Travel news and comments on cruises 

The 9 Roughest Seas In The World For Cruise Ships

CruiseBlog.com Dec 2023

Whether you're looking to take an adventurous trip or are just curious, here's a list of the roughest seas in the world:

? The Drake Passage

? The Bay of Biscay

? The Gulf of Alaska

? The Atlantic Ocean

? The Mediterranean

? The Caribbean

? The Pacific Ocean

? The North Sea

? The South China Sea

New cruise ships to launch in 2024.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/ Sept 2023

It’s been a while since we reviewed the new ships to be launched in the near term. So, a recent list in the Cruise Industry News caught our eye.  The list below is for new ships to be launched yet this year and in 2024. The list is for ships primarily based in US ports.

Some thoughts:

-Ten ships over 18 months is a somewhat small number versus past years. It seems production is down due to the Covid pandemic.

-Several ships are launching with alternate fuels, usually LNG gas.

-There are the first billion dollar ships coming. Utopia of the Seas and the Sun Princess.

-Other than the mega ships most plan to have passenger counts in the 2-4 thousand passenger range.

So, will the lines fill these new ships? The old baseball saying “build it and they will come” may hold true.

2024:

2023

We liked the story below because it reminds us that professional care of our cruise booking is especially important.

Why you should book through a cruise travel agent

ThePointsGuy March 2022

You should consider booking a cruise through a travel agent because a knowledgeable agent can help you understand the nuances of a cruise purchase and help you make the best decisions for your vacation preferences.

When you book a cruise, you are making a vacation decision that goes way beyond a flight or hotel nights. Which ship you choose determines your dining and evening entertainment choices for the duration of your vacation. Which itinerary you choose impacts which destinations you’ll visit and what kind of shoreside activities will be available to you. It can be overwhelming to evaluate the options on your own if you’ve never cruised before.

In addition, cruise fares can be hard to understand and compare. You may, for instance, see a fare listed online without the port charges, taxes and fees, which you only see after you give your personal details.

Plus, the price of your cruise includes accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities – and in some cases drinks, tips and shore excursions, Wi-Fi and other extras. There’s a lot bundled into some fares and not as much with others. A travel agent can help you determine what your cruise fare gets you. The cheapest base cruise fare does not always provide the best value or best overall vacation deal.

You aren’t just booking general passage on a ship, either, as you will be asked to pick a specific cabin and when you prefer to dine. Making a mistake in these categories can ruin your cruise experience, as there are such thing as “bad” cabins and dining times (think noisy or claustrophobic cabins, dinner at 8 p.m. with cranky children, etc.).

With cruises, you typically don’t pay for your whole vacation way upfront but rather put down a deposit, with final payment due at a later date. A cruise travel agent can ensure you don’t miss any due dates.

Remember, you may be a DIY type when booking airlines and hotels, but booking a cruise is more complex. If you enjoy doing your own research, focus on what to do and see in the ports of call. Read about different ships, cruise lines and itineraries. However, when it comes to booking the cruise, we recommend you still contact a travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you learn a few tips and avoid any rookie mistakes.