A cruise excursion off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia turned into a terrifying ordeal for 38 passengers from AIDAbella on Thursday 20th March, 2025, when the small boat they were travelling in capsized en route to Isla Barú.
The passengers were on a routine island-hopping excursion during a 14-night voyage aboard AIDA Cruises’ AIDAbella when strong winds caused their vessel to overturn in the Caribbean Sea.
Video footage from the scene showed the overturned boat and frightened passengers struggling in the water, with several nearby boats rushing in to help.
The excursion was bound for the popular white-sand shores of Isla Barú, a popular destination known for its turquoise waters and relaxed atmosphere.
But as the afternoon progressed, weather conditions deteriorated. Temperatures soared to nearly 32°C / 90°F and wind speeds increased dramatically, peaking at nearly 20 miles per hour around 3 pm.
This ultimately caused the boat to capsize, sending all the passengers into the water.
All 38 individuals – 36 German nationals and 2 Colombians – were pulled from the water and transported back to the cruise ship before its scheduled 5 pm departure.
AIDA Cruises confirmed there were no injuries among the rescued guests.
Not the first capsizing this month…
This marks the second capsizing incident involving excursion vessels near Cartagena in March. On 2nd March, another boat, carrying 42 non-cruise tourists from Argentina, Chile, Germany, and other South American countries, capsized en route to Isla Palma.
That incident was attributed to the boat’s bow failing mid-journey, allowing water to flood the vessel.
In that case, the Colombian Coast Guard and nearby vessels rescued all passengers, many of whom were wearing life jackets.
Despite the harrowing incident, AIDAbella continued on its itinerary through the Caribbean.
After departing Cartagena, the 69,203-gross-ton ship made its way to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, on 24th March, and will continue to ports in St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados before concluding the voyage in Martinique on March 30.
The ship can accommodate 2,050 guests and is operated by German cruise line AIDA Cruises, part of the Carnival Corporation portfolio.
While boat capsizing incidents are rare in cruise excursions, the double occurrence in Colombia this month has raised safety concerns.
Colombian authorities require all boat operators to provide life jackets and comply with maritime safety regulations. However, travel advisories highlight uneven regulation and oversight for tourism providers in the country.
The Canadian government specifically warns against boarding overloaded or poorly maintained vessels and urges travellers to verify safety credentials.
Similarly, the US Department of State lists Colombia as a Level 3 advisory (“Reconsider Travel”), partly due to unreliable tourism regulation.
The UK’s advice on Colombia doesn’t mention safety standards for boats.
Though cruise lines thoroughly vet their excursion operators, incidents can still occur, particularly in regions where local oversight may vary.
Passengers are generally required to sign waivers before participating in excursions involving watercraft, wildlife encounters, or adventure sports.
While this incident ended safely, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of situational awareness when participating in shore excursions.
Always wear life jackets on water-based tours.
Research excursion providers in advance when booking outside the cruise line.
Follow weather updates and stay alert for signs of changing conditions.
Speak up if a vessel appears overloaded or unseaworthy.
Luckily for the guests of AIDAbella, a day that could have ended in tragedy instead became a reminder of how quickly things can change on even the most idyllic tropical escape.
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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.
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And many cruise passengers who’ve only been cruising in the last 10-20 years might have never even heard of it!
So, what exactly is the Baked Alaska Parade? Which cruise ships have it? And why do some people think it’s so cringe?
Baked Alaska Parades explained
A Baked Alaska Parade is when, during dinner, crew members will parade through the main dining room of a cruise ship carrying baked Alaska desserts, while the passengers dining in the room twirl their napkins in the air.
Baked Alaska is a classic dessert that consists of three main components: cake, ice cream, and meringue. The dessert starts with a layer of sponge cake. On top of the cake, a layer of ice cream is added, typically flavors like vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. The ice cream is then covered with a dome-shaped meringue made from beaten egg whites and sugar.
The unique aspect of Baked Alaska is that the entire dessert is briefly baked in a hot oven, just enough to brown the meringue while keeping the ice cream inside frozen. The meringue acts as an insulating layer, protecting the ice cream from melting during the baking or torching process.
When the tradition first started and for many years, the baked Alaska desserts would be set alight, and the wait staff would be weaving around the room holding flaming meringue dishes.
Now, the tradition only exists on a handful of ships. And where ‘fire’ is used, it’s in the form of either battery-powered tea lights or sparklers instead of real flames, for safety reasons.
I’ve taken over 30 cruises and only experienced my first Baked Alaska Parade fairly recently. My first glimpse of this spectacle was on Ambassador Cruise Line’s ship Ambition, when guests started waving their napkins and a stream of chefs appeared carrying the icy desserts above their heads!
Here’s what that looked like…
The history of Baked Alaska on cruise ships
It’s hard to find the history behind the Baked Alaska Parade on cruise ships, because while it’s been a long-running tradition, it’s not something that has a clearly defined starting point.
The earliest mention of what might be a Baked Alaska parade that I can find comes from the book The Only Way To Cross, written by John Maxtone-Graham in the early 1970s.
The book documents the history of ocean liners, and makes a mention of waiters on a 1905 cruise on the Amerika carrying combinations of fire and ice on a parade through the dining rooms.
But it’s more in the 1950s and beyond that the Baked Alaska Parade became a more regular event on cruise ships, and specifically became about the Baked Alaska dessert.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the tradition really became regular, and of course, many of the cruise guests in the 50s and 60s are no longer with us to share their stories.
But it persisted through the 1970s and 1980s and there is a lot of mention of it from past guests on cruise forums.
A lot of cruise lines started to fade this tradition out in the late 90s and into the 2000s.
The cruise industry, in general, began to modernise – traditional dining was being replaced by more flexible options, and many cruise lines were making a real effort to attract a younger audience who were not familiar with the tradition.
