When it comes to cruising, we think that longer is better. Recently though we enjoyed the newly refurbished Norwegian Sky for a three night sailing, and it reminded us that sometimes a weekend getaway on a great ship is just what the doctor ordered. Ric and Billy talk about their staterooms, the various packages NCL offers, as well as dining, drink…

Usually when we think of planning for a cruise, the thoughts are about fun, relaxation, and getting away from it all. Things happen though, and travel insurance can help take the sting out of unfortunate circumstance - but only if you understand it, and buy the right type of policy for your needs. We've discussed trip insurance before at CruiseHabi…

On this special episode we sat down with Frank Del Rio, the President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. We discuss his journey from a boy in Cuba to the CEO of a publicly traded company, the cruise industry's growth potential, fleet expansions, what he's most excited about at NCL, Oceania, & Regent Seven Seas, and more. Links Related to Th…

Planning a cruise requires a lot of decision making. Some things come down to preference, but if you're looking for the cheapest time of the year to cruise Alaska or the Caribbean we can help. After analyzing thousands of price points across the year, we go over the most economical and most expensive times to sail, as well as why the time of year m…

Cruise pricing can require a lit bit of explanation, but sales and promotions can be even more confusing. Some promotions aren't combinable, sales can take percentages off rates that aren't easily found, and different packages offer different levels of value depending on what you're looking for. Whether you're hunting for the best deal, or just try…

Over the past couple years we've had the opportunity to watch a new cruise line emerge. With details of Virgin Voyages trickling out at a pace that leaves us constantly wanting more, we thought we'd take this episode to share what we know so far about Sir Richard Branson's first dive into cruising. We talk about who is behind the line, what the shi…

One thing every great vacation has in common is a beginning. On a cruise, that's called Embarkation Day. From when to show up at the terminal, to where to find food, but avoid crowds when everyone else is heading to the buffet, we're covering everything you need to know about your first day onboard. Link Related to This Episode CruiseHabit.com Pack…

Looking back on great cruises is nice, but looking forward to those trips we have ahead of us is even more exciting. On this episode Ric and Billy discuss their 2018 cruises and talk about where they'll be sailing in 2019. Link Related to This Episode MSC Seaside Live Blog https://www.cruisehabit.com/tags/msc-seaside-live-blog Mariner of the Seas L…

When cruising Celebrity Edge, we found that Eden isn't just a bar, restaurant, show, cafe, or lounge - nor is it all those things smashed into one space. Struggling to describe Eden, and especially the experiences this fantastic space provides, we decided it would be best to dedicate an entire episode to just this topic. We've also linked to a numb…

In part two of our review of Celebrity Edge, we start discussing the entertainment options around Edge, mention some crew members and officers, and even cover what we wish was different on this great new ship. If you've not yet listened to the first part of this episode, you can find it linked in the show notes below, along with pictures, video, an…

Ric and Billy were fortunate enough to be among the first guests to sail on Celebrity's newest ship, Celebrity Edge. Being the first ship in a new class there is a lot to share, so we've split our review of our three night sailing into two episodes. They're a bit longer than usual, but we think you'll enjoy learning about the Magic Carpet, Eden, La…

Early in November, Carnival Cruise Line invited Ric to tour the Carnival Paradise while she was docked in her home port of Tampa, Florida. On this bonus episode, Billy interviews Ric about what he saw (and ate) on that ship tour. We close out the episode with a listener question. Link Related to This Episode Carnival Paradise Ship Tour https://www.…

Cruising can be habit forming, but among those who've not yet taken their first cruise, there are some common concerns, ranging from sea-sickness and boredom, to safety and weather. On this episode we take a look at some of these concerns and provide information to clear up fact from fiction, and offer tips along the way. Link Related to This Episo…

Celebrity Edge is the first in a new class of ship, and in less than a month, we'll be among the first to sail her. We talk about some of what makes her so different as Celebrity tries to redefine the cruise experience, and we discuss how we plan to see and do as much as possible on our December 6th three-night sailing. Link Related to This Episode…

Most cruise lines have programs that reward guests for their loyalty. The perks are as wide-ranging as cruise experiences, and different lines let you climb the ranks of these programs in different ways. What are some of the more remarkable benefits? How do we value these programs? We look at the various programs and help you understand how to take…

