A cruise line is offering complimentary all-inclusive upgrades on new cruises booked over the next three months.
Windstar Cruises’ newest “Travel is Better When You’re All In” sale has complimentary all-inclusive upgrades on select cruises that depart through March 31, 2026.
The all-inclusive upgrade is valued at $99 per night and includes the following:
This deal is available on every ship in the Windstar Cruises’ fleet including their newly renovated Star class vessels.
Which cruises offer the all-inclusive upgrades?
Canada & New England: August – October
The Canary Islands: November – February
The Caribbean: October – March
Costa Rica & Panama Canal: November – March
Greece: through November and starting again in March with Star Collectors
Iceland: July – September
The Mediterranean: July – March
Northern Europe: July – September
Ocean Crossings: August – December & March
South America: November – December
Tahiti: July – March
Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Officer at Windstar Cruises, said the following:
“The real luxury isn’t just what’s included — it’s what you don’t have to think about. On our perfectly sized yachts, with everything taken care of, you’re free to fully enjoy each destination, each moment, and each memory in the making.”
For complete terms and conditions of this special offer from Windstar Cruises, you can visit the cruise line’s website at WindstarCruises.com or contact your preferred travel agent.
This offer expires on September 30, 2025.
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The beauty of the Alaskan wilderness has become the setting for a search and rescue operation, as emergency crews race against time to find a cruise ship passenger who went on a solo hike in Juneau yesterday and is still missing.
According to local news outlets, Marites Buenafe, a 62-year-old from Kentucky, was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday as she left the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Bliss. She had told her family she intended to hike Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak, starting from the Goldbelt Tramway at the top of Mount Roberts.
But Buenafe never returned to the cruise ship and missed the departure time which was at 1:30 p.m.
The search effort is being led by Alaska State Troopers, with support from Juneau Mountain Rescue, the Juneau Police Department, and SEADOGS (Southeast Alaska Dogs for Organized Ground Search).
On Tuesday night, search and rescue teams conducted extensive ground and aerial searches, making use of everything at their disposal. This included helicopters and thermal drones to scan the mountainous terrain.
The ground search is continuing throughout Wednesday afternoon.
Buenafe is described as 5 feet, 1 inch tall, with short black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.
The Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak trails are known for their challenging ascents and stunning views, but can also have steep drops, rocky sections, and snow patches even in summer.
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Holland America Line and Sony have announced a new partnership for the 2025 Alaskan cruise season.
Holland America Line’s Koningsdam visiting Glacier Bay in Alaska
Through this collaboration with Holland America Line and Sony, guests are encouraged to enter their photography in an “Alaska Through Your Lens” photo sweepstakes.
Grand prize winners will receive a cruise for two to Alaska on a Holland America Line ship, a Sony Alpha 7R V camera, 70-200 mm F2.8 G Master II Lens, and 24-70 mm F2.8 G Master II lens.
Entering the contest is easy. All you have to do is visit https://alphauniverse.com/AlphaHALCruise-sweepstakes or you can enter on social media by using the hashtags #AlphaHALcruise and #Sweepstakes on your photos.
Kacy Cole, chief marketing officer at Holland America Line, gave the following statement:
“For more than 75 years, Holland America Line has been bringing guests to the unparalleled wildlife and breathtaking glaciers that are the natural beauty of Alaska. “Our collaboration with Sony helps capture Alaska through the lens of our guest and creates experiences too good to hurry through.”
Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions at Sony Electronics, added:
“At Sony, we believe in the power of photography to not just capture, but to evoke the deep emotions of our world — this is the essence of our Kando mission.
“Through our collaboration with Holland America Line, we offer guests the chance to embark on an unforgettable adventure through Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes, towering glaciers and majestic wildlife.
“With our cutting-edge technology, we hope they’ll capture those awe-inspiring moments that stir the soul, sharing the beauty of the Last Frontier in ways that connect deeply with their emotions.”
While this sweepstakes is new, this is not the first time that these two companies have partnered together. Sony recently hosted an interactive pop-up photography class during a seven-night cruise to Alaska last month.
The class allowed guests on Zaandam to sharpen their photography skills and gets hands-on practice with some of Sony’s state-of-the-art equipment.
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Anthem of the Seas is packed with some amazing features, but not every cabin is a winner.
With so many options, it’s easy to pick one that looks great on paper but turns out to be noisy, awkwardly placed, or just not right for your style of cruising.
This guide breaks down which cabins to steer clear of – and which ones are worth snapping up instead.
How To Choose The Best Cruise Cabin
While I’ve written this guide specifically about Anthem of the Seas, I also have a handy checklist you can keep with you that applies to any ship.
Just drop your email in this form and I’ll send it straight to you.
The Different Rooms On Anthem Of The Seas
With over 2,090 cabins on Anthem of the Seas, including over 170 suites, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Never mind the fact that there are actually 24 different cabin types onboard!