Not only that, improved health and safety standards meant that having waiters dancing around a packed dining room with flaming desserts may not have been the wisest decision. Although I can’t find any stories of the parade ever going wrong!
The reason behind the parade
Baked Alaska dessert gained popularity as an extravagant and visually impressive dessert. Its association with luxury and celebration made it a natural fit for cruise ships, which strive to provide memorable experiences for their passengers.
The parade serves as a way for cruise ships to showcase their culinary expertise and entertain guests simultaneously.
It offers a chance for passengers to appreciate the culinary artistry involved in creating such an elaborate dessert and provides a memorable shared experience during the voyage.
Baked Alaska is one of the most difficult desserts to make. And parading it around a room, held over your head, while it’s set alight, just adds to the complexity – and therefore the impressiveness.
You can still enjoy these odd events!
These days, only a select few cruise lines still offer a Baked Alaska Parade. You’re more likely to find it on Princess Cruises and Ambassador Cruise Line, although some sister cruise lines of Princess (Carnival, Holland America Line and Seabourn) do occasionally have the parade.
The tradition of the Baked Alaska Parade may have gone very quiet at the turn of the millennium, but it did not completely disappear. Carnival did get rid of it, only to bring it back in 2017.
Modern Baked Alaska Parades don’t have flaming desserts though. They will usually have electric lights atop the desserts – much safer, if less spectacular.
This video shows the baked Alaska parade on a Princess Cruises ship…
Another option for cruise lines is to use sparklers – these at least offer a bit of razzle-dazzle even if they are much safer than a completely flaming dessert.
The video below is from the now-defunct Cruise & Maritime Voyages…
Or in some cases, no lights are used at all – and it’s just the baked Alaska desserts being carried through the room!
The parade is used to give guests the chance to thank the crew responsible for running their dining experiences – including the chefs and galley staff, and the wait staff. Depending on the cruise line it will either happen on a formal night, or on the last night of the cruise.
One tradition which has stuck for many cruise lines is the use of the song ‘Feeling Hot Hot Hot’ by The Merrymen for the parade. The song became something of a Baked Alaska Parade anthem, creating the party atmosphere and being a fun wink at the fiery desserts being carried around the room.
It’s not something you’ll find on every cruise with these cruise lines. Ambassador Cruise Line is the only one which mentions it in their official itinerary plans, so if you like the idea of a Baked Alaska Parade (or you used to enjoy them, and want to relive them) then consider booking on an Ambassador ship.
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Baked Alaska Parades aren’t as popular as they once were though…
Other culinary cruise traditions
The Baked Alaska Parade is not the only culinary cruise tradition. Here are some others that are worthy of note…
Food sculptures
It used to be common for chefs to create impressive sculptures from food – often fruits and vegetables – to be displayed in the buffet.
They’d actually be a great photo opportunity for guests. Sculptures aren’t as common anymore, particularly due to guests being more aware of food waste. But fruit carving is still popular and you may still see ice sculptures in some rare cases.
Fruit carving display
Midnight buffet
A midnight buffet used to be seen as a real treat on a cruise – the chance to have a fun extra meal in the middle of the night and really indulge.
Many cruise ships still keep the tradition alive in some form, though rarely a full buffet – most people aren’t looking to eat too much after dinner, so there’d be a lot of wastage.
Modern cruises tend to focus on late-night pizzerias, or room service options instead. If the buffet is open, it may just have cheese and biscuits, soup, fruit and maybe a curry and some rice.
Cocktail fountains
Cruise lines would often have a cocktail fountain – a literal fountain of a cocktail that you could help yourself to using your glass. Think of it as being like a chocolate fountain, but booze.
These aren’t very common anymore either, particularly with increased awareness of hygiene on a cruise. I saw a cocktail tower on my recent cruise on board Fred Olsen’s Borealis, but it was just for display purposes.
Cocktail tower
Cocktail of the day
A minor tradition but still one that you’ll often find on cruise ships today is a cocktail of the day – a special drink that guests can usually enjoy at a discount. It helps encourage guests to try a different drink each day.
Chef’s Table
Some cruise lines have a small dining venue named the Chef’s Table, where limited dining parties can enjoy a fine dining meal created by the executive chef on the ship. This will usually be closer to a fine dining restaurant experience ashore, including taster courses and often wines selected by a ship’s own sommelier.
The Chef’s Table
Wine tasting
Wine tasting experiences are classy affairs where guests can enjoy sampling a selection of different wines. These events will often be themed around the destinations that the ship is sailing too, helping create a more immersive experience.
Cookery classes
Some cruise lines offer guests the chance to learn some new cooking skills of their own during their cruise. Limited sessions in specially designed kitchens give guests the opportunity to see how some of their favourite cruise meals are made.
Captain’s cocktail party
A long-standing tradition for cruise ships has been for the Captain to host events onboard for select guests, where drinks and hors d’oeuvres would be served. These days it’s less common for a Captain to host an event but often there will be an officer party – though it isn’t usually as exclusive as they once were.
On Princess Cruises, for example, suite guests can attend a special cocktail party with the officers.
Captain’s Dinner
It used to be the case that a lucky few cruisers would be invited to eat dinner at the Captain’s table. This rarely happens now, but some cruise lines still do it on formal nights from time to time, depending on who the captain is.
Final word
Honestly, I was quite surprised to learn about Baked Alaska Parades and the history behind them. They used to be so widespread and they’re a lot less common now.
Are they fun, or are they a cheesy interruption to your nice dinner? I’m not sure how I’d feel having one on every cruise – but with more cruises aimed at families, I think kids would love having more opportunities to enjoy their wait staff having fun – as long as they were actually enjoying parading around the room!
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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.
Think you can drink on a cruise at 18 just because you’re legal at home? Think again!
Cruise rules are completely different, and they could ruin those cocktail dreams of yours before they even begin.
There are some sneaky age rules that catch a lot of people out – but don’t worry, once you know them, you’ll know exactly who to book with and where to sail if you don’t want to miss out.
