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, including Royal Caribbean's new beverage policy, Trinidad and Tobago's state of emergency, and how to find the best Carnival cruise deals.
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 our recent articles.
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I sailed on my first Disney cruise. I loved the Broadway-style shows but didn't enjoy all the food
At the ripe age of 25, guest writer Sarah finally decided it was time to sail with Disney Cruise Line. She and her partner booked a 3-night cruise on Disney Magic, where they sailed to Disney's new private destination in the Bahamas.
Having sailed on cruise lines such as Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, she knew this would be a different experience. However, the character parties, themed restaurants, and Broadway-style shows were nothing like she had experienced before.
Read more about her first Disney cruise experience in the article below!
Read more: I sailed on my first Disney cruise. I loved the Broadway-style shows but didn't enjoy all the food
Caribbean cruise port declares state of emergency over rising crime
An increase in deadly gang violence resulted in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago declaring a country-wide state of emergency on Monday.
The declaration came after a violent weekend, marked by gang-related shootings that left at least five men dead. Trinidad and Tobago recorded 623 homicides for the year to date, with gang-related activities accounting for over 260 of them.
Though emergency measures are designed to improve safety, cruise passengers should remain vigilant when ashore.
Read more: Caribbean cruise port declares state of emergency over rising crime
Carnival Cruise Line blamed for ruining Christmas over surprising banned item
One angry parent expressed frustration over Carnival Cruise Line's prohibited items policy when a Christmas present was confiscated during their boarding process.
The anonymous parent wrote to John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, explaining the port's security team took the Nerf gun they had bought for their child while in Disney World.
Heald responded by acknowledging the parent's frustration and disappointment. However, he reminded them about Carnival's prohibited items policy.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line blamed for ruining Christmas over surprising banned item
Royal Caribbean's new strict beverage policy upsets passengers
Royal Caribbean's new beverage policy aims to prevent guests from sharing drinks with passengers.
Sharing drinks is against the Deluxe Beverage Package's rules. The same rules apply to free casino drinks, which were sometimes shared with non-gamblers.
Under the new policy, Royal Caribbean is tightening enforcement by requiring bartenders to open beer cans before serving them.
Read more: Royal Caribbean's new strict beverage policy upsets passengers
I go on cruise ships most of the year, and there's one thing I always try to do on the first day of a cruise
Elizabeth has been on over 20 cruises and always strives to get an early check-in time to enhance her embarkation day experience.
Whenever she's stuck with a later arrival time, she feels like she's wasted the first day of her cruise. By boarding earlier, she can enjoy a leisurely lunch, explore the ship, or unpack before the action starts.
Read more about the pros of early arrival times in the article below!
These are the best new cruise ships that set sail in 2024
2024 was a huge year for the cruise industry.
With ships like Icon of the Seas, Disney Treasure, Utopia of the Seas, and Sun Princess making their grand debut, our team sailed on as many new ships as possible to determine whether they're worthy of your hard-earned money and vacation time.
2025 is gearing up to be an equally exciting year, and we hope this list will help you reflect on the newest, most innovative ships and give you a solid starting point for planning your next big adventure.
Read more: These are the best new cruise ships that set sail in 2024
Man falls overboard from cruise ship the day after Christmas, search suspended
A Christmas cruise for one family ended in tragedy last week when a 51-year-old passenger went overboard while sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line.
While the Norwegian Epic cruised from Jamaica to the Bahamas, a victim plummeted to the sea. A Holland America Line ship helped search for the missing man.
Unfortunately, the search efforts were not successful in locating the victim.
Read more: Man falls overboard from cruise ship the day after Christmas, search suspended
I've been cruising to the Caribbean for two decades. Here are 5 ports worth visiting — and one I'd skip
Elizabeth embarked on her first cruise aboard the Disney Magic to the Eastern Caribbean when she was just five years old. Since then, she's visited the Caribbean countless times on lines ranging from Royal Caribbean to Carnival.
Though she hasn't managed to cross every port off her list, she's visited ports in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman, exploring caves in Curaçao, and zip-lining through the lush canopies of Jamaica.
Having sailed to the Caribbean over 19 times, here are some of her favorite ports to visit — and one you may want to skip.
These were the 9 cleanest Carnival cruise ships this year, according to the CDC
Cruise ships are regularly inspected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to confirm they're maintaining a healthy and safe environment for passengers.
In 2024, only two Carnival ships received a perfect score: Carnival Magic (Inspected October 14, 2024) and Carnival Spirit (Inspected September 9, 2024).
Mardi Gras followed closely behind at 98. However, interestingly enough, there was a 6-way tie for the third cleanest Carnival ship of the year, with vessels as old as Carnival Valor and as new as Carnival Celebration receiving a score of 97.
Read more: These were the 9 cleanest Carnival cruise ships this year, according to the CDC
Elderly Cruise Passenger Dies After Falling From Wheelchair Into Ocean
An 82-year-old cruise passenger died in St. Maarten last Thursday after falling into the water from her electric wheelchair while on the pier.
According to the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the incident occurred around 5:00pm and was believed to be caused by a wheelchair malfunction.
The now-deceased passenger's identity hasn't been released, and it's not clear what ship she was sailing on. Moreover, KPSM didn't disclose the injuries sustained during the fall or whether the guest had pre-existing health conditions.
Read more: Elderly Cruise Passenger Dies After Falling From Wheelchair Into Ocean
Crew member reveals shocking truths about cruise ship tipping
Tipping on a cruise ship is a controversial topic. Most mainstream cruise lines will automatically add a daily gratuity to your onboard account. However, you also have the option to prepay them.
In addition to monetary tips, crew members appreciate personal gestures of gratitude, such as a kind note or verbal acknowledgment of their hard work.
How else can you thank the crew on your next cruise without constantly shelling out dollar bills? One crew member shared their thoughts in a post on the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread.
Read more: Crew member reveals shocking truths about cruise ship tipping
How to get the best Carnival cruise deals, according to cruise fans
Cruise prices are on the rise across the board. Taking a cruise is more expensive now than ever due to the skyrocketing demand for cruise travel.
It's common for cruisers to look for advice to save money on their vacation. Posted to the r/CarnivalCruiseFans subreddit, one prospective cruiser asked others how to find cheap Carnival fares in a post titled, “Best way to get cheap offers?”
The comment section was filled with Carnival cruisers sharing tips and advice for finding the best cruise fare deals.
Read more: How to get the best Carnival cruise deals, according to cruise fans
Captain Kate announces her Instagram-famous cat has passed away
Captain Kate McCue announced that her beloved cat, Bug Naked, passed away.
According to Captain Kate’s post, Bug had complications from a routine dental surgery the day after Christmas. Bug was only 8 years old at the time of her passing.
The Instagram-famous cat would travel with Captain Kate during contracts aboard Celebrity ships.
Read more: Captain Kate announces her Instagram-famous cat has passed away
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
