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Cruise Lines that Share the Loyalty

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Like hotels, restaurants, and airlines, many cruise lines operate customer loyalty programs. All a passenger has to do is sign up, earn points with each cruise taken on that line, and enjoy the benefits. The benefits vary by cruise line, but can range from a complimentary onboard beverage to members-only events, dinner with the ship’s officers, or even a free future cruise. And, some cruise lines automatically sign new passengers up so they start gaining points or status right away. You’ll earn the most loyalty points and benefits if you sail regularly on the same cruise line. That works well when there’s a cruise line you love so much you wouldn’t consider any other. But if you don’t want to be limited to one cruise line, note that some will match loyalty program status from other lines, or even from other travel operators. With some cruise lines, status matching and point sharing are especially easy because they have the same ownership. For example, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cru...
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Quiet Time While You Cruise

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  Cruise ship activities like contests and tournaments, talent shows, and trivia challenges keep things lively and help passengers mix and mingle. But if you value quiet time, can you find it on a cruise ship? Yes, absolutely! Some ships – especially small ships and those from luxury lines – offer a calmer vibe to begin with. But quiet can be found even on the biggest, boldest ships; here are some places to look for it. Your own cabin. Your cabin can be a respite from the activity around the ship. To make it cozier, ask your steward for extra pillows and blankets; you can also bring a battery-operated tea light or two from home (remember, no real-flame candles are allowed). A love of quiet is a good reason to treat yourself to an outside cabin with a private balcony, where you can take in the views on your own. On most ships, you can also dine in your cabin; just order from room service and a server will deliver breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The library. Many ships have a li...
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Our Short Visit to Mauritius

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Beach at the Hilton Resort Last month, we had the pleasure of guiding a wonderful group of forty-eight travelers on a memorable 16-day cruise from Port Louis, Mauritius, all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. Since this was our agency’s first time visiting Mauritius, we chose to arrive a few days early to explore the island and get over the jet lag from the long journey—it’s quite a trek with a ten-hour time difference, and our total travel time, including layovers, was about thirty hours. Mauritius is a beautiful island located roughly 700 miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. We stayed for three nights at the Hilton Resort, right on the beach. If you ever find yourself visiting Mauritius, we recommend the Hilton—it provides a comfortable, relaxing spot to unwind and enjoy the scenery. What struck me most about Mauritius was its economy, which compares favorably to many other African destinations we’ve visited. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the island tends to attract...
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New Cruise Homeport Coming Soon: Philadelphia

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Florida’s cruise ports – Port Canaveral, Port Miami, and Port Everglades – are the busiest in the world, but they are not the only places to get on board a cruise ship. From Boston to Seattle, cruise ship homeports dot the U.S. coastline, and another major American city is ready to join in. This April, Norwegian Cruise Line will begin sailing from a brand-new cruise terminal in Philadelphia, near the Philadelphia International Airport. This will give the Mid-Atlantic region a gateway to cruising for the first time since 2011, when Philadelphia’s previous cruise terminal ceased operations. So, where can you sail from Philadelphia? To begin, the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Pearl are offering voyages to Bermuda; to New England and Canada; and to the Caribbean, with itineraries that feature port calls in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. As these ships sail away from Philadelphia and down the Delaware River, passengers will have a view of the city’s impressive skyline. ...
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Three Enriching Nights in Reykjavík

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Last summer, before embarking on our cruise, we spent three nights in Reykjavík to deepen our appreciation of Iceland’s unique allure. Having visited the country before, we had yet to fully explore the remarkable natural features that define this extraordinary island. This time, we made the deliberate choice to venture beyond the city through thoughtfully selected tours. Our accommodation at the Hilton Curio Collection was ideally located near the historic heart of Old Town, adjacent to Reykjavík’s famed hotdog stand—a local institution known well beyond Iceland’s shores. Over our stay, it was apparent just how beloved this spot is, with tour groups regularly pausing for a quick bite and a dedicated queue forming at all hours. Remarkably, the stand remains open until 5 a.m., closing only after the city’s bars do—testament to its iconic status. A highlight was the “Golden Circle” tour, an eight-hour excursion that offered an immersive experience of Iceland’s captivating countryside—feat...
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Sail the Great Lakes

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  There’s a fantastic option for close-to-home cruising along the U.S.-Canadian border: the Great Lakes, five massive lakes that touch eight states and one province. The lakes are so wide and deep they would be classified as inland seas if they were filled with saltwater – instead, they are the world’s largest group of freshwater lakes. You’ll find natural beauty, fascinating history and sparkling cities along their shores. Cruise lines that sail lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior include Viking, Ponant, and American Cruise Lines. They use smaller ships for this summer cruise region, because they need to fit through the narrow locks and canals that connect some of the lakes. So while you’ll sail in great style and comfort, don’t expect waterparks, dozens of dining options or big performance spaces on board. A variety of Great Lakes itineraries are available; as you explore them, consider length, the number of lakes and ports visited, and the number of “lake days...
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Windstar’s New Star Seeker

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For the first time in more than 30 years, Windstar has welcomed a newly built ship to its fleet: the Star Seeker. This 224-passenger ship, the first in the cruise line’s Star Class, has some terrific features you can expect to see again (such as on Windstar’s upcoming Star Explorer , scheduled to debut in late 2026). Star Seeker made its debut in December 2025, with a voyage from Málaga, Spain, to Miami. After a naming ceremony, Star Seeker embarked on a series of Caribbean itineraries. The ship is scheduled to sail in Alaska this summer, and then move on to Asia. Some of Windstar’s yacht-like ships have sails, but Star Seeker is a motor yacht, equipped with two Rolls Royce engines. The ship has 112 cabins, each with a private veranda or floor-to-ceiling windows. Some of these windows can be opened halfway, from the top, to create a balcony effect that lets the breeze in. Every cabin is equipped with a large, walk-in shower with a rainfall shower head and body jets. There are...
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