Most cruise lines have a minimum drinking age of 21
On most cruises, the minimum drinking age is 21. Some cruise lines have a lower drinking age of 18, and on some cruise lines, it depends on where the ship is sailing – with most cruises that include ports in the US or Middle East having the higher legal age of 21.
The policy does vary by cruise line though. There are some cruise lines which let guests drink on Europe voyages, and others that permit drinking for 18- to 20-year-olds in some regions if parents sign a waiver.
So if you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old and you want to drink on your cruise, it’s important you choose the right cruise line.
There are also some cruise lines which follow Norwegian drinking law, which is slightly different. On those, guests aged 18 to 20 may be able to drink beer and wine, depending on parental permission, but spirits are not allowed until guests turn 21. So that cocktail of the day might just be out of reach for a couple of years.
There’s also one interesting unique policy, and it’s that of P&O Cruises. On a P&O ship, guests aged 16 and 17 are allowed to drink “modest amounts” of beer, cider and wine to be consumed with a meal on the ship, provided they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It’s the same law as applies when in a licensed premises in the UK. But again, it excludes spirits.
“Modest” is a bit vague though, isn’t it?
When in port, local laws will apply
When you’re sailing on a cruise and you disembark the ship, you must follow the local drinking laws. This means there may be some cruises where 18-year-old guests are not allowed to drink on the ship, but they are permitted to drink while ashore.
Similarly, there may be some ports such as Amsterdam, where you’re allowed to smoke weed ashore but not on the ship!
Senior Frogs Bar in the Bahamas
The laws for cruise ships are about serving alcohol, not about having intoxicated people on the ship – so you will be allowed to board if you’ve had a couple of drinks while visiting a licensed premises ashore.
However, you’ll be subject to the same rules as adults when it comes to being drunk – if you’ve had too much while you’re ashore you may not be allowed back onto the ship.
It’s also worth clarifying that cruise lines’ private islands are treated the same as being on-board, so for example, even though the Bahamas has a legal drinking age of 18, if you’re on a cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas and the drinking age on the ship is 21, it’ll be 21 on the island too.
Some cruise lines have a drinking age of 18!
The only cruise lines that have a permanent minimum drinking age of 18 are British cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Marella Cruises as well as Virgin Voyages.
Most other cruise lines will permit drinking on itineraries that avoid the US and Middle East, although for Carnival it’s only cruises from Australia where the age limit changes.
Here’s a more in-depth look at the legal drinking age rules:
For most cruises that have a US or Middle East port on the itinerary, you won’t be permitted to drink at 18, even when the ship is in international waters. A drinking age limit will apply to the whole itinerary.
Bahamas cruises and drinking ages
The legal drinking age in the Bahamas is 18, so provided guests are disembarking the ship and drinking at a private establishment, they are allowed to drink at 18 whilst on a cruise.
Cruise line-owned destinations will apply the same drinking age as they would for drinks on the ship.
Caribbean cruises and drinking ages
Most Caribbean cruises include a US port, even if it is just the home port, and so guests must be 21 or older to drink while on the ship, even while sailing the Caribbean.
18- to 20-year-olds can disembark at most Caribbean islands and drink in private bars not run by the cruise line, though.
Mexico cruises and drinking ages
Provided a Mexican cruise itinerary does not include any US port, guests aged 18 or over can drink onboard on most cruise lines. If a US port is included on the itinerary, 18- to 20-year-olds can only drink while ashore in Mexico, but not on the ship.
Carnival’s drinking age is usually 21, but…
On most Carnival cruises, the minimum age to buy and consume alcoholic drinks on the ship is 21. The only exception is for cruises sailing from Australia, where the minimum drinking age is 18.
Norwegian Cruise Line lets 18-year-olds drink, itinerary permitting
18-year-olds are allowed to drink beer and wine on an NCL cruise, provided that the cruise does not have a US port on the itinerary. Also, an accompanying parent must be on the cruise and must sign the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver, except on round-trip European and Australian cruises.
Disney’s European cruises allow 18-year-olds to drink
Guests on a Disney Cruise Line ship in Europe may drink alcohol if they are aged 18 to 20 and their parents or guardians on the same cruise sign a Beverage Consent Form. The form is not needed for round-trip cruises from Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere in the world the drinking age on Disney ships is 21.
Royal Caribbean also allows 18-year-olds to drink in select situations
You can drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise if you are aged 18 or older and your cruise originated from a port in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia or New Zealand. Any other cruises have a drinking age of 21. The minimum drinking age is also 21 on Royal Caribbean’s private islands, regardless of where the cruise originated.
MSC Cruises allows guests aged 18 and older to drink on all cruises except those which feature a North American or Caribbean port of call. Those cruises have a higher drinking age of 21.
Read MSC’s Boarding Condititions to see the alcohol policy. It’s a long document so use search to find the relevant section.
It only states that minors can’t drink alcohol, but it defines minors earlier in the document as those under the legal drinking age of the area the ship is cruising in.
Legal drinking age by cruise line
Here’s a look at the minimum drinking age for the major cruise lines depending on where the ship is sailing, according to their own policies.
I’ve not added a column for cruises in the US or Middle East because the same rule applies across the board – if a cruise line is visiting a US port then the minimum drinking age is 21.
Even cruise lines like Fred Olsen and Marella Cruises, on their rare calls to North American ports, raise their typical drinking age to 21.
Cruise Line
Drinking age on non-US or non-Middle East cruises
Azamara
18
Carnival
21
Celebrity Cruises
18
Costa Cruises
18
Cunard
18
Disney Cruise Line
18 with parental permission
Fred. Olsen
18
Holland America Line
18 (20 in Japan)
Hurtigruten
18 for beer and wine. 20 for spirits.
Marella Cruises
18
MSC Cruises
18
Norwegian Cruise Line
18 with parental permission. 18 without parental permission in Europe and Australasia only. Beer and wine only.