While a standard balcony like the one I stayed in is the most popular choice, it’s not necessarily the best. There are some really unique room types that you should also consider.
Here’s a look at all of the accommodation options on Anthem of the Seas:
Room
Type
Max. guests
Decks
Average Size (sq ft)
Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior with Virtual Balcony
Inside
4
3, 7-14
166
N/A
Interior with Virtual Balcony Accessible
Inside
4
8-11
256
N/A
Connecting Interior
Inside
2
8-11, 13
166
N/A
Studio Interior
Inside
1
6-13
101
N/A
Ocean View
Outside View
4
3, 8, 9
182
N/A
Ocean View Accessible
Outside View
4
3
182
N/A
Spacious Ocean View
Outside View
4
8-11
214
N/A
Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
4
6-13
198
55
Ocean View Balcony Accessible
Balcony
4
7, 9
298
81
Connecting Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
2
8-12
198
55
Ocean View with Large Balcony
Balcony
4
6-13
198
82
Obstructed Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
4
6-8, 13
198
55
Studio Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
1
6, 7
119
55
Junior Suite
Suite
5
6-13
267
81
Junior Suite Accessible
Suite
4
8
354
107
Junior Suite with Large Balcony
Suite
4
6-13
276
161
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
8-12
351
109
Grand Suite with Large Balcony – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
6-8, 13
351
259
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom
Suite
8
9, 10
543
259
Owner’s Suite
Suite
4
11, 12
541
259
Sky Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9, 10-11
673
183
Grand Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9, 10-11
696
216
Owner’s Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9
975
501
Royal Loft Suite
Suite
6
8-9
1,640
553
Anthem Of The Seas Room Sizes
One quick but important note – the room sizes listed in the table are averages. Some might be slightly smaller, but some might even be slightly bigger.
The best thing you can do is check the Anthem of the Seas deck plans when you’re booking a room. They’re accurately drawn to scale, so you can see which rooms look to be slightly bigger or smaller, or have a slightly extended balcony.
Often they’ll be the same price as a regular-sized room in the same category, so you can nab a bargain.
Anthem Of The Seas Cabins To Avoid
A lot of thought was put into the stateroom options on Anthem of the Seas, and there are some spectacular choices available. Still, not every cabin is right for every cruise passenger. It’s not that there are bad cabins, just some that maybe you would like but someone else wouldn’t, and vice versa.
While it’s true that the Quantum-class ships aren’t the biggest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, they’re still pretty massive, and so it’s worth planning which parts of the ship you’ll spend the most time in, and using that info to work out a good stateroom. You don’t want to have to trek up loads of floors and across the length of the ship a couple of times a day if you don’t have to.
So, here are some of the cabin types and cabin locations to consider avoiding:
1. Obstructed View Rooms
6160 to 6232, 6560 to 6632
It’s not unusual for cruise ships to have obstructed-view rooms. They’ll be balcony or ocean-view rooms where your view is compromised, usually by lifeboats but sometimes by other ship structures.
Anthem of the Seas is no different. The obstruction isn’t awful – the rooms are above the lifeboats, so it’s only when you look over the railing that it’s obstructed – but definitely one to be careful of if you choose one of the balcony cabins or suites in this part of the ship.
2. Cabins Directly Adjacent To The Royal Theatre
3146, 3149, 3546, 3549
There are a few places on a ship where you might suffer from some noise disruption. Common locations on a ship include above the loudest bars, or below the pool deck, and that advice would apply to Anthem of the Seas, too.
But there are four rooms in particular worth steering clear of from a noise perspective. They share a wall with the Royal Theatre, which is where nightly live performances will take place.
While they don’t run super late, it’s best to steer clear if you want a good early night ahead of the next day’s adventures.
3. Rooms A Very Long Walk From Elevators
Because of the size of Anthem of the Seas, she has some slightly awkward elevator placement. She’s not big enough to fit three sets, so instead, there are elevators near the front of the ship and then in a mid-ship location, slightly towards the aft.
It means that any of the aft-facing rooms from Deck 8 upwards, and a handful of inside cabins on Deck 7, are quite a long walk from the elevator.
It’s not an issue for most people – especially if you want to get those steps in to burn off the buffet food each day – but if you’re carrying younger children back from the kids’ clubs (right at the front of Deck 11) when they’re tired and napping at the end of the day, you’ll definitely notice the distance!
4. Deck 11 Forward Rooms Without Kids
11118 to 11160, 11518 to 11560
The staterooms and suites right at the front of Deck 11 are adjacent to the Adventure Ocean kids’ clubs. There are Balcony Staterooms, Junior Suites and Inside Staterooms there, and regardless of which one you choose, you’re going to experience a higher level of traffic outside the room – and a lot more noise.
If you aren’t sailing with kids, then this is probably one of the worst places you can book, unless you plan on being out of your room nice and early and staying out until late.
Otherwise, the excited kiddos on their way to the kids’ club, or the many parents picking the kids up, could easily disturb you.
