Consumer Reports: Worst Cruise Line Named

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked at Nassau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My experience with cruises is limited.

I have been on only three cruises in my life. The first was in 2001 to Alaska with Celebrity Cruises. The second was in 2019 to Cuba with Royal Caribbean. My third, and last, was to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line in 2024. 

I may not be the best source for reviews as I enjoyed each one (well, except for getting sick during the Alaska cruise). The food on each was good. No complaints here. The facilities on each ship was fine.

Consumer Reports has named the worst cruise line for 2026. Surprisingly (for me at least), they named Norwegian the worst in customer satisfaction. 

Above, the lobster dinner I paid $25 aboard the Norwegian Sky. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing stands out in my mind with Norwegian. It was buying a lobster tail (two of them) dinner for $25. I thought that was quite reasonable (like 1980s prices).

According to an article posted by AOL:

In an age of limitless vacation choices, picking a cruise to go on is tough. From the outside, so many of them seem to offer the exact same experience: great food, parties, entertainment, visits to some of the coolest ports, and amenities galore. But in January of 2026, Consumer Reports conducted a survey to find out which of the top cruises were the best ... and the worst. Surprisingly, the well-known Norwegian Cruise Line was at the very bottom in terms of customer satisfaction.

The survey had a sample size that makes these ratings hard to ignore. Based on experiences over the last three years, 18,850 respondents were asked to rate 19 cruise lines based on a variety of factors. Some of these factors were price-based, like value per dollar and price transparency; others were about experiences, such as excursions, meals, and entertainment. The ratings also factored in amenities and basic expectations, like cleanliness, cabin quality, and accessibility. According to this report, Norwegian Cruise Line has fallen behind the pack in almost every category. 

 To read the full article, go here.

Southern Living: Best Cruise Lines 2026

Above, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like anything else, some cruise lines are better than others. 

Since 2001, I have cruised aboard three cruise line ships. The first cruise being with Celebrity to Alaska. The second was to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba with Royal Caribbean. The third cruise was with Norwegian to the Bahamas. 

Southern Living has posted their list off the "best" cruise lines for 2026 as chosen by their readers. 

They begin with:

With 370 ships sailing the world’s oceans, rivers, and waterways, it can be overwhelming to find the one that’s right for you and your family or group of friends. From luxury and adults-only to those filled with onboard adventures and kids’ clubs, there’s a cruise and a cruise line for everyone. 

To help narrow it down, we’ve compiled a list of the best cruise lines chosen by Southern Living readers to inspire you to find the right fit for your next trip. In addition to far-flung global destinations, many of these cruise lines offer enticing itineraries departing from ports close to home in Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Texas, too.

To read more, go here.

Consumer Reports Ranks Cruise Lines

Above, Celebrity Cruises made the Consumer Reports list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like anything else, there are some things that are better than others. This axiom also applies to cruise lines. Some are better than others.

Consumer Reports has listed the best cruise lines. This was reported as a slideshow by Quartz. 

They start it with:

Cruises have bounced back since the pandemic, with a record 21.7 million Americans set to hit the seas this year, according to AAA.

But not all cruises offer the experience travelers are hoping for, and with scores of cruise lines operating, it can be hard to figure out which ones to book. Consumer Reports ranked the best cruise lines, offering three luxury options and three more affordable ones. It used the results of a survey with almost 19,000 respondents to make the list. Continue reading to see which made the list of the best ones and why.

To see which cruise lines are the best, go here. 

"Buying Alaska" Snippet

As previously mentioned, I stumbled upon Buying Alaska on the Roku Channel. I had never heard of this show before. 

In each episode, people are taken  potential homes or cabins by realtors in various places in Alaska. The places shown run the gamut from rundown shacks to million dollar mansions. 

I find the shows to be entertaining and informative.

Here's a sample of one such episode:

Buying Alaska

Above, Skagway, Alaska in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A couple of days ago, I found a channel that caught my attention through the Roku channel.

It is called Buying Alaska. In each episode, couples and families leave the lower 48 states and go to Alaska to buy a home. Also, some episodes have Alaskan residents looking to buy a cabin for getaways for recreation (hunting and fishing). 