Oceania Cruises
21
P&O Cruises
18 (16 with a meal)
Princess Cruises
18 (20 in Japan)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
21
Royal Caribbean
18
Seabourn Cruises
18
Silversea Cruises
21
Viking Cruises
21
Virgin Voyages
18
Final word
There you have it then – a comprehensive list of the legal drinking age for cruise ships, and when you’ll be allowed to have a drink depending on where in the world you are sailing.
For any guests planning on travelling without their parents, you’ll want to also check the rules as some cruise lines treat all under-21s as minors, so it may not be allowed.
I’ve made it easy for you though – my guide to the best cruises for 18-year-olds without parents has everything you need to find the cruise lines where you can travel, drink and have fun on your first independent cruise sailing.
And of course, whatever age you are, drink responsibly! Getting kicked off a ship for being too drunk will leave you with more than just a horrendous hangover to deal with – it’ll be a lot of stress 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.
Southampton is the biggest and busiest cruise port in the UK, with many of the biggest cruise lines offering cruises from this destination.
But what about Marella Cruises, one of the largest cruise lines aimed specifically at the British market? What cruises from Southampton do they offer?
The answer might surprise you…
Marella offers no sailings from Southampton…
Marella Cruises doesn’t currently offer any cruises from Southampton, or any cruises from the UK. While the cruise line has previously offered cruises from UK ports, the itineraries now available are all to destinations that are further afield, and so require a flight.
This might change in the future, but with Marella’s smaller fleet of ships compared to some other cruise lines, the priority is to offer more exotic destinations, and so for the foreseeable future the cruise line doesn’t sail directly from Southampton.
What about the rest of the UK?
There are currently no Marella Cruises sailings from the UK. Instead, all cruises with Marella are fly-cruises, beginning with a flight to your embarkation port.
This allows guests to experience ports that are further afield but without the stress of booking flights and a cruise with separate companies.
The great news is that you’ll often be booking a flight with the same company as the cruise line – something that no other cruise line can offer. And even when another airline is used, it’s all packaged together for you by Marella with their own support team on-hand to help if you need it.
So while you may not be sailing from the UK, you are in the care of one company as you travel from the UK, and that makes a whole world of difference.
How to cruise with Marella from Southampton
While you can’t cruise directly from Southampton with Marella Cruises, there is another option. You can fly from Southampton Airport direct to your embarkation port, meaning you don’t need to travel to one of the traditionally larger airports in the UK to begin your cruise holiday.
You aren’t just limited to Southampton either. If you would normally choose Southampton just because it’s your closest port, you might find that there’s an airport near you as well.
Marella Cruises offers departures from six London airports (London City, London Heathrow, London Southend, London Gatwick, London Luton and London Stansted) as well as many other airports in the southern parts of the country, such as Bournemouth, Bristol and Exeter.
And there are more regional airport options across the country too. Super convenient!
Benefits of a fly-cruise with Marella
There are many benefits to choosing a fly-cruise with Marella, and while you may have been hoping for a cruise from Southampton without the need to fly, it’s still absolutely worth considering one of Marella Cruises’ fly-cruise options.
Airport choices
For starters, you aren’t limited to just the big airports in the UK. In fact, there are cruise holidays available from 22 different airports across the UK, including smaller airports like Norwich, Exeter, Bristol and, yes, Southampton.
This means that, for most people, you don’t have to make big plans on how you’re going to have to travel the day before to make sure you don’t miss your flight, and you don’t need the extra expense of a hotel the night before. You’ll likely be within a couple of hours’ drive of an airport, so can arrange convenient transport on the day with little stress.
Luggage convenience
Another reason to choose a fly-cruise with Marella is just how simple the whole process is, particularly when it comes to luggage.
In fact, for a lot of the most popular cruises, the entire process is one of the most seamless of any cruise line.
With bonded cruises, when you check in at the airport and check your bags in, that’s the last time you’ll see them until they’re outside your cabin on your cruise ship. There’s no waiting at the baggage carousel when you get to the airport, no need to lug them around to a private (expensive) taxi – it’s all taken care of for you.
You’ll just sit back and enjoy the flight, then hop onboard your transfer coach to get to the ship where you’ll complete your check-in.
There are some cruises where this isn’t available, and you will need to collect your luggage at the airport first, but you’ll be made aware of this when you book and it’s still super-easy to just grab your bags and then jump on the coach to whisk you right to the port.
And because the flight and the cruise are still linked, you don’t need to worry about missing your ship if your flight’s delayed, as it will wait for you. That’s one less thing to worry about!
Choice of destinations
One of the best reasons to choose a Marella Cruises fly-cruise is the range of destinations you get to explore.
Cruising directly from Southampton is convenient, but if you don’t want to spend an absolute fortune on an extended cruise, then the range of destinations you can visit is quite limited – after all, the ship eventually has to turn around and get back.
If you want to explore beyond the Norwegian Fjords or the very western reaches of the Mediterranean, then you’re going to need to fly out to meet your ship and begin your cruise elsewhere.
And there are some fantastic itineraries available with Marella Cruises, travelling to destinations such as the Canary Islands, the charming cities of the Eastern Mediterranean and, of course, the Caribbean.
While it is possible to cruise to these destinations without a flight, you’d be looking at itineraries lasting at least two weeks – up to a month for the Caribbean if you really want to see the islands.
But with Marella Cruises, you can enjoy a smooth and easy journey by plane, cruise for a week or two, and then be whisked right back home to a convenient airport for you. And all without breaking the bank.
Remember too that Marella Cruises are All Inclusive – you don’t just get your food and entertainment, but also your tips and drinks are covered in the fare too. If you’re looking for a cruise from Southampton, Marella Cruises may offer some of the best value options available – even if you do need to fly out to meet your ship.
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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.
