Families can create new memories with their favorite blue heelers as early as January

Michael Virgil, 35, reportedly died onboard the Royal Caribbean ship Navigator of the Seas on Friday, Dec. 13

• You can vacation on a private Caribbean island for as cheap as $80 a day, so long as you go by cruise.
• Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival have islands exclusive to guests.
• These companies have been racing to expand their private island and resort portfolio.

Winter blues got you daydreaming about a private Caribbean island vacation? As expensive as they might sound, you don't have to break the bank to go to one.

Some are as cheap as $80 a day. Although, of course, there's a catch.

You'll have to go with thousands of other travelers — on a cruise ship, no less.

Many of the largest cruise companies own and operate private Caribbean islands just a day's sail from Florida's main terminals. These islands are only accessible by cruiseliners and are exclusive to their guests.

Once there, travelers can sunbathe on soft-sand beaches, snorkel with turtles in clear blue waters, and, of course, swim with pigs. Maybe for these reasons, travelers seem to love them — especially Royal Caribbean Group's Perfect Day at CocoCay, the company's highest-rated port, Jason Liberty, its CEO, told investors in October.

Families visiting CocoCay can spend their afternoon at the 14-slide waterpark. About a mile away, at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' larger 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay, adrenaline junkies can fly through the island's six-part zipline course.

At Carnival Corp's whopping 2,400-acre RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, guests can explore the beach by horseback.

Cruise ships generally stay docked at these private ports for less than a day. Yet, the value is comparatively hard to beat.

Carnival's Half Moon Cay itineraries are as affordable as $80 a day — not bad compared to neighboring private islands that could cost upward of $150,000 per night to rent.

But that doesn't mean every amenity at these cruise-owned destinations is cheap. If these savings give you the urge to splurge, a two-bedroom villa at Great Stirrup Cay's Silver Cove resort starts at about $1,430. Similarly, cabanas at CocoCay's luxurious beach club could cost upward of $1,600. (Don't worry — most of their beachside lounge chairs are free.)

The three cruise giants have hundreds of voyages planned to their islands in 2025. Carnival has about 200 scheduled — Royal Caribbean has more than double that.

These numbers are expected to grow in the coming years. Carnival and Norwegian plan to build multi-ship piers at their respective properties, with the latter opening in late 2025. This $150 million investment is expected to double Great Stirrup Cay's visitors the following year.

“Extremely disappointed in the way this was handled,” a customer said of the new policy

• Costco membership also gives shoppers access to the club's travel deals.
• The company revealed its largest booking in the last year was a 150-day cruise around the world.
• CFO Gary Millerchip said the package cost $293,000 for two travelers and included $38,000 in credit.

A Costco member shelled out nearly $300,000 on an around-the-world cruise package purchased through the warehouse club.

Costco memberships are widely known for giving access to deals on items ranging from bulk toilet paper to gold bullion, but one occasionally overlooked perk is the club's travel deals.

The company offers all sorts of travel services, including vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and flights. In fact, CFO Gary Millerchip said members made enough car rentals last year to fill every US Costco parking spot more than eight times over.

Millerchip also called out the largest cruise booking for the year: "a 150-day around-the-world cruise, starting from Fort Lauderdale and making stops in places like the Galápagos and Easter Islands."

The CFO said the journey cost $293,000 for two travelers in the ship's owner's suite and included $13,000 in shipboard credits, as well as a $25,000 Costco Shop card.

Many offerings include a Shop card "as extra value for booking with Costco," he said.

The company did not specify which cruise line, although several that it sells — such as Azamara, Cunard, Holland America, and Regent Seven Seas — offer annual world cruise itineraries.

Cunard and Holland America have departures from Fort Lauderdale, according to Costco's travel site, and packages start at around $1,000 for a weeklong itinerary.

Many of these extended around-the-world voyages have been selling exceptionally well over the last few years — especially Regent Seven Seas.

The luxury cruise line's 132-night 2024 global voyage sold out in less than three hours when bookings opened in 2021, a record for the company. A year later, the 150-night 2025 iteration (its longest yet) was again fully booked out before reservations could open to the public.

A PEOPLE reporter boarded the Treasure's inaugural sailing to investigate which of the sister ships is right for every kind of cruiser — from families to Disney adults!

• The Disney Treasure embarks on its maiden voyage later this month.
• Disney plans to double the size of its cruise fleet in the coming years.
• Disney plans to invest $60 billion in parks and cruises amid challenges for its TV business.

The 1,119-foot-long Disney Treasure is set to make its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida later this month as the entertainment giant embarks on a major expansion of its cruise operations.

The Treasure is one of seven new liners Disney plans to launch by 2031, more than doubling its fleet.

Disney is still a fairly small operator yet is enjoying "unprecedented growth" with very strong demand for its cruises, experiences chief Thomas Mazloum told Theme Park Insider last month.

"We offer a premium brand within the cruise sector and the occupancy, and frankly, the business is performing very well," he said.

The Treasure was christened by Disney CEO Bob Iger the night before it set sail as a display of 1,000 drones transformed into characters from films including "Aladdin" and "Moana" to the soundtrack of Disney songs. Singer Jordin Sparks also performed a song written for the ship, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Disney Adventure is due to come into service in the 2025 fiscal year and be based in Singapore, with the Disney Destiny arriving the following year.

