The world’s largest cruise ship terminal is officially open in Miami, MSC Cruises’ new Terminal AA/AAA. Here are some pictures of the new terminal as Cruise Fever is checking it out today.
MSC World America at Terminal AA/AAA at Port Miami. Photo: Cruise Fever
The new terminal will serve as the home for MSC Cruises’ newest and largest ship in the U.S., MSC World America. The ship is the largest non-Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing in the U.S.
The MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, designed by Arquitectonica and built by Fincantieri Infrastructure, has a daily capacity of 36,000 passengers.
It is the first in the industry to implement a complete biometric journey with digital identity. This helps create a seamless embarkation experience for cruisers.
Facial recognition technology used for a very fast and seamless boarding process. Prior to gangway access, the terminal utilizes 22 biometric E-gates to complete the embarkation process.
The 492,678 square foot terminal can process up to 36,000 passengers per day and is the first in the world to be able to accommodate three ships at the same time.
Check-in desk at the new MSC cruise terminalThe massive fish tank screen made to look like an aquarium.The fully automated system loads 27,000 pieces of luggage daily.The new MSC Cruises terminal in PortMiami really is massive. With an area of 492,678 square feet, the facility can accommodate three ships at once.
The terminal has a new parking garage that has room for 2,400+ vehicles.
Cruise ships from both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys will use the new terminal.
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There’s a good chance that you or someone in your cruise party has Snapchat installed on their phone, especially if you’re travelling with the family.
And you might want to know whether it’s something you can use on a cruise – after all, people can be glued to it when not on holiday, and a total Snap detox might not be possible!
Let’s take a look.
Snapchat Can Be Useful On A cruise
Snapchat has its uses on a cruise ship – it’s a good way of sharing what you’re doing with your friends and family, keeping tabs on what’s happening with your friends, and also arranging meetups with other passengers onboard.
That’s actually one of the best uses for it, especially for teenagers – the option to chat with other teens on the ship, get to know them (before you sail) and then be able to meet up as soon as the cruise begins, instead of needing to wait a few days to make friends.
However, Snapchat doesn’t have the option to search for groups that you can join beforehand. So if you or your teen wanted to set up a group chat for their cruise, they’d probably need to use another social media platform like Facebook, or a forum like Cruise Critic, to find groups or threads for their cruise.
Then they could share the Snapchat group invite in those groups; so that others can join and spend the time leading up to the cruise chatting and swapping Snaps back and forth.
Just be aware that if you start a Snapchat group chat and share the invite publicly on Facebook or Cruise Critic, anyone with Snapchat could join. So if it’s a group for your teens, either you or your teen should be vetting those who join to make sure they’re also teenagers too.
Ensuring Snapchat Will Work On A Cruise
Snapchat should work on a cruise, as long as you have some connection to the internet. Cruise lines don’t ban Snapchat, but you’ll need a reliable internet connection in order to be able to watch videos or upload your own content.
Even if you’re only planning on using the app to message people, you still have to be online in some form. And there may be restrictions on which apps you can connect to, depending on how strong your internet connection is. Sometimes they just won’t open.
Using The Cruise Ship’s WiFi To Access Snapchat
You can usually connect to Snapchat if you’ve bought a WiFi package on your cruise ship. It depends on your chosen package though, as some cruise lines offer a very basic entry-level package which wouldn’t be suitable for Snapchat use.
Cruise ship WiFi varies depending on each cruise line, and a lot of ships offer a tiered system. You can pay less for a more basic connection, or upgrade to a premium internet speed for a higher price.
And on the most basic internet packages, Snapchat might not work. Even if you’re only planning to use it to send written messages to a group, the app may be blocked from opening if your connection’s not strong enough. Sometimes the cruise line’s WiFi will also block certain apps, depending on your chosen package.
If you get on the ship and find that Snapchat isn’t working or it’s too slow, and you really want to use it, you might need to upgrade to a premium plan.
Using Snapchat On A Cruise Without A WiFi Package
Snapchat will work on a cruise when you don’t have a WiFi package, but only while you’re in port and able to connect to a phone internet data connection. Be aware that if you do this in international ports, you could be charged high rates for data use.
Snapchat needs an internet connection of some sort – either WiFi or mobile data – so if you’re in the middle of the ocean and you don’t have a WiFi package, you won’t be able to use it. You can open it, but it won’t work.
Using Snapchat On A Disney Cruise
You’ll be able to use Snapchat on a Disney cruise, provided you’ve bought the Basic Surf package or better. The Premium Surf package will be more reliable, but the Stay Connected WiFi package isn’t suitable for Snapchat or other social media apps.
Using Snapchat On A Carnival Cruise
You can use Snapchat on a Carnival cruise as long as you’ve signed up for Carnival’s WiFi package. You only need the most basic package with Carnival – their Social WiFi package is designed for social media apps. However, it will be more reliable with a Premium package.
Using Snapchat On A Royal Caribbean Cruise
You can use Snapchat on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you’re only sending messages, you should be fine with a Voom Surf Voyage WiFi package. If you plan on sending photos and videos, you’ll need to upgrade to a Voom Surf + Stream Voyage package.
Not All Snapchat Features Will Work On A Cruise Ship
It’s worth bearing in mind that some features of Snapchat may not work well on a cruise ship, and others won’t work at all.
Generally, sending snaps should work fine depending on your internet speed, but it may take a few goes to get something to work. It’ll be inconsistent, because the WiFi is generally pretty inconsistent on a ship; unless you’ve chosen the best package.