Looking for the best cruise blogs to read? I’ve put together a handy list of the most-read cruise blogs and websites of 2025…
How I sourced the data
It can be tricky to know how popular a website is. With cruise YouTube channels or social media pages, you can easily see how many followers someone has. But with cruise blogs, we have to use special tools.
For the monthly visitors, I used SimilarWeb, which is recognised as the most accurate way to measure website traffic.
Please bear in mind that data from tools can only ever be an estimate, and in many cases, the actual traffic numbers will be considerably higher, particularly for blogs with traffic outside of the US.
Here’s some more information about the world’s most popular cruise blogs and websites:
1. Cruise Critic
Much more than just a cruise blog, Cruise Critic hosts the largest cruise community in the world where cruisers can leave reviews and post questions in the popular Cruise Critic forums. The site was launched in 1995 and bought by TripAdvisor in 2007.
2. Royal Caribbean Blog
The unofficial fan blog for Royal Caribbean hosts a wealth of information about the world’s most popular cruise line. The site was started in 2010 and along with The Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel, it continues to be the go-to place for all things Royal Caribbean.
3. Cruise Hive
Established in 2008 as one of the first cruise blogs in the world, Cruise Hive provides the latest cruise industry news and has an active forum. It’s updated multiple times per day by a team of expert travel writers.
4. Cruise Blog
The creation of Matt Hochberg who owns Royal Caribbean Blog, Cruise Blog offers a similar format, but with content about all cruise lines, not just Royal Caribbean.
5. Cruise Mummy
Originally focused on family cruising from the UK, the blog has evolved to cover all aspects of cruising with a global audience. Cruise Mummy was voted ‘Best Cruise Influencer’ in the Wave Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
6. Gang Waze
Gang Waze offers a huge selection of cruise excursions, hotels and insurance as well as blog posts to help you plan your cruise.
7. Disney Cruise Line Blog
Disney Cruise Line Blog is a go-to resource for fans of Disney cruises, offering news, tips and reviews on everything from ship updates to onboard experiences.
8. Cruzely
Since its launch in 2016, Cruzely has grown to become one of the most popular cruise websites in the world. It features hundreds of articles including some very useful guides for cruise ports in the United States.
9. World of Cruising
One of the UK’s largest cruise websites, World of Cruising shows all the latest cruise prices from a variety of travel agents, as well as cruise news and reviews.
10. Cruise Radio
Founded in 2009, Cruise Radio is primarily a podcast. However, the corresponding website also features a wealth of cruise news, reviews and useful tips.
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I’ve included all of the top trending cruise websites and blogs that I could find, but if I’ve missed any, please email me at [email protected]and I’ll be happy to add your suggestion to the list.
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.
Cruises are a fantastic holiday option for all ages, and in the last couple of decades, they’ve become much more family-friendly.
However, there is still a market out there for people who want to cruise without kids, and enjoy a somewhat more peaceful atmosphere.
That’s not to say that all children are loud and disruptive – but they certainly can be!
If you’re interested in an adults-only getaway, then consider Marella Cruises – let me tell you why.
Are Marella Cruises for adults only?
Marella Cruises is a cruise line that’s targeted at the whole family, although some cruises are exclusive to adults. Most of Marella’s ships do have family-friendly features onboard, but they aren’t designed to be as action-packed as some other cruise lines when it comes to kids’ activities and entertainment.
There are some cruises of Marella’s that are definitely for adults only, and the rest are good for families who want to get out and explore the world, rather than spend their cruise doing all sorts of extreme activities on a sea day.
To help make it easy for anyone who wants to avoid children, you can book an adults-only cruise with Marella just by choosing the right ship, or by choosing an itinerary on another ship that is flagged as being for adults only.
One Marella ship is perfect for adults-only cruising…
Marella Cruises has one ship that is exclusively for adults – Marella Explorer 2. Even toddlers aren’t allowed on this ship (and babies under 6 months are not permitted on any ship), so if you are looking to enjoy the company of only adults, this is a great ship to choose.
The other ships in the fleet are all considered family-friendly. They have kids’ clubs, but they don’t have some of the bigger attractions that you might find on the giant cruise ships sailing for other cruise lines.
So, if you sail on those ships during term time, you might find them to be relatively quiet on the kids front anyway – you might only have a few families with preschool kids, or perhaps families who’ve taken their kids out of school for a short break, and you can probably avoid them.
But if you want the guarantee, then Marella Explorer 2 is the ship to book.
What happens on an adults-only cruise with Marella
There are lots of different activities and facilities that adults can enjoy while cruising with Marella.
The simplest of these is just relaxing by the side of the pool, perhaps with a cocktail from the pool bar. You don’t have to ‘do’ anything if you don’t want to – you can just take it easy and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of a cruise without kids.
However, if you want something a little more active and involved, here are just some of the things that happen on an adults-only Marella cruise:
Daily quizzes and trivia
Spa treatments and beauty therapies
Exercise classes and a running track
Minigolf
Dance classes
Bingo games
Towel-folding demonstrations
Live music throughout the day
Casino games
Live West End-style entertainment
Movies by Moonlight
And that just scratches the surface. Activities will change on a daily basis and be listed on the ship’s cruise news and Navigate app while you’re onboard, so you can plan your day.
Of course, part of the benefit of choosing a Marella cruise is that they’re all fly-cruises, and so you’ll be flown right to the heart of some of the best regions – meaning fewer days at sea.
So most of what you’ll be doing on your Marella cruise is actually getting out there and exploring the ports that you visit – whether that’s soaking up the sun on a Caribbean beach, or walking through a historic city, or even just a bit of retail therapy.
One thing is certain – you definitely won’t have time to get bored on an adults-only cruise with Marella.
Marella’s adults-only age limit
The age limit for cruises on Marella Explorer 2 is 17 years and older. Children aged 16 or under are not permitted to sail at all, while those aged 17 must travel with their parents or another guardian aged 17 or over.
