Essential Cruise Tips

Has the pandemic taken the "fun" out of cruising forever? I explore which of the 13 big changes cruise lines have made to be able to resume cruising around the world, are here to stay. And which changes will be dropped as the risks from the pandemic eases., and answer the question - will the changes being made to cruising take the fun out of cruising for ever.

Discover the 7 long-established cruise traditions that are ending. Many cruisers are desperately hoping that cruising will return to how it was. Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to enjoy everything that we may have loved as cruising returns. But, it is not all bad news! Some of the more annoying cruising traditions are also being swept away.

I explore 8 things you need to know about the test cruises that all cruise lines are required to run in the United States before they can return to running regular cruises with paying passengers.   PLUS some big watch-outs to help you decide if you should volunteer.

In this cruise news updates I review  a surprising CDC intervention against cruising, why April looks like when cruises will really resume among more cancellation news, lots of progress in the UK, what Caribbean ports are saying and doing about cruises calling again, cruise lines cash burn and much, much more.   I am Gary Bembridge, and this is another of my Tips For Travellers cruise updates, whe...

In this latest massive and extended cruise update, I discuss the biggest and latest cruise news updates including some huge news and fall-out from the SeaDream Caribbean cruise outbreak, dramatic news like Carnival cancelling cruises out of USA ports until at least end of January 2021 and why, latest on cancellations from lines offering multi-country and exotic cruises and why they cancelling to m...

In this latest cruise update, I look at the latest big cruise news updates including some dramatic news like a Covid issue on the first cruse in the Caribbean, what impact vaccines will have on your cruising plans for 2021, latest on volunteering for the test cruises in the USA, why cruise lines are taking cruises longer than 7 night off sale, promising cruise news for UK cruisers and what the lat...

In this cruise update, I look at 6 of the biggest and latest cruise news updates and explore what is now happening on resumption of cruising and cancellations in the USA after the CDC No-sail order lapsed and was replaced with the Framework for Conditional Sailing. I also look at the state of cruising in Europe as cases surge and Italy, France, Spain, Germany and other countries go into further lo...

I examine and discuss the lifting of the USA No-Sail order for cruising by the CDC, and look at the Framework For Conditional Sailing that has replaced this no-sail cruise order. While many cruise passengers are celebrating and excited that the no-sail order has been lifted, the new Framework does not actually allow cruises to resume, nor sets a date for when cruise passengers can go on cruise shi...

Here are the 6 breaking cruise news stories that you need to know about, including the CDC in the United States dialling up it's advice against cruising, 3 huge new challenges cruises that have resumed are now dealing with, what a Royal Caribbean cruise is actually going to be like, a big surprise financial bail out for the cruise lines and more.

In this latest cruise news update, I discuss the 6 recent big cruising news updates and stories and look at what they mean for us as cruise passengers and cruising fans. The cruise updates include the good news that Caribbean cruises are resuming if you want to, the impact a new ban will have on Carnival resuming cruises out of USA ports, what the cruise lines have confirmed about 2021 fares and w...

What are the best vacation options for cruisers while we can't cruise, or even don't want to cruise for a while. I look at the 6 very best alternatives to cruising that draw on the best parts of cruising, what makes a cruise vacation and avoids some of the things that cruise passengers prefer to avoid on their cruising vacation. These are all things that I have done and feel are a great alternativ...

Have you booked, or are thinking of booking, cruises for next year or beyond? You need to proceed carefully if you are. I recommend 3 big questions you need to ask yourself, your travel agent or the cruise line before you book, and if you have ask these before it is too late to make some mistakes you will regret. BECOME A TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS MEMBER -------------------------------------------------...

As cruises hare restarted, cruise passengers are only allowed to leave the ship in port on cruise line excursions. The lines argue this is to protect passengers from being infected in port, and for people in ports also protected. This has caused a lot of debate by cruise passengers who feel cruise line excursions are too limiting, they prefer to self-explore or use independent excursion providers...

The shape of cruising out of the United States in the coming months of 2020 has become clearer through a series of announcements and revelations by the cruise lines, including the world's largest cruise line (Carnival) finally going public on what cruise passengers can expect on their ships when they start sailing, adding to what Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise have announced for their lines....

Why are many cruisers, including cruise lovers are regulars, saying they will not cruise on the channel and on various cruise sites and in cruising chat rooms? I explore the reasons that cruisers have been saying about why they do not want to cruise as cruising opens. What are the issues, barriers or things happening that are holding people who have been cruising before from wanting to return to c...

The cruise lines in the USA have announced their plans and protocols on resumption of cruising out of ports in the United States. These have been submitted to the CDC in the USA, who have the final sail on when cruises can resume in USA waters. I discuss the 6 biggest changes to cruising that affect cruisers the mist, including the type of cruises that will return, their views on testing, use of m...

Cruise Lines Going Bust Or Out Of Business: What You Need To Know. I look at what cruise lines have already gone bust, cruise lines or groups that may go bankrupt and those that have the greatest chance of surviving the cruise shutdown. This is especially key as it increasingly looks likely that cruises will not resume on any scale (if at all) in 2020 for most cruise lines and in many cruising reg...

I discuss the 5 reasons that the cruise you've got booked that is due to run after no-sail bans is lifted most likely will still be cancelled. Your cruise may well be cancelled even once cruise lines are given the all okay to sail. Many cruisers are assuming that once the cruise shutdown ends that the booked cruises after that date will operate. I explore why that cruise you've got booked may not...

Will Testing Cruise Passengers Before Cruising be the key to the resumption of cruise vacations around the world. I explore the three approaches taken so far and how most have had issues to date, what we have learnt and what the major cruise lines are saying (and doing) on the role of testing cruise passengers to help open cruising up again.

I explore the on board cruise ship changes already put in place due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cruise ship changes that are already in place with cruise ships sailing around the world, in Europe, French Polynesia, Iceland and parts of Asia, and also those announced as in place by the mainstream cruise lines ready for when they are allowed to start cruising again. These are changes on...

Cruise Lines in the USA have gone on the attack and offensive towards the CDC (Center For Disease Control and Prevention) after almost 6 months of not speaking out against them. I review what they have said and why they are saying it now. I discuss what Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises CEOs have said on record on the cruise suspension and the CDC Check out my T-Shir...

In another of my cruise update series, I look at why cruise lines have pulled the vast majority of cruise ships that are usually sailing in and out of USA ports and waters, and what it means and could signal about the timing and plans for when cruising is allowed to start up again out of the USA. At the time of the shutdown there were just over 120 ships operating in and out fo USA waters, at time...

What is the best and easiest way to get a cruise cabin upgrade on your next and future cruises? I discuss the 8 things that I do that ahem led to me getting a cruise cabin upgrade on my cruises, and things that I have seen work for others using these cruise cabin tips to get an upgrade. So, why not discover how you too can get a cruise cabin upgrade in a proven and easy way?

In my 10th cruise news update, I look at the latest news and what it means for cruisers like you. As lines like MSC Cruises and Carnival's Costa and AIDA begin sailing again this month, I look at 7 trends emerging including some new rules and protocols that these cruise lines resuming service have put in place which, based on discussions on my channel and other cruise forums, many cruisers may dis...

Is Holland America a good choice for your Caribbean cruise vacation? I explore the pros and cons of cruising on a Holland America Line ship in the Caribbean. Holland America has been sailing for well over 140 years, but are they a good cruise line for the Caribbean? I look at the good and less good aspects to help you decide if a Holland America Caribbean cruise is right for you.