That Time I Cruised With A Group...

Booking multiple cabins with your friends or family is not automatically "booking as a group" on a cruise. There are additional steps, but then you get some extra stuff if you have enough cabins booked. 

The extra stuff and requirements to get it are different for every cruise line, so that's why I wanted to make this post!...

That Time I Cruised on the Carnival Paradise...

I apparently lost my ability to write about my adventures... or maybe it's more the sifting through all my photos so that I can then write about them... but I did finally edit my video footage from this cruise and got all most of them on my YouTube Channel! I posted them all below for you, or you can go to my playlist and watch them on YouTube. Likes and subscribes are deeply appreciated!

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Embarkation, Cabin, & Pizza Pirate

Tour of Interior Cabin G26

Sushi at Sea

Room Service

Tea Time

Back to Back Cruising

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That Time I Cruised at Home...

I know. I've been missing cruising too! My cruise in September was canceled. I booked a cruise in August to replace it. Canceled. Rebooked that for September. We'll see. I also booked a cruise for July because of the great prices Carnival was offering. I was so excited to go on vacation in the summer! Canceled. Harumph.

I got to thinking... that maybe, like everything else we're doing at home... we should all go on a cruise at home...

That Time I Freestyled on The Norwegian Pearl...

Here are all the Freestyle Dailies for the NCL Pearl's 13-day Transatlantic NYC to Amsterdam itinerary (Cobh, Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Le Havre, France; Tilbury, England; Zeebrugge, Belgium; ), 4/28-5/12/19...

That Time I Went on a Ferry...

Parking in New York is expensive, but sometimes you need to embark on a cruise there! I have personally cruised on Carnival and Norwegian from New York, and I believe Regent, Aida and some other lines do too. Royal Caribbean leaves from somewhere else in NJ. 

You can park at the cruise terminal for $40/day, or you can save nearly half your money by parking in New Jersey and getting a bonus boat ride - on a ferry!...

That Time I Tried NCL's Teppanyaki...

Guest column: NCL's Teppanyaki/Hibachi Restaurant

I recently got to try out NCL's Teppanyaki restaurant on the Gem. I'm actually torn as to whether theirs or Carnival's is better. I guess I have to go with NCL because it costs less. You get fancier dessert and appetizers on Carnival, but if you're looking for what you're used to getting at a land-based Hibachi restaurant, NCL's Teppanyaki is all that and more!

I also decided that Teppanyaki was my favorite of the 4 specialty restaurants I tried on the Gem.  How was it? Details in my article on Cruise Radio.

More on cruising :)

That Time I (Finally) Started My Video Blog...

The Lauren of All Trades YouTube Channel is a fact! I did all the graphics, it's ready to go, I even made an intro video! I think that having this will force me to actually make subsequent videos. I refuse to call it a "Vlog" because I hate that word. #videoblog #ftw

All I need now is videos.  And subscribers. Looking at you. Yes, you.

I hope people get that I was going for "funny."

That Time I Tried Traditional Cruise Dining...

Guest column: Carnival's Assigned Dining

Assigned dining is how cruises and resorts have been serving meals for decades. The idea is that you have a set time, and you sit at the same table, and have the same service staff every day. Large tables are used to fit in all the guests, which means that unless you are with a group, you will be eating with strangers.

Many cruise lines now offer Anytime Dining which is more like going to a land-based restaurant. There is an early and late Assigned dining time for each cruise. The early time at 6pm often fills up quickly, so for my first few cruises, I've opted for Anytime Dining over the late dining at 8pm.

On my cruise on the Carnival Inspiration, I finally got the chance to try out the traditional Assigned Dining which you can read all about on Cruise Radio.

More on cruising :)

That Time I Played Trivia on NCL...

Until last month, I had only been on one Norwegian cruise and the rest were all Carnival. When I went on the Gem last month, and we played our first round of trivia, I discovered we never played when we ween on the Breakaway last year (unless they changed their system...seems unlikely).

 So, Carnival gives out a trophy. Aptly named: Ship on a Stick.

This is my friend, not someone form google.
She was very proud to be cruise-famous on our cruise.

I assumed Norwegian also gives out one prize per trivia and never thought about what the prize might be...

That Time I Ate Thanksgiving Dinner On A Cruise...

Guest column: NCL's Thanksgiving Dinner

When I booked a cruise that took place over the Thanksgiving holiday, the only concern I had was getting a crappy Thanksgiving dinner. That would be worse than NO Thanksgiving dinner.

But I did it and it was actually pretty decent! Find out all about it on Cruise Radio.

More on cruising :)

That Time I Ate at The Chef's Table...

