CruiseStar
CruiseStar journal
Stories from the fleet
Guides, sailor adventures, and notes on the ships people actually sail. Every published piece names its author.
48 results for “Ship compare”
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Adventure · 2 min
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.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 9 min
Book a cruise with the cruise line or an independent travel agency?
Should you book a cruise directly with the cruise line or through an independent travel agent? Compare price, onboard credit, support, price drops, and when each option actually wins.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 1 min
First-cruise ship finder: shortlist ships before you book
How first-time cruisers should shortlist ships by vibe, size, and budget, and how CruiseStar’s free ship finder quiz uses the live catalog.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Cruise packing list: a free generator sized to your ship and sailing
How to pack for a cruise without drowning in generic lists, and how CruiseStar’s free packing list generator builds a checklist from your ship, dates, and quiz answers.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 3 min
Cruise ship comparator: compare ships side by side before you book
How to compare cruise ships on score, size, and space ratio, and why CruiseStar’s free ship comparator is built for the searches people actually make.
CruiseStar
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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.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 4 min
Why use CruiseStar instead of Facebook cruise groups?
Facebook cruise groups are crowded, hard to search, and disappear into the algorithm within days. Here is a detailed look at why sailors are moving their roll calls, ship chat, and cruise history to CruiseStar instead.
CruiseStar
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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 · 6 min
Airport to cruise port transportation: shuttles, rideshare, taxis, and transfers
How to get from the airport to the cruise port: cruise line transfers, shared shuttles, rideshare, taxis, rental cars, hotels, timing buffers, and luggage tips for embarkation day.
CruiseStar
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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.
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 · 5 min
Where to find cruise groups for your sailing date (and why CruiseStar fits)
Looking for a cruise roll call or sailing group for your exact dates? Compare Facebook groups, forums, and CruiseStar roll calls, ship chat, friends, and sailor ratings.
CruiseStar
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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.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Best AIDA Cruises ships and what to expect as a non-German-speaking guest
An AIDA Cruises guide focused on its German-speaking onboard culture, casual club-style atmosphere, and how the Clubschiff and Hyperion-class ships compare.
CruiseStar
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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.
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 · 2 min
Best Cunard ships: Queen Mary 2's crossing versus the Queen Anne and Queen Victoria
Compare Cunard's true ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, with the more contemporary Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth, and understand what White Star Service actually means.
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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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.
CruiseStar
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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.
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 · 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 · 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 · 2 min
Best Virgin Voyages ships: comparing the four Ladies for adults-only cruising
Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady compared for adults-only travelers, with a close look at RockStar Suites and restaurant-style dining strategy.
CruiseStar
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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.
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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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.
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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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.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
The cruise duck hunt: rules, etiquette, and the best hiding spots
The unwritten cruise duck rules: where you can and cannot hide ducks on a cruise ship, what to put on a tag, how re-hiding works, and how rarities work in CruiseStar's NFC duck hunt.
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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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.
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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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.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Utopia of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: which Oasis-class ship should you book?
Same Oasis-class bones, different itinerary and crowd, how Royal Caribbean's short-cruise flagship compares to its longer-sailing sister.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Icon of the Seas vs Oasis of the Seas: which ship should you book?
Same Royal Caribbean DNA, different eras, neighborhoods, thrills, and who each ship is actually built for, with live CruiseStar ratings and sailor reviews.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 1 min
Virgin Voyages’ four Ladies
Scarlet, Valiant, Resilient, and Brilliant Lady, the current Virgin Voyages fleet on CruiseStar.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 2 min
Seasickness on a cruise: how worried should you actually be?
How likely you are to get seasick on a modern ship, which remedies work, and why cabin location matters more than most people realize.
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