Using Snapchat’s Location Features/Geofilters On A Cruise Ship
Snapchat’s location features and geofilters won’t typically work while you’re at sea – you need to have a recognisable location that you can assign for the feature to work.
Geofilters will work in a cruise port, but be aware that they can be very expensive compared to regular filters!
Final Word
Snapchat will generally work on a cruise ship, provided you’ve paid for a fast enough internet connection.
But to make the most of it, you’ll probably need to set up a group in advance, and then post an invite to that group on a Facebook group or Cruise Critic forum thread for your sailing, inviting others to join.
Some cruise lines have their own messaging apps too – but if your teens just love using Snapchat, and want their own group to stay in touch, then just make sure you pay up for that speedy WiFi access.
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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.
Many people ask me whether babies can go on P&O Cruises and the answer is yes! Not only can babies sail on board P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships, but this is a great cruise line to choose for babies and toddlers for so many reasons…
P&O’s Baby Policy
Babies must be at least six months to sail with P&O
Cruises and at least 12 months for exotic fly-cruises. If you want to cruise
with a baby who is younger than six months old, you should look into other
cruise lines such as MSC Cruises.
P&O Cruises Infant Pricing
Infants under two years old sail at a ‘reduced rate’ with P&O Cruises. Exactly how much you’ll pay for your baby varies depending on the cruise – the P&O Cruises infant prices do vary. According to online forums, people have paid between £50 and £300 to bring a baby on their cruise.
From time to time, P&O Cruises has promotions where the third or fourth passenger in a cabin can sail for as little as £1. So booking your cruise whilst one of these promotions is live can be a great way to save you money on your cruise.
Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)
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Accommodation For Babies
P&O Cruises provides travel cots free of charge. There is space in even the smallest of inside cabins for a travel cot but if you do require a bit of extra space in your cabin, your cabin steward will be happy to take down the travel cot in the morning and put it back up for you in the evening.
The travel cots come with a thin mattress and a sheet. Guests are requested to bring their own cot bedding such as duvets, pillows or sleeping bags as required.
It might be a good idea to bring a thick blanket or small quilt to create some extra padding if your little one is used to a softer bed. If you forget to bring your own bedding, you may request a thin blanket from your cabin steward.
If you’d prefer for your toddler to sleep in a bed, you can request a bed guard to make sure that they can’t fall out. Some cabins have sofa beds and others have Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling like bunk beds. When you book, you can request a cabin with a sofa bed if you prefer this option.
A variety of cabin types are available. Budget-conscious travellers might be best to opt for an inside cabin.
But if your baby will only sleep in a cot and you’re likely to be confined to the cabin at nap times or in the evening, then it’s probably worth considering upgrading to a balcony cabin so that you can relax on the balcony while your child sleeps.
You’ll find lots to keep tots entertained on board P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships. One of the best things about P&O Cruises is that children wearing swimming nappies are allowed in designated pools. On many other cruise ships swimming nappies are completely banned from all pools.
We sailed on P&O Britannia and our two-year-old loved splashing in the shallow paddling pool in between the two main pools. He also loved the splash area which has a fountain and flowing water that can be stopped with various levers and wheels.
This area is a little bit hidden on the ship between the shuffleboard court and The Reef kids’ club, so make sure you don’t miss it if you sail on Britannia.
P&O Cruises ships are very spacious and your little ones will love crawling around the open decks. Railings are either high with a double hand-rail or made of glass walls, which makes the decks a very safe environment for little ones to roam as long as you keep an eye on them.
Although under-twos aren’t permitted to be left in the kids’ club, they can attend with parents for supervised play sessions. You’ll also find a variety of family events on board such as discos and magic shows.
Babysitting
Although there is no in-cabin babysitting, P&O Cruises offers a Night Nursery for free-of-charge group babysitting.
The Night Nursery is a dark, quiet room with beds and cots where under-fives can sleep under the supervision of two qualified members of staff. This is open from 6 pm until midnight and extended until 2 am on request.
Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents are given a pager so that they can be contacted should their children wake up.
Baby Food
P&O Cruises provides baby food free of charge. Hipp Organic baby food jars are available in an assortment of savoury and dessert flavours in stage 1 (4 months +) and stage 2 (7 months+).
Alternatively, you can request that any food from the main restaurant menu be pureed or mashed. There are also always plenty of foods on offer that are suitable for baby-led weaning such as bread, fruit and vegetable sticks.
Children and babies can dine in any of the dining areas on board. In addition, there is a special children’s tea at around 5 pm each evening (the exact time varies by ship).
Here, you’ll find a variety of kids’ favourites on offer in a relaxed atmosphere – perfect for parents who’d like to eat a little later in the evening than the children.
Toddlers can choose from the extensive children’s menu or try a small portion of any dish on the main menu. You’ll also find plenty of high chairs available in the restaurants.
Baby Milk
P&O Cruises can provide baby milk powder free of charge on request. The brand offered is SMA progress. If you prefer an alternative brand, you should bring your own baby milk.
Whole cows’ milk or plant-based milk can also be provided. Just call your cabin steward to place your request for warm or cold milk to be delivered to your cabin.
If you ask for a large jug or carton of milk, this can be kept in the fridge in your cabin. Alternatively, you can help yourself to milk from the buffet restaurant.
Breastfeeding is also welcome in all areas of the ship.
You are welcome to bring a pram or pushchair on board. The only restriction on this is that they are not allowed to be left in the corridor outside your room as they are with some other cruise lines.