The only exception is on cruises with port calls in the US, where guests must be at least 21 years old to travel alone.
Why book an adults-only cruise with Marella
There are lots of reasons why you might want to book an adults-only cruise with Marella.
Firstly, not many cruise lines have adults-only ships, so if you’re really averse to cruising on a ship where kids might be being noisy, your options are already fairly narrow. Even cruise lines that target adults but permit kids will often have families travelling on them.
Then, consider how much you get for your fare with Marella. As with other cruise lines, the cost of your cruise includes your food and your entertainment onboard.
But unlike other cruise lines, it also covers the tips you’re expected to pay to the crew, and it covers most of your drinks. You don’t need to pay a penny extra if you don’t want to, and your fare will cover all the essentials for your cruise.
Plus, Marella’s fly-cruise itineraries offer a wide range of itineraries around the world, including some fantastic destinations.
Because your cruise and flight are organised by the same company, everything is seamless and stress-free, and from the moment you arrive at the airport you’ll feel like you’re already relaxing.
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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.
I love cruises, as you know. I love how they’re like a movable hotel room, so you get a different view each day and a whole range of different experiences without constantly packing and unpacking your bags.
But while I’d always opt for a cruise over a land holiday, it can be nice to have an extended bit of time in one destination, so you’ve more time to explore or just to soak up the sun on the beach.
Marella’s Cruise & Stay holidays offer the best of both worlds, and make your actual cruise even more relaxing. Let’s take a look at what they involve, why Marella’s packages are so good, and some example hotels you could enjoy.
Cruise & Stay explained
A Cruise & Stay holiday is one where you combine your cruise with a stay in a hotel. The hotel stay could be before your cruise, or after it, depending on your preference.
Technically, if you book a hotel near the port for your cruise before you travel then you’re enjoying a cruise and stay holiday, but often people do that just for convenience, to make sure they aren’t rushing on the day of their cruise departing, or risking missing the ship if there are travel delays.
But a genuine Cruise & Stay getaway involves time to explore your land destination and properly relax, rather than just treating the hotel as a stop-off point on the way to your ship.
Yes, it does give you the advantage of making your travel to/from the ship much easier, but a Cruise & Stay break should be about enjoying the best of both worlds – time at a hotel to unwind and soak in your destination, and a cruise that whisks you to multiple destinations while you unwind as well.
Why Cruise & Stay with Marella
You can book your own cruise/stay package yourself or with any travel agent, but Marella Cruises makes things even easier for you and offers a number of perks.
Marella Cruises is owned by TUI, which means you have a fantastic range of over 200 hotels to choose from, including different ranges to suit different budgets. You could choose:
Small & Friendly – if you like your hotel to be family-run and quieter
TUI BLUE – quality hotels that include adults-only and family-friendly options
Platinum – premium hotels with plenty of luxury touches
But there’s so much more to it than just the range of hotels, too.
All Inclusive cruising
Marella’s cruise fares include so much more than most cruise lines. You’ll get your food, your accommodation and your entertainment as standard, but most of your drinks are included too, and you don’t have to pay tips like you would with many other cruise lines.
Seamless experience
With a Marella Cruise & Stay holiday, everything is super-easy. All you need to do is make sure you get to the airport on time, and then Marella takes care of everything else. Your flights are included in the package, as are all your transfers between the airport, hotel and ship as needed. There’s nothing extra you need to organise.
24/7 support
If you need anything at all during your entire holiday, you’ve got 24/7 support available to you. There are TUI reps at the hotels, and you can use your phone to easily get in touch with the support teams via the Navigate app while on the cruise, or the TUI app when you’re at the hotel. No stresses whatsoever.
Hotel options
With over 200 hotels across the summer and winter seasons to choose from, you’re sure to find something you love with a Marella cruise and stay holiday. Here are just a small handful of the options available:
Bougainvillea Barbados
Enjoy a Caribbean cruise and stay holiday to remember with the Bougainvillea in Maxwell, Barbados, which is on a quiet stretch of Maxwell Beach with chalk-white sands. Here you can enjoy two pools, including a swim-up bar, and you’re within easy reach of exciting shops, restaurants and more.
Kerkyra Blue Hotel & Spa
Perfectly positioned for Greek Isles cruises, the Kerkyra Blue Hotel is situated right by the beach in east Corfu. Perfect for families, it underwent a huge renovation in 2023 and has three restaurants, a spa and plenty of themed activities.
TUI BLUE Kalamota Island
The only hotel on a beautiful, traffic-free island, TUI Blue Kalamota Island offers outstanding service and great food in a wonderfully tranquil location. With Dubrovnik around 25 minutes away by boat, it’s a fantastic hotel for Adriatic cruises.
TUI BLUE Sensatori Biomar
Many Marella cruises around the Mediterranean or Canary Islands embark from Palma in Majorca, so the Sensatori Biomar is a fantastic choice for pre- or post-cruise stays during summer. This All Inclusive luxury hotel offers a secluded adults-only area as well as a family zone, so everyone gets to enjoy their perfect holiday.
Final word
Marella’s cruises are already a fantastic option for a relaxing getaway, but adding on a stay takes your holiday to a whole new level.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet adults-only, all-inclusive escape or you want the family trip of a lifetime, there are ships and hotels that are perfect – just don’t let the best options sell out while you make your mind up!
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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.
Imagine having your own private retreat at sea — no crowds, no scrambling for a sunbed, just pure relaxation. That’s exactly what NCL’s Vibe Beach Club promises.
But is it really as exclusive and luxurious as it sounds? And more importantly, is it worth the extra cost?
Before you book, there are a few things you need to know… including one big catch that might change your mind!
Vibe Beach Club Is Only For VIPs
The Vibe Beach Club is an exclusive area of some NCL ships. It is an outdoor area that’s a little more sheltered and private, and you need to pay for a pass to access it.
