CruiseStar
CruiseStar journal
Stories from the fleet
Guides, sailor adventures, and notes on the ships people actually sail. Every published piece names its author.
19 results for “Tips & hacks”
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Guide · 4 min
Cruise formal night, theme nights, and dress codes: what should you wear?
What to wear on cruise formal night and theme nights: modern dress codes by venue, smart casual defaults, kids’ clothing, and how strict ships actually are now.
CruiseStar
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Guide · 5 min
Cruise embarkation day: what time can you board and what happens
What happens on cruise embarkation day: boarding times, check-in windows, security, muster, cabin ready timing, luggage, and how to make the first hours onboard calmer.
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 · 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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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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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 · 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 · 4 min
Is the cruise drink package worth it? How to decide before you buy
Is a cruise drink package worth it? Compare prepaid package cost to a la carte drinks, coffee, and water, and run the free CruiseStar drink package calculator.
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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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 · 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 · 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 · 4 min
Cruise weather, storms, and hurricane season: will it affect my trip?
How weather, storms, and Atlantic hurricane season affect cruises: itinerary changes, sea days, cancellations, insurance, and what sailors should actually worry about.
CruiseStar
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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.
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 · 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
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
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
What to actually pack for a cruise (and what you can leave at home)
What needs to be in your suitcase, what's provided onboard, formal night requirements, and the small items first-timers always forget.
CruiseStar