5. Expensive Suites
Anthem of the Seas has several options for loft suites, ranging from the Sky Loft Suite up to the best suite on the ship, the Royal Loft Suite.
These two-storey accommodation options are beautiful and very spacious… But they also don’t come cheap. And it’s definitely something to think very carefully about when deciding whether they’re worth the money.
It’s not just about whether you can afford the high prices (up to £20,000 per person, per week for the Royal Loft Suite). It’s whether you’d be better booking that, or choosing a Grand Suite for a week and then having the budget spare for another 1-2 cruises in a Grand Suite again.
You need to check out the Royal Caribbean Suite perks to see what’s included, as well as having the extra space, but for a lot of people, it’d make more sense to choose a cheaper option (including some of the smaller suites) and book several cruises instead.
6. Rooms That Can Cause Seasickness
The worst places on any ship for seasickness are right at the forward or aft parts of the ship, on the highest decks. That’s where you’ll feel the most motion.
With Anthem of the Seas, height isn’t a huge issue – there are no decks above Deck 13 with accommodation options. However, I’d still steer clear of forward and aft Deck 12 and Deck 13 rooms if you know you suffer badly from motion sickness.
The best rooms would instead be something mid-ship and lower down, preferably with a balcony so you can focus on the horizon and get some fresh air while lying in bed.
In fact, the obstructed balcony staterooms could be ideal if seasickness is your concern.
7. Connecting Cabins If You’re Not Booking Both
A common problem with cruise ship staterooms is when you book a connecting room without needing it.
The shared doorway between connecting rooms is not great at isolating noise, so while it’ll stay locked if there are strangers on the other side, you might hear more from their room than you would in a regular stateroom. And equally, they might hear more from you.
All kinds of noises can come from an adjacent stateroom. Loud snoring, arguments, other things… If you’d rather avoid the risk of hearing those, don’t book a connecting stateroom. Leave those for when you’re travelling with a group and want to book both together.
8. Deck 13 Rooms
I mean, it’s Deck 13 – why tempt fate?
I’m joking, of course, but it does seem odd that the Quantum-class ships are the only ones in the Royal Caribbean fleet that have a Deck 13.
Most skip it, going from Deck 12 straight to Deck 14, and that is because of superstition.
It’s not like the Quantum Class set the tone for Royal ditching superstition – the newer Icon-class ships also avoid a Deck 13.
Best Rooms On Anthem Of The Seas
While most rooms are great, here are some of the standout rooms on Anthem of the Seas:
1. Studio Rooms
The Quantum-class ships for Royal Caribbean introduced more options for studio rooms.
On other ships, it can sometimes be rare to get a room designed for single passengers, and when you do it’ll be an inside room, 99% of the time, with maybe a chance of a window, unless you’re willing to pay double the fare to book a regular room as a solo passenger.
While many of the studio rooms on Anthem of the Seas are Interior, there are also Balcony options, which are fantastic for single travellers who don’t want to miss out on waking up to a wonderful view.
Solo travel is becoming more and more popular, so it’s great for guests to have this option on the ship.
2. Family Connected Rooms
Some of the Studio Interior staterooms on Anthem of the Seas are connecting cabins, linked with a standard Balcony stateroom and a Junior Suite, so that you can sleep 10 people in total.
The rooms don’t have the traditional connecting doors – each has its own main door, but they’re then linked by a small vestibule. So, if booked separately, they’re just like regular staterooms but with an extra door first. Or if you book them together, that outer vestibule door works as your main entrance instead.
If you’re travelling as a group, booking these rooms together can be a great idea, since you can share the balcony space but enjoy a separate bedroom area.
The Studio room has to be registered with an adult, but you could take a teenager with you and then let them have the Studio as their own, even if the Studio officially belongs to the parent. Then they get their own space, without needing an expensive two-bedroom suite.
What’s a little unusual is that, on the Anthem of the Seas deck plans, the connecting arrows aren’t shown. They are on sister ships Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, which have the same room layouts.
3. Corner Spacious Oceanview Staterooms
From Decks 8 to 11, the staterooms right at the front of the ship are Spacious Oceanview rooms. They can’t be balconies, because the wind would force the balcony door to remain shut most of the time, so instead they offer a bigger Oceanview room with a fantastic view.
If you can book one of the corner rooms, you’ll get even more space – they’re considerably bigger again! Just check the deck plans and you’ll see what I mean:
4. Virtual Balcony Staterooms
First introduced on Anthem’s sister ship, Quantum of the Seas, the Virtual Balcony staterooms are a great alternative to a regular Interior stateroom.
You still get a view, albeit on a digital screen. While it won’t help with the lack of natural light, it is good if you want to see what time of day it is (the virtual balcony is a livestream from outside the ship) and it’s better than just having four plain walls.
5. Deck 11 Rooms with Kids
See every reason I gave for not booking a Deck 11 Forward stateroom if you didn’t have kids?
