According to new data from search engine CruiseWatch.com, travelers looking for a discount are better off booking their next cruise on a Thursday.

The study, which analyzed more than 600,000 data points, found that cruise prices drop lowest during the middle of the week, with costs plummeting by as much as 17 percent on Thursday.

Good deals are also awaiting travelers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to the study, with prices dropping 16.8 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively.

Friday is also a better time to book with prices dropping 16.2 percent. However, travelers in search of savings may want to avoid booking on the weekend or on Monday, based on CruiseWatch.com's research. Sunday was found to be the worst day for discounts (7.8 percent), while Monday (12 percent) is worse than Saturday (13. 5 percent).

"Cruise prices fluctuate with demand and supply," CruiseWatch.com co-founder Britta Bernhard said in a statement. "Most people do not realize that they can save massive amounts of money by booking at the right time."

"When a sailing is not sold out, most cruise lines will discount the cabins rather than sailing empty," added Britta. "These price drops can make for some incredible deals. But you need to find them and book quickly."

Interestingly, though, while Wednesdays tend to be among the best days of the week for discounts, they are also the most common day for price hikes, CruiseWatch.com determined, with 34 percent more price hikes happening on a Wednesday compared to any other day of the week.

Meanwhile, weekends are typically a quiet time for price hikes, with little price movement occuring on Saturday and Sunday.

It appears that CruiseWatch's study focused chiefly on mass market cruise lines rather than luxury or specialty lines. 

Good news for residents of the greater Los Angeles area, and particularly for those who have always wanted to cruise to Alaska with the least amount of hassle. Starting in 2017, with a short car or train ride,  you'll be able to hop right on an Alaska-bound ship from the port of Long Beach.

Radu Ursu / Courtesy of Carnival Cruise LineCruise out of Long Beach to Alaska on a special sailing on Carnival Miracle on Sept. 2, 2017.

Carnival Cruise Line is offering a 14-day round-trip Alaskan adventure aboard Carnival Miracle departing Long Beach on Sept. 2 and returning Sept. 16, 2017. The cruise will show off Alaska's majestic landscape as it sails through Glacier Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visits Icy Strait Point, an unspoiled wilderness area offering some of the best whale and bear watching in the state and the world’s longest zipline.

It's a not-to-miss experience that will stop at Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia — destinations rich in history and culture as well as lots of diversions from bicycling and hiking to just milling around the towns. Shore excursions, which cost extra, will feature helicopter flightseeing and rainforest canopy tours as well as hiking, canoeing and kayaking expeditions, and alpine lake snorkeling (bring a wetsuit).

Carnival Legend will also offer 38 seven- and eight-day Alaska voyages in 2017 and 2018, including seven weeklong Glacier Bay cruises next year — the most voyages by Carnival to this region, which features majestic glaciers and other ice formations and is home to numerous whales, bears and other wildlife. The seven- and eight-day voyages operate either round-trip from Seattle or from Vancouver to Seattle, visiting a variety of stunning ports, including Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC, plus a full-day cruising Tracy Arm Fjord or Glacier Bay.

Both gigantic Carnival Miracle and Carnival Legend provide scads of dining and entertainment choices from the upscale American steakhouse serving U.S.D.A. prime aged beef and other gourmet cuisine and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. Carnival caters to kids, who will love the Alaska adventure, with waterslides and supervised programs for three age groups and the popular Seuss at Sea program with fun activities like the Seuss-a-palooza parade, story time and more.

Carnival Corporation,  the world’s largest cruise line operator, is giving back. The company announced today that both Carnival Corporation and Carnival Cruise Line are donating a total of $250,000 to charitable organizations to support their efforts on behalf of victims of the Louisiana floods. Recipients will include the American Red Cross, Louisiana Association of United Ways and Save the Children.

The company is also offering passengers who depart from New Orleans on a Carnival cruise the opportunity to donate money when they check in for their cruise. Carnival employees are being encouraged to donate, as well.

A 32-year-old  Chinese woman who was on board Royal Caribbean’s 2,000-passenger Jewel of the Seas with her parents survived while being overboard for 38 hours while treading water and even falling asleep overnight.

The woman, identified only by the surname Fan, apparently slipped and fell off a railing on the 4^th deck of the massive ship. Fan said she avoided being pulled under other big ships by swimming frantically away and that she fell asleep treading water. She did sustain jellyfish stings, however. Once she was rescued, emergency workers rushed her to the hospital to attend to the wounds, which remarkably were her only scars from the plunge into the sea.

She was actually saved by a crew from a fishing vessel and brought back to the ship,  which she and her parents had boarded in Shanghai  for what she thought would be a glorious five-day holiday cruise. Fan attributed her swimming prowess to having graduating from a sports college.

During her 38 hours in the water, she was also able to rest by floating on the surface and waving her arms underwater. Her father reportedly tried to check the cruise ship’s surveillance cameras to find out what happened to her, but the footage only showed her walking back and forth.  

About 23 million people a year take cruises and in an average year about 20 people fall off cruise ships. Most don't survive to tell the tale. 

