We share lots of cruise updates and advice on Cruise Blog, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week.
If you are busy but want to keep up with all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest look at the recent articles we've shared.
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What a 7-night Carnival cruise should cost you
Not sure how much a 7-night Carnival cruise should cost you? The answer depends on your personal preferences. You could spend half what another passenger spent on the same cruise if you opt for the cheapest stateroom and limit your onboard spending.
That said, here are some key factors that will influence the overall cost of your Carnival cruise.
Read more: Here's what a 7-night Carnival cruise should cost you
I took a 7-night cruise with just a carry-on. I forgot these important things and wasted space on other items
Allie recently returned from a 7-night cruise to Canada and New England onboard Norwegian Jade. Because most of her cruises are in the sunny Caribbean, she struggled to pack for this cooler-weather cruise. Moreover, she didn’t want to pay for checked luggage so she opted to cruise with just a carry-on suitcase.
Here’s how Allie's packing strategy went amiss, including a few items she forgot and some that wasted space.
Cruise ships change itineraries to dodge Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a major hurricane this week, targeting Florida's Gulf Coast. This hurricane impacted many cruise itineraries. Affected ships include:
- Margaritaville at Sea Islander
- Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
- Carnival Pride
- Carnival Paradise (More details here)
- Carnival Elation
- Carnival Glory
- Disney Magic
- Disney Wish (More details here)
- Sun Princess
- Valiant Lady
- Celebrity Reflection
- Harmony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Adventure of the Seas
- Utopia of the Seas
- Icon of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
- Independence of the Seas
- Grandeur of the Seas
Read more: Cruise ships change itineraries to dodge Hurricane Milton
How I spent $50 on a Carnival cruise to find the best deal
Hayley and Allie's trip on Carnival Valor was originally a 4-night sailing from New Orleans with a stop in Mexico. However, since they sailed during hurricane season, storms impacted the itinerary. The cruise was adjusted to a 3-night sailing with no port stops—just two nights at sea.
Since they decided to sail, they were given $100 of onboard credit for their stateroom—$50 each. They immediately brainstormed how best to spend their $50 onboard during their Carnival cruise.
Read more: How I spent $50 on a Carnival cruise to find the best deal
Carnival bans cruise passenger for life over this surprising item
Two Carnival Cruise Line guests were banned for life after smuggling a handgun onboard their cruise ship. To make matters worse, the couple posted about the incident on social media, catching the attention of the cruise line.
Read more: Carnival bans cruise passenger for life over this surprising item
7 Dollar Tree items I bought for my cruise that saved me money and stress
While cruise prices have been increasing over the last few years, so have everyday items that you need for your vacation.
We recommend checking out your local dollar store before setting sail on your next cruise. From travel-sized essentials to must-have cruise items, Allie found plenty of great finds during her visit to the Dollar Tree. She was left quite impressed by the shopping experience and the many treasures she found for a fraction of the cost.
Read more: 7 Dollar Tree items I bought for my cruise that saved me money and stress
I took cruises on a 1-year-old Carnival Cruise Line ship and a 27-year-old ship
If you take one look at Carnival’s oldest and newest cruise ship, you can easily see how cruise ship design has evolved over the last few decades. While traditional ships were built to be smaller and offer a more simple onboard experience, modern-day vessels are massive, floating resorts.
Here are the most surprising differences between Carnival’s 27-year-old ship, Carnival Sunshine, and its newest ship, Carnival Jubilee.
I tried specialty restaurants for the first time on my Norwegian cruises
Hayley has sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line nine times, but until her most recent voyages, she had never set foot in one of their specialty restaurants.
When she was on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Jade, Hayley finally took the plunge and dined at three of Norwegian’s classic specialty restaurants. Her mission was to find out if they were worth the extra charge.
Read more: I tried my first extra cost restaurant on my cruise, and I'm not sure I would do it again
7 things that surprised me about sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships
Having sailed on some of the world's newest and largest ships, Elizabeth has recently explored older ships to see why they remain popular among many cruisers.
She came away with a newfound appreciation for older vessels after spending 5 nights onboard Vision of the Seas. Everything from the Main Dining Room's food quality to the hidden nooks around the ship made for a memorable cruise experience.
Read more: 7 things that surprised me about sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships
Angie Vognild
Angie Vognild has a love for cruising, with her first cruise at just one year old. Since then, she has traveled to nearly 40 countries and been on over 30 cruises. Her favorite cruises were to the Holy Land on Odyssey of the Seas in 2022 and Japan on Spectrum of the Seas in 2019.