The Vibe Beach Club is open to anyone, no matter your stateroom category, but passes are limited.
Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Bliss
The Vibe Beach Club isn’t some feature-packed area of the ship, but instead it’s an exclusive sun deck space with whirlpools, loungers and a bar. Some of the ships have an infinity pool, and others have private cabanas you can rent for an additional fee.
Really, you’re paying for the exclusivity – the fact that only a limited number of guests are allowed to book passes to the area. That means it’s quieter, so you don’t have to worry about how loud or crowded the space is, and it just feels more serene and relaxing.
Because it’s quieter, the bar staff are able to be more attentive too. You’ll be able to enjoy fresh cocktails (including a couple of exclusive drinks, which can change throughout the cruise) with the bar attendants often wandering around the deck space, so you can relax on your lounger or day bed without moving.
Vibe Beach Clubs Don’t Have Pools
You might see some references to an infinity pool on the Prima-class ships (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva), but none of the Vibe Beach Clubs have actual pools.
These two ships do have extended hot tubs, but NCL does classify them as a hot tub rather than a swimming pool.
Infinity hot tub on Norwegian Prima
If you’re hoping to swim, you’ll have to leave the club and head to the regular pool. The other Vibe Beach Clubs have smaller whirlpools only, not the big infinity hot tubs…
Whirlpool on Norwegian Encore
Even with the exclusivity of the Vibe Beach Club, don’t assume that you’ll get a spacious pool area where you can enjoy a soak.
Passes Cost A Whopping $99 Per Day!
You do need to pay for the Vibe Beach Club, and you need to book it in advance to secure a pass as despite the high price tag, they usually sell out.
You can expect to pay around $99 for a day pass if they are available, although week-long passes are better if you want to secure your place for your whole cruise. The price of these varies, but it’s likely to be around $250 for 7 days.
If your cruise is longer than a week, the price won’t jump up much – it’s unlikely that you’ll pay more than $350 per person for a full cruise up to two weeks, so the longer itineraries tend to offer even more value.
Cabanas Are Even More Expensive
For the ships that have cabanas, these need to be booked too. Instead of paying a solo price for a pass to the Vibe Beach Club, you have to buy a couples pass, and it’ll typically cost around $680-750 for a cruise.
Per person, that’s only $340 to $375, so it’s not a huge sum more than buying the passes without the cabana hire.
Cabanas on Norwegian Bliss
People Are Lining Up To Splurge
The Vibe Beach Club is designed to be exclusive so the prices aren’t cheap. The limited numbers also mean that you need to be quick to buy a pass once they become available.
While the number of passes sold hasn’t been revealed by NCL, it appears to be around 80-100 passes per cruise, likely depending on the capacity of the sailing. That’s not many at all.
And it’s important to note that they don’t have a set time to go on sale either. Some people have reported being able to call up over 200 days before their cruise to book a pass, while others say that they can book them via the NCL website from anywhere between 80-140 days before the cruise departs.
The best advice, if you want to get a pass for the Vibe Beach Club, is to call NCL directly and ask to add it on or ask when the passes will go on sale. Otherwise, check once a week once you get to 140 days out from your cruise date, and you should be able to secure one.
Another good idea is to check cruise forums and social media for discussions related to your specific sailing. People will often post in there as soon as the Vibe Beach Club passes go on sale (once they have secured their own pass, of course!)
Day passes will only be available if the week-long passes don’t sell out, or if there are cancellations.
Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Breakaway
Vibe Beach Club Is Only On The Newest NCL Ships…
The ships that have Vibe Beach Club for NCL are the Breakaway-class ships (Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway), the Breakaway Plus-class ships (Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Encore) and the Prima-class ships (Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua).
This means you won’t find Vibe Beach Club on the following:
Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Gem
Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Pearl
Norwegian Sky
Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Sun
Pride of America
Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Bliss
As a guide, here are the features you can expect to find on the ships that do have Vibe Beach Club:
Ship
Bar
Loungers & Daybeds
Showers
Cabanas
Whirlpools
Infinity Pools
Norwegian Breakaway
YES
YES
YES
YES
1
No
Norwegian Getaway
YES
YES
YES
YES
1
No
Norwegian Escape
YES
YES
YES
No
1
No
Norwegian Joy
YES
YES
YES
YES
1
No
Norwegian Bliss
YES
YES
YES
YES
1
No
Norwegian Encore
YES
YES
YES
YES
1
No
Norwegian Prima
YES
YES
YES
No
2
YES
Norwegian Viva
YES
YES
YES
No
2
YES
Take a look at this video for a closer look inside the Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Prima…
You Can Get A Refund If You Change Your Mind
Vibe Beach Club passes are refundable if you purchase them before your cruise, provided you also cancel before you’ve boarded the ship. Some people on social media have reported being told they cannot be cancelled, but others have cancelled successfully, so it clearly is possible.
To cancel your Vibe Beach Club passes and get a refund, you’ll need to call NCL and ask for them to be removed. It seems like the answers can be inconsistent, so if you’re told you can’t, try again.
Haven Suite Guests Should AVOID The Vibe Beach Club
Haven Suite guests do not have automatic access to the Vibe Beach Club on an NCL ship. They are entitled to buy their own Vibe Beach Club passes if they wish, but there’s no need, since it offers a similar experience to the Haven sun deck anyway.
When you book a Haven Suite, you’re essentially paying for access to the Haven, and so also purchaisng access to the Vibe Beach Club would be a waste of money, in my experience.
The Vibe Beach Club is open to all guests on an NCL ship, not just suite guests, provided you’ve bought a pass. Nobody gets a free pass, even if you buy the best suites on the ship.
The Haven Sundeck
There’s No Smoking In The Vibe Beach Club
You aren’t allowed to smoke in the Vibe Beach Club on an NCL ship – it’s a non-smoking area, just like most of the spaces on the rest of the ship. This includes vaping, which is also only permitted in selected smoking areas on the ship.