Besides the natural beauty of the state, they show three properties shown by a realtor and leave it to the viewer to guess which one was the final selection before it is revealed. 

It is interesting to see homes with unique decor with some described as "definitely Alaskan" or similar descriptions. 

I have been to Alaska through a cruise with my mom and daughter in 2001. The natural beauty of the state is really something to behold. 

If your television is Roku-equipped, be sure to check out Buying Alaska.

RVing In Alaska

Above, Ketchikan, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been to Alaska once. That was in 2001 with my mom and daughter during a cruise. So with that in mind, I won't be much help in advising about RVing to Alaska.

Fortunately, others have done an Alaskan trip via RV and can advise.

RV Travel has posted an article with a video on 20 things one should know before heading to Alaska.

They begin with:

The video below from the Happily Ever Hanks is an important one to watch for anyone considering RVing to Alaska. In it, the Hanks honestly share 20 things they wish they had known before undertaking this massive RV trip that tops many RVers’ bucket lists.

The video covers a lot of common questions about RVing to Alaska, including what the roads are like, what kind of upgrades you should do to your rig, whether you need campground reservations, and much more.

This video report is based on the Hanks’ experience spending the summer a year ago in their RV in Alaska, so some things may have changed by now. But this still provides lots of good basic information when planning a trip to Alaska.

To read more and see the video, go here. 

5 Best Cruise Lines For Retirees

Above, a cruise ship near a Alaska glacier. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To be honest, taking cruises isn't my favorite mode of travel. Yes, I've been on three cruises and enjoyed each one of them. My favorite mode of travel is RVing. If a cruise comes up that is very interesting to me, I may indulge myself and go.

That being said, for seniors who do not have an RV, cruises may be just what one's doctor ordered.  

Above, a view of Skagway, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kiplinger has posted the five best cruise lines for seniors. Of the five, I have cruised with one of them, Celebrity Cruises. The cruise I took was to Alaska.

They begin with:

Retirement is the perfect time to set sail. Whether you’re chasing fun, adventure, or bucket-list destinations, cruises offer seniors the comfort, easy access, and unforgettable experiences they deserve after years of work.

According to Shore Excursions Group, seniors make up a significant share of the cruise market, with 32% of passengers being 65-plus.

"Additionally," says Jason R. Margulies, Partner & Maritime Attorney at Lipcon, Marqulies & Winkleman, "since cruises are a mode of transport in and of themselves, seniors don’t have to worry about the chaos of packing and unpacking at each port, moving to different hotels and rooms every night, and the other concerns that come with traveling by land or air to the next destination."

If you’re looking for an experience on ocean waves or river swells, dive into why cruises offer an out-of-this-world adventure for retirees, what to look for in a cruise line, and our top picks for the five best ones suited to active golden agers.

Above, our ship, Celebrity Mercury, docked at Juneau, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

What Is The Cheapest Month To Go On A Cruise?

Above, Alaska cruises in late April/early May and September/beginning of October can save money. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like many things in life, timing is key. That also goes for taking a cruise vacation.

Everyone likes to save money by finding bargains. Some times of the year cruise line operators offer bargains too good to pass up. 

AOL has posted an article on what are the cheapest month(s) to go on a cruise.

They begin it with:

If you’re looking for cruise deals, it pays to pick your sailing dates carefully. Prices can vary based on your cruise line, destination and more – but certain times of year tend to be cheaper than others.

Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, said it’s “all based on the demand.”

“And when you're talking about holidays and when schools are out, when families want to travel together, it's always going to be more expensive,” she told USA TODAY.

However, there are bargains out there if you know when to look for them. Here’s what to know. 

To read more, go here. 

When Are The Cheapest Months To Take A Cruise?

Above, the Celebrity Mercury at Juneau, Alaska in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When is the cheapest month to take a cruise? 

That is the question and title of an article in USA Today. People who want to take a cruise but want to do so at lower costs will find the article interesting.  

They begin with:

If you’re looking for cruise deals, it pays to pick your sailing dates carefully. Prices can vary based on your cruise line, destination and more – but certain times of year tend to be cheaper than others.

Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, said it’s “all based on the demand.”

