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If you’re Caribbean dreaming, then perhaps one of the easiest ways to explore this patch of paradise is on a cruise ship.  

What could be easier than hopping on a ship and then traveling from port to port, exploring several different Caribbean islands in one short vacation?  

Cruise vacations are relaxing, convenient….and soaring in popularity!  

To meet the growing demand for cruise travel, these are the 10 new cruise ships sailing to the Caribbean in 2025:  

MSC World America  

This huge ship will have a capacity of 6,774 passengers and will set sail on April 12.  

Its inaugural route will take a round trip from Miami to Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Ocean Cay. It will then spend the rest of its maiden season exploring the Caribbean.  

If you’re looking for a ship packed full of fun then this is a great one to choose. Ride the Cliffhanger, an over-the-water swing ride, or climb the high ropes course on the top deck of the ship.  

Like many modern cruise ships, the MSC World America will also boast a water park, and when it’s time to relax, you’ll have a whopping 18 different bars and lounges to choose from.  

Norwegian Aqua 

Also launching in April, with the maiden voyage taking place on April 16, is the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Lines.  

This is a slightly smaller ship than MSC’s mega liner, with a capacity for up to 3,571 passengers.

This first cruise will be a five-day round trip from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Bimini. The rest of the season will be spent traveling between Orlando and Bermuda.  

What makes this ship so special is that it will boast a ‘first of its kind’ rollercoaster and water slide hybrid as well as Norwegians first ever VR Game Zone at sea.  

Oceania Cruises Allura  

Launching on July 18, the Allura from Oceania Cruises is a smaller but luxurious cruise liner. At full capacity this ship only holds 1,200 passengers.  

This is a liner for passengers looking to really relax and unwind. Its highlights include a library with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, fine dining in 2 signature restaurants, and an onboard creperie for on-demand snacking.

Its inaugural sailing will take it from Trieste to Athens over seven days, but it will move to Caribbean routes later in the season.  

Luminara From The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection 

One of the smallest ships on this list, the Luminara is actually a cruise yacht hybrid from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. It only had a capacity of 448 passengers.  

This is a luxury liner, and all of the suites on board will have their own private ocean-view terrace. If you want the luxury of a Ritz-Carlton hotel but at sea, then that’s exactly what you’ll get here!  

This ship will take its maiden voyage on July 31, traveling a round trip from Rome to Livorno, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Ajaccio, and Port Cervo.  

After it has finished its planned Mediterranean routes, the liner will then move to the Caribbean for the remainder of its maiden season.  

Royal Caribbean Star Of The Seas  

The Star of the Seas will be the second Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean, and these mega-sized ships are bursting at the seams with excitement, attractions, and things to do.  

This ship will have a capacity of 5,610 passengers and will feature an exclusive ‘Back to the Future’ stage show.

This ship will spend its maiden season in the Caribbean.

Its inaugural sailing will be on August 31, when it will take a round-trip route from Port Canaveral to CocoCay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.  

Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady 

If you’ve heard of the Brilliant Lady before then that’s because this ship has been advertised then delayed several times, but now it’s finally launching on September 5 2025. 

This will be the 4^th ship from Virgin Voyages and will look identical to its sister ships, too.

The only main change? The Brilliant Lady will have an adapted frame to enable it to fit through the Panama Canal. 

The capacity of this ship will be 2,770 passengers and its first sailing will take a round trip to Bermuda from New York City.  

Star Princess From Princess Cruises  

The new Star Princess ship Princess Cruises will be identical in every way to its sister ship, the Sun Princess. The capacity of this ship will be 4,300 passengers.  

Some of the highlights of this ship are its SkyDeck Sports Court, which also includes a splash area for kids, and you’ll find an abundance of pubs and bars on board too.  

This ship will make its first sailing on October 4. This will be an 11 day Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona. The ship will spend its inaugural season first in the Med and then in the Caribbean.  

Disney Destiny 

The arrival of Disney’s newest cruise ship is long-awaited, but Disney has kept the details of the ship under their hats. Not much is known about the ship, but we do know that it will boast a unique Lion King-themed dining experience.  We also know that one of the activity options will include a Marvel Superhero Academy.  

