancelations, you could be stuck with the fallout.
Cruise travel insurance is a small price to pay for that added layer of protection. It can cover everything from flight cancellations to lost luggage, making sure your trip isn’t derailed by those pesky unexpected details that can creep up at the worst times.
In the end, my approach to cruising during hurricane season is simple: I book with the knowledge that the ship will do its best to avoid any potential storms and the itinerary is subject to change.
I make sure I have travel insurance for my own peace of mind, and I remind myself that the true purpose of a vacation is to relax and enjoy the moment, no matter where the waves take me. As one comment online wisely advised, “Don’t stress. Just enjoy.”
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You’d think after spending thousands on a cruise, you’d know what you’re getting. Yet these floating cities hide their best features in the most unexpected places, often leaving passengers completely unaware of what’s sitting right under their noses.
Here’s something most cruisers don’t realize: cruise ships deliberately create layers of discovery. While passengers queue up to place a bet at the casino or crowd around advertised pools and theaters, the real treasures lie in unmarked doors, forgotten decks, and spaces that exist purely for those curious enough to explore.
The move toward online betting has actually highlighted just how superior digital gaming experiences have become; with better odds and higher payout percentages, 24/7 accessibility, along with instant transactions that ship casinos simply can’t match.
Modern cruisers often find themselves with access to thousands of online games, live dealers, and real-time sports betting opportunities right from their phones, all while enjoying ocean views that no land-based casino could offer. The irony is that while they’re experiencing this technological boom in gaming, they’re often sitting just meters away from hidden lounges and secret spaces that would offer equally unique entertainment, but in an entirely different way
Walk the perimeter of any cruise ship and you’ll find them—unmarked decks that barely register on official deck plans. These aren’t mistakes or oversights. They’re designed to be discovered.
Seabourn keeps a hot tub at the front of their ships, usually on Deck 6 or 7, accessible through a single unmarked door. While passengers fight for space around main pools, this tub often sits completely empty. The reason? There’s no fanfare, no signage, just a door that leads somewhere interesting.
Most of these hidden decks contain minimal amenities—a few deck chairs, maybe some basic seating. What they lack in facilities, they make up for in solitude. They’re often windier than main decks, which naturally filters out passengers seeking comfort over peace.
This becomes particularly valuable during charter cruises, when main areas overflow with organized groups. Those unmarked spaces suddenly become sanctuaries for independent travelers seeking breathing room.
The discovery process is part of their appeal. You won’t find these spaces highlighted on apps or mentioned during ship tours. They exist for passengers who venture beyond obvious attractions, exploring corridors that don’t lead to gift shops or restaurants.
Beneath your feet lies an entire city you’ll never see. While passengers enjoy surface amenities, crew members from over 60 nationalities live and work in a parallel world designed around pure functionality.
A single corridor—nicknamed “I-95” by crew—runs bow to stern below passenger decks. This explains how staff appear from nowhere without ever being spotted in elevators or guest hallways. They’re moving through their own highway system.
The facilities down there vary dramatically by cruise line. Disney provides crew with gyms, bars both indoor and outdoor, pools, and libraries, though with specific usage restrictions. Royal Caribbean’s larger ships take this further, offering crew bars, game rooms, substantial nightclubs, smoking areas, stores, table tennis, pool tables, dartboards, PlayStation rooms, and massage chairs.
Crystal Cruises, before their operational changes, reportedly offered some of the industry’s best crew amenities, including access to guest pools alongside their own mini pools.
These aren’t luxury spaces—they’re stripped-down, functional environments that serve a working community. Yet they represent a massive investment in amenities that passengers never see but indirectly benefit from through improved crew morale and service quality.
Some ships hide their most extravagant features where you’d least expect them. Disney’s Wish Tower suite sits concealed within the ship’s funnel, spanning nearly 2,000 square feet across two floors with four bedrooms and its own private elevator. Unless you know it exists, you’d walk past without a second glance.
MSC World Europa houses a speakeasy-style bar that doesn’t appear on deck plans. Discovery happens through exploration rather than promotion—exactly as speakeasies should be.
Norwegian’s go-kart tracks reach 40 mph with electric cars that pump driving sounds into helmets, simulating traditional racing. These tracks extend 13 feet over the ship’s side, adding genuine thrills that most passengers never experience simply because they don’t know they exist.
Viking takes an entirely different approach with snow grottos where real snowflakes fall at -10°C, creating stark contrast with nearby warm spa pools. It’s an engineering marvel that guests often miss because it doesn’t fit typical cruise expectations.
Royal Caribbean’s virtual balconies offer another hidden gem—floor-to-ceiling HD screens providing real-time exterior views for interior cabins, complete with virtual railings and actual curtains. This innovative technology transforms interior staterooms into spaces that feel connected to the ocean.
Your cabin contains more functionality than most passengers ever discover. Those metal walls aren’t just structural—they’re magnetic surfaces perfect for clips and hooks that add vertical storage throughout your space without damaging anything.
Hidden features exist throughout every cabin:
Here’s something that might surprise you: those spa treatments you’re booking aren’t actually run by your cruise line. OneSpaWorld operates spas for 21 major cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. Despite unique branding like Princess’s Lotus Spa or Norwegian’s Mandara Spa, they’re all managed by the same external company.
The same applies to medical centers across Viking, Virgin Voyages, Disney, and Windstar—they’re staffed by third-party companies like Vikand and Marine Medical Solutions.
These discoveries reveal something fascinating about cruise ship design. The best amenities aren’t always the most advertised ones. They’re positioned for passengers who engage actively with their environment rather than passively consuming marketed experiences.