Reverse those if you do. It’s great being so close to the kids’ clubs, and having the pool deck and buffet restaurants only a couple of decks away, too.
Super-convenient, especially when it comes to collection time and the younger kids are refusing to walk and have to be carried in your arms.
The Best Deck On Anthem Of The Seas
There’s no single best deck on Anthem of the Seas, but it’s recommended to have staterooms above and below you if you want the least noise, so Decks 7 to 12 would be the better options.
Avoid rooms on Deck 11 near the front of the ship if you don’t have kids, but anything mid-ship towards the aft would be fine since that’s away from the kids’ clubs.
The Best Room On Anthem Of The Seas
The biggest room on Anthem of the Seas is the Royal Loft Suite, and it is a stunning option, though it’s very expensive. The Interior Staterooms with Virtual Balcony are a great option if you’re on a budget and want to enjoy some form of view, even if it is digital.
Choosing Your Own Room Vs Going For The ‘Guarantee’ Option
When booking your Anthem of the Seas room, you’ll be able to pick a category and then have the option of paying extra to choose your specific cabin number, or opting for a cheaper ‘Guarantee’ room where the cruise line will pick your room for you.
It’s risky because you can only select whether you want Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, or a specific Suite type. You can’t pick a deck, so you could end up with one of the rooms I’ve told you to avoid.
Benefits of choosing your cabin number:
Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Still, if you’re laid back and don’t intend to spend much time in your cabin anyway, the savings might be worth it to you.
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More Information About Anthem Of the Seas Cabins
To put this guide together, I spent a lot of time reading Anthem of the Seas reviews and browsing some social media groups and forums. I recommend you check them out, too. You might find specific information on a stateroom you have your eye on.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Viking celebrated the christening of their newest and largest cruise ship, Viking Vesta, with a traditional ceremony in Split, Croatia.
Norwegian journalist Lene Tangevald-Jensen served as the ship’s godmother offering a blessing for the ship. A bottle of Norwegian aquavit smashed against the ship’s hull when she used an axe to cut the ribbon officially christening the vessel.
Viking Vesta is the 12th ocean cruise ship to join Viking’s fleet, a remarkable feat considering the cruise line launched their first ocean ship just 10 years ago.
The ship is pretty much identical to the first 11 ships in Viking’s fleet, but is slightly larger at 54,300 gross tons. The ship has 499 staterooms, up from 465. Viking Vesta can carry a maximum of 998 guests.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, said the following:
“As we celebrate 10 years of ocean voyages in 2025, we are pleased to welcome the new Viking Vesta to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships. We are also very grateful to Lene for serving as godmother.
“In addition to her personal and professional accomplishments, Lene embodies the values that are very important to me and to Viking—she is kind, honest, hardworking and, of course, curious. I am proud to count her as a friend and a valued member of the extended Viking family.”
Viking Vesta is currently offering cruises in the Mediterranean and the ship will remain there for the next two years.
In 2026 Viking will welcome two more ocean ships into their fleet, Viking Mira and Viking Libra. In 2027, Viking Astrea will become the 15th ship in Viking’s growing fleet.
Viking has five additional, currently unnamed, ocean ships that are scheduled to debut from 2028 through 2030.
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Want insider tips, honest reviews, and a place to chat with other cruise lovers? These cruise forums are where it’s all happening!
Unlike Facebook groups (where good info disappears fast), these forums are super organised, so you can actually find what you’re looking for.
From planning your next trip to meeting people on the same sailing, here are 7 forums that every savvy cruiser should check out.
Here Are the Best Cruise Forums to Join:
The main Cruise Critic website offers reviews and cruise tips on various ships, but the site is much more famous for its forum – it is absolutely massive.
Cruise Critic claims to be the originator of the roll call thread. At the time of writing, they have around 21 million posts just for roll calls alone, which is frankly staggering. They have another 25 million posts with questions about cruise lines in general.
There are other sub-forums too, including those where new cruisers can have their questions answered, and those about particular destinations or special cruises.
The Cruise Critic forum is popular internationally, so while most users will be from the US, there are plenty from the UK and elsewhere.
The only real downside to Cruise Critic is the scale of it, which could be a little overwhelming since there’s so much information. But, it’s well organised, and you should have no trouble finding people to chat to, though don’t expect a tight-knit community – it’s just too busy.
Cruise Addicts is a forum that’s popular in the US. While it’s a lot smaller in scale than Cruise Critic, you might find that you prefer the closer-knit community. In total, there are over 1.7 million posts on the site, so there’s still a lot of information.
You can ask a general cruise question, or visit the sub-forums for cruise lines or destinations. But these are quite limited. The destination sub-forums only cover Europe, Alaska & the Pacific Northwest, and the Caribbean. While these are the more popular cruise destinations for US travellers, there’s no mention of Asia or Australasia.
The Cruise Lines sub-forums are also quite narrow in focus, only covering 8 of the bigger cruise lines. Notable absentees include any of the six-star luxury cruise lines, P&O Cruises, Virgin Voyages and any smaller cruise lines.