The Disney Destiny will have a capacity of 4,000 passengers and will launch on November 20 with a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas from Port Everglades.  

The ship will spend the whole of its maiden season in the Caribbean, traveling to and from the Bahamas. 

Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Xcel 

The Celebrity Xcel is the 5^th in the Edge Class of ships from Celebrity and will feature a beautiful Rooftop Garden, as well as specialty dining options.  

The ship will have a capacity of 3,260 passengers and will officially launch on November 18. The ship will start its maiden season in the Caribbean before moving into the Mediterranean.  

Its inaugural sailing will be a 5-night round-trip cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico from Fort Lauderdale.  

Windstar Cruises, Star Seeker

Finally, in December, the latest cruise ship from Windstar Cruises will launch.

This is by far the smallest ship on this list, with a capacity for just 224 passengers.  

This ship will spend its maiden season exploring the Caribbean as well as Alaska and Japan. It gets around for a small ship!  

This ship will offer 112 suites and each will have either a private veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window. This is a luxury liner for those looking for a more intimate cruising experience.  

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Last Updated 1 year ago

Solo travel and cruises are two travel trends that have been increasing in popularity lately, and yet at first glance, they may not seem like they mix well.

More travelers than ever are venturing out solo for their vacations rather than traveling with friends, family, or significant others.

Cruising is also exploding in popularity right now after the industry was dealt a heavy blow due to travel restrictions for several years.

However, most cruise ship fares are based on double occupancy, with the option to add a third or even fourth passenger to the cabin for a lower price.

On most cruise lines, there’s no discount for solo travelers, so even if you’ll be the only one in your cabin, you’ll still have to pay the two-person rate. Some cruise lines offer a reduced single supplement (for example, 75% instead of 100%) but you’ll still end up paying quite a bit.

The following four cruise lines don’t charge single supplements.

Instead, solo travelers have the option to book single cabins on these cruise lines at a rate that is much more reasonable and less than a standard double-occupancy cabin.

1. Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian is one of the best cruise lines for solo travelers. Six of Norwegian’s ships offer “studio cabins” priced for just one person:

• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Encore

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These studio cabins are only around 100 square feet but come with all the same amenities as a double occupancy cabin.

As a bonus, solo travelers staying in studio cabins will have access to a shared common area called the Studio Complex and Lounge which functions as a social gathering place with events to meet other solo travelers.

2. Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean was just named America’s favorite cruise line, and offering cabins for solo travelers is just one more reason to love this popular cruise line.

The seven Royal Caribbean ships that offer studio cabins are:

• Quantum of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas

These cabins are priced specifically for single travelers. Unlike Norwegian, which only offers interior studio cabins, Royal Caribbean has a mix of interior, exterior, and balcony cabins for solo travelers.

Cabins range in size from 96 to 119 square feet.

3. Holland America Line

Finally, Holland America Line is another popular cruise line that doesn’t charge extra for passengers who are traveling solo.

Right now, only three Holland America ships offer solo cabins, and there are fewer of these onboard (only 12 per ship) compared to Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.

The Holland America ships with studio cabins are:

• Koningsdam
• Nieuw Statendam
• Rotterdam

Studio cabins are priced for just one person and are on the more spacious end, with cabins ranging in size from 127 to 172 square feet.

What About Other Cruise Lines?

Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America are the only major cruise lines to offer solo cabins priced for one person. Smaller cruise lines like Oceania Cruises also offer single cabins.

And other popular cruise lines occasionally offer deals for solo travelers.

Although rare, sometimes the single supplement may be waived or greatly reduced for specific voyages.

If you want to keep up with these offers and score a great deal, Cruise Specialists has a regularly updated list of cruises with waived or heavily reduced single supplements.

Other cruise lines may not offer solo traveler-friendly pricing, but many do host meet-ups and events for solo travelers onboard to meet other cruisers.

