CruiseStar
CruiseStar journal
Stories from the fleet
Guides, sailor adventures, and notes on the ships people actually sail. Every published piece names its author.
36 results for “Small ships”
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Guide · 5 min
Cruise Wi-Fi package: how it works and whether it is worth it
How cruise Wi-Fi packages work, what speeds to expect, per-device pricing, streaming limits, and a simple way to decide if onboard internet is worth buying.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
CruiseStar vs Cruise Critic: which one actually helps you cruise better?
CruiseStar and Cruise Critic both cover cruise ships, but they are built for different jobs. Here is a detailed, feature-by-feature comparison of ratings, reviews, community tools, and why CruiseStar is built around sailors instead of bookings.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Seabourn ships: all-suite Encore class versus the expedition fleet
Compare Seabourn's all-suite Encore-class ocean ships with its purpose-built Venture and Pursuit expedition ships, and see what the Seabourn Club loyalty program adds.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 6 min
First-time cruiser tips: what to know before your first ocean sailing
First-time cruiser tips for embarkation, packing, dining, port days, money onboard, and choosing a beginner-friendly ship without brochure overwhelm.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Oceania Cruises ships: Allura class, R-class, and 'The Finest Cuisine at Sea'
Compare Oceania's newest Allura-class ships with its classic R-class vessels, and see how the line's culinary-first identity and country-club-casual dress code shape the right pick.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best P&O Cruises ships: family ships versus the adults-only fleet
P&O Cruises compared by audience: family-oriented Iona, Arvia, and Britannia against the historically adults-only Arcadia and Aurora, with UK homeport planning.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
Main dining room vs specialty restaurants on a cruise
Main dining room vs specialty restaurants: what is included, when specialty is worth the fee, reservation timing, dress expectations, and how to mix both without wasting money.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Which cruise ship should I choose? A practical decision guide
How to choose a cruise ship by vibe, size, homeport, and sailor ratings, plus free CruiseStar tools to compare hulls before you put down a deposit.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 1 min
Best Viking ocean ships and what its no-children policy means for your trip
A Viking Cruises guide explaining the line's strict 18-plus age policy, its identical-sister-ship ocean fleet, and how that shapes onboard atmosphere versus other premium lines.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Costa Cruises ships: LNG-powered flagships and classic Mediterranean favorites
A Costa Cruises guide covering the Smeralda and Toscana LNG-powered ships, older Costa favorites, and how Italian heritage shapes the onboard experience.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Holland America ships: Pinnacle class, the Culinary Council, and longer voyages
Compare Holland America's Pinnacle-class flagships with its Signature and Vista-class ships, and see how the line's Culinary Council and longer itineraries shape the right choice.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
What to pack for a cruise: a practical packing guide
What to pack for a cruise without overpacking: day clothes, port shoes, formal options, cabin gear, documents, and a free packing list generator sized to your sailing.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Princess Cruises ships for Alaska, and how the Medallion changes every sailing
A Princess Cruises guide centered on Alaska deployment, Royal-class ships, the Ocean Medallion wearable technology, and how to choose between Princess's classes.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
Cruise shows and entertainment: do you need reservations?
Do cruise shows need reservations? How theater seating, comedy clubs, ice shows, and premium entertainment work, plus when to book and when walk-up is fine.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Celebrity Cruises ships: Edge class, Solstice class, and The Retreat
Compare Celebrity's Edge-class flagships with the Solstice and Millennium-class fleet, and see when The Retreat suite complex is worth the upgrade.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
Cruise luggage guide: how many bags, tags, and cabin delivery
Cruise luggage rules explained: how many bags you can bring, how tags work, when suitcases arrive at the cabin, carry-on tips, and embarkation-day bag strategy.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 14 min
Cruise ship safety: how to stay safe on a cruise
A detailed cruise ship safety guide covering muster drills, illness, falls, balconies, alcohol, children, solo travel, medical care, excursions, and emergencies.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best MSC Cruises ships: World class, Meraviglia class, and the Yacht Club upgrade
An MSC Cruises guide covering World-class megaships, Meraviglia and Seaside-class ships, the MSC Yacht Club suite complex, and Ocean Cay planning.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
Balcony vs interior vs oceanview: is the cabin upgrade worth it?
