How Far in Advance Should You Book a Cruise? Mind the 120-Day Line
Book 6 to 18 months ahead for most cruises. New seasons open two years out, and three big lines now take full payment 120 days before sailing.
Should You Book Excursions Through the Cruise Line? What the Fine Print Promises
Ship tours cost more but promise to get you back. We compared five lines' excursion rules, the Ketchikan case, and when booking your own tour makes sense.
The Ship Meant for a Three-Year World Cruise Is Being Auctioned for Scrap
Gemini, first picked for the failed Life at Sea world cruise, goes to auction in Greece on Oct 21 over a EUR 22,772 debt. How it happened.
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.
10 Things to Know Before You Book Your Cruise
Cancellation penalties, hidden fees, fuel clauses, age and pregnancy rules: 10 things to know before booking a cruise, from the lines' own contracts.
Fake ‘Captain Has Lost Control’ Alert: How Six Passengers Got on MSC Divina’s PA
Six passengers allegedly told MSC Divina the captain had lost control. Nothing was hacked, MSC says. What happened, and how to spot a real emergency.
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.
Oasis of the Seas Is Switching Off Its Toilets Again. Here’s Why a Cruise Ship Has To
Oasis of the Seas scheduled two toilet shutdowns in Nassau, for the second time in two months. How vacuum plumbing works, and what to do.
Scarlet Lady Ran From a Storm Into Rhodes. Then Its Ropes Snapped.
Waves snapped Scarlet Lady's mooring lines in Rhodes and pushed her onto a catamaran. What happened, why harbours do this, and what Virgin owes you.
Why Some Cruise Ports Stay Quiet: Venice, Juneau and the Seabed
Every cruise guide has a “hidden gems” list, and every one of them has the causation backwards. Quiet ports are not quiet because nobody has noticed them yet. They are quiet because something specific is keeping the big ships out…