Senior couple drinking cocktails on cruise ship deck

Unlocking the Perks of Shoulder Season Cruising: Why It Might Be the Best Time to Sail

Katy L

When planning a cruise, most travelers instinctively aim for peak season—the sunniest skies, the warmest seas, and the liveliest ports. But savvy cruisers know there’s another, often overlooked, window of opportunity that offers major benefits: the shoulder season.

If you’re new to the term, shoulder season refers to the transitional periods between a destination’s high (peak) and low (off) travel seasons. In the cruise world, these months often come with fewer crowds, better prices, and unique destination experiences that are hard to come by during busier times.

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Elevator or stairs on a cruise ship? Your choice could make you live longer, study finds

Elevator or stairs on a cruise ship? Your choice could make you live longer, study finds

aliciaf

From catching up on your rest to exploring new ports of call and enjoying all of the ship’s amenities, it can be difficult to squeeze in a workout on a cruise.

Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon your fitness goals. When it comes to navigating the ship, you can incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Rather than taking the elevator, opt for the stairs to get your heart pumping and burn a few extra calories.

According to a new meta-analysis presented at a European Society of Cardiology conference, people who routinely climb stairs have about a 39% lower likelihood of death from heart disease compared to those who didn’t climb stairs.

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15 Packing Tips for First-Time Cruisers

15 Packing Tips for First-Time Cruisers

aliciaf

Packing for your first-ever cruise can be overwhelming! You want to make sure that you have everything that you will need without going overboard.

Stateroom storage space is pretty limited, especially if you have three or four people sharing one cabin. If everyone packs too much, it is easy to run out of space and to create a cluttered “home away from home.” On the other hand, you don’t want to encounter a situation where you forgot a must-have item.

Unlike land-based vacations, you cannot run to the nearby drug or mega store to pick up something that you may have forgotten, such as your go-to pain reliever or pajamas.

Here are 15 packing tips for first-time cruisers to help you pack the most efficiently.

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9 Things To Do As Soon As You Board A Cruise Ship

9 Things To Do As Soon As You Board A Cruise Ship

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Stepping on your cruise ship is an exciting feeling. Though you might be hours from sailing away, your vacation has officially begun! Amidst all the excitement, however, there are a few important things that you’ll want to cross off your embarkation day to-do list.

Even though it’s the first day of your trip, there are some logistical things that you need to take care of before you can completely transition into vacation mode. Forgetting could lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment later on, whether it’s not being able to dine at a specific specialty restaurant or missing out on important safety information during the muster drill.

Here are 9 things you should do as soon as you board your cruise ship to help ensure smooth sailing.

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