Tips, guides, port news and cruise advice from our team of experienced cruisers.
Ensenada is the most accessible Mexican port from Southern California — a Baja wine country town with good seafood, local markets, and La Bufadora. Here's how to spend your cruise day.
Kings Wharf is Bermuda's main cruise port — a former Royal Naval Dockyard turned world-class destination. Here's how to spend your cruise day on the island.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most beautiful Pacific resort towns — a Malecon, a historic church, jungle canopy tours, and some of the best whale watching in the world. Here's how to spend your cruise day.
Skagway is Alaska's gold rush town — a remarkably preserved 19th-century boomtown at the foot of mountain passes that once sent thousands of stampeders north. Here's how to spend your cruise day.
Sitka is Alaska's most historically layered port — Russian colonial capital, Tlingit homeland, and a gateway to extraordinary wildlife and old-growth rainforest. Here's how to spend your cruise day.
Tortola is the gateway to the British Virgin Islands — sailing capital of the Caribbean, home to stunning beaches, and one of the most laid-back port stops in the region.
Whittier is one of Alaska's most unusual places — a small town accessible by a single tunnel, surrounded by glaciers and fjords, and the embarkation point for southbound Alaska cruises. Here's what to know.
Whether you're arriving the night before or have a few hours after disembarkation, Miami's restaurant scene near PortMiami is world-class. Here's where to eat.
Norfolk, Virginia is an underrated departure port with easy access, reasonable parking, and a genuinely interesting city to explore before or after your cruise. Here's everything you need to know.
Norwegian's Free at Sea drink package is one of the most popular perks in the cruise industry — but the fine print matters. Here's exactly what you get and how to decide if it's worth it.
MSC Cruises offers multiple drink package tiers that can be genuinely confusing. Here's a clear breakdown of each package, what's included, and how to choose the right one for your cruise.
Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line's new private island destination in the Bahamas, opened in 2024. Here's what to expect — what's included, what's worth booking, and how it compares to other private islands.