If your pushchair is collapsible, you’ll find plenty of storage space under the beds, should you wish to keep it out of the way.
For those travelling with two children, side-by-side pushchairs are not recommended as they can be too wide for some of the corridors. Instead, opt for a narrower style or take two pushchairs or a buggy board.
Baby Paraphernalia
Babies come with a lot of equipment, but luckily, much of what you need is available to borrow free of charge, which means you can cut down on your packing list substantially.
Items available on request include:
Travel cot
Baby bath
Bottle/food warmers
Sterilisers
Nappy disposal units (although normal bins are emptied twice daily too)
Bed guards
Just mention if you would like any of when you book and you’ll find them waiting in the cabin for you.
For a full list of baby items to pack on a cruise, get the free printable checklist that I use. Just enter your email address below and it will be sent to your inbox.
Laundry
On board P&O Cruises you’ll find self-service launderettes with washing machines, tumble driers and irons which are free of charge.
You needn’t worry about packing lots of clothes for your children, as you’ll be able to do washing during your cruise should you need to. I’d recommend bringing your own washing tablets, as they cost £1 each to buy in the on-board shop.
If you prefer someone else to do the washing for you, there is also a laundry service available for a fee.
Summary
Whilst many cruise lines cater very well for babies and children, the P&O Cruises baby policy is one of the best and you can’t go wrong. The staff are all very friendly and on-hand to help wherever they can to make your family holiday as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Do you have any more tips for cruising with young children on board P&O Cruises? Please share them in the comments below. Or if you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.
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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.
The MSC Starship Club is a space-age bar that debuted on MSC Cruises’ ship, MSC Virtuosa, and later came to sister ship MSC Euribia. This futuristic bar and entertainment experience features a humanoid robot bartender by the name of Rob.
I cruised on the maiden voyage of MSC Virtuosa and am excited to show you more about Rob the robot and the MSC Starship Club…
The World’s First Humanoid Robotic Bartender at Sea
A robot bartender? Hasn’t Royal Caribbean had those for years, you might ask…
Well, yes. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships like Anthem of the Seas do feature robot bartenders. But the MSC Starship club knocks Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar clean out of the water. Here’s why…
For starters, MSC’s robot bartender, Rob, is a humanoid. Much more than just a mechanical arm, he has a face with human-like expressions and a voice. Rob speaks eight languages and has a clear personality that adjusts to match the atmosphere of the room!
Royal Caribbean’s Bionic BarMSC Cruises’ humanoid bartender, Rob
Cool Features Of MSC Cruises Humanoid Bartender
Interactive – Robot bartender Rob Loves to tell people jokes, riddles and space trivia
Multilingual – He speaks English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese
Emotions – Rob has an LED face with human-like expressions to convey emotions
Personality – His personality adjusts to match his surroundings
Entertaining – If he’s in the mood, Rob will show off his dance moves
Flexible – Rob moves his arms, body and head just like a real person
Attentive – He can scan the room to recognise and greet guests walking by
Unlimited – Rob can make an infinite number of unique, personalised drinks
So while Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar, which has been around since 2014, is undoubtedly very cool, the technology behind MSC Cruises humanoid bartender Rob is lightyears ahead.
What To Expect Inside The Starship Club
Robotic bartender Rob is the star of the show inside the MSC Starship Club. But this integrated bar and entertainment experience offers more than just fancy cocktails.
The Starship Club is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision of the spaceship of the future – the MSC Starliner One. It features some incredibly innovative technology that makes this fun venue a must-visit attraction for adults and kids of all ages.
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Inside the MSC Starship Club you will find:
3D holograms
Immersive digital art wall
12-seater infinity digital interactive table
Human bartenders in sci-fi costume
Here’s a poster for the Starship Club…
How The MSC Starship Club Works
Use one of the ‘vertical digital cockpits’ to order drinks
Choose your preferred language from a choice of eight
Pick from 16 signature cocktails or create your own unique recipe from over 40 ingredients
Check on the status of your order with a ticker-tape-style LED strip above the robotic island
Watch humanoid bartender, Rob, as he shakes, pours, stirs and garnishes your cocktail
Keep your futuristic glass as a souvenir
Come back as often as you like during your cruise
MSC Starship Club Drinks Selection
In the MSC Starship Club, you can order an infinite variety of cocktails from the humanoid robot bartender.
You can create your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink from a choice of over 40 ingredients. If you’re not sure what to have, there’s a menu of 16 signature cocktails to choose from.
There will also be real human bar staff on hand to help and take additional drinks orders if needed.
The Cost
Drinks ordered from Rob the Robot in the Starship Club cost £18 for alcoholic drinks and £10 for non-alcoholic drinks.
You can also order drinks from regular bartenders and waiters if you prefer.
Keeping The Cup As A Souvenir
Drinks made by Rob the Robot in the Starship Club are served in souvenir glasses which you can take home with you. You even get a little box to put it in.
Using Your Drinks Package
MSC drinks packages do not include drinks prepared by the robot bartender in the MSC Starship Club. If you want to use your drink package in the Starship Club, you must order from a human.
The MSC Starship Club debuted as the MSC Virtuosa robot bar and later came to sister ship MSC Euribia. Despite the popularity of the bar, it hasn’t been included on the new Seaside EVO-class ships, or the World-class ship MSC World Europa.
To Conclude
This bar and entertainment venue with its humanoid bartender is an incredibly exciting and futuristic venue for MSC Cruises and one that guests love. Make sure you check it out next time you’re cruising on MSC Virtuosa or MSC Euribia.