Earlier this year Norwegian Cruise Line revealed details on their new Western Caribbean destination Harvest Caye, Belize. The resort style port of call is set to open in November this year.

For a closer look at what Norwegian Cruise Line has planned for guests sailing on Western Caribbean cruises from mid-November onwards, visit our post: Harvest Caye… paradise by Norwegian Cruise Line.

International Environments Ltd., the company which was hired to conduct a socio-economic and environment impact assessment, is providing the architectural and engineering services for the $50 million project. This includes taking designs to 100% completion, project administration and construction supervision.

Haven (noun): a place of safety or refuge.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers its passengers a true place of refuge and serenity with The Haven, home to the cruise line’s most luxurious, well-appointed and spacious accommodations. A private oasis tucked away at the top of the ship, The Haven provides guests with unparalleled access to top-of-the-line services and amenities – such as free shore excursions, WiFi, specialty dining and unlimited beverages—taking their cruise from memorable to unforgettable from the second they embark.

Guests can select from eight cabin categories including a deluxe Owner’s Suite with a large balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows or the 3-bedroom Garden Villa, which sleeps up to eight guests in more than 4,890 square feet of spacious living at sea. Families will want to take advantage of the 2-bedroom family villa with balcony, where kids can enjoy movies on their own flat-screen TV, or connecting staterooms, which are perfect for families or a group of friends traveling together. The Courtyard Penthouse offers up a romantic get-away with a private balcony and a round, queen-size bed. The Haven’s Spa Suite is indulgence at sea with a hot tub, oversized waterfall shower, easy access to the Mandara Spa and Fitness Center and complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites during regular spa hours.

Let’s face it: everyone forgets something when they travel – even experienced cruisers like us. However, there are some things that you should bring with you to get maximum enjoyment out of your river cruise – things that go beyond the usual toothbrush and passport.  These are things we’ve found to be immensely useful on our own travels, and we’re presenting them here for you to take with you on your next adventure.

A Travel Guide

Power Adapters

A Backpack and Reusable Water Bottle

Medications from Home

Business Cards

Fathom and Airbnb have partnered for a “give and get” opportunity for new Airbnb hosts in the United States. People who sign up to become a new host with Airbnb will receive a $250 credit for a Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic or Cuba.   

A  pioneer in social impact travel, Fathom, Carnival Corporation’s 10th and newest brand, sails weekly to the Dominican Republic or Cuba. Cruises are not your everyday voyages but rather a chance for travelers  to immerse themselves in enriching and meaningful experiences and participate alongside locals to address community needs.

The luxury cruise line Silversea has announced that its fleet of small ships will undergo a $170 million refurbishment that will upgrade them to the high standards its upscale passengers have grown accustom to.

“We are thrilled to be moving ahead with these major refurbishments and look forward to welcoming guests aboard and sharing our unique vision of ultra-luxury cruising, both in terms of service and physical environment”, Manfredi Lefebvre, chairman of Silversea, said in a statement. “We pride ourselves on being the reference when it comes to ultra-luxury cruising and this investment reflects our long-term commitment in this regard toward our ships, our guests and our crew.”

It’s hard to imagine a hotel charging extra for a room with windows, but when it comes to cruising, fresh ocean air comes at a premium: Typically, the coveted outdoor balcony space on a cruise costs at least $100 per person, per voyage more than an interior or porthole stateroom. But with budget and savings in mind, are cruise balconies actually worth the extra fee? We explore.

At first I figured it was because of the unrest throughout southern Europe, but there’s no indication of  that as the reason Celebrity Cruises announced it’s pulling the 2,850-passengers out of European waters and heading to the Caribbean to join that competitive year-round market. The ship will sail on various itineraries from Miami and do seven-night cruises in June, July and August with Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries offered.

The Equinox was scheduled to be part of a five-ship European deployment for the cruise line next summer. So far though the line is keeping he Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Silhouette there..

"Our guests, first-time cruisers and our travel partners have been asking me for many years to offer year-round Caribbean cruises. They wished we offered these itineraries,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "Modern luxury, affluent vacationers have been looking for summer cruises in the Caribbean and we felt this was a significant opportunity in our offering. So our new year-long sailings are perfect for discerning families and couples who want a summer getaway to sought-after tropical islands, with the best culinary experiences in the region and enriching activities for children and adults – all of which can only be offered by Celebrity. We are also adding new itineraries and sailings to create the most unforgettable vacations in the Caribbean; this is another example of what makes Celebrity so distinct and unique.”

Seabourn has always provided passengers with top products in their suites. The cruise line even lets you choose your own from a variety of top-shelf selections. And now the company has teamed up with one of the most exclusive labels, London-based Molton Brown, to create a collection of signature scents distributed free of charge on its three ships — and on the new Seabourn Encore when it debuts in December.

"Our new Seabourn Signature Scents are the result of genuine collaboration with Molton Brown, with several months spent developing distinctive scent combinations that will serve to remind guests of the experience of their Seabourn cruise long after they've returned home," said Christopher Prelog, vice president of hotel operations for Seabourn.