This Cruise Life

16/10/2026

Thoughts on the new Carnival Social Drinks Package??? CHEERS!, but with 3 alcoholic drinks a day instead of 15. We break down all of the changes to Carnival’s new FunPacks!

Carnival FunPacks are here, and the deadline to buy is October 30, ...

11/10/2026

Brilliant Lady full review out now: Discover the BRILLIANT time we had sailing the latest cruise addition to Alaska. Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady delivers the adults-only experience to Alaska in a way no one else can. We share everything we loved, didn’t love, and hated about our experience. YT link in bio!

Let’s get excited and set sail on Brilliant Lady together. ❤️

20/09/2026

First dinner onboard Valiant Lady is in Ariya by Razzle Dazzle. This Indian overlay includes a complete overhaul of the space and a new and unique menu. Swipe through to see more of menu and food!

Upon entering the space, your nose is hit with the smell of fresh curry which prepares your palate for what’s to come!



Have a look at the menu with starters at the top (shareables) and the entrees below.

There are some lovely specialty cocktails available and even an Indian b**r!

All diners receive a welcome palate cleanser tea. It’s light and refreshing with a hint of mint.

The chicken 65, made with 65 different spices, was one of the highlights of the evening.

The avocado chaat was surprisingly delicious. Tons of flavor with a little spicy heat.

These were the crab cakes and they did not disappoint. Served with a green papaya salad and was perfectly cooked.

Sunchoke and Cauliflower Tandoori Kebabs had the perfect amount of curry spice. All parts of the kebab had their own flavors which worked very well along each other.

Chickpea puffs were surprising to the group. The green sauce that is pictured is poured directly into the puff for added flavor.

This was the vegetable naan. It was the least favorite along the group with minimal flavor profile.

And the mussels. Those who enjoy the flavor and texture of mussels said these were very good!

Here is my little plate loaded up with 5 of the 7 appetizers! A feast, for sure!

This is the ribeye steak served over creamy mashed potatoes with fried onions on top. It was full of flavor and cooked to perfection!

A member of the group requested the shrimp which sat on a bed of saffron grits. He said it was very delicious and the shrimp was outstanding.

And my Braised Lamb Shank with Basmati Rice. 😍😍😍 This is the Razzle Dazzle lamb shank (my favorite), which is fall-off-the-bone served with roti on top of a bed of sliced basmati rice. It was a party in my mouth!

And the desserts! All of the selections were very good, with the last two being more of a shared size for the table.

The cheesecake was delightful with an Indian donut inside. It was a fun play on t

19/09/2026

It’s boarding day! Waiting to head over from Wall Street to Brooklyn to board Valiant Lady. Stay tuned for all the updates!

18/09/2026

Mark’s Doing Well! Now It’s Time for Rocky’s Valiant Lady Adventure

17/09/2026

Why I Won’t Be Cruising on Valiant Lady: A Personal Update from Mark

12/09/2026

New Video Alert! 50+ changes coming to Norwegian Aura in 2027!

We spent days scouring deck plans, announcements, and renderings to create the most comprehensive look at NCL Aura to date.

Let us know ⬇ what you're most excited about in the comments!

Norwegian Cruise Line launches its newest ship, Norwegian Aura, in ...

06/09/2026

We love when cruise lines ask for guest feedback in more than just a post-cruise survey. Royal Caribbean is seeking information about their pool decks and what guest trends are like. I gladly completed the survey and look forward to what the next generation of pool decks will look like!

Have you ever been invited to participate in a survey like this?

04/09/2026

Norwegian Bella finally confirmed?? While we know the cruise line filed for the Norwegian Bella trademark over a year ago, the cruise line may have just accidentally confirmed the new ship via their booking engine!

Rendering courtesy of AI. Screenshot is the official booking system.

We’ll be watching this one closely over the next year!

03/09/2026

Ahoy from Brilliant Lady as we sail home from Alaska! We are reflecting on our experience and look forward to sharing everything we loved, didn’t love, and hated about the newest entry into the Alaska market - plus the newest ship in Virgin Voyage’s fleet!