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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.
Finding a cruise for a family of four can be tricky because when you see cruise offers advertised online, they’re almost always based on two people sharing. This means that it can be very tricky to compare cruise prices for families.
A Lot Of Cruises Are Priced For Couples
Before I became a cruise blogger, I spent five years working in marketing for a specialist cruise travel agent. Whilst we did sometimes show family prices for families of four, most often, the price displayed was based on two people sharing a cabin.
The reason for this is that travel agents’ websites pull their prices from a feed and then apply their own programmatic price adjustments. The feed comes from the cruise line’s database, via third-party software.
This software only has the capacity to show prices based on two people for the four main cabin types – inside, outside, balcony and suite.
Not All Travel Agents Show Family Prices
For a travel agent to display a family price for a cruise, they have to price this manually, rather than using the live price feed. This task involves a member of staff going on to the cruise line’s website, finding the price, and then updating the travel agent’s website.
As cruise prices change most days, this is quite a labour-intensive task, so it’s not done for most sailings.
How to Find Family Cruise Prices
The way to see accurate prices for a cruise for a family of four is to search for the cruise on the cruise line’s own website, rather than a travel agent’s website.
However, booking directly with the cruise line usually costs you more and I wouldn’t recommend it in most cases. This is because travel agents are able to secure discounted rates.
Therefore, you should look for the price on the cruise line website and then call your travel agent and ask them to beat it. Any good travel agent will be able to get you a better deal than if you book directly with the cruise line.
Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise
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Things To Consider When Booking A Cruise For A Family Of 4
1. Child Prices Depend On The Age Of The Child
For most cruises, the child price depends on the age of the child. When you see family prices advertised by travel agents, this is usually based on the price for eight-year-old children. If your kids are older or younger than this, the price may be lower or higher
2. Two Cabins May Be Cheaper Than One
Whilst you might think that having four people in one cabin is the cheapest way to cruise, this isn’t always the case. If there’s a special offer such as Buy One Get One Free, then it might work out cheaper to have two inter-connecting cabins.
You’ll need to book one adult and one child in each cabin, but if you have a door between them you don’t actually need to sleep in this configuration.
3. Free Child Places Don’t Apply To Flights
When you see an offer for free or reduced child places on your cruise, it can seem like a great deal. But don’t forget that kids aged two and over will pay the full fare for any flights that you need.
Unfortunately, the flights can sometimes cost more than the cruise, so be sure to factor this in when you book.
4. Family Cabins Sell Out Quickly
Not every cruise cabin has the extra beds to accommodate families. Since family cruising is becoming more popular, you’ll find that some of the older cruise ships have a distinct lack of cabins that sleep four.
I once tried to book a cruise the day after it went on sale, almost two years in advance, only to find that all the family cabins had already sold out!
For families of five, you’ll find that family cabins are even more rare.
If you’re planning a family cruise, take a look at my guide on how to choose a cruise in 7 easy steps. It guides you through the process of finding the best cruise for your family, including any pitfalls to watch out for.
If you have any questions or would like any help, please follow me on Instagram where I’ll be happy to chat over direct messages.
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Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones 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.
With the 2025 cruise season in full swing, a new survey reveals which items cruise passengers are most at risk of losing.
According to recent research by Confused.com, over one in five cruise passengers (22%) admit to having left something behind on a cruise ship.
The most commonly lost items? Sunglasses, prescription glasses, and chargers, each reported by 30% of respondents who have misplaced belongings on board.
Whether it’s a forgotten phone charger, a misplaced pair of reading glasses, or a treasured piece of jewellery, cruise holidays – with their relaxed pace and ever-changing scenery – can make it easy to leave items behind.
Top 10 most commonly lost items on cruise ships
Based on the responses from travellers who admit to have lost something on a cruise, the most frequently lost items are:
Sunglasses or prescription glasses – lost by 30% of those who have lost an item
Chargers or power banks – 30%
Clothing – 28%
Jewellery, including watches – 27%
Headphones or earbuds – 25%
Toiletries or cosmetics – 23%
Toys or stuffed animals – 17%
Wallet or purse – 17%
Camera – 15%
Books or e-readers – 14%
Expert tips: how not to leave anything behind on your cruise
To help holidaymakers avoid that dreaded post-disembarkation panic, travel insurance expert Alvaro Iturmendi from Confused.com has shared his top five hacks for remembering your belongings at the end of your voyage:
Snap an “arrival photo”
“As soon as you’ve unpacked, take a photo of your belongings laid out – sunglasses, chargers, passports, jewellery. Then, use the photo as a visual checklist before you pack up again.”
Use the ‘last place you look’ rule
“Choose one place – like inside your shoes or in the room safe – to store small essentials every day. This habit reduces the chance of scattering them throughout the cabin.”
Attach Bluetooth trackers to your most valuable items
“Attach a small Bluetooth tracker to items like sunglasses cases, wallets, or electronics. You can monitor their last known location through your phone – even if they’ve been left behind in the lounge or at the pool.”
Stick a note on your door
“Leave a sticky note on the inside of your cabin door the night before you leave that says: ‘CHECK EVERYTHING!’ It’s simple, but it works.”
Use invisible ink to mark your stuff
“Mark your valuables discreetly with your contact details using a UV marker or waterproof label. If a crew member finds your missing item, this makes returning it much easier.”
If you do lose something onboard, Alvaro recomments that you report it immediately to the ship’s Guest Services desk, or if they have a specific Lost & Found desk, go there instead.
