Featured Cruise Articles & Reviews

Join the 2009 Travel Bloggers' Caravan & Win Valuable Travel Prizes! Starting Dec 1st, Cruise Diva invites you to follow top travel bloggers for a chance to win prizes in celebration of the season. Each day, between Dec 2-15, a different travel expert's blog will be featured in this round robin event. You'll have a chance to win one of over a dozen prizes by simply reading and commenting on their daily blog posts.

Here's a preview of the Caravan Schedule & Prizes.

MSC Poesia Arrived in the United States, and had a second christening of sorts as she was welcomed to Port Everglades by television icon, author, and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers. Come aboard with Cruise Diva for a first-hand look at an MSC Poesia Caribbean Cruise.

Let's Talk Turkey: Or, how to save my family from the ubiquitous bird, green bean casserole, and canned cranberry sauce with the lid indentations still visible. Holiday Dinners at Sea

Paper Luggage Tags? While most passengers have no complaint about printing e-documents for their cruise, luggage tags printed on paper are a cause for concern. As frequent cruiser George Hall said recently, "Someone will have to explain to me how these paper tags stay on through the process." Cruise Diva has had occasion to print out and use the paper tags and offers suggestions for how to keep them securely in place: Luggage Tags, Then & Now

Travelers' Health, The Plane Facts About Your Veins: A first-hand look at the dangers associated with Deep Vein Thrombosis. What is it? Are you at risk? Unfortunately, nearly three-quarters of adults don't realize how deadly DVT is, despite the fact that complications resulting from it kill more people annually than automobile accidents, AIDS, and breast cancer combined. Cruise Diva was aware of DVT, but never dreamed it would almost take her life. Here are the warning signs and, more importantly, what you can do to prevent it from striking you.

Booking A Cruise At The Pier — The cruising urban legend that will not die.

It's Show Time! and Cruise Diva ventured Behind The Stage after a performance of the movie musical concert "Stage & Screen" aboard Westerdam for a peek at what goes into the making of Holland America Line's dazzling production shows. Have you ever wondered how the performers make those quick costume changes? Here's your chance to find out.

A Grand Tour Without the Unpacking: Georgina Cruz shares the joy and convenience of sailing aboard Oceania Cruises' Regatta in Europe. Cruise Diva is sure you'll agree with her that, “A European cruise—or any voyage—is the travel equivalent of a piece of cake.”

Dining At Its Finest — The Chef's Table, a new concept in dining aboard Holland America Line's ms Westerdam is an exquisite five course pairing of wines selected by the ship's Cellar Master to complement the gourmet dishes prepared a la minute by the Executive Chef in the Culinary Arts Center's show kitchen. The table is set, the champagne is poured, so join Cruise Diva to enjoy a divine meal with wines poured at each course. As a bonus, Chef Andreas also shares a very useful kitchen tip you can use at home.

Alaska Explorer Via Glacier Bay: Our recent cruise to Alaska aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam is just one of the major itineraries offered by the most experienced cruise line sailing to the Great State. Follow along with Cruise Diva in search of glaciers, whales, and an elegant cruise experience on board Westerdam in Alaska.

Cruises, the Social Network Way to Travel — While a cruise is a great vacation for families & friends, it isn't necessary to have a ready-made group of acquaintances in order to feel comfortable on a cruise.

Select Your Cruise Ship Cabin — Inside or Outside? Balcony Stateroom or Suite? Take a look at the accommodations available before choosing yours.

Getting Ready to Cruise—Things To Do:  Follow Cruise Diva's Cruise Planning Timeline as a part of your pre-cruise preparation strategy.

A cruising travel necessity... Have DUCK Tape, Will Travel — this is NOT your father's duct tape. Don't leave home without it.

Cruise Travel Cost Control: Those boarding passes/room keys pictured here... ultimately, they are "Sail 'n Spend" cards. To keep your vacation budget from sinking, Cruise Diva offers Money Saving Tips that you can use when planning your cruise as well as once you are on board. We also clear up the confusion about What's Included In Your Cruise Fare (and what isn't). You have to get to port before sailing, so we take a look at Air & Sea Programs and how you can save time, money, and aggravation on flights.

