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The Cruise Journal

Expert-written cruise guides, reviews, and travel tips. Fact-checked and regularly updated.

Guide

How Do Cruise Ships Stay Upright? Stabilizers and Physics ExplainedGuide

How Do Cruise Ships Stay Upright? Stabilizers and Physics Explained

Cruise ships look top-heavy but rarely tip. Here's the real physics — center of gravity, metacenter, wide beam, ballast, and stabilizer fins — explained clearly.

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Haunted Cruise Ships: The Eeriest Ghost Stories at SeaGuide

Haunted Cruise Ships: The Eeriest Ghost Stories at Sea

From the RMS Queen Mary's Door 13 to the cursed SS Great Eastern, explore the eeriest haunted ship legends at sea - and the real history and tragedies behind them.

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How Cruise Ships Make Fresh Water (and Where the Waste Goes)Guide

How Cruise Ships Make Fresh Water (and Where the Waste Goes)

Cruise ships make their own drinking water from the sea using reverse osmosis and evaporators. Here's how it works, how much they make, and where all the wastewater goes.

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Stowaways: The People Who Sneak Onto Cruise ShipsGuide

Stowaways: The People Who Sneak Onto Cruise Ships

Can you really stow away on a cruise ship? How key cards, gangway scanners, and muster headcounts make it nearly impossible, plus the real documented cases.

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The Worst Cruise Ship Disasters in HistoryGuide

The Worst Cruise Ship Disasters in History

From the Costa Concordia grounding to the MS Estonia and the Achille Lauro hijacking, the worst cruise ship disasters in history, what caused them, and how each one changed maritime safety.

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Cruise Ship Crime: Who Has Jurisdiction in the Middle of the Ocean?Guide

Cruise Ship Crime: Who Has Jurisdiction in the Middle of the Ocean?

Who polices a cruise ship 1,200 miles from land? A clear explainer on flag-state jurisdiction, flags of convenience, when the FBI steps in, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, and what to do if a crime happens onboard.

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Vanished at Sea: Cruise Passengers Who Disappeared and Were Never FoundGuide

Vanished at Sea: Cruise Passengers Who Disappeared and Were Never Found

Real, documented cases of cruise passengers who vanished without a trace — Amy Lynn Bradley, George Allen Smith IV, and Annette Mizener — plus how disappearances at sea are investigated and why so many cases go cold.

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World Cruises Explained: What It's Really Like to Sail Around the GlobeGuide

World Cruises Explained: What It's Really Like to Sail Around the Globe

A world cruise runs 90-180 days and visits 100+ ports. The complete guide to costs, the best lines, daily life onboard, and how to book just a segment.

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What Happens If You Die on a Cruise Ship?Guide

What Happens If You Die on a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships have onboard morgues, coded death announcements, and a clear repatriation process. Here is exactly what happens if a passenger dies at sea.

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27 Cruise Ship Facts That Sound Fake But Are TrueGuide

27 Cruise Ship Facts That Sound Fake But Are True

Cruise ships carry onboard morgues, use 60,000 eggs a week, and fill pools with seawater. 27 verified facts that sound impossible but are completely real.

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Man Overboard: What Really Happens When Someone Falls Off a Cruise ShipGuide

Man Overboard: What Really Happens When Someone Falls Off a Cruise Ship

About 20 people go overboard from cruise ships each year — and most don't survive. Here's exactly what happens after a man-overboard alarm sounds.

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100 Must-Have Cruise Items (2026 Edition)Guide

100 Must-Have Cruise Items (2026 Edition)

The definitive cruise packing checklist — 100+ tested products organized by category. Every item has been used on real cruises and is available on Amazon.

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Nassau Bahamas Cruise Port Guide: What to Do in PortGuide

Nassau Bahamas Cruise Port Guide: What to Do in Port

Everything you need to know about Nassau, Bahamas as a cruise port. Best excursions, beaches, things to do, where to eat, and how to make the most of your port day.

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Miami Cruise Port Guide: Hotels, Parking & Pre-Cruise TipsGuide

Miami Cruise Port Guide: Hotels, Parking & Pre-Cruise Tips

Everything you need to know about PortMiami — the world's busiest cruise port. Best hotels near the port, parking options, how to get there, and pre-cruise day tips.

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How to Find Cheap Flights to European Cruise Ports (2026)Guide

How to Find Cheap Flights to European Cruise Ports (2026)

How to find cheap flights to European cruise ports in Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Southampton. When to book, which airports to use, and how to avoid the most expensive mistakes.

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Cruise Accessibility Guide: Wheelchair and MobilityGuide

Cruise Accessibility Guide: Wheelchair and Mobility

A comprehensive guide to cruise ship accessibility for wheelchair users and passengers with mobility challenges — covering the most accessible cruise lines, cabin features, embarkation, tender ports, shore excursions, and practical tips from experienced accessible cruisers.

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20 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise ShipGuide

20 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Ship

Avoid the most common cruise ship mistakes that waste money, ruin experiences, and frustrate crew members. From skipping the muster drill to missing the ship in port, these 20 don'ts will make you a smarter cruiser.

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Cruise Ship Wedding Guide: How to Get Married at SeaGuide

Cruise Ship Wedding Guide: How to Get Married at Sea

A complete planning guide for cruise ship weddings — legal requirements, wedding packages by cruise line with costs, ceremony locations, guest logistics, port vs at-sea weddings, honeymoon cruising, and a detailed budget comparison with traditional weddings.

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Thanksgiving Cruise Guide 2026: Best Ships and MenusGuide

Thanksgiving Cruise Guide 2026: Best Ships and Menus

Everything you need to know about spending Thanksgiving on a cruise ship in 2026. Covers special menus, onboard celebrations, the best cruise lines and ships for Turkey Day, pricing comparison, top itineraries, how to maintain family traditions at sea, and booking strategies.

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Cruise Dining Reservations: How to Book SpecialtyGuide

Cruise Dining Reservations: How to Book Specialty

Everything you need to know about cruise ship dining — from traditional vs. flexible dining and specialty restaurant reservations to the best times to eat, dietary accommodations, room service tips, and dining hacks organized by cruise line.

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Panama Canal Cruise Guide: Full vs Partial TransitGuide

Panama Canal Cruise Guide: Full vs Partial Transit

Everything you need to know about cruising the Panama Canal — full transit vs partial transit, how the locks work, best viewing spots on the ship, top cruise lines and ships, best time of year, port stops, pricing, and what to do on transit day.

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New Year's Eve Cruise Guide 2026: Best Ships and CostsGuide

New Year's Eve Cruise Guide 2026: Best Ships and Costs

A complete guide to celebrating New Year's Eve on a cruise ship in 2026. What NYE looks like onboard, special events and countdown parties, pricing premiums, best cruise lines and itineraries for NYE celebrations, what to wear, booking tips, and family-friendly vs adults-only options.

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MSC vs Royal Caribbean: Which Mega-Ship Is Better?Guide

MSC vs Royal Caribbean: Which Mega-Ship Is Better?

An in-depth comparison of MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean — the world's two largest cruise lines by fleet size. Covers ship design, dining, entertainment, family amenities, luxury tiers, pricing, and which line is best for families, couples, and solo travelers.

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Cruise Ship Food Guide: Everything About DiningGuide

Cruise Ship Food Guide: Everything About Dining

A complete guide to cruise ship dining — from included restaurants and buffet strategy to room service, special dietary needs, midnight snacks, and sustainability. Know exactly what's free, what costs extra, and how to eat well on any budget.

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