What Happens If a Cruise Leaves You Behind? The Bill, the Rules and the $996 Nobody Mentions
Norwegian Dawn left eight passengers in West Africa over 60 minutes. Here is what really happens if a cruise leaves you behind - and who pays.
Ernie
Ernie has been cruising for ten years and writes and edits Cruise Chaos. That decade at sea shapes what gets published here: cruise news explained properly, honest stories from onboard, practical guides, and deals verified on the cruise lines' own sites the day they run. No affiliate commissions, no invented facts, and corrections welcome.
An $80 Million Cruise Dock, a 13-Hour Fire, and No Working Hydrant
Alaska's brand-new $80m Whittier cruise dock burned for 13 hours and is a total loss. The hydrants on it didn't work - and a fence blocked the ocean.
The Whale on the Bow: Why Alaska Cruise Ships Keep Docking With Dead Fin Whales
Norwegian Joy docked in Sitka with a dead fin whale on her bulbous bow. It is the second this Alaska season, the fourth since 2016, and here is why.
How Much Does a Cruise Ship Cost to Build? What the Loan Papers Reveal
A large cruise ship costs $1-3 billion. We traced the real prices to SEC loan filings - and they show costs up about 50% in six years.
Today’s Best Cruise Deals: 6 Premium Nights for $576, Taxes Included
Celebrity cut $150 overnight: 6 nights from Fort Lauderdale for $576, taxes in. Plus Princess's weekend flash sale and six more deals verified today.
10 Cruise Nightmares That Aren’t Your Fault (and How to Protect Yourself)
Storms, outbreaks, blocked ports and lost bags: the ten cruise nightmares you can't control, what the cruise line actually owes you for each, and how to protect yourself.
A Joke, a Nightclub, 13 Charges: The Costa Smeralda Brawl and the Law at Sea
A remark near the nightclub ended with furniture flying, 13 passengers in front of a Palermo prosecutor, and a lesson in who owns the law at sea.
Can You Bring Snacks on a Carnival Cruise? The Sealed-Package Rule, Explained
Yes, if they are factory-sealed and unopened. Carnival's full snack and drink rules, what gets confiscated, and how the big four lines compare.
Today’s Best Cruise Deals: Alaska and Europe From a $25 Deposit, Plus 5 Nights for $349
Viking's $25 deposit sale ends Sept 30, Holland America sets a Nov 2 Alaska and Europe deadline, and Royal Caribbean cut $75 off a 5-night Bahamas fare.
Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise to Mexico? What Happens When Things Go Wrong in Cozumel
Most Mexico cruises don't require a passport. Here's when they do, what happens if you're stranded in port, and Mexico's new cruise fee.