I’d say this is a site that’s better for anyone in the US who wants to chat, rather than find information.
The Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial site dedicated to all things Royal Caribbean, and their forum, while not huge, is a great place to meet other people who love the cruise line.
There are sub-forums dedicated to general Royal Caribbean discussion, roll calls, news and rumours, dining and shore excursions as well as a sub-forum dedicated to sister cruise lines Celebrity and Silversea, although this is small with just over 3,000 posts.
But, if you want tips on Royal Caribbean, then there are a quarter of a million posts to run through, and you can use the Roll Calls to find passengers on your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise.
It’s a forum that’s best for the specifics, though – not many places will have over 50,000 posts just on news and rumours about Royal Caribbean, or almost 35,000 just on dining. If you want to get into the finer details of Royal Caribbean, this is the place to do it.
The Tripadvisor site in general is a great place to find reviews of all kinds of attractions, accommodations and cruise lines, but they also have forums. The cruises forum is pretty active and has over 20,000 topics of discussion on all kinds of topics from cruising to travel agents and more.
The biggest drawback to Tripadvisor’s forum is that there’s very little organisation. With no sub-forums, you just have a long list of topics to browse through. There is a search bar, but that’s a little hit-and-miss when you want specific information about a subject.
However, it’s not one to disregard completely. There’s a list of the top questions about cruising that people from the forum have answered, so you can browse those to see if the information you’re looking for is covered. And there’s also a section highlighting the top cruise experts from the forum, so you can browse their replies to other people.
It does seem to have a little more of that Tripadvisor vibe of negativity, though – a quick glance shows that there are more topics related to complaints than on other forums. That’s Tripadvisor for you, though.
I wanted to include a UK-specific cruise forum on this list, and previously, I had the Cruise.co.uk forum listed here, but in 2024, that closed down. The travel agency still exists, but the forum has gone, which is a shame as it was the biggest UK forum for cruises with over 125,000 members.
In its place, I’ve found the Cruise Community Forum, which is primarily aimed at Brits but does offer information on cruises and cruise lines all over the world. It has a more retro design, but it is current, though there aren’t a huge number of active posters. Some of the sub-forums haven’t been touched in a little while.
Still, I’d recommend taking a look, as even the historic posts have valuable info. And maybe with the Cruise.co.uk forum gone, this one will explode in popularity?
DIS boards is a massive community of Disney fans, with millions of posts to do with everything Disney, including resorts, theme park tips, news and more.
One of the sub-forums is dedicated to Disney Cruise Line, and it’s also massive. It has over 5.8 million posts for you to browse already and a thriving community that you can engage with.
The biggest drawback is that there aren’t many sub-forums within this area to help make it easier to navigate. There’s a general forum for the cruise line, one for roll calls (called Meets) and one for trip reports, but that’s it. If you want to learn about a particular ship or restaurant, then you’ll need to search.
The benefit of DIS boards is that they’re a great place to get tips if you’re planning a cruise and stay holiday. You can get all the info about the cruise line and about your chosen Disney hotel, and there’s a lot of useful information on getting the most out of your time at the parks.
If you know about Reddit already, you’ll know that it’s a massive site that has separate boards (called subreddits) about all kinds of topics. The subreddit for general cruising has exploded in popularity recently, going from 50,000 users at the start of 2023 to over 400,000 users by the start of 2024, and 1.2 million users by the start of 2025, with a lot of new topics posted daily.
One of the benefits of r/Cruise is that it’s one of the easiest to follow from your phone. Most other forums don’t have an app, but Reddit’s app is one of the easiest to use, so you can monitor the latest posts and interact with cruisers on the go.
There are other subreddits you could explore too, including r/RoyalCaribbean or r/CarnivalCruiseFans. If there’s a particular topic you want to know more about, just try searching Reddit, and you might find an entire subreddit dedicated to the answer.
My Recommendation
There are a lot of different options for cruise forums, and depending on what you’re looking for, I would say that there’s not a single one I would recommend above all others.
If you want pure information or you want to use a roll call to find other passengers, then the Cruise Critic boards are pretty much unrivalled in terms of size. Dedicated forums for cruise lines can also help if your question is specific, or if you’re someone who’s just really passionate and loyal to one cruise line.
But other people use forums to make online friends and enjoy a thriving community discussion. On the Cruise Critic message boards, that’s hard because there are so many users – you’ll get drowned out.
For UK cruisers, your best bet is the Cruise Community Forum, and I’d recommend a smaller site like Cruise Addicts for US-based cruise fans. These are great if you like the idea of getting involved regularly and chatting with others who share your love of cruising.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Some Carnival cruisers thought their eyes were deceiving them or that reported screen shots were fake after seeing a price of $20 for a pool noodle rental. But the future passengers weren’t shy in their comments about the pricing.