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Last Updated 1 year ago

Demand for cruise travel is at a record high right now — but unfortunately, so are prices.

Cruise travel is back with a vengeance, and as a result, the average cost of a cruise is up as much as 22.5% compared to 2019 prices.

When restriction-free cruising finally returned in the midst of 2022, there were some great deals to be found on cruises as things slowly got back to normal.

However, those deals have now disappeared, and cruise fares are higher than ever before.

Here are some tips for how you can still save money on your next cruise:

1. Travel During The Off-Season

If you can be flexible with your travel dates, one of the best ways to save money on cruises is to travel during the off-season or “shoulder season” for a destination.

For example, Alaska cruises are most popular (and most expensive) in June, July, and August. If you can book one of the first cruises in May or one of the last cruises in September, you are likely to save money.

Similarly, avoid traveling on school breaks. Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, and spring break are all some of the busiest and most expensive times to take a cruise.

2. Use CruiseSheet

One of the best ways to save money on a cruise is by tracking deals that do appear. Even though the average cruise fare has increased, there are still good deals to be found.

CruiseSheet is a free tool you can use to get notified of the best deals in real-time. Just indicate which port you will be traveling out of and set a filter for dates you’re interested in, and you’ll be notified immediately when deals appear.

Again, if you can be more flexible in your travel dates, this is one of the best things to do to save money.

3. Skip The Pricy Add-Ons

What if you can’t necessarily be flexible with your travel dates? Luckily, there are still other ways to save money on your cruise!

One of the biggest ways to save money is by skipping pricy add-ons.

These are things like unlimited drink packages, onboard WiFi, and shore excursions that will end up costing you a ton of money.

Do the math on an unlimited drink package before buying — most people will come out ahead simply paying for drinks individually, and this helps limit your alcohol consumption.

For WiFi, just skip this and opt to use free WiFi or cellphone data on the days when you’re in port. Internet while at sea is notoriously expensive.

And for shore excursions, you often don’t need to book through your cruise ship. You can DIY the same excursion for a cheaper price by booking directly with a local operator or just do a free activity like exploring the town or hitting up a local beach on your own.

4. Take A Repositioning Cruise

A lesser-known strategy for saving money on a cruise is booking a repositioning cruise.

These cruises are different from your average cruise, but they are by far one of the most affordable ways to travel.

What exactly is a repositioning cruise? Basically, this is when a cruise ship needs to move home ports at the beginning or end of a season. As a result, it’s a long route (think a two-week trans-Atlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami) with many days at sea.

But you’ll get the chance to stop at some exotic and far-flung ports along the way (like the Canary Islands, the Azores, or Bermuda) before reaching your final destination, and you can get deals for as little as $50 a day.

5. Be Flexible On Your Stateroom

Finally, you can save money on your cruises by being flexible on your stateroom assignment.

Choosing a specific stateroom often carries a higher cost as opposed to selecting a “guaranteed” stateroom. This means you are guaranteed a stateroom in your chosen class (interior, exterior, balcony, or suite), but you won’t be able to choose the exact location.

If you’re okay with this, it’s a great way to save some extra money.

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Last Updated 7 months ago

Are you planning an Alaska cruise this year?

Cruises to Alaska are extremely popular right now, and 2024 is expected to be a record-breaking cruising season according to Cruise Industry News.

Alaska is a unique and beautiful destination that is well-suited for exploration via cruise.

This is because it’s difficult or impossible to travel between many destinations in Alaska except by boat or by air. It’s a huge state (larger than California, Texas, and Montana combined) so a cruise is a great way to visit multiple destinations in a limited amount of time.

I took my second Alaska cruise last May, and these are the common mistakes I saw many travelers make. Be sure to avoid these mistakes to make sure you have a great Alaska cruise experience!

Choosing The Wrong Cruise

One common mistake that many people make is not considering the itinerary, dates, or cruise line for their Alaska cruise.

The Alaska cruise season runs from late April through early October, but July and August are the warmest and sunniest months for visiting Alaska.