If you don’t get any luck finding it, you can usually fill out a form to request that, if it does turn up, you can be contacted to arrange delivery. Of course, the longer the wait, the less likely it is that your item will be found (at least, by someone willing to turn it in).
If you lose a high-value item, you should check your travel insurance as you may be covered.
“To make a claim, you’ll usually need proof of ownership – a receipt, photo, or bank statement – and a report from the cruise line confirming the loss,”
“If theft is suspected, some insurers may also require a police report from the nearest port authority. The faster you act and the more evidence you can provide, the better your chances of a successful claim.”
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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.
In a significant fleet shake-up, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has announced that four cruise ships across its three brands will soon leave their respective fleets under long-term charter agreements….
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Carnival Cruise Line recently unveiled the first details of Project Ace, their largest cruise ships yet that will be at least 230,000 gross tons in size.
Carnival has three Project Ace ships on order that will debut in 2029, 2031, and 2033. While the cruise line hasn’t given a lot of details on these new ships, here is what we know so far.
During a press event on Carnival Celebration before Seatrade Cruise Global, Carnival talked a little about Project Ace and even had a Q&A with members of the media.
The ships will hold 8,000 passengers at maximum capacity, among the most in the world.
Say hello to Project Ace from Carnival Cruise Line, new 8,000 passenger ship that will debut in 2029. pic.twitter.com/gWR5EclE6X
James Shillinglaw, Editor in Chief of Insider Market Report, asked Carnival’s President Christine Duffy if the ships would be the largest in the world.
Duffy said that the purpose of the ships wasn’t necessarily that they would be the largest in the world. She said that she wasn’t sure on the exact size of the ships, but they were more concerned with what the ships would offer than being the “biggest in the world”.
Carnival has yet to name the homeport for the first ship, but it’s hard to imagine that the vessel would homeport outside of Florida (my opinion, not fact).
I asked Ben Clement, executive vice president maritime & new builds for Carnival Cruise Line, if Terminal F in PortMiami would be able to accommodate an Ace class ship. He said that it will be able to hold that class of ship when it’s built.
Carnival spent millions of dollars upgrading and expanding the terminal before Carnival Celebration debuted in 2022.
Cruise Fever will continue to monitor all new news on Project Ace from Carnival Cruise Line and will have all updates on this new class of ships right here on our website.
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Viking announced two new hydrogen powered cruise ships today at Seatrade Cruise Global that will debut in 2026 and 2027.
When the ships runs on hydrogen power, it will allow them to operate at zero emissions. The first ship, Viking Libra, is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The cruise ship will debut in late 2026.
A second hydrogen powered ship, Viking Astrea, which is also under construction will debut in 2027.
Both ships will be 54,300 gross tons in size and carry 998 guests in 499 staterooms. The propulsion system will be based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells. The ships will be capable of running at zero emissions and access some of the most remote environmentally sensitive areas of the globe.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, gave the following statement:
“From the outset, we have designed our river and ocean ships thoughtfully to reduce their fuel consumption, and we are very proud the Viking Libra and the Viking Astrea will be even more environmentally friendly.
“Viking made the principled decision to invest in hydrogen, which offers a true zero-emission solution. We look forward to welcoming the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship to our fleet in 2026.”
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, added:
“With the Viking Libra, we are not only delivering the world’s first cruise ship powered by hydrogen stored on board, but we are also reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of sustainable maritime transportation.
“Furthermore, we are thrilled about Viking’s decision to expand its fleet with the order of two additional ships, which reaffirms the strength of our partnership, and the trust placed in our expertise. This new order is a testament to our shared vision for a more sustainable cruise industry, as together we continue to set new standards for innovation and responsible shipbuilding.”
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You just booked a cruise–awesome! Now, it’s time to get a few things done right off the bat.
I love that “I-just-booked-a-cruise” rush after securing a cruise vacation. But besides celebrating and sharing the news with a few friends, there are some details you’ll want to get on top of before you start posting your favorite cruise memes on Facebook.
Cruise ships in PortMiami. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
Some of the things on this list should be done as soon as possible, but even for the less time-sensitive things, you’ll want to at least be aware of them before that cruise date sneaks up on you.
*This post has been updated since its original publishing date.
After booking a cruise, here are 15 things you should do:
1. Check that Info
Make sure the information in your booking is correct. Everything from the spelling of the names on the booking to the cruise date are easy to overlook, but it’s a good time to make sure it’s all correct to save you some frustration later on. You don’t want an extra letter in your name to cause trouble later on.
Just a few weeks ago I was very close to booking a cruise for the wrong year. In my haste to nab a good deal I almost booked a cruise for 2026 that I meant for 2025. So yeah, it happens.
You also want to double-check the dining time preference. Usually, you select this time during the booking process, but it can be changed if you picked the wrong one.
Of course, you should make sure all your info is correct while you’re filling out the booking form but a quick double-check right after is always a good idea.
2. Mark Your Calendar with Important Reminders
This is something I always do immediately after I book a cruise. You don’t want the final payment date to sneak up on you or pass by without remembering to settle it. Mark any payment dates on your calendar, whether it’s the one on your phone or the one hanging from the fridge.
You also should mark the dates when certain reservations open up. This is especially true if your cruise is a long way off and you don’t want to forget to reserve an excursion, restaurant or other activity that is on a first-come, first-served basis. These reservations usually have specific dates before the cruise when passengers can secure those reservations.
And one of the most important dates to mark down is the check-in date that we will talk about in the next point.