The cruise experience is inextricably tied to dining, but what is specialty dining? This concept may not be as new as you think, so we dive into what exactly specialty dining is, where it started, and we look at the types of experiences available now, plus some in the near future. Link Related to This Episode Norwegian Escape Live Blog https://www.…

A lot of attention is paid the biggest ships with the most outrageous features - and for good reason. We discuss what megaships are, why they're so appealing to some people, and talk about how they fit into the bigger picture of the world of cruising. Link Related to This Episode New cruise ships are huge - except when they're not https://www.cruis…

You can take cruises all over the world, sometimes sailing for a week just to arrive at your destination. There are some cruise destinations however for which those leaving from Florida don't have to travel very far. On this episode we discuss excursions, sites, tours, and dining in The Conch Republic, The Southernmost Point: Key West. Link Related…

Whenever a cruise line introduces a new class of ships, it’s easy to forget about the great ships they already have. Last year, during the fanfare of the Edge class announcements, Celebrity Cruise Lines unveiled Celebrity Revolution. Now the scale of this $500 million fleet upgrade program has become more clear, and we're even more excited. Ric and…

Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2018? With that being the case, it’s time for a mid-year real estate market update. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report The local housing market is like a big game of tug of war between buyers and sellers. Sellers have been c…

There are five things you must never say out loud to a prospective buyer while your home is on the market. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report You know the expression “Loose lips sink ships?” Well, that saying holds true for the real estate world too. If you’re selling y…

Mortgage interest rates are on the rise, so should you stop waiting to buy a home? Our preferred lender joins us today to explain this topic. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report With mortgage rates on the rise, should you wait to buy a home? I've brought in our preferred…

I want to be a resource to you, and here’s how I can do that. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report Who can I put you in touch with? I ask because it’s my job to be a resource to you, and I can do that in so many different ways.One way is by referring you to the right pers…

When does the spring market start? According to the calendar, it should be March; however, the spring real estate market kicks off much sooner than that. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report When does the spring market start? Officially, according to the calendar, the spr…

Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report Merry Christmas! We hope you and your family enjoy all that this amazing holiday has to offer. We just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support throughout the years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your…

To distinguish between average real estate agents and great ones, you should make sure they can accommodate these four demands. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report Are you thinking about buying a home but dreading the challenges that come with the process? If you’re conc…

Contrary to popular belief, the holiday season is a great time to sell your home. There are a full 11 reasons as to why this is. Looking to buy a home? Check out our free home search Looking to sell a home? Check out our free home value report I don’t know about you, but I’m excited for Halloween. It puts me in the holiday spirit! When it comes to …

The wonderful world of real estate tends to run in cycles. Our market is shifting right now, so there are a few market trends that you need to be aware of. As we all know, the wonderful world of real estate runs in cycles. There are times when the market is up, times when the market is down, and in-between times when the market seems flat. For thos…

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report Why is paying less commission going to cost you more money? A good, strong, professional Realtor usually charges about 6% commission to list, market, and sell a property. Why are there Realtors out there who would …

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report It’s summertime, and a lot of people are getting ready to sell their homes. If you’re in preparation mode, you want your home to look as good as possible to increase its value, but you don’t want to break the bank …

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report There are many great questions you could ask a real estate agent before hiring them, but today I want to talk about four specific questions that will quickly tell you whether you should work with this person or not…

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report With the holiday distractions and New Year’s Resolutions behind us, the housing market in Orange and Los Angeles counties is thawing up! We’re picking up the pace and likewise, experiencing increased real estate ac…

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report I've been in real estate for nearly two decades now. We sell 10 times more homes than the average agent and we sell them 3 times faster. On top of that, we get our home selling clients 7% more money in the process!…

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report Today we'll be discussing five different ways to increase the value of your home in Los Angeles County. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to install a new kitchen or bathroom to get a good return on your i…

Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report Zillow is a giant in the real estate industry. They aggregate tons and tons of data, and a lot of it is actually quite useful to the average consumer, but you need to take some of it with a grain of salt. One thing…

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.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling an Orange or L…

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } What is the value of your home? Click here to find out! Looking to buy a home? Searc…

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } What is the value of your home? Click here to find out! Looking to buy a home? Searc…

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } There are many great Orange & LA County area homes for sale. Click here to perform a…