Ships function as layered environments serving multiple purposes simultaneously. What appears as a simple vacation vessel actually houses complex operational systems, crew communities, and passenger amenities designed around different discovery levels.
Your next cruise offers opportunities far beyond what brochures reveal. The question isn’t whether these amenities exist—they’re there, waiting. The question is whether you’ll be curious enough to find them.
Sometimes the best cruise experiences come from wandering corridors that don’t lead anywhere obvious, opening unmarked doors, and questioning assumptions about what you think you know about the ship beneath your feet.
Star of the Seas embarkation day is in the books. Join me as I travel across the state of Florida to Port Canaveral to board the world’s largest cruise ship, the Star of the Seas. It was a great day with looks at Sorrentos, the Inaugural buffet at the Windjammer Cafe, the Star of the […]
I’m celebrating my birthday in the worlds largest cruise ship, the Star of the Seas! Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFivW2VWJtGfvrMreyjNbw/join
Many cruise ships include casinos on board as one of several amenities for guests. Just like the best hotels and casinos in the world, gamblers who want to try their shot at lady luck can do so conveniently while at sea on these unique cruise ships.
These floating casinos offer everything from slots to roulette tables, just like regular gaming venues. For those who want to continue playing off the ship, UK online casinos offer a range of bonuses that can add extra value to the gaming experience. This gives players the flexibility to enjoy gaming both at sea and from the comfort of their own home.
Although not all cruise ships offer casinos, we have compiled a list of the top 10 cruise ships to consider if you’re thinking of gambling while on a cruise.
This cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises was named the 2025 luckiest cruise ship in the world by Gambling.com. The casino earned this title based on reviews from gamblers who have had fun playing in the big Las Vegas style casino onboard the ship.
The cruise ship can hold up to 2,710 guests and makes trips throughout the year across Asia in summer and Australia in the winter. The casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship has some of the latest slot machines, roulette, poker and blackjack. The casino on the ship also offers gaming lessons for interested players.
Wonder of the Seas is a 5,738 guest capacity cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The vessel runs seven-night cruises from Miami to the CocoCay private island in the Caribbean. Wonders of the Seas has a fully-equipped casino on Deck 4 known as the Casino Royale.
The Casino Royale has a big floor where guests can play slots and video poker on gaming machines. There are also many well-known games like blackjack, roulette, craps and poker. The casino sets up special contests and gaming events for guests on a regular basis.
The 3,660 guest cruise ship is known for its good food and many fun things to do including an impressive Vegas-style casino. The World Cruise Awards named the Enchanted Princess as the Best Cruise Ship in the World for Gambling in 2024.
The casino offers gaming lessons for interested visitors as well as all kinds of casino games and tables that operate based on Vegas rules. Passengers can also participate in tournaments to win impressive prizes.
Infinity is a 2,170 guest cruise ship that is run by Celebrity Cruises. The casino is one of the most notable facilities available on the ship. Infinity has a dedicated casino floor offering up to 103,000 square feet of gaming space. In the casino, players can enjoy over 2500 slot machines and about 185 playing tables with popular games like poker, blackjack and baccarat among others.
The casino also offers complimentary cocktails for players, regular tournaments and an active rewards program. Part of the casino gaming experience on this cruise ship is an entertaining live-action game of Deal or No Deal for those looking for low-stakes gaming entertainment.
While onboard casinos provide a fun and social way to play, many travellers are also exploring online alternatives. For those interested in how online casinos compare, this overview of welcome bonuses at UK online casinos offers a helpful breakdown of current offers available to players.
Emerald is another famous cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises. This ship offers a wide range of cruises including:
The over 3,000 guests on this cruise ship are treated to various entertainment options including casino entertainment in the ship’s casino bar known as the Gatsby. On the casino deck, guests will find over 250 slot and video machine games. There are also numerous table games including blackjack, and different poker variants including the speciality Emerald Princess Stud Poker.
The Queen Elizabeth is a cruise ship operated by Cunard Cruise Line. The 2000 capacity cruise ship is known for its refined aesthetics and evocative art deco elegance. In addition to the luxurious accommodation and interesting fine dining options, the Queen Elizabeth also offers interesting entertainment options including an open-plan Casino.
The Casino floor is located under the Royal Arcade boutique and offers daytime lessons for players interested in learning the ropes. At night, the casino floor transforms into a vibrant entertainment hub inspired by the glamor of Monte Carlo casinos. Here players can try their luck on slot machines, poker, and other table games, with flowing champagne cocktails to keep them refreshed.
Viking took delivery of their newest cruise ship this week as the cruise line continues to grow at a rapid pace.
The delivery took place at the Massara Shipyard in Cairo, Egypt for Viking Anun. Viking Anun joins a fleet of four other identical ships in Egypt that offer cruises on the Nile River.
With 41 cabins that accommodate up to 82 guests, the ships are featured on Viking insanely popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
By 2027, Viking is scheduled to have a total of 12 river ships sailing on the Nile River.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, gave the following statement about this new ship joining the fleet:
“As we continue to expand our award-winning fleet around the world, we are delighted to welcome the Viking Amun. These identical sister ships are the most elegant vessels on the Nile, and we are now pleased to offer even more opportunities for curious travelers to explore Egypt in Viking comfort.”
What’s next for Viking now that Viking Anun has joined the fleet?
Over the next six years, the cruise line expects to add another 37 new cruise ships by 2031. They are:
This will give Viking a total of 135 river, ocean and expedition ships in their fleet. They will have 112 river ships, 21 ocean ships and two expedition in their fleet, the most of any cruise line.
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