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Secrets the Cruise Lines Don't Tell You

We trawled through all the great advice on Cruise Critic's Message Boards to bring you some of the worst-kept cruise secrets.

Compare: 10 Most Popular Cruise Ships

The most popular cruise ships in Australia come in a variety of sizes and styles. In this chart, we look at the top 10 locally based ships, as rated in the thousands of reviews by Cruise Critic members. For more information about these popular ships, click on the ship name to find out its

12 Best Cruises for First Timers

Planning your first cruise can feel overwhelming. There are so many choices, from "party boats" on a "cruise to nowhere" and luxury yachts in the Mediterranean to river cruises in Asia and expedition ships in Antarctica. You need to put some careful thought into just what

5 Ways to Get a Cruise Ship Cabin Upgrade

We wish there were a magic elixir you could whip up to get a free or low-cost cabin upgrade on a cruise ship. We'd be chugging it all the time. But sorry -- no can do. Before you sit by the phone, waiting for the upgrade fairy to call, there are a few basic things to know about cruise ship cabin

22 Do's and Don'ts for Your First Day Onboard a Cruise Ship

If you're a first-timer or haven't settled into a familiar cruise routine, here's a list of embarkation day do's and don'ts, culled from our many years cruising, as well as input from Cruise Critic's Facebook fans.

Cruising 101

Featured Destinations

Australia & New Zealand

Between the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia is extraordinarily diverse in terms of its geography, wildlife and climate, with deserts, mountains and rainforests (not to mention those beloved Koala bears). Hardly limited to wilderness, Australia also boasts urban culture in Sydney and Melbourne. Famous as the set of the "Lord of the Rings" movies, New Zealand has unparalleled natural beauty (did we mention the Great Barrier Reef), as well as adventure sports and outstanding wine.

South Pacific

Imagine the ultimate paradise; you're likely to find it in the South Pacific. Reachable from Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific includes popular islands like Fiji, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Samoa as well as more remote stops that are diverse in culture, history, languages, geology and scenery. On a South Pacific cruise, you can enjoy relaxed beaches and some of the world's best water sports.

Europe

Your biggest difficulty planning a European cruise is narrowing down where you want to go. A Western Mediterranean itinerary usually includes stops in Barcelona and Monaco, as well as ports in Italy. Eastern Mediterranean cruises encompass eastern Italy, Croatia and Greece, and sometimes even Turkey and Israel. A Baltic Sea voyage brings you to Scandinavia and Russia; the Norwegian Fjords carry their own beauty. Don't forget about British Isles cruises, which allow you to visit castles in England, Scotland and London. For sun lovers, it's hard to beat the Canary Islands.

Mediterranean

From the pristine beaches and ancient ruins of the Eastern Mediterranean to the artsy and flavorful countries of the Western Mediterranean, this region is easily one of the most diverse in the world. Revel at Spanish and Italian architecture, soak up some sun in Greece, explore antiquities in Istanbul and Malta or get a taste of the French countryside on the outskirts of Nice, Monte Carlo or Cannes. Some Med itineraries dip down into northern Africa; the Canary Islands are also a popular stop for repositioning cruises.

Asia

On the Pacific Ocean, coastal Asia inspires a spectrum of adjectives: ancient, futuristic, sacred, industrial, peaceful, riotous and breathtaking. A trip through East Asia usually includes port stops in the busy urban centers of China, Japan and South Korea. Southeast Asia cruises, traditionally sailing between Singapore and Hong Kong, provide opportunities for ecotourism and beach time in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Featured Ships

Pacific Explorer

P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer carries 2,000 passengers and sports a contemporary design, a cabaret-style supper club and a water park with waterslides.

Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas

Part of Royal Caribbean's Quantum class, Ovation of the Seas boasts high-tech features such as the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, bumper cars and robot bartenders.

Celebrity Solstice

Sophisticated vibe with gourmet dining, the country club-style Lawn Club and two suites-only restaurants; partnership with Canyon Ranch is a highlight for spa-goers.

Majestic Princess

Princess Cruises' new ship, built specifically for the Chinese market, offers year-round cruises out of Shanghai. Its most distinct feature is Watercolor Fantasy, a dancing fountain of lights and music.

Carnival Spirit

One of Australians' favorite cruise ships -- ike a true Aussie, it's laid-back, fun and friendly -- from crew, to passengers and the atmosphere.

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Cruise News

Cruise Lines Eliminate Plastic Straws From Ships, Pledge to Ban Single-Use Plastics

(Updated 11:57 a.m. EDT) -- Start saying goodbye to single-use plastics on cruise ships. A handful of lines have either eliminated straws or other single-use plastics, or pledged to ban all single-use plastics in the near future. Carnival Cruise Line: The line has stopped placing plastic straws in glasses when drinks are ordered.

Virgin Voyages Floats Out First Cruise Ship, Reveals Name; Steel Cut for Second Vessel

(7:00 a.m. EDT) -- In keeping with Virgin Group's "red" theme, the first ship for Sir Richard Branson's new cruise line, Virgin Voyages, will be called Scarlet Lady. The name was officially revealed by the line during a press conference July 20 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, drawing from the name of one of the first planes to fly under Virgin Atlantic.

Lindblad Expedition Orders Additional Polar Cruise Ship

(12 noon EDT) -- Lindblad Expeditions has ordered an additional polar expedition ship, to be delivered in 2021. It will be the fourth polar ship in the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, but only the second built specifically for Lindblad.

Windstar Adds Luggage Shipping Service for Cruise Passengers

(11:39 a.m. EDT) -- Windstar has revealed a new partnership with baggage shipping company Luggage Forward to ease the travel process for cruise passengers.

Norwegian Cruise Line to Move Two Cruise Ships to Australasia

(8:40 a.m. AEST) -- Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Jade will be based in Australia, New Zealand and Asia for the 2019/2020 season, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today. It will be Jewel's third season sailing from Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, Papeete, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo (Yokohama) but a first for the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade, which is set to cruise throughout Southeast Asia departing from Singapore and Hong Kong. Port of call highlights include Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Ha Long Bay.

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