Each year, Princess Cruises announces the winners of their C.R.U.I.S.E. service awards, honoring the best shore excursions and guides in Alaska ports based primarily on passenger feedback. If you're planning an Alaska cruise, take a look at these winners when planning your shore excursions.

There are many reasons why music theme cruises are popular with today's cruise vacationers. These events give guests a great opportunity to cruise with their favorite stars, attend live concerts and enjoy small jam sessions while sailing to some of the most exciting ports in the Caribbean.

Juneau, Alaska's capital city, is nestled between towering mountains and the scenic waterways of the Inside Passage. Located in the Tongass National Forest, Juneau offers a wide array of activities. Juneau is also a popular embarkation point and port of call for many exciting soft adventure cruises

Looking for family fun on both land and sea? Vacationers can combine a cruise on one of three Royal Caribbean ships with a Universal Orlando Resort stay and save money as well. Special vacation packages are now available from both the east and west coasts of Florida.

Carnival Cruise Lines has donated funds to support the Honey Shine mentoring program and formed partnerships to help young patients in children’s hospitals across the country. These programs have already raised millions of dollars for hospitals and brought smiles to sick children.

Want to learn and experience the world with your children? Look at the Institute for Shipboard Education's Enrichment Voyages. These cruises allow parents and children to travel together, learn about different cultures, and enjoy unique educational opportunities aboard their floating campus at sea.

Bears and whales, soaring eagles, dogsled rides, thrilling zipline adventures, hiking on glaciers, scenic flightseeing, panning for gold - oh my! Abundant wildlife and a wide variety of exciting outdoor adventures make Alaska a great choice for a summer family cruise. Get the details here.

Royal Caribbean recently announced that it will invest approximately $300 million to revitalize the cruise line's ships across the fleet. These Royal Advantage upgrades will give guests a wider variety of new onboard dining and entertainment options, family cabins and nurseries, and so much more.

Short cruises are perfect for today's cash-crunched vacationers. These 3- to 5-day sailings depart from a wide variety of U.S. and European ports, making them easily accessible. When planning a short cruise, it's important to pick the ship and itinerary that best fits your needs and interests.

Both kids and parents can enjoy late-night parties on their next cruise vacation. Carnival Cruise Lines is rolling out Camp Carnival Night Owls on all Carnival Cruise Line ships. These evening children's programs are offered for three different age groups and are supervised by Carnival's staff.