CruiseStar
CruiseStar journal
Stories from the fleet
Guides, sailor adventures, and notes on the ships people actually sail. Every published piece names its author.
Featured · Adventure
Amber Cove port day: Dominican pool complex, cabanas, and trips into Puerto Plata
Amber Cove is Carnival's Dominican north-coast port near Puerto Plata. Plan onsite pools, cabanas, zipline, and optional city or beach breaks without confusing it with Taino Bay.
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Adventure · 2 min
Taino Bay Puerto Plata: Dominican pier, cable car, and Amber Cove differences
Taino Bay is the newer Puerto Plata cruise terminal near downtown. Compare operators, excursions, and how it differs from Amber Cove on the same coast.
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Adventure · 2 min
Grand Turk cruise center: beach at the pier, Cockburn Town, and reef snorkel
Grand Turk Cruise Center offers pier-side beach and pools. Add Cockburn Town history, Gibbs Cay stingrays, or snorkel trips on Turks and Caicos port days.
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Adventure · 3 min
Roatán Honduras: West Bay reef, West End vibe, and cruise pier choices
Bay Islands port days center on Mesoamerican reef access. Compare Mahogany Bay and Town Center piers, West End, West Bay Beach, and snorkel logistics.
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Adventure · 2 min
Philipsburg and Sint Maarten: Front Street, dual-nation days, Maho Beach
Dutch-side Philipsburg cruise piers, Great Bay Beach, Front Street shopping, optional French-side lunch, and Maho Beach plane watching on a port timer.
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Adventure · 2 min
St. Thomas cruise port: Havensight, Crown Bay, Magens Bay, and island taxis
USVI port days split between Havensight and Crown Bay. Compare piers, Magens Bay beach runs, Charlotte Amalie shopping, and taxi logistics.
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Adventure · 7 min
Cruise line excursions vs independent tours: which should you book?
Should you book shore excursions with the cruise line or an independent tour company? Compare price, all-aboard risk, group size, cancellations, and when each option is safer.
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Adventure · 2 min
Puerto Vallarta port day: Malecon, Zona Romantica, and Mexican Riviera timing
Puerto Vallarta cruise calls use the Muelle de Cruceros. Plan Malecon walks, old town tiles, beach clubs, and return time on Mexican Riviera itineraries.
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Adventure · 2 min
Ensenada cruise day: Baja wine country, La Bufadora, and short Mexico calls
Ensenada is a common Mexico stop on California short cruises. Pier proximity, La Bufadora blowhole tours, and downtown food in one practical port guide.
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Adventure · 3 min
Cabo San Lucas cruise port: tenders, El Arco, and Baja sea days
Cabo is often a tender port at Lands End. Plan El Arco boat time, Medano Beach, and all-aboard around anchor delays and Pacific swell.
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Adventure · 3 min
Mahahual port day: Costa Maya pier, village beach, and reef time
How Mahahual differs from the Costa Maya cruise complex, what to do on a short call, and how to plan hours ashore without missing all-aboard.
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Adventure · 4 min
Cruising with babies, toddlers, and small kids: what parents should know
Cruising with babies, toddlers, and young kids: age rules, cabins, kids clubs, packing, nap strategy, port days, and how to pick a family-friendly ship.
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Adventure · 3 min
Seattle cruise port guide: Alaska season homeport at Pier 66 and Pier 91
Seattle Alaska cruise homeport: Pier 66 vs Pier 91, airport links, embarkation, and what to expect before Inside Passage sailings from Washington.
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Adventure · 3 min
San Juan cruise port guide: Old San Juan, forts, and homeport sailings
San Juan Puerto Rico for cruisers: Pier 1 calls, Old San Juan forts and cobblestones, southern Caribbean homeport embarkation, and timing your day ashore.
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Adventure · 3 min
Costa Maya cruise port guide: Mahahual beaches and Mayan ruins day trips
Costa Maya Mexico port day: cruise village, Mahahual beach walk, Chacchoben ruins tours, taxis, and independent time ashore on the Yucatan coast.
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Adventure · 3 min
Perfect Day at CocoCay guide: Chill Island, Thrill Island, and what is included
Royal Caribbean CocoCay (Perfect Day): beaches, Thrill Waterpark, included vs ticketed areas, and planning a private island day without missing all-aboard.
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Adventure · 3 min
Galveston cruise homeport guide: Texas Gulf sailings and embarkation tips
Galveston Texas cruise port: driving I-45, parking, terminals, western Caribbean and Mexico itineraries, and why Gulf Coast sailors love this homeport.
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Adventure · 3 min
Cozumel cruise port guide: reefs, San Miguel, and making your hours count
Cozumel port day: dock vs tender, snorkeling and diving, San Miguel shopping, taxis, and timing your return for Mexico's busiest cruise island.
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Adventure · 4 min
What is the cruise duck hiding tradition?
What the cruise duck hiding tradition is, how rubber duck hunts work onboard, tag etiquette, where not to hide ducks, and how CruiseStar’s duck hunt fits in.
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Adventure · 3 min
Port Everglades cruise guide: Fort Lauderdale homeport without the Miami crush
Sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale: terminals, FLL airport, parking, and how this Florida homeport compares to Miami for Caribbean weeks.
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Adventure · 3 min
What to do in Nassau on a cruise port day: forts, markets, and beaches
Nassau cruise port day guide: walking to downtown, straw market, forts, Atlantis options, taxis, and how to use your hours ashore in the Bahamas capital.
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Adventure · 3 min
PortMiami cruise port guide: Dodge Island embarkation and what to expect
PortMiami on Dodge Island is the largest US cruise passenger port. Terminals, traffic, hotels, and what Caribbean and world itineraries start here.
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Adventure · 4 min
Port Canaveral cruise guide: Florida homeport tips for embarkation day
Plan a Port Canaveral cruise: parking, Orlando airport timing, terminal layout, and what sails from one of the world's busiest cruise homeports.
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