Guest column: Carnival's Chef's Table

Carnival's most upscale specialty dining option is the Chef's Table dinner. For the newer ships, you're going to want to book in advance to make sure it doesn't sell out. You also won't know the date of your Chef's Table dinner until the day you board and they call your cabin with the date and time.

All the food is delicious.

The cost is $75 + 18% tip on older ships; $95 + tip on the newer ships.  You get a very exclusive dining experience, but you will be eating with other diners unless you bring a large group. Once you get your assigned date, assume you'll be spending the whole evening at dinner.

Check out my experience on the Carnival Inspiration on Cruise Radio.

More on cruising :)

That Time I Was Faster to The Fun...

Guest column: Carnival's Faster to The Fun

"Faster to The Fun" is an option that cruisers can purchase for their cruise that allows them priority access for boarding, luggage delivery, guest services, tendering to ports, and disembarking. It is available in limited quantities, based on the amount of Platinum & Diamond VIFP guests that are booked on each sailing, as they get said priority for free with their status.

The cost varies by ship and itinerary so when I was on a 3-day sailing, on an old ship, I decided to give it a try. When people ask "is it worth it," well, it really depends on the people, their cruise, and their travel plans. What was it like for me? I'll let you read all about it on Cruise Radio.

More on cruising :)

That Time I Tried The Drink Package...

Guest column: Cheers! Drink Package

I'm not a big drinker. But I am a big cruiser. And I love giving advice about all things cruises, so I decided that I needed to try out Carnival's Cheers! drink package for myself.

Let me tell you, it was quite an adventure. In short, no I don't think I'll become a drink-package-person, based on how much I don't drink. I'm going to stick with the soda package. But I can definitely see the appeal and whether or not you should get it depends both on the quantity of drinks you consume and the cost of those drinks. I'll let you read all about it on Cruise Radio.

Related: Carnival Bar & Restaurant Menus

More on cruising :)

That Time I Took My Friends On a Cruise...

After our first cruise (20 months ago on the Vista), Husband and I had so much fun that we decided that we needed to take all our friends on the next one... and then we went on two more in the interim. Yes, I'm an addict. I already covered a ton of stuff the Horizon has to offer when I was on it in May which you can read more about there.

We ended up picking the Carnival Horizon's 4-day NYC to Bermuda sailing because a) we loved the Vista which was almost identical, 2) it was the lowest overall cost and fewest required days-off-work for a cruise we wouldn't have to fly to (we're all in PA)...

That Time I Went to a Cruise Port...

I'm leaving TODAY on just a li'l 4-day cruise to Bermuda on the Carnival Horizon. It will feel like going home after spending 14 days on it this past May!

And here are all the things I like to bring with me on cruises for when we got off the boat at the ports...

That Time I Learned How To Cruise...

I've already gone over what to know specific to Carnival and Norwegian (NCL) cruise lines, but here's what you'll want to know, no matter which cruise line you choose*...

That Time I Explored Carnival's Vista-Class...

In addition to several things you should know about cruising with Carnival, here's what you'll want to know about that is exclusive (for now) to the Vista-Class ships which currently includes the Vista and Horizon, and will include the Panorama in 2019....

That Time I Tipped The Cruise Crew...

If you ask people about tipping in a message board, or message-board-like format (translation: Facebook), you will be met with an onslaught of opinions and fighting. This pertains to the mainstream cruise lines (which I researched), but probably applies to all US cruise lines; but maybe not the European ones, where tipping is not a thing....

That Time I Booked a Carnival Havana Cabin...

Guest column: Carnival Havana Cabins

Carnival first introduced their private Havana Outside area on the Vista, and kept it going on the Horizon. The private area includes a pool, two hot tubs and a variety of seating options. Access to the area is obtained by selecting one of the 80 designated Havana cabins, or an Ocean Suite or higher cabin.

Husband and I decided to splurge on it, just once, to see what it was all about. I like that Carnival included interior rooms in the block of designated Havana cabins, whereas other cruise lines only have this kind of private area for suites. That's the only way I was able to not-go-into-debt to try "Havana Experience." They're still more expensive than all the other cabins, but less than a suite.

My assessment was that I loved the location of my cabin on the ship and I now almost exclusively book aft cabins, especially on Carnival. But unless I get a really big pay bump, I won't be dropping that much money on a cabin again any time soon. Decide for yourself if a Havana Cabin is right for you by reading about it on Cruise Radio!

More on cruising :)

That Time I Went to the Pool...

It's nearly here! I will soon be embarking on a 14-day transatlantic cruise starting in Barcelona, ending in NYC.

As I start to pack, I am checking off my out-and-about on the boat items. Here are my necessities for hitting the pool, the bars, and getting some sun!:...