3. Get your account on the cruise line’s website or app
If you don’t already have an account with the cruise line, you should get one as soon as you can. Even if you are booking through a travel agent or 3rd party website you should have an account you can check out directly on the cruise line’s website.
This will allow you to check on the status of your cruise, your final payment date, your loyalty status, and all the extra amenities you can have on your cruise.
With most cruise line apps you can check-in right on your phone, making the whole process a breeze as well.
To go with the last point, I recommend finding out the soonest you can check-in and marking your calendar so you can get the best boarding time on embarkation day.
Do this as SOON as you possible can so you get the most optimal boarding time.
Carnival allows you to check-in 14 days before a sailing, for Royal Caribbean it’s 45 days, and for Norwegian Cruise Line it’s 21 days. But check with your cruise line to make sure of this date and then slap it on the calendar.
Thermal suite and pool on Norwegian Escape. You can pay for access well before your cruise to make sure you have a spot.
If you’re going to want Wi-Fi, a spa treatment, or drink package on the ship this is a good time to add these to your reservation. It’s always cheaper to pay for this ahead of your cruise than to wait until you’re on the ship as cruise line’s offer discounts for buying them ahead of time.
And if you book one of these extras and the price drops, you can usually cancel and book it again.
If you are set on certain excursions you want to do through the cruise line, this is the time to add them. Some of the more exotic or off-the beaten path excursions can fill up and sell out quickly
You can also add some room décor or arrival treats if your cruise is for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary.
Some cruise lines like Carnival will give you a discount for adding multiple things like Wi-Fi and excursions onto your booking, giving another reason to add these extras shortly after you book.
5. Check Airfare
Actually, I often book the airfare first, making sure this aspect of the cruise is still reasonable before I look at cruise prices.
The longer you wait to book a flight the more chances costs will go up. But this is not always the case. I recommend checking on airfare costs and then tracking prices over the next few days if you feel the price is too steep. Either way, you will want to book those flights well before your cruise.
You can use a price tracker through Kayak or Google flight price alerts to stay on top of any fluctuations.
Ideally, I like to look at flight costs before I book a cruise because depending on where you’re going this can be a huge part of your travel budget. If I’m cruising out of the US though I may prioritize a good cruise deal first and find an affordable flight later.
6. Look at Hotels Near the Cruise Port for a Pre-cruise Stay
If flying to a cruise port, I always recommend getting a hotel for at least one night before. The stress of flying to a cruise port on the day of the sailing is just not worth it in my opinion. I’ve done it before, and staying in a hotel ahead of time makes for a much more relaxing experience.
So, after booking your cruise it’s a great time to check out hotels near the cruise port. You can often find hotels with free shuttle services to the cruise port. In certain areas like Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida there are many hotels that provide extra services for cruise travelers.
Additionally, you can also book a hotel both before and after your cruise, so you never have to worry about delays with your flights on either side of your vacation.
On top of getting a flight and hotel you will also want to consider how you will get to the cruise port from the airport and vice versa. If you’re not going to use a hotel shuttle service to the port you can look at ride share prices or book a private car for transportation.
Some cruise lines also offer transportation with bundled packages if you want to go directly through them.
This step is especially important if your airport is far from the cruise port. Ports like Port Canaveral and Galveston can be an hour or more to the nearest airports. Because of this distance many shuttle services have popped up to help fill this need. Look into pricing and options well ahead of your cruise so you can lock in these travel plans.
And don’t overlook rideshare services. You’d be surprised how many times taking an Uber of Lyft can be cheaper (and more convenient) than taking a shuttle.
8. Sign Up for Price Drop Alerts
Unless you’re looking at a last-minute cruise it’s a great idea to add your cruise itinerary to a price alert service. This will allow you to take advantage of price drops that might happen leading up to your cruise.
I like services offered by Cruisewatch that will monitor any price drops and let you know when you can get a better deal. It can be a hassle to cancel your cruise and book again, but having a travel agent can make this a lot simpler.
A travel agent may also be able to help monitor price drops, so this is a question you can ask an agent ahead of time if this is something that’s important to you.
9. Make Sure Your Documentation is Up to Date
Really, this should be done before you even book, as you don’t want to be waiting for a passport to come in the mail when your cruise date is rapidly drawing nearer. But this is still a good time to at least double-check and make sure your documentation is current.
Remember, your passport cannot expire within 6 months of your cruise date. These days passport offices are pretty backed up right now as well. I recently visited my local office and they said the current wait time was 10 – 13 weeks for renewals.
If traveling internationally to certain countries, you will want to check on visa requirements and get on top of that as well.
10. Purchase Travel Insurance
Consider buying travel insurance to protect yourself against the things you probably don’t want to think about happening while you’re on a cruise. We hear stories all the time about medical helicopter evacuations costing tens of thousands of dollars.
You can often buy travel insurance from the cruise line during the booking process to help protect your trip, but don’t forget about expenditures outside of your cruise like flights and hotels. If you should have to cancel your trip you’ll want to get compensation for these costs as well.
Also check with the credit card you used to purchase the cruise as you may have at least some built-in protections already.
A 3rd party travel insurance plan might offer more peace of mind if you’re looking for extra medical evac coverage or even “cancel-for-any-reason” coverage.
Perhaps this should happen before you book a cruise, but it depends on your boss. I mean, a good deal is a good deal, right? You can’t always wait to get permission first.
When asking for time off work remember to take into account extra days for that pre-cruise hotel and post-cruise hotel if you decide to go that route.