If you want to see lots of wildlife like whales and bears, the best time to go is June through August. If you want to go salmon fishing, that window of time is also your best bet.

When it comes to itinerary, you’ll need to decide if you want to cruise the Inside Passage (usually a week-long cruise starting and ending in the same port) or see more on a Gulf of Alaska cruise (which usually starts or ends in Anchorage.)

As for cruise lines, I went with Holland America, which I really enjoyed — it’s more of an adult crowd (although still family-friendly) and focuses a lot more on the culture, history, and nature of Alaska.

Holland America along with Princess Cruises are considered the two best cruise lines for Alaska cruises.

Packing Poorly

Obviously, an Alaska cruise is nothing like a Caribbean cruise — you’re going to a destination that gets COLD, even during the summer months.

While summer is certainly the warmest time to visit Alaska, it can still be very chilly.

The key to a successful Alaska cruise is packing lots of layers. I often started the day wearing a base layer, a light jacket or sweater, and then my heavier winter coat. As it got warmer, I was able to shed a layer as needed.

One thing you should not forget? Lots of rain gear! I saw so many people who weren’t prepared for the frequent rain in Alaska.

Be sure to pack an umbrella, a rain poncho (this was a lifesaver!), moisture-wicking wool socks, and water-resistant boots or sneakers for your Alaska cruise.

You can also leave most of the formalwear at home. While your cruise might have one or two dressy nights for dinner, Alaska cruises tend to be a lot more casual overall.

Booking Same-Day Flights

A HUGE mistake that first-time cruisers make is booking a same-day flight for arrival day.

You might see that your cruise doesn’t officially depart until late afternoon and think that you can get away with arriving on a flight early in the morning and then heading straight to the cruise port. Wrong!

If your flight is delayed or canceled for any reason, you’ll miss your whole cruise. It’s not worth the risk. Arrive in your departure port city at least a day early.

For Alaska cruises, this will most likely be Seattle or Vancouver.

You can book your departure flight for the same day because you will most likely have to be off the ship early in the morning on departure day. But for arrival day, don’t even think about it!

Not Booking A Balcony Cabin

The temptation to save money and book an interior cabin or an exterior cabin with only a window might be strong, but I highly recommend booking a balcony cabin for your Alaska cruise if you can.

I normally don’t mind just having a window-view cabin on cruises, but I was extremely glad to have a balcony on my Alaska cruise.

This is because a LOT of what you do is scenic sailing. It’s not like your typical cruise where the only view for miles on end is the ocean.

On an Alaska cruise, there will be many times when you’re cruising past jaw-dropping scenery, like in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Yes, you can watch this from the public upper decks of the cruise ship, but it gets really crowded since everyone has the same idea.

It’s so much nicer to have your own balcony where you can relax on lounge chairs and watch the scenery glide by in comfort and privacy.

Waiting To Book Shore Excursions

One big mistake that many Alaska cruisers (including myself) make is waiting too long to book shore excursions.

I booked my Alaska cruise pretty last minute (about one month in advance) and most of the shore excursions through my cruise line were already sold out.

While there are some cruise destinations where you can wait to book your shore excursions, Alaska is not one of them. There’s limited inventory and many of the most popular excursions sell out in advance.

This goes for excursions offered by your cruise line and third-party shore excursion operators. So don’t wait to book excursions!

Overlooking DIY Excursions

Okay, now that I’ve talked about the importance of pre-booking your shore excursions, let’s talk about another option — DIY excursions.

Many cruisers don’t realize that it’s possible to visit many places independently in Alaska, saving you a lot of money compared to booking through your cruise line.

For example, in Ketchikan, I knew I wanted to visit Totem Bight State Historical Park. A guided tour booked through my cruise line would have cost $60 per person, but to visit it independently, it was a simple 25-minute bus ride on the local bus for $2 per person and $5 per person for the entry fee.

Similarly, I paid $45 per person for the Glacier Express bus in Juneau to visit Mendenhall Glacier, which included a round-trip bus ride from the cruise port and the glacier entry fee — a big savings compared to the $80 excursion through my cruise line.

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