Carnival’s new private island will offer all kinds of rentals, so cruisers can enjoy their beach day however they would like. From cabana rentals to snorkel gear, pretty much anything you need on an island oasis is available.
But it was a very common and popular pool amenity that stirred the pot online this week.
The cost of a simple pool noodle has become a hot topic among Carnival cruise fans online, especially after screenshots of its price at Carnival’s new private island, Celebration Key, started circulating.
A $20 Noodle?
A Reddit user shared a screenshot from what appeared to be Carnival’s booking platform. The image showed an “All-Day Pool Noodle” at Celebration Key, priced at a surprising $19.99 per person.
“Has Carnival lost their minds?” the user questioned, clearly not thrilled with the price, while also stating that the screenshot was not fake, even though they wished it were.
They also pointed out other charges on the island, like water slides costing extra and the ship’s drink package not working there. For them, it was enough to make them consider just staying “on the ship and enjoy the pools there.”
Cruisers Chime in
The online post racked up over 200 comments with many fellow cruisers joining the debate with their own views on the pricing for the cruise line’s new private island.
A lot of people agreed with the original poster’s surprise, adding that pool noodles can be purchased for around $1 or $1.50 at most local stores.
One user noted that a pool noodle costs around “$.97 at Walmart,” arguing that since Carnival would reuse them, they should be free for guests.
The conversation also led to an overall discussion about extra charges in other areas as well.
Even on Carnival’s excursion page on its website, people have wasted no time in leaving reviews for the “All-Day Pool Noodle” with one comment stating, “They’ve lost their minds. These are $1 pool toys for rent for a day for $20??”.
Shifting Prices
Before you think that every passenger will have to pay $20 for a pool noodle on Celebration Key, remember that the cruise line is still sorting things out for the new destination, and prices will fluctuate.
Another user shared a different screenshot. This image showed the same “All-Day Pool Noodle” at Celebration Key, but this time, the price was listed as $10.99.
I should note that currently, on Carnival’s website, the price is slated at $10.99.
This difference in price made some wonder if prices change based on the cruise date, if it’s dynamic pricing, or if Carnival is adjusting its fees.
Finding Workarounds
Regardless of whether it’s $20 or $10.99, many commenters offered practical advice: bring your own.
Tips included grabbing inexpensive noodles from Dollar Tree or packing inflatable rings that can be deflated. Some even jokingly wondered if Carnival might eventually ban outside inflatables.
Beyond the specific cost of the noodle, the discussion extended to concerns about the overall trend of increasing fees in the cruise industry. For some, these additional costs put a damper on the booking experience.
At the same time, it’s all about supply and demand, and if people are willing to pay $20 for a pool noodle, then $20 the cost shall be. Although, I expect the price to be much lower in the future, so we’ll keep an eye on that.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, this discussion is not just about pool noodles, but an overall sentiment among cruise passengers as of late. While many are excited about the new Celebration Key destination, not everyone is thrilled with some of the extra costs that come with it.
But as I stated earlier, dynamic pricing tends to even out the pricing over time as the market sifts out what people actually want and are willing to pay for. Celebration Key is looking pretty incredible already, so I’ll focus on that and let the pricing sort itself out.
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Crystal, one of the finest ultra-luxury cruise lines in the world, has finalized financing for two brand new state-of-the-art cruise ships that will double the size of their fleet.
The financing will allow Crystal to move forward with their fleet expansion program. The new cruise ships will be 61,800 gross tons in size but carry only 650 passengers.
This new class of ships will represent the next generation of luxury cruising.
They will have the following features:
All cabins will be a suite with a balcony
Single occupancy suites for solo cruisers
One of the highest crew-to-passenger ratios in the industry
Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Executive Chairman of A&K Travel Group, Crystal’s parent company, said the following:
“Securing this financing represents a decisive step forward in Crystal’s expansion and demonstrates the strong market confidence in our strategy.
“We are grateful for the trust placed in us by our banking partners, led by Citibank, N.A. London Branch, along with Banco Santander, S.A., CaixaBank, S.A., UK Branch, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A., Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Banca Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena S.p.a., and Bper Banca S.p.A. This consortium’s backing validates our position in the ultra-luxury cruise segment.”
The ships will be built by Fincantieri with the first one delivered to Crystal in 2028. The second will follow at a date that’s yet to be announced.
This financing milestone reinforces the cruise line’s position as a leader in luxury cruising and demonstrates the strong confidence of the international financial community in the company’s future growth and market position.
Crystal currently has two ships in their fleet, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.
Crystal Symphony. Photo Credit: Bahnfrend via Creative Commons 4.0
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Picking the perfect cruise cabin can feel like a bit of a minefield – unless you’re splashing out on the top suite, of course!
With dozens of options like inside, oceanview, balcony, and a whole range of suites, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
And once you’ve chosen your cabin type, there’s another decision – where on the ship will you be?
If you’ve landed on Deck 7, you’re probably wondering… is it a winner or one to avoid?