Balcony vs interior vs oceanview cabins: real differences in space, light, noise, motion, and price, plus when each category is worth the upgrade on a mainstream cruise.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Disney Cruise Line ships: new, classic, and how rotational dining decides it
Compare Disney's newest Wish-class ships with the classic Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy vessels, and see how rotational dining and character experiences change the right pick.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Cruising ducks explained: the history of rubber ducks on cruise ships
Why are there rubber ducks on cruise ships? The history of the cruising ducks tradition, from a family's 2018 Carnival cruise to Facebook groups and app-based duck collections, and why sailors love it.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Cruise industry statistics 2026: 20 facts and trends
Twenty current cruise statistics covering global passengers, age, destinations, fleet capacity, repeat intent, economic impact, and ship sanitation, with primary sources.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 3 min
Cruise ship fleet statistics 2026: size, capacity, and orderbook data
Current cruise ship fleet statistics covering vessel count, lower berths, ship-size mix, new ships, fuel flexibility, shore power, and water systems.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Norwegian Cruise Line ships and how Freestyle changes the choice
A Norwegian Cruise Line guide built around Freestyle dining logistics, Prima-class design, The Haven suite complex, and Great Stirrup Cay planning.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Carnival ships: Excel class, Vista class, and the value fleet
Compare Carnival's Excel-class flagships against its Vista, Dream, and Fantasy-class ships, with a clear look at what changes between a newly refurbished ship and an older one.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Where can I get cruise ship rubber ducks? (5 places that actually work)
Looking for cruise rubber ducks? Five sources that work: bulk online orders, craft stores, cruise duck Facebook groups, finding them onboard, and CruiseStar's free NFC ducks for the app duck hunt.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best Royal Caribbean ships in every class, from Icon to Vision
A class-by-class Royal Caribbean guide: Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, and older ships, plus CocoCay planning and how to choose without getting lost in deck plans.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Free cruise ducks: how to get rubber ducks for your next cruise
Want free cruise ducks? Here is how the cruising ducks tradition works, how CruiseStar ships free NFC ducks to engaged members, and how to find and collect ducks once you are aboard.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Ocean cruises vs. river cruises: what's actually different?
Ocean cruising and river cruising are not the same vacation. Here's how ship size, itinerary style, onboard activities, and pricing actually differ, plus why CruiseStar's catalog leads with ocean ships first.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 1 min
What's new on MSC World America
MSC's newest World-class ship in the Americas: what changed from the European sisters, and who the ship is actually built for.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
9 mistakes first-time mega-ship cruisers make
Embarkation-day queues, the wrong carry-on, and the gratuity surprise, the small errors that catch new sailors on a big ship, and how to skip them.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Cruise ship entertainment has changed a lot, here's what to expect
How Broadway-style production shows work onboard, whether you need reservations, what the first and last nights look like, and how entertainment differs by cruise line.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
What actually happens after dinner on a cruise ship
How casinos work at sea, what late-night entertainment looks like, dress codes after dark, and age requirements for nightlife venues onboard.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Picking the right cruise cabin: what actually matters beyond the category
Interior vs. oceanview vs. balcony, why location matters more than most first-timers realize, and how to avoid booking a noisy or motion-heavy stateroom.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Is specialty dining on a cruise worth it? A practical look at cost, timing, and value
How much specialty restaurants actually cost, when to book them, whether a dining package makes sense, and what to expect if you show up without a reservation.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
The cruise buffet, demystified: hours, crowds, and what's actually included
When the buffet opens and closes, whether it's included, how busy it gets, and how it stacks up against the main dining room.
CruiseStar