“And when you're talking about holidays and when schools are out, when families want to travel together, it's always going to be more expensive,” she told USA TODAY.

However, there are bargains out there if you know when to look for them. Here’s what to know.

To read more, go here. 

Getting A Cruise Cabin Upgrade For Free, 10 Secrets

Above, the stateroom during the 2019 Cuba cruise with Royal Caribbean. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my lifetime, I have only taken three cruises. The first was to Alaska, the second was to Key West and Cuba, and the last and most recent (last summer), was to the Bahamas.

The cruises were essentially what we paid for with no upgrades (we weren't offered any) by any of the cruise lines.

There are ways to getting a cruise cabin upgrade. Yahoo! Life has posted 10 secrets to getting a cruise stateroom upgrade.

They begin with:

Just days before a recent six-day cruise aboard Caribbean Princess from Cape Canaveral, I received a fortuitous phone call. It was a customer service representative from Princess Cruises, offering our family of five a free cabin upgrade from our two adjacent balcony staterooms to one of the ship’s ultra-exclusive, multi-room Family Suites.

She asked if I would like to switch, explaining that the upgraded suite would include priority seating for meals, upgraded amenities, and other VIP touches. I agreed (of course), and she explained that this offer is one of the benefits of sailing with Princess; whenever a ship has a vacancy in one of its Family Suites, they offer it to a family onboard as a free upgrade.

We struck gold with that upgrade, but there are plenty of other ways to ensure an upgraded stateroom. Here's what industry experts say are the secrets to scoring a free cabin upgrade on your next cruise.

To read more, go here. 

19 Million Projected To Board Cruise Ships In 2025

Above, yours truly jet skiing last year during Bahamas cruise.

During my lifetime, I've been on three cruises.

The first was in Alaska in 2001, then to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019 and then, last year, to the Bahamas.

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked in Nassau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that I was part of 18.2 million Americans who took a cruise in 2024. According to AAA, more will be taking cruises this year.

According to Upper Michigan's Source:

DEARBORN, Mich. (WLUC) - AAA is diving into the cruise industry, releasing its first-ever cruise forecast for 2025 on Monday. This year is projected to hit record numbers for the third consecutive year.

The report is similar to the travel forecasts AAA releases for major holidays. It examines the number of U.S. residents who will take an ocean cruise from a U.S. or international port.

AAA forecasts that 19 million Americans will go on ocean cruises in 2025. This is a 4.5% increase over 2024 when 18.2 million Americans went on cruise vacations. It’s also 34% more than the pre-pandemic peak of 14.2 million in 2019. 

To read more, go here. 

Royal Caribbean and Carnival: Which Is Better?

Above, aboard Royal Caribbean's cruise to Cuba in 2019.

To date, I have only been on three cruises.

The first was in 2001 when my mom, daughter and I cruised to Alaska with Celebrity Cruise Line. Then, in 2019, I went on Royal Caribbean's cruise to Key West and Havana. Last August, I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line.

The Cruise blog posted an article comparing Royal Caribbean and Carnival and which is the better value for the money.

They begin with:

Royal Caribbean and Carnival are two of the most popular cruise lines in operation with, collectively, over 50 ships at sea. Though I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean since I was 10, I recently began my journey with Carnival to explore why the "FUN" ship brand attracts millions of passengers annually.

Both lines offer unique experiences and cater to different styles of cruising. Royal Caribbean, for example, is known for its innovative and jam-packed ships. 

To see which cruise line is better for the money, go here. 

The Points Guy: Cruise Ship Guide

Above, a cruise ship docked at Freeport, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Up to now, I have been on three cruises in my life.

The first was with Celebrity in 2001 with my mom and daughter to Alaska. The second was with Royal Caribbean for a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019.

The last was two months ago (already?!) with Norwegian to the Bahamas. 

While all were enjoyable, cruising is not my favorite way to travel. I caught some viral bugs with the trips to Alaska and Cuba. I came out unscathed with the cruise to the Bahamas. Considering how many people are packed onboard, it should come as no surprise that one may catch a bug, especially in this era of COVID-19.

