Cruise guides
Every guide below opens with a direct answer, then earns the follow-up detail. No filler, no recycled brochure copy: passports, packing, pricing and picking the right line, written by people who price cruises all day.
Flights for Your Cruise: The Complete Strategy
Book cruise flights to land the day before sailing, never the morning of, and treat one-way itineraries differently: repositioning...
The Best Time to Book a Cruise
The best time to book a cruise is either far out or close in: at itinerary release 12 to 18 months ahead for peak dates, during Ja...
Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise?
US citizens do not need a passport for closed-loop cruises, sailings that leave and return to the same US port, which covers most ...
What to Pack for a Cruise
Pack for a cruise in five layers: documents (passport or birth certificate plus ID), a day one carry-on with swimsuit and medicati...
What to Wear on a Cruise
Cruise dress runs three modes: anything goes by day (swimwear, shorts, cover-ups), resort casual at dinner (collared shirts, sundr...
Which Cruise Line Is the Best?
There is no single best cruise line, only the best line for your trip: Royal Caribbean for families who want the biggest ships, Ca...
Is MSC a Good Cruise Line?
Yes, MSC is a good cruise line, if you know what you are buying: gorgeous modern ships and the lowest big-ship fares in America, w...
How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost?
A Disney cruise costs roughly $2,800 to $5,500 total for a family of four on a 3 or 4 night Bahamas sailing, and $5,500 to $12,000...
Costco Cruise Deals: Are They Actually Good?
Costco cruise deals are legitimate: the fare usually matches the cruise line's price, and Costco adds a shop card typically worth ...
AAA Cruise Deals: What Members Actually Get
AAA cruise deals combine member-rate fares, onboard credit promotions and access to human travel agents in local branches. The ben...
Cruise Insurance: What It Covers and When It Is Worth It
Cruise insurance typically costs 5 to 10 percent of your trip price, so $100 to $250 per person on a standard sailing, and covers ...
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska
The best time to cruise Alaska is late May through early July for the combination of long daylight, active wildlife and moderate c...
Can You Bring Alcohol on a Cruise?
Most major cruise lines allow one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult at boarding, and nothing stronger. Liquor and beer a...
Do Cruise Ships Have WiFi?
Yes, every major cruise ship has wifi, and it improved dramatically once lines fitted Starlink fleet-wide. Expect $15 to $35 per d...
The Best Cruises for Families
The best family cruise depends on your kids' ages: Disney is unmatched under 10, Royal Caribbean's megaships win the tween and tee...
Cruise Wedding Packages
Cruise wedding packages run $1,500 to $6,000 plus the cruise fares, covering ceremony, officiant, flowers, cake and photography in...
First Time Cruise Tips
The first-time cruise tips that matter most: arrive in the port city the night before, pack a day one carry-on with swimwear and m...
Cruise Gratuities, Explained
Cruise gratuities are automatic daily service charges of $16 to $26 per person on mainstream lines, split among cabin stewards, di...
The Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean
The best time to cruise the Caribbean is late November through early December and mid January through March: dry season weather at...
How Much Does a Cruise Cost?
A cruise costs $700 to $1,400 per person all-in for a typical 7 night mainstream Caribbean sailing: a $450 to $800 fare plus rough...
All-Inclusive Cruises
Every cruise is partly all-inclusive: fares cover lodging, main dining, entertainment and kids clubs. The gap is drinks, wifi, gra...
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