Let’s take a closer look at what Deck 7 is really like – the perks, the pitfalls, and whether it’s the smart choice for your next cruise.
Where Deck 7 Is Located
On most cruise ships, Deck 7 is situated around the middle of the ship, but it varies depending on the ship in question – on the biggest ships in the world, it’s in the lower half of the ship, but still well above the waterline.
Cruise ships always number their decks in ascending order – so Deck 1 will either be the lowest deck on the ship, or the lowest one that guests can access. Some cruise lines don’t number the lowest decks used by the crew.
On many cruise ships, the decks have names, but they will have numbers as well.
So, Deck 7 is the seventh deck from the bottom of the ship. Smaller cruise ships will usually have around 11 or 12 decks in total, so the seventh deck is a little above the midpoint of the ship.
But the biggest cruise ships in the world – like Icon of the Seas – have 20 or so decks, meaning the seventh is below the midpoint.
Considerations When Choosing Deck 7
Generally, Deck 7 is considered a good deck to have a cruise cabin, but it will depend on the ship. Deck 7 is normally roughly the same distance between the dining rooms and the pool decks, and it is normally surrounded by cabins above and below.
It really depends on what you view as a good deck, because not everyone is the same. There are a few different factors to consider.
1. Noise
Typically, cruise ships are fairly well insulated, but sound can travel and any noise will sound worse for those staterooms located either directly above or below a noisy location.
Savvy cruisers will avoid cabins above the nightclub, or right under the pool deck, where people like to scrape a lounger across the floor at 6 am.
The quietest staterooms are those with other staterooms directly above and below. On most cruise ships, that’ll be the case for Deck 7, but you’ll need to check the deck plan yourself to make sure.
Next, there’s the distance to consider. Typically, on a cruise ship, most of the restaurants, shops, spas and kids clubs – what you’d consider to be the ‘indoor’ activities – are on a lower deck, while the swimming pools, sunbathing areas and sporting facilities are on the upper decks.
Deck 7 is therefore a good choice if you’re someone who’ll make use of everything, since you’re usually roughly an equal distance from most areas of the ship.
But really, as long as you don’t mind using elevators, the deck doesn’t matter. What’s more important is whether your cabin is midship or not.
If it’s right at the front or the aft, then you may find yourself with a long way to walk to get to where you want to be.
3. Movement
The other thing to consider is whether you’re worried about seasickness. People who suffer from seasickness tend to fare better on a lower deck, because you won’t feel the side-to-side movement of the ship quite as much.
Deck 7 is therefore an OK choice, and on larger ships, should be fine. On smaller cruise ships where Deck 7 is above the midpoint of the whole ship, those who suffer badly from seasickness might have an easier time on a lower deck, especially as smaller ships tend to feel the motion more anyway.
Ultimately, the best way to judge whether Deck 7 is a good deck is to look at the deck plans for your ship and check what’s nearby and what’s above and below.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, grab a copy of my free checklist and you’ll get all the info you need to help you pick the best stateroom…
The Best Deck Level On A Cruise Ship
There is no single best deck on a cruise ship, because it depends on what you want from your cruise. The best decks for those with motion sickness are lower decks, while the higher decks offer a better view and are close to the pool if you want to relax poolside all day.
As long as you’re careful to avoid the worst decks – those directly below the Lido, or above a nightclub, or any that have views on the inner or outer promenade where people could see into your room – you’ll normally have a great cruise. And even those rooms don’t bother some people.
I’ve written a guide on the best deck on a cruise ship to help you make your mind up, but once you’ve cruised a couple of times, you’ll start to get your own preferences too.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
She’s the first American woman to captain a mega cruise ship – and with her cat, stylish heels, and hilarious posts on TikTok and Instagram. Captain Kate McCue has become a cruise icon.
From her salary and personal life to fun behind-the-scenes facts, here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the world’s most famous cruise captain.
1. She’s A Pioneer
Until recently, Captain Kate McCue was the captain of Celebrity Beyond.
This luxury Celebrity Cruises ship is the third ship in the Celebrity’s ‘Edge’ class. Captain Kate had the honour of sailing the ship for its maiden voyage in April 2022 from Southampton, England. However she announced in February 2025 that she was leaving Celebrity Cruises.
Kate McCue began her career with Celebrity Cruises when she was made captain of Celebrity Summit on September 13, 2015. This made her the first American woman to captain a “mega ship” (she was not the first woman, but she was the first from the USA).
Kate McCue was actually invited to apply for the position by the CEO of Celebrity Cruises and the fact that she got the most important job on the ship was seen as a sign that longstanding gender divisions in the industry were starting to break down.
Captain Kate helped take this to the next level when she led the first-ever sailing with an entirely female bridge and officer leadership team aboard the Celebrity Edge (a team of 26, plus Kate).
This was a historic moment in maritime history and involved a crew of women from around the world representing more than a dozen different nations. It took place, appropriately, on International Women’s Day on the 8th of March 2020.