I prefer smaller ships (about 2,000 passengers tops) as I don't like crowds. The new mega ships may be nice with a lot of amenities, but I am not thrilled to sail with 3,000 to 5,000 people. I am perfectly satisfied with a smaller ship with good food, plenty of bars, hot tubs/swimming pools and a casino (I've come out ahead on the cruises to Cuba and Bahamas).

Above, the casino during the Key West/Havana cruise. I came
out ahead here playing roulette. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, if one is thinking about taking their first cruise, The Points Guy has a guide to 20 popular cruise lines. 

They begin their guide with:

Thinking about booking your first cruise? The sheer range of choices can be daunting. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike.

The list of brands includes everything from giant companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, which are household names, to lesser-known small-ship operators such as Windstar Cruises.

Some of the brands — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, in particular — operate massive vessels that are like giant floating resorts with multiple pool areas, deck-top water parks and other over-the-top amusements. Others specialize in intimate, boutique hotel-style ships.

Some lines, such as Carnival, are aimed at a budget crowd. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any upscale resort found on land. A few small luxury players such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises have ships with lavish suites that'll cost you as much as $11,000 a day.

Where should you start your search for the perfect cruise for you? Below, you'll find our quick guide to some of the most popular cruise brands. As you'll see, it's not meant to be an in-depth review of the lines. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you.

Once you've narrowed down the choices to a few brands that you think best fit your style, do a deeper dive into them and their specific ships, their itineraries and home ports and their comparable costs (either on your own or with the help of a cruise-savvy travel agent). Note that TPG has many in-depth guides to individual lines, which you can find by clicking on our cruise line hub pages linked in each segment below.

To read more, go here. 

No Cruise Illness This Time

Above, kicking back in the stateroom.

It has been since Friday that I got home from the cruise to the Bahamas.

Before going further, I will state that it was a good trip and I had a fun time. Now, since I have been home since Friday evening, I have not come down with any trip-related illnesses. This is a first for me.

I have been on three cruises and of the three, I have come down with a bug of some sort during two of them. This is not unusual as about 1,500+ people are crammed into a ship passing along germs to each other.

The cruises where I caught a bug were:

• Alaska Cruise in 2000: I came down with a 24-hour flu during the cruise.
• Key West and Cuba Cruise in 2019: I caught a cold towards the end of the cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Lines had hand sanitizers available throughout the ship and a crew member stationed at the Garden Buffet entrances with sanitizer spray bottles to spray people's hands as they entered.  

I also tried to avoid touching hand rails and other things on the ship where a bug my lurk.

Being around other people in close spaces is bound to spread germs, but I have to consider myself lucky this time as I didn't catch any. 

Alaska May Join States Allowing Gold and Silver As Legal Tender

Above, Alaskan totem poles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Alaska may become the latest in a growing number of states to allow gold and silver as legal tender if a bill, just passed the House, gets passed by the senate and signed by the governor.

The Anchorage Daily News reported:

JUNEAU — In the final days of the legislative session, the Alaska House passed a bill that would allow gold and silver to be used as legal tender.

House Bill 3, introduced by Big Lake Republican Rep. Kevin McCabe, would allow business owners to decide if they want to accept the precious metals as currency. The coin or bar would need to be refined and its value would need to be authenticated, meaning gold dust or nuggets could not be used.

McCabe told the House State Affairs Committee earlier in the session that one of his constituents suggested the idea to him because they did not trust the national banking system. More than 10 states have passed similar bills, including Arkansas in April.

The bill specifically exempts local governments from collecting sales tax when U.S. dollars are exchanged for gold and silver. Sales taxes on purchases made with the bullion would still apply. 

To read more, go here. 

Balloonacy: Biden Declares War On Science Projects

If this is true, it appears that His Fraudulency Joe Biden has declared war against science projects of hobby clubs.

Besides that, it looks like the whole incident was not exactly cost-effective.

From Fox News:

Sen. Ted Cruz took to Twitter Thursday to criticize President Joe Biden for ordering an F-22 fighter jet to shoot down what may have been a hobby club’s science project off the coast of Alaska earlier last week.

