This week’s article looks back at all of the Weekly Wednesday articles posted in 2020. It seems like just yesterday that our first article was posted so I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

This was my first published article with This Cruise Life. It was actually posted on a Friday and didn’t bear the heading of “Weekly Wednesday,” however it kicked off what would be an exciting adventure to uncover the developing changes that were happening in the cruise industry due to the pandemic.

Feeling Blue? (A Guide to Cruise Private Islands in the Caribbean)

I wrote this to take your cares away and help you dream of a far-off place. In this article, I outlined the major private island destinations found in the Caribbean and identified which cruise lines made calls there along with what amenities were available. I’m excited to report that I will make a visit to Labadee and Perfect Day at Coco Cay onboard the Harmony of the Seas in December 2021.

Premier Cruise Lines

We dove into the defunct cruise line called Premier Cruise Lines in this article. It was fascinating to read about how influential this line was in changing the cruise industry across many different brands. The cruise line was in service for 17 years and saw the ownership of 8 different ships and one private island destination.

Magical Cruises

Following the discovery of Premier Cruise Lines in the previous entry, I decided to do some greater digging into the cruise line that had formed following Premier’s demise. Disney Cruise Line took many hints and clues from Premier including themed sailings and packages which included the high seas and a trip to their amusement parks in Orlando. Catered to families with kids, Disney Cruise Line offers a unique experience that other lines are unable to duplicate.

Rotterdam

This article explores the 7 different ships that have existed with Holland America Line which have barred the Rotterdam name. We get a better understanding of why that name is so important to the line as it dates back to 1872. The newest ship in the fleet is scheduled to set sail in 2021 and will host the same name as its predecessors over the centuries.

Nautical Terms

I like to think of this article as more of a glossary than an article, but in any event, it outlines all of the terms most commonly heard when referencing sailing on a cruise ship. Many of the terms are used throughout the other articles that have been featured, so it may be smart to keep this link handy!

Funnels

Every major cruise line has some feature that sets them apart from the other lines. The most obvious and unique feature on ships is their funnel. Some are decorative and have no purpose, but what is true for all: you can typically identify the cruise line based on the funnel, without needing to see any colors at all.

Cabotage

As the pandemic continued to worsen, it was necessary to understand why cruise ships are unable to sail from United States ports with many foreign ports being closed. Cabotage looks at the Jones Act which was established in the 1880s to protect the import and export of goods and assess a tax on those items. When it was created, there wasn’t a leisure cruise industry at the time, so it was not uncommon to see a ship with cargo and passengers onboard at the same time. While this law is very old, it has prevented the Alaska region from being available as the law requires all ships to make at least one international stop before they can disembark passengers in the US.

More Room

As you plan your cruise, it is important to have an idea of what the rooms look like onboard. In this article, we take a look at 4 competing cruise lines and identify the size of their staterooms, the amenities available, and where the rooms can be found on their ships.

Drink Up!

In this article, we uncover all things alcoholic! You can read about 9 different cruise lines and the packages they have available when it comes to adult beverages. Many of the lines are including their beverage package to encourage people to book their cruise line for 2021 and beyond, but it’s important to know what the daily cost is and what kind of drinks you can enjoy while sailing.

Hungry?

Once you have decided which drink package is right for you, it’s time to learn about the many food options available. Each line has many unique offerings, some included and others for a nominal fee. Learn about the many options you have at your fingertips when sailing on your next cruise.

Let’s Play!

All the cruise lines try to find ways to get you to book with them. If the line hasn’t won you over by the design of the staterooms, the drink packages or the food, they will then try to entice you with the activities found onboard. All the major lines have children’s clubs with many activities designed to keep them entertained. Additionally, you’ll find mega slides, zip lines, go karts, and even roller coasters on some of the ships. Who knows what’s next!

Loyalty

If you’ve flown in an airplane or stayed at one of the major brands of hotels, then you understand the importance of company loyalty. Those programs continue on the ocean! All the major cruise lines offer a loyalty rewards program that kick in the first time you sail with the brand. This comprehensive list of benefits may help you in the booking process when determining which cruise line is right for you.

2,100 Pounds of Butter

This article really dives deep into the culinary delights found onboard the ships. We get to discover how many pounds of beef and lobster tail are on the ship for an average 7-night sailing, plus you get to learn about the 45,000 eggs that are brought onboard for dishes throughout the voyage. If you aren’t hungry before you read this article, you’re sure to have an appetite once you’re done reading.

Who’s Who series

We dissected all the major cruise brands that are available to sail on through this multi-part series. Starting with the largest company operating cruise ships and working our way down to the smaller operators, we look at not only the individual cruise lines that you’re familiar with, but also the companies that own and operate these mega ships to help you understand this industry.

Part I: Carnival Corporation – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival CSSC, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line

Part II: Royal Caribbean Group – Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises

Part III: TUI Group – Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Marella Cruises, TUI Cruises

Part IV: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings – Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas

Part V: Genting Hong Kong – Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruises, Star Cruises

Part VI: Other Cruise Lines – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Saga Cruises, Viking, Virgin Voyages

Remembering Festival Cruises

In this article, we look at a cruise line that had a lot of ambition but was only able to stay afloat for 10 years. They featured 7 different ships over the course of their operations, all of which were progressively added to the fleet until the company’s demise in 2004.

Ship Spotlight: Carnival Splendor

We went on a unique journey to discover one of the most colorful and diverse ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. This article uncovers all the design elements found on board and what made this ship so unique. Recently, she underwent a major transformation to sail in the Australian market and while many her interiors have been subdued, you can still find parts of the ship that pay homage to her past bright and colorful designs.

Christmas at Sea

If you have never been on a cruise ship during the holidays, be sure to check out this article. I outline all of the celebrations that can be found onboard Carnival Cruise Line ships during the winter holiday season. Some of it may surprise you to find out, so be sure to not miss it!

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this recap from the year and that it made it a little easier for you to find all of our 2020 posts. If you have ideas of articles you’d like to see, or want to know more about a certain topic, please don’t hesitate to comment on the article or send me an email: rocky@thiscruiselife.com.

Here’s to cruising again in 2021. Happy New Year!