Scott Laird
Contributor
Scott is a freelance travel writer who has logged a million-and-a-half miles onboard flights around the world in search of historic hotels, rare spa botanicals, gin cocktails, and plumeria trees. Having developed a passion for travel during frequent childhood trips between homes in Alaska and Kaua'i, he's now Dallas-based and is a frequent contributor to several publications. When not in Dallas, he can typically be found in Europe, the US West Coast, Alaska, Hawai'i, the Islands of Tahiti, or onboard a cruise ship.
Cruise Etiquette: How To Get the Most Out of Shore Excursions
When to book them and when to explore on your own, plus how to personalize them to the utmost.
Around-the-World Cruises: Everything Travelers Need to Know About These Epic Voyages
Plus, the best around-the-world cruises to book in 2025 and beyond.
Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity is a premium big-ship cruise brand, focusing on exquisite dining, cutting-edge amenities, bespoke art pieces, and avant-garde onboard entertainment. In a word: this ship makes passengers feel glamorous.
Cruise Etiquette: How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Cruise
We break down the health guidelines cruise ships follow to prevent outbreaks on board, plus, what passengers can do themselves.
Cruise Etiquette: Tips for Finding Peace and Quiet on Crowded Cruise Ships
The rules of pool chair saving, how to determine a ship's “space ratio,” and locating zones reserved for special cabin categories.
Cruise Etiquette: The Dos and Don'ts of Cruise Ship Art Auctions
Avoid buyer's remorse when purchasing art at sea.
Cruise Etiquette: How and Why to Book with a Cruise Specialist
A trusted travel agent can secure onboard perks and provide vital support should the unexpected happen.
The Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for 2024
Sail Australia's remote Kimberley, or hop on board the 249th ship from legacy line Cunard.
.jpg)
Crystal Symphony
Legendary in the luxury cruising space, Crystal has returned to the seas 18 months after the former parent company went bankrupt and the ships were seized in The Bahamas for overdue fuel bills.
6 Cruises to the Most Remote Destinations on Earth
Your guide to the cruise lines calling at parts that are otherwise largely inaccessible by other means—from the Galápagos to Greenland.
Cruise Ship Etiquette: Breaking Down Tip Culture
Who to tip, when to adjust gratuities, and more guidance for cruise ship tipping.
These Fall Cruises Are Going to Alaska, Mexico, and More—And There’s Still Time to Book
From possible upgrades to maybe seeing the Northern Lights, there are plenty of reasons to book a cruise in the fall.
Cruise Etiquette: What’s the Dress Code These Days?
We break down the dress code expectations on today's ships.
Aranui V
Offering a laid back, thoroughly Polynesian voyage where passengers and crew freely mingle throughout the experience.
Onboard the Crystal Symphony During Its Return to Service
The ship has been revamped, with fewer cabins and more suites.
Cruise Ship Etiquette: How to Shut Down Aggressive Sales Pitches at the Onboard Spa
Relentless spa upselling can ruin your relaxation. Here's how to politely—and emphatically—decline.
Cruise Etiquette: Is There Any Request Too Over-the-Top for a Personal Butler on My Ship?
From special dishes to the dining room to golfing on the Great Wall of China, these onboard magicians can fulfill nearly any request.
Cruise Ship Etiquette: Are Passengers Allowed to Order Dishes That Aren't on the Menu?
The answer can depend on which cruise line you're sailing with.
Cruise Etiquette: The Areas on Ships Where Passengers Should Never Go
It can be tempting to peek behind the scenes on a ship, but there are several reasons why passengers shouldn't.
What to Do When Rowdy Cruise Passengers Are Determined to Ruin Your Vacation
Three tactful strategies for dealing with fellow cruisers who've taken the party too far.