Cruz, R-Texas, joked that Biden’s decision to authorize the $200 million fighter jet to use a $400,000 missile to shoot down what may have been a $12 balloon serves as a "powerful deterrence" to high school students interested in creating their own at-home science balloons.

The comment came after the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade’s (NIBBB), an Illinois-based hobbyist club, said their pico balloon that was floating off the west coast of Alaska went missing the same day a Lockheed Martin jet shot down an unidentified object matching its description.

What's next? Shooting down model rockets?

To read more, go here. 

Alaska Considering Waiving Local Sales Taxes On Gold, Silver Coins

Above, a 1928 Peace dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Alaska is moving towards exempting sales taxes on gold and silver and allowing people to use either as currency, not just collectibles.

From the Alaska Beacon:

A new bill proposed by a Big Lake Republican would exempt gold-backed currencies and gold and silver coins from local sales taxes in order to encourage their use as currency, not just collectibles.

Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, told the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday that the bill was inspired by a constituent who distrusts the national banking system and would like to use gold and silver.

House Bill 3, which was held in the committee for further discussion, wouldn’t require stores to take gold and silver alongside normal money, but it would require the House Finance Committee to study whether Alaska should allow people to pay their taxes in non-standard ways, such as in gold coins. The U.S. Constitution bars states from issuing their own money, but it does allow them to accept gold and silver coins in payment of debts.

Under existing law, gold coins are treated as investments, not currency. If someone wants to use them to buy something at a store, sales taxes are levied on the value of the coins and there’s a separate tax on the value of whatever’s being bought.

This is what New Mexico and a few other states should also be doing.

To read more, go here.

Arizona, Nevada & Alaska Counting

 

Biden Cancels Alaska Oil and Gas Leases

His Fraudulency is intentionally making the gasoline price crisis even worse. Vladimir Putin can't be blamed for this. I bet Interior Sec. Deb Haaland was involved.

Sen. Tom Cotton:

Gas prices are at a record high, and Biden just canceled oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf. 

Joe Biden is directly responsible for the high cost of gas.

 ***************************************

Gov. Ron DeSantis:

Americans are struggling with record gas prices – up over 50% since Biden took office – but he doesn’t care. Rather than expand domestic energy production, he continues to reduce U.S. production capacity (increasing our reliance on foreign oil) by canceling our oil & gas leases.

****************************************

CBS News reported:

The Biden administration has canceled one of the most high-profile oil and gas lease opportunities pending before the Interior Department. The decision, which halts the potential to drill for oil in over 1 million acres in the Cook Inlet in Alaska, comes at a challenging political moment, when gas prices are hitting painful new highs.

In a statement shared first with CBS News, the Department of the Interior cited a "lack of industry interest in leasing in the area" for the decision to "not move forward" with the Cook Inlet lease sale. The department also halted two leases under consideration for the Gulf of Mexico region because of "conflicting court rulings that impacted work on these proposed lease sales."

Federal law requires the Department of the Interior to stick to a five-year leasing plan for auctioning offshore leases. The administration had until the end of the current five-year plan — set to expire at the end of next month — to complete these lease sales.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Lines to Tighten Mask Rules

Above, yours truly on a Royal Caribbean ship to Cuba in 2019. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

My experience on cruise ships is a bit limited. I've been on two cruise trips, one to Alaska and one to Cuba (with Royal Caribbean). Both times I caught a bug. To me, cruise ships are basically floating petri dishes because there's around 1,500+ people confined to the small area of a ship and that makes it easy to catch something.

The following is probably a good idea, even though I am tired of having wear a mask when out in public.

Travel Pulse reported that two cruise lines are tightening mask rules for passengers.

They wrote:

Two major cruise lines, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, have both tightened their policy on onboard face masks in the wake of a swift-moving Omicron.

The COVID-19 variant has forced the cruise companies to now require all passengers to wear masks while they are in indoor areas aboard the ship unless they are eating or drinking.

The updated rule goes into effect immediately and will be re-evaluated on January 5, 2022.

"We feel it prudent to temporarily add measures and require masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Cruise Critic, which first broke the story. "This new update also applies to vaccinated areas and venues. Guests booked on these sailings are being reached out to and made aware of the change."

To read more, go here.