Prior to taking on the command of Celebrity Beyond, Kate McCue had worked as the captain of a couple of other Celebrity Cruises ships. In 2018 she moved from Celebrity Summit to Celebrity Equinox and then in 2019 she became Celebrity Edge captain.
She has been quoted on how excited she is to continue offering the best experiences at sea when she takes the helm of Four Seasons I in 2026.
2. Captain Kate Has A Wealth Of Experience For Her Age
Captain Kate McCue was 47 years old in January 2025. She was born on 6 January 1978 in San Francisco, USA. In her childhood, Kate McCue spent time living in Evans, Georgia and Michigan before returning to San Francisco.
Kate first became a cruise ship captain at the age of 37 after 19 years of training. This not only made her the first female captain of a cruise ship, but also one of the youngest cruise ship captains ever appointed.
3. Captain Kate Is Married
Captain Kate McCue has been married to her husband, Nikola Petrovic, since 2006. Kate and Nikola met while working onboard a Royal Caribbean ship. They do not have any children although Kate had previously said she considered herself mum to her cat.
Spouses are usually permitted to accompany captains whilst they are on voyages. However, Nikola is not always able to join Kate on her cruises due to his own work commitments. She has a schedule that sees her work for 3 months on the ship and then have 3 months off the ship. Kate describes the time they spend together as being ‘like a honeymoon’.
Captain Kate did have a cat that travelled with her on her voyages. Known as Bug, she was an elf sphynx cat that had her own Instagram account, Bug Naked, with over 80,000 followers of her own.
Captain Kate McCue’s husband Nikola Petrovic has also carved out a very successful career in the cruising industry and currently works as Fleet Chief Engineer for the Royal Caribbean Group, having previously worked for Virgin Voyages. He is originally from Croatia. He also has a popular Instagram account, although he has far fewer followers than his wife.
Captain Kate McCue and Nikola Petrovic perform very different roles within the cruise ship industry but they are both at the very top of their field. It was a love of cruise ships that helped them to discover their love for one another as they met when they were both employed by Royal Caribbean and served on the same cruise ship.
5. Captain Kate’s Net Worth Is In The Seven-Figure Range
Captain Kate McCue’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. Captain Kate’s salary is likely to be in the region of $200,000 per year, which is the upper end of what a cruise ship captain can earn. She earns additional income from her social media channels.
Kate McCue is an experienced captain of a mega cruise ship, so it’s reasonable to assume that she will be one of the highest-earning cruise ship captains.
Overall, her net worth is estimated to be in the range of one to five million dollars (source).
Captain Kate McCue has over 3 million followers on TikTok and hundreds of thousands of followers on other social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. If monetised, this popularity could bring in a significant additional income of several thousand dollars each month.
6. Captain Kate Has Never Been Fired From A Cruise Role
Captain Kate McCue has never been fired. She is incredibly well-respected within the industry and has broken new ground for women in cruising. She says that the only major criticism she has received in her career is that she smiles too much.
She smiles a lot since she is happy working her dream job and has fulfilled an ambition she has held since childhood. She has described this in her own words:
“When you’ve wanted something so bad, since you were 12 years old, and your dreams have finally come true, you can’t help but smile.”
I think we all want a job like that!
7. She Lives In Las Vegas When She Isn’t Sailing
Captain Kate McCue lives in Las Vegas. You might expect that she would choose to live by the sea, but instead, she has chosen to live in a desert. Kate McCue spends three months at a time at sea, so she will only spend half of her time in Las Vegas each year.
Kate McCue has moved around a lot during her lifetime. She was born in San Francisco but spent time living in Michigan and Georgia while she was a child. She studied at the California State University Maritime Academy.
The Bottom Line
Captain Kate McCue is a true trailblazer in the Cruising industry. Not only is she the first American female captain of a mega cruise ship, but she has sought to modernise the somewhat stuffy role traditionally played by a ship’s captain.
She has dispensed with the Captain’s table at meal times; instead, she wanders about between tables so that she can meet more of the passengers, rather than just a select few.
Kate McCue has also sought to give people a greater insight into the life of a cruise ship captain through her popular social media channels. So, she is helping to break down gender barriers at the same time as adapting and modernising the role of the ship’s captain from within.
Captain Kate has proven that women can successfully take on leadership roles in the industry, even at the relatively young age of 37 (when she first became captain of the Celebrity Edge in 2015). She has helped others to break down barriers, too, when she led the first-ever all-female bridge and senior officer crew in 2020.
She remains the only American female to captain a mega cruise ship, but surely it is only a matter of time before other women follow in her footsteps.
Captain Kate has fulfilled an ambition that she has had since the age of 12. She found a cruise ship brochure at home and convinced her parents to take her on a cruise. She spent most of the cruise with the cruise director and decided that was what she wanted to do when she grew up. That was until her father suggested that she might like to drive the ship. The rest, as they say, is history.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