So, Is Vibe Beach Club Worth It?
Whether the Vibe Beach Club is worth it for you depends on how much you’ve paid for your cruise, and how much you value being able to relax in a quieter location on the ship.
If your main aim on a cruise is to take it easy and sip cocktails from a lounger or daybed, and you don’t like crowds, then it can be absolutely worth purchasing a week-long pass for the Vibe Beach Club, and getting an exclusive quiet corner of the ship to use.
Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Viva
But if you’re more likely to spend the week taking part in all the fun activities around the ship, or you don’t mind the busy vibe, then you can probably put the money to better use.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest NCL offers…
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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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new “Freedom Fare” package, designed to offer an all-inclusive cruising experience.
This package simplifies holiday planning by including a wide range of amenities and services in the initial fare, allowing guests to enjoy their holiday without worrying about additional costs.
Drinks Now Included
Starting with sailings in January 2026 onwards, guests will be able to enjoy house beers, wines, spirits and draught soft drinks with lunch and dinner at no extra cost.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will also introduce a new Premium Drinks Package as an optional upgrade, with guests who have already booked a drinks package for a cruise in 2026 being automatically upgraded to the new package at no extra cost.
Here’s What’s Included In The Freedom Fare
1. Accommodation
Fred Olsen’s Freedom Fare package features accommodation in well-appointed cabins and suites, each equipped with modern amenities such as climate control, interactive smart TVs, hairdryers, desks, phones, and food and drink coolers.
Tea and coffee making facilities are also available in each room, ensuring a comfortable stay for all guests.
2. Dining
Dining options are extensive, with full board dining that includes five-course à la carte dinners, casual breakfast and lunch buffets, and late-night snacks.
Guests can choose their restaurant and dining times at the time of booking, with the option to request specific table sizes for dinner.
3. Entertainment
Entertainment is a key component of the “Freedom Fare” package, offering a variety of evening activities such as cabaret shows, live music performances, and dancing.
For those seeking intellectual engagement, enrichment lectures and talks led by local experts are available on cruises longer than 14 nights.
4. Leisure activities
Leisure facilities on board include swimming pools, Jacuzzis, and a fully equipped Fitness Centre, with a variety of fitness classes catering to different interests and fitness levels.
5. Shore experiences
The package also provides complimentary guided walks ashore in selected destinations. This is something unique to Fred. Olsen.
You can also enjoy shuttle services for ports located more than a mile from the ship, ensuring guests can explore destinations with ease.
6. Taxes, port fees and tips
The Freedom Fare package covers port taxes, fees and gratuities for the crew members. This approach eliminates the need for guests to worry about additional charges, allowing them to enjoy a seamless and stress-free holiday.
Doug Glenwright, Guest Experience Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, commented:
“We know that cruising provides exceptional value for money when compared with many overland equivalents, but feedback from our guests told us that this wasn’t always clear.
“It’s really important to us that every cruise is relaxing and carefree, and that should start right from the moment a booking is made. That’s why we’ve listened to our guests, and made our pricing simpler, clearer, and more inclusive – so that guests can look ahead to exploring the world with us without worrying about extra costs.”
Doug explains more in this video…
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
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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.
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For many cruisers, exploring onboard shops, galleries, and art auctions is an integral part of the cruise experience. However, one family’s excitement quickly turned to disappointment during an art auction on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas.
The incident occurred at a Park West Gallery auction aboard the 4,515-passenger ship. Initially delighted, the family believed they had successfully bid on a piece of art for $650 after the auctioneer struck the gavel, confirming the sale.
Yet, their joy soon turned into disbelief when gallery representatives informed them later that, due to an error, the artwork’s actual price was $2,700—more than four times the original bid.
Art Auction on my Royal Caribbean cruise
“My wife and I, along with our two kids, attended their art auction, and the whole family was drawn to a specific piece of art,” explained the father. He described how gallery staff actively encouraged their participation, assuring them of the ‘reserve’ lowest price.
After winning the bid and even planning where to display their new artwork, the family was shocked to discover they could only obtain it by paying a significantly higher price.
Frustrated and feeling deceived, the father expressed his concerns on Reddit. He stated, “I feel like it was a scam—announcing one price publicly, then privately backing out.”
Despite raising the issue with Royal Caribbean’s Guest Services, the family was informed that Park West operates independently onboard and that the cruise line holds no responsibility for the gallery’s practices.
This explanation provided little comfort to the disappointed passenger, who argued, “Royal Caribbean should make sure they honour the auction price announced in front of everyone, especially as the gallery operates on their ship and under their brand.”
Enjoying the free drinks at the auction
Park West Gallery: A History of Controversy
Park West Gallery, present on nearly 100 cruise ships across brands like Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises, has long faced criticism. With an average rating of just 1.7 stars out of 5 on TrustPilot, numerous online reviewers have raised significant concerns about the gallery’s transparency and business ethics.
Other passengers on social media echoed widespread criticisms of Park West. One user stated, “Everyone knows about Park West. There are tons of complaints.” Another passenger offered practical advice, suggesting, “Use the $650 you just saved and book an awesome excursion. Promise your kids would enjoy that more than a picture to hang on your wall back home.”
Many cruisers reinforced the idea that Park West’s pricing is inflated. A commenter advised, “If you see something you like at Park West, nine times out of ten you can find it from an online gallery for half the price or less.” Another cruiser bluntly remarked, “Pretty common knowledge the art auction is a scam.”
The Importance of Vigilance
Although cruise lines typically lease onboard retail spaces without assuming direct liability for tenants’ activities, this incident highlights the critical importance of passenger awareness and vigilance. Cruise enthusiasts are advised to research onboard vendors, especially when considering significant purchases.
This story serves as a stark reminder that excitement can quickly turn to frustration if precautions are not taken. Always approach onboard transactions cautiously, ensuring your cruise memories remain positive and free from costly disappointments.
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If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
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