Welcome to HappyHourCruises.com’s “little black book” of cruising!
With all due respect, some of the cruise information message boards need a little touch of “housekeeping”. With millions of posts that are 10+ years old, there is a lot of information that is, shall we say, dated. And, when we are looking for information on a cruise, we are nearly brought to tears when we read a review of the Carnival Conquest that starts with “complaints about the Ramada Inn in the port of Galveston”…
So, here it is… the sites that we have discovered over the years with great information on cruising. Sites we love are trustworthy, unbiased, informative, and well maintained by people who know cruising.
Of course many of these sites are trying to sell you something. But, at least they are operated by people who actually know what they are talking about when it comes to cruising! If you are really trying to learn about a cruise, or a cruise ship, these cruise web sites are outstanding resources.
Have a resource you think we should add to this list (or, an “axe to grind” with one of the sites we recommend below…)? Use the form at the bottom of this page to send us your ideas. If we like it, we will put it in our guide. If we love it, we will add it to our guide and take claim that we found it ourselves!
Enough talk… on to our favorite cruise research resources!
WiFi and Internet Access on Cruise Ships
It seems silly, but, even on a cruise ship, people can’t stay away from their e-mail, text messages and cell phones. If you are looking to go-online while on your cruise, we found a site that has internet and cell phone pricing for each cruise line.
Secrets that Smart Cruise Shoppers Know
This is one of the best cruise resources ever — even experienced cruisers almost always learn something with these money saving cruise tips. Some of the best tips given are the unscrupulous tactics that many cruise retailers will try and trick you with!
Should You Buy Airline Tickets with Your Cruise?
We could save you some time and tell you that you should NOT buy your airline tickets from the cruise line. But, there is more to it than just that. And, there are a couple of instances where you can save money when you buy your airline ticket with your cruise.
Finding the Best Cabin On A Cruise Ship
This may be one of the coolest cruise tools out there… over 100 ships have been reviewed deck-by-deck to tell you which cruise ships cabins are the best. 7-days underneath the floor of the disco will tell you why you have to stay away from the worst cruise ship cabins.
Cruise Wiki
The cruise industry comes with its own vocabulary — port, starboard, cruise-only rate, cabin category upgrade, etc. The cruise wiki is your A-Z reference of cruise industry definitions. Never be embarrassed at a cocktail party when somebody says “I was at the stern of the Carnival Pride when I…”
How Much Does a Cruise Vacation Really Cost?
Everything is included once you get on a cruise ship! WRONG! Get the data about how much a cruise really costs and how much you should budget for onboard cruise expenses.
Should You Buy Cruise Line Shore Excursions?
Shore excursions are marketed by the cruise lines and sold onboard the ships. But, once you arrive in a port, there are plenty of tour guides hawking their services — often for less than what the cruise line charges. Be informed about buying cruise line shore excursions.
Balcony Cabin Safety Tips
Balcony’s are a way to travel in style while on a cruise. And, while there is the occasional accident with someone having too much to drink and going overboard, arm yourself with the facts about cruise ship balcony safety. The article includes important information like how high is a cruise ship balcony.
Cruise Insurance Buying Guide
Insurance is meant to give you peace of mind that you will be protected. Of course the options you have for buying decision will give you anything but “peace of mind”. So, here are some helpful tips about buying cruise insurance.
Have a great web resource that you want to share about cruising? Use the form below to let us know and, if we like it, we may add it to our list!
