Settling in quickly on a cruise ship can make your vacation much more relaxing. It’s nice to know your way around, return to a welcoming stateroom, and dine every night at a place “where everybody knows your name.” Here are five ways to settle in quickly and feel more at home on your next cruise.

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

Cruise lines are introducing new culinary experiences in shipboard dining, much to the delight of the 16 million vacationers who cruised this year. The latest research shows that over 50% of cruisers named fine dining as the top aspect of a cruise vacation - and these new dining trends are big hits.

Cruise passengers stopping in Grand Turk often fall in love with this beautiful Turks & Caicos island. The good news for vacationers who discover Turks & Caicos on a cruise is that it’s easy to return to this tropical island chain. Now that you’ve found your paradise, head back and stay awhile.

If you're connecting through Guayaquil for a Galapagos cruise, plan to stay and explore Ecuador's Pacific Coast. Ecuador's shores are lined with beautiful beaches, unspoiled nature preserves, cool surf towns, and great places to visit. This region is one of the travel world's best-kept secrets.

If you're traveling to your next family cruise by car or plane, here's a great way to banish the "are we there yet?" travel blues. Properly prepared, a family travel backpack will keep kids busy and happy for hours. This is definitely one family cruising secret that should be let out of the bag.

Packing for a summer Mediterranean cruise requires careful planning. Mediterranean cruises tend to be longer and there's a lot of touring involved, so make sure to have the right clothes to wear. Here's a list of what to bring along on your trip.

Europe and the Mediterranean are wonderful choices for a family cruise vacation. Family vacations here provide a tantalizing combination of learning, adventure and cultural experiences suited to the interests of every family member. Cruising is a great way for families to see Europe with ease.

Heading out on a Mediterranean cruise? Here are some recommendations for top independent shore excursions in Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Santorini, Naples, Rome and Florence.

Here's a complete list of what to pack for your next week-long cruise to Mexico. Print out this list of what to bring and feel free to modify it for your own personal use.