A vacation is always much more relaxing when you don’t have to worry about rushing home and jumping right back into work. Those days on either side of your cruise are vacation days too so take advantage of it.
12. Inform your bank and credit card companies
This step isn’t as important as it used to be. In fact, many credit card companies are smart enough to know when you use that card to book a trip that you will in fact need to use that card overseas.
So, feel free to skip this step if you’d like, but for a little extra peace of mind that you won’t have any trouble using your credit cards, it’s just a quick phone call or clicks on the website.
This step can prevent your transactions from being flagged as suspicious and potentially declined. And it will probably happen just as you’re about to buy that incredible souvenir that you just have to take home with you.
13. Start Getting Your Packing List Together
If you’re like me, you tend to wait until the last minute to pack. But planning ahead with what kind of luggage you need to bring and what “easy-to-forget” items will need to be thrown into the suitcase can make for a smoother planning process.
Begin preparing a packing list based on the cruise duration, weather conditions, and any specific dress codes or formal nights. Consider including essential items such as medications, travel adapters, and appropriate attire.
And remember, there are some things you may THINK you need to pack for a cruise that you actually should leave at home. More on that here.
Get to know everything you can about each port of call your ship will be visiting. There’s nothing worse than finding out AFTER your trip about something amazing you would have loved to see had you only known about it.
This is one of the fun parts of cruise planning for me. I love doing deep-dive research so when I arrive at the port I feel like I know the place and can get right to exploration.
We have plenty of articles on Cruise Fever about many popular ports of call if you’d like to use the search bar. I also recommend checking out some videos of each port, so you get some visuals as well.
Cruise ships in Costa Maya, Mexico. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
15. Share Your Itinerary with a Trusted Contact
You know that little space on the booking form where you enter the name of your emergency contact? It might be a good idea to let them know you’re traveling out of country for a bit. I’ve been guilty of taking a trip without letting my emergency contacts even know. Terrible, I know.
Inform a family member or friend about your cruise plans, including the ship name, itinerary, and contact details. It’s always good to have someone aware of your whereabouts in case of emergencies.
Bottom Line
Remember that these steps may vary depending on the specific cruise line, itinerary, and personal preferences. You might totally disagree with a few of these steps, and that’s completely ok. We all cruise differently and plan differently. The important thing is that you don’t get caught off guard when it comes to being ready for that sailaway date!
Windstar Cruises offers the chance to enjoy a luxurious getaway, and like any luxury escape, there’s quite a lot included in the price you pay. But not everything’s included – there are some things you’ll need to pay a little extra for.
So, let’s look at what is included, and how you can get the best price on the bits that aren’t.
Exploring What’s Included
On a Windstar cruise, you’ll enjoy your accommodation, your food and most of your onboard entertainment for free, along with soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks, WiFi, laundry and tips aren’t included as standard.
Let’s look into each of the inclusions in a bit more detail.
1. Food
All of your food on a Windstar cruise is included. You don’t have to pay for your meals, no matter where on the ship you decide you want to eat. Snacks and room service are also included.
With most cruise lines, your main dining is included – so you’ll always have breakfast, lunch and dinner free. Then there will be secondary dining choices, some of which are free and others that have a cover charge. But that’s not the case with Windstar.
Windstar’s ships aren’t huge but they do have a choice of restaurants – the great news is that the speciality ones don’t cost extra. You just need to make a reservation in advance to secure your place.
Room service is also covered by your cruise fare, and is available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and for late-night snacking. You just need to order it in advance – breakfast orders can be left on a door hanger the night before.
2. Drinks
Alcohol is not included on a Windstar cruise, but all non-alcoholic drinks are included. This includes soft drinks, fruit juices and coffees that would often be charged for on most other cruise lines.
If you don’t drink alcohol, then a Windstar cruise could represent great value. Typically cruise lines will offer tap water for free and maybe a small selection of teas, coffees and juices at breakfast. But Windstar is one of the few that includes all non-alcoholic beverages for no additional cost.
Bottles of water are also included in your fare, so if you’re heading ashore and want a fresh bottle to take with you, just grab one from the bar. You can also order your mocha, cappuccino, espresso or latte to your room; so that you can wake up with a beautifully fresh coffee to kick start your day.
3. Entertainment
Most of the entertainment that takes place onboard your Windstar cruise will be included in the cost of your cruise fare.
Windstar’s ships aren’t super-sized cruise ships that are packed with Broadway-style theatres, nightclubs, and so on. But they do still have spaces where you’ll enjoy interesting activities throughout your sailing.
During the day this will include guest lectures on a range of topics, typically curated to be relevant to your itinerary. There are also culinary demonstrations, so you can pick up a few tips to help you recreate your favourite dishes when you get back home.
At night, there’s often live music in the lounge and bar areas of the ships. It’s quite a relaxed atmosphere, but it can still get lively and there’s plenty of opportunity for dancing.
On many cruises, there’ll be a BBQ party on one night, and music will be played on the deck of the ship to encourage a party atmosphere.
4. Watersports
One of the unique features of a Windstar cruise is the watersports platform that’s on every ship in the fleet. It’s only used in certain ports of call so it’s not available on every itinerary, but it’s one of the most fun features of any cruise ship.
The platform includes a number of watersports activities that guests are free to use. This includes paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, water skiing and surfing. All of the equipment is provided at no additional cost.
And if that sounds a bit too active, then the ships will often unfurl a large flotation island where you can just take it easy and soak up the surrounding views. You can use it as a base for casual swimming in the calm waters too.