Cruise Ship Designing Men & Women — A lot of thought goes into the decor and design accessories that you find aboard cruise ships. If you're like me, you'd like to take some of it with you when your cruise is over. You can! Here's how to adapt the most appealing Cruise Ship Decor to your personal environment.

Catch The Communications Wave At Sea — The Internet, WiFi-enabled laptop computers, and cell phones deliver Tech Savvy Cruise Travel. Cruise Diva looks at the services offered by major cruise lines.

It's your duty to shop, but it won't be free! Before you board your ship, get Cruise Diva's strategies for smart Shopping on Your Cruise Vacation and also learn how to snag some No-Cost Souvenirs. About those flip-flops... you'll have to sail on Celebrity Cruises' Solstice to sink your toes into them.

No two cruises are identical. Are your expectations realistic? Discover What to Expect On Your Cruise.

The True Confession of a pack-aholic. That would be your Cruise Diva. Learn how I overcame my pack-aholism with a streamlined strategy for Packing It In

Consideration, Courtesy, Civility — Pack your best manners and observe the three C's at sea with CruiseDiva.com's Cruise Ship Etiquette.

Cruise Line Brochures — What do they say?
   ~ How to read them & get the information you need
   ~ What are the Brochure Buzz Words

Going Ashore — Sightseeing can be a large add-on expense to a cruise vacation. Should you choose Shore Excursions vs. Independent Touring? CruiseDiva offers decision-making suggestions and helps you Decipher Excursion Descriptions.

Cruise Lines' Private Islands — Established to provide a beach break on an island (or part of one) reserved for their exclusive use, most are located in the Bahamas chain of "home" islands and included in certain Caribbean itineraries.

Cruise Reviews: MSC Poesia; Westerdam; Seven Seas Mariner; Celebrity Equinox; Prince Albert II; Sapphire Princess; Zuiderdam; Celebrity Summit; Mariner of the Seas; Splendour of the Seas; Coral Princess; MSC Orchestra; Ruby Princess; Seven Seas Mariner; Silver Wind; Royal Clipper; Carnival Ecstasy; Norwegian Pearl; Azamara Quest; Independence of the Seas; Noordam; Ryndam; Sapphire Princess; Celebrity Solstice; Ruby Princess; Liberty of the Seas; Norwegian Jade; Azamara Journey; Freedom of the Seas; Carnival Triumph; MORE REVIEWS...

Smoke on the Water — Can you smoke on your cruise ship? Cruise Diva outlines the cruise lines' smoking policies.

Timing is Everything — Insure smooth sailing on Embarkation Day by following Cruise Diva's arrival tips.

Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call 2010 is all you need to plan your days ashore, PLUS a cruise primer section and cruise line profiles by Cruise Diva, Linda Coffman

Get other top picks in Cruise Guidebooks & Travel Magazines

Find cruise gear, luggage & travel bargains in The Cruise Shop

Cruising With Kids? This is your must-have info:
       ~ Going to sea with children... why you need a Consent Letter
       ~ Family Cruising, The Basics - Will your family enjoy a cruise?
      ~ Do's and don'ts & what to know Before You Go  

Baby on Board — Cruise travel age restrictions for infants & regulations for expectant moms-to-be.

Taking Your Toddler To Sea — Cruise ships are wonderful places for family vacations, but you must understand the rules before making promises to your littlest sailors.

When Spring Break is around the corner ... young adults need to know that For Cruise Travel, Age Matters

Are you in the mood for love? Cruise Diva shares her picks for the Most Romantic Ships. Get hints to enhance Romance at Sea and enjoy Princess Cruises' sumptuous Ultimate Balcony Dinner. 

Where's Cruise Diva? Join us for cruising info, news & offbeat fun. We cruise the Internet so you don't have to. Check in at Cruise Diva, The Blog

Photos © Linda Coffman