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Safety for Kids on a Cruise

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If you’ll cruise with your children or grandchildren during the winter holidays, congratulations! There’s nothing like a cruise for creating family memories. But, we have a piece of advice: before you leave home, talk with your young ones about staying safe while cruising. Kids are accustomed to the safety practices they follow at home and school, but a cruise ship is a different and exhilarating environment where it can be easy to forget about common-sense rules. Here are a few things you and the kids can talk about together: Follow the rules set by the cruise line and crew. For example, a cruise ship has lots of railings along decks, staircases, and balconies that can be tempting to kids who love to climb. But the railings are there for safety and not for play. Climbing on railings, leaning over them, or swinging from one balcony railing to another are all absolutely forbidden. There’s also no running through the hallways, around the pool, or up and down staircases. Remind t...
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Celebrity’s Newest Ship

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Set to make its public debut on November 16 in Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Xcel will be the fifth ship in the line’s Edge Class. If you’ve sailed on another Edge Class ship, the Xcel will feel familiar, but there are some exciting new features as well. For example, the 3,260-passenger ship is the first in the Celebrity fleet to be capable of running on methanol, an alternative fuel that reduces engine emissions. A more noticeable change is at the aft of the Xcel , where other Edge Class ships have Eden – a multi-use lounge, dining, and entertainment space. Instead of Eden, the Xce l has The Bazaar, a triple-deck space that features destination-inspired dining and entertainment in a festival atmosphere. The Bazaar will also offer workshops focused on local traditions and crafts, too. It’s a way to bring what’s on shore onto the ship, and it’s a response to passenger requests for more immersive cruise experiences. The Bazaar will also house two new dining ve...
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Royal Caribbean’s Private Destination Plans

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  When a cruise itinerary includes a visit to a private destination, it’s usually one of the most popular ports of call. After all, when a cruise line owns a property, it can make it the stuff of passengers’ dreams. Royal Caribbean is adding to its collection of private destinations, which already includes Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas and Labadee on the north shore of Haiti. This December, the cruise line will open Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, near Nassau in The Bahamas. And, late 2027 will see the debut of Perfect Day Mexico on the Costa Maya. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island occupies a barrier island just outside Nassau. Five custom-built water taxis will be on hand to transfer passengers from the ship to the club. A day pass purchase is required, which includes just about everything you’ll need while enjoying the club – unlimited food and beverages, Wi-Fi access, and amenities like beach chairs, towels, and umbrellas. The club has three neighborhoods, all wit...
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Top Tips for a First Cruise

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  Cruising is such an easy way to travel, but making reservations and preparations involves a fair amount of decision-making. That can be a bit intimidating if you haven’t cruised before, so here are some top tips for first-time cruisers. To make cruise reservations, work with a professional travel advisor. He or she will ask questions about what you want from a cruise, then guide you to your best choices for a cruise line, ship, cabin, and more. Your travel advisor can explain the fare, what it includes, any available extras, and why travel insurance is a good idea. They may have access to special offers, discounts, and onboard credits, too. Your travel advisor can help you arrange to get to the ship, whether you’ll go by plane, train, bus, or car. And however you get there, plan to arrive the day before the ship departs. If you’re delayed – even through no fault of your own – the ship will not wait. Your travel advisor will know about any special deals on hotels in the ship’s...
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New Feature for Silversea’s Antarctic Cruises

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  Silversea Cruises is preparing something new for its guests who journey to the Antarctic. The cruise line is putting finishing touches on The Cormorant at 55 South, soon to be the world’s southernmost hotel. Located at the 55 ◦ south parallel in Puerto Williams, Chile, the Cormorant will be exclusively for guests on Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruises. Here’s a little background on how the hotel came to be. A few years ago, Silversea began to offer Antarctic cruises that depart from Puerto Williams not by ship, but by chartered plane. Instead of spending two days sailing across the Drake Passage, guests take a two-hour flight from Puerto Williams to King George Island, a research station just 75 miles off the Antarctic coast. Once on the island, guests board their Silversea expedition cruise ship, then sail on to the wonders of the Antarctic continent. The Cormorant at 55 South, scheduled to open in January 2026, will give Silversea’s guests a comfortable place to prepare for...
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Cruise Ship Butlers

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 To elevate your next cruise experience, consider reserving a suite that comes with a luxurious amenity: a butler. Several cruise lines offer butler service with some higher-end suites. These include luxury lines like Silversea Cruises and Cunard Line, as well as family-friendly lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. So, what can a cruise ship butler do for you? Here’s a quick look at how butlers make a wonderful cruise even better. Unpacking and repacking. While you’re relaxing, enjoying a sail-away party, or exploring the ship, your butler can unpack and neatly stow your belongings. If you need laundry services, a loose button sewn on, or some creases steamed out while you’re sailing, your butler can help with that, too. Plus, he or she can repack your bags while you enjoy yourself on the last night of the cruise. Arranging your suite. If you would like to have furniture moved, a different pillow, a board game to play, or other adjustments, just ask your butler...
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Cruise Ship Cabin Considerations

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Although a cruise ship cabin might serve as your landing pad for just a few days, you should think through your choice of cabin as you would when choosing a place to live. When you choose a home, you consider location, size, and surroundings; think about them when choosing a cruise ship cabin , too. Most ships have a few different categories of cabins, and larger ships may have dozens. Anita, your professional travel advisor, can help you sort through it all, but here are some tips to help you get started. Check the size of the cabins you’re interested in, as well as the number of passengers it can accommodate. Some smaller cabins can accommodate four people efficiently, but without much extra space (and with one small bathroom). Knowing a cabin’s square footage can help you decide if the space will be comfortable or if you should consider a larger cabin or suite. If you’re okay without a view to the outside, an inside cabin can be an excellent and economical choice. Some even ...
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