And as an additional bonus, the snorkelling equipment is free for guests to borrow at ports of call, so you don’t have to pay high prices in ports for a snorkelling experience.
Exploring Additional Costs
Here’s a look at what isn’t included as standard on a Windstar cruise, and roughly how much you should expect to pay.
1. Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic drinks aren’t included in the fare on a Windstar cruise. You can pay for these individually, or you can choose a beverage package.
On average you should expect to pay around $7 for a beer on Windstar, and around $10-11 for a glass of wine. It’s a similar average price for cocktails too. Prices vary by individual drink but there aren’t any that are way above those averages; unless you’re choosing Champagne.
However, you do have to pay an 18% beverage service charge on any drinks you buy – so really you’re looking at around $8.50 for a beer and around $12-13 for a glass of wine or a cocktail when that’s factored in.
Beverage packages are available. The Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package is $79 per person, per day, and includes unlimited beer, wine and cocktails This package must be purchased up to five days before your cruise, otherwise, it’s available onboard for $89 per person, per day.
In addition to this Windstar Cruises allows guests to bring aboard one bottle of wine per person at embarkation and additional wine and beer purchased onshore during the Cruise. This is limited to two bottles on voyages of seven days or three bottles for cruises spanning eight days or longer. If you wish to consume this alcohol in public areas it will be subject to a corkage fee of approx $15 + 15% gratuity.
2. Laundry
Laundry services are available on all Windstar cruises, including pressing, although dry cleaning is not available. Laundry is charged on a per-item basis, ranging from $0.60 for a t-shirt to $7 for a suit. You can also pay for a one-off laundry bag, filling it with as many items as you can, for around $45.
However, Windstar offers something unique with a laundry package. This lets you enjoy unlimited laundry during your cruise, with a 24-hour turnaround. You’ll even get your clothes back on the same day if you turn them in to the laundry service by 9am.
The package costs $16 per day as standard for two people sharing a cabin, though if you’re cruising solo you can get it for $8 per day. You have to book the laundry package no later than the first day of your cruise, and you must pay for it for the duration of your sailing.
WiFi is not included on a Windstar cruise as standard. The WiFi costs $35 for 24 hours of access and is for one device only.
Unlike other cruise lines, you aren’t always forced to pay for WiFi for the entire duration of your cruise with Windstar. You can pay for just the data you need – an Email plan costs $60 and gives you 200MB of data, while the Surfing plan costs $120 and lets you use 500MB of data. If an unlimited package is more your thing it will set you back $250 for the duration of the cruise.
A Windstar cruise is designed to be one where you switch off for a little while, but if you do need to get online, you can pay for access for just as long as you need.
4. Shore Excursions
Shore excursions are an additional cost on a Windstar cruise. The price of excursions varies depending on your chosen sailing and the nature of the excursion, with private tours available in many locations if you want to pay extra.
Remember that you don’t have to pay for shore excursions if you don’t want to – there’s nothing stopping you from just heading ashore yourself and wandering around to explore.
But Windstar works with local excursion providers to offer a great range of experience opportunities, all chosen to reflect the brand – this means you can expect the same sort of luxury on land as you can on the ships themselves.
5. Gratuities
Gratuities are not included in your cruise fare with Windstar. Guests will need to pay them at the end of their cruise. Called the Hotel Service Charge, the current cost is $16 per person, per day and it’s automatically added to your cruise account.
If you’re not happy with the service standards offered, you are able to visit the Guest Services desks on the ship to adjust the amount you pay. However, be aware that the charge is spread amongst all the crew, including those you may not interact with much, and changing the amount you pay could also impact their earnings. So I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you have a really good reason to.
There’s also the 18% Beverage Service Charge every time you order an alcoholic drink on the ship – this is automatically added to your bar bill or your room when ordering a drink in the dining rooms. You still have to pay this if you choose a drinks package, though not if you get the All-Inclusive Package.
It’s also worth noting that, unlike some other cruise lines, if you get any onboard credit with Windstar you won’t be able to use that towards your service charges.
6. Select Onboard Activities
In Windstar’s own words, most of your entertainment and activities onboard the ship are included in the cost of your cruise fare. That means that there may be occasional experiences or activities that do have an additional charge if you wish to take part.
These aren’t too common, and most of the onboard experiences are free for Windstar guests. However, it’s important to be aware that if something special is organised on your sailing, you might have to pay a fee for it if you’re interested.
How To Make Your Windstar Cruise All-Inclusive
You can make your Windstar cruise all-inclusive by paying for the All-Inclusive package. This isn’t truly all-inclusive – you’ll still have to pay for shore excursions and laundry – but it does include your drinks package, WiFi, and your hotel and beverage service charges.
This means you can drink whatever you want to at no extra cost (excluding wine and Champagne by the bottle), and you don’t pay the extra 18% for the drinks either.
The All-Inclusive Package costs $99 per person, per day, when purchased up to 5 days before you sail. You can still purchase this package onboard for $109 per person, per day.
You can also add on the laundry package too, if you want it to be even more inclusive. This would mean a total additional cost of $105 per person, per day but you would get all your WiFi, tips, laundry and drinks covered. The only extra charges would be for optional shore excursions.
So, there’s a lot that Windstar includes as standard, more than many other cruise lines. But it’s not completely all-inclusive.
You do have the option to upgrade; if you want to, but check the prices as depending on how much you drink and intend to use the WiFi, buying beverages and other elements of the package individually may work out cheaper for you.
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.