Disney said last year it planned to almost double its investment on theme parks and cruises line to $60 billion over a decade.

The move comes amid the ongoing decline of its linear TV business. Its networks including ABC and cable channels saw profits fall 38% to $498 million for the third quarter, while revenue dropped 6% to $2.5 billion in the third quarter.

However, the entertainment giant reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter and surprised investors with a strong outlook for the next three years. Disney stock has gained more than 28% this year, valuing the company at $211 billion.

Investors seem unconcerned that public sparring between Iger and president-elect Donald Trump during his first term could affect Disney's creative output and CEO succession.

The passenger remained missing after The Ruby Princess docked in California on Monday, Dec. 1

• As a former cruise employee and frequent cruiser, I always organize my cabin on cruises.
• When packing for a cruise, I almost always bring a swimsuit and French press in my carry-on bag.
• I pay attention to safety procedures and listen to the captain's announcements.

I spent three years working on cruise ships. Now, I frequently enjoy sailing around the world as a passenger.

Here are the 10 things I always do while cruising to have the best trip possible.

Knowing my ports is key

Before I even get on board, I make sure I understand my cruise's itinerary and the actual location of our ports.

After all, I've seen itineraries that list cities like Paris, Berlin, and Rome — none of which are on the coast.

Although an itinerary says Rome, you may actually be docking in the coastal city of Civitavecchia, which is an hour away by train. Knowing this could change your plans for the whole day.

I use port guides and a map to discern where my ship will actually be docked.

My carry-on always has a swimsuit

I always pack a bathing suit in my carry-on to prepare for embarkation day.

Depending on what time I get on the ship, my cabin and luggage may not be available for several hours. By bringing a swimsuit, I can go in the pool or hot tub and sunbathe on the lido deck.

There's nothing like watching our port fade away from the comfort of a pool or hot tub on the lido deck.

I always pay attention to safety procedures

During the mandatory safety exercise on each sailing, I familiarize myself with the route from my room to my muster station.

It's best to be prepared for an emergency since disaster can strike at any time — I've even experienced ship-wide power failures at sea.

You'll never find me removing gratuity from my bill

I do my part to reward the hardworking crew by paying the daily gratuity charges, sometimes called crew appreciation.

Some passengers remove this charge from their bill, but I'd never dream of doing that. The crew works long hours every day on contracts that can last for several months on end.

In addition, I provide extra tips to my cabin steward and any other helpful dining or beverage staff.

Money is not the only way to show appreciation. I highlight excellent service by using the post-cruise survey to praise specific people and departments.

When appropriate, I also reward great service by completing the onboard comment cards at the front desk. These simple actions can help those employees earn raises or even promotions.

I wash my hands very often

Cruises are close-contact environments, and I wash my hands often throughout every trip.

After all, I've seen passengers at the buffet stick their hands in their mouths and then grab the salad tongs. Because of this, I also use a paper towel or napkin to touch the serving utensils at the buffet.

Frequent walks on the promenade deck are often a highlight of my trip

Even as a crew member, I'd enjoy walking on a ship's outside decks.

It's a good way to combine exercise with fresh sea air. The views are often outstanding, and I've been able to watch whales, birds, sunsets, and passing vessels.

It's also a good spot to go for the few times I feel seasick as the crisp outdoor air often eases my queasiness.

Always listen to the captain's announcements

On many cruises, you'll hear an announcement from your captain at least once a day.

Some guests just increase the volume of their conversations to drown out the announcements, but I always tune in. This is often when important information is communicated, such as itinerary changes and weather forecasts.

It's helpful to know if we're headed into a storm with large swells or if we'll be late to our next port.

I bring my own coffee

I've sailed with seven cruise lines, and I've rarely found a cup of coffee on board that meets my standards.

So, I bring my own French-press coffee maker and ground coffee. After a few minutes of steeping, I can have exactly what I brew at home.

If I'm trying to pack light, I just bring my favorite instant coffee.

My room stays organized throughout the trip

I unpack as soon as my luggage is delivered to my room, which helps me quickly adjust to my new environment.

I like to bring a magnetic dry-erase board that I use to map out my port and write down exercise routines. It also provides a means to communicate with my cabin steward as we sail — sometimes, I have even returned to a surprise work of art.

Packing magnetic hooks has also come in handy when there aren't enough places to hang items in my room.

Lastly, I always lean into themed parties and events

Many cruise ships have themed events or nights, and I love looking them up in advance so I can prepare my outfits.

I try to pack clothing to suit any occasion on board since there's nothing like dressing up on vacation.

The 'Ted Lasso' star appears in Princess Cruises' latest campaign — now as the "godmother" of its newest ship, Sun Princess

The 'Ted Lasso' star appears in Princess Cruises' latest campaign — now as the "godmother" of its newest ship, Sun Princess

The 'Treasure' pulled into New York Harbor on Wednesday for a special media preview ahead of its maiden voyage in December

Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes and a dazzling lineup of Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie stars kept the festive fun afloat

The new cruise will set sail from Miami and head to Cozumel, Mexico, where fans will get to explore Mayan ruins, from Nov. 6 - Nov. 10