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 a look into a Grand Terrace Suite on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander and cruise ship tipping do's and don'ts.
For those busy but who want to stay updated on all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest overview of our recent articles.
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I paid $470 for a cheap cabin on MSC Cruises but got a balcony upgrade for free—take a look inside
What if you booked the cheapest cruise cabin but received a balcony upgrade for free?
That’s exactly what happened to Cruise.Blog reader Jackie and her husband Joe, who recently took a 4-night cruise on MSC Seashore, one of MSC Cruises’ newest and most modern ships.
They reserved a guarantee oceanview cabin for the sailing, which cost just $470 per person, including taxes, fees, and gratuities. When completing online check-in before the cruise, the couple was pleased to discover they had been upgraded to a Deluxe Balcony cabin.
Read more: I paid $470 for a cheap cabin on MSC Cruises but got a balcony upgrade for free—take a look inside
I tried a cruise line I'd always overlooked, but I liked it so much more thanks to really nice upgrades
Most people have heard of cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. However, there’s a relatively new player in the market: Margaritaville at Sea.
Margaritaville at Sea launched its first ship, the Paradise, in May 2022. A year later, the ship underwent a massive two-week dry dock before re-entering service in June. However, the cruise line launched another vessel in June 2024: Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
After overlooking the cruise line in favor of go-to's like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, Elizabeth finally tried Margaritaville at Sea, embarking on a 4-night cruise from Tampa to Mexico.
Passengers aboard cruise ship fall ill during possible norovirus outbreak
Holland America Line's Eurodam has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing with over 70 passengers ill onboard.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Eurodam has 79 sick guests onboard its current voyage which departed on February 18, 2025. 9 crew members are also reportedly ill.
The outbreak was reported to the CDC on February 23, 2025. 3.8% of passengers and 1.1% of crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms. There are 2,057 guests and 834 crew onboard.
Read more: Passengers aboard cruise ship fall ill during possible norovirus outbreak
Trump administration warns cruise ships "those taxes are going to be paid"
A Trump administration official blasted cruise ships for avoiding taxes.
Last week, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick appeared on Fox News to discuss President Donald Trump's plan to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service. He then ranted about how cruise ships, supertankers, and foreign-made alcohol avoid paying taxes.
"You ever see a cruise ship with an American flag on the back?... None of 'em pay taxes...This is going to end...and those taxes are going to be paid," Secretary Lutnick said.
Read more: Trump administration warns cruise ships "those taxes are going to be paid"
I tried a $2,000 suite on Margaritaville’s new cruise ship, and it was so much better than I expected
Recently, Elizabeth had the opportunity to stay in a Grand Terrance Suite on Margaritaville’s newest cruise ship on a 4-night voyage from Florida to Mexico and was more impressed than she thought she would be.
Her first impression of the cabin was that it didn't feel like it was on a 20+-year-old ship. The Grand Terrace Suite on Islander felt modern and well-maintained. It was evident a lot of thought went into the stateroom's refurbishment.
Read more about her experience in her review below!
Savvy cruiser bought cheap hammock to make his cruise ship balcony even better
There's nothing quite like lounging on your private balcony on a beautiful sea day or as your ship pulls into your next port of call.
However, one savvy passenger decided to bring a $20 hammock on his Royal Caribbean cruise. Robert Loeser shared photos from his cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas in a Facebook group.
There are plenty of cheap cruise cabin hacks, but this one might take the cake. Other hacks primarily focus on organization, such as bringing an over-the-door shoe organizer or magnetic hooks. While these hacks are still useful, they don't do much for guests who plan on spending a lot of time on their balconies.
Read more: Savvy cruiser bought cheap hammock to make his cruise ship balcony even better
Beloved Celebrity Cruise Captain announces she's leaving
One of the world’s most famous cruise ship captains announced she is stepping away from the helm.
Captain Kate McCue, widely recognized for her influential presence on social media, is bidding farewell to Celebrity Cruises after two decades with Royal Caribbean Group.
However, Captain Kate has decided to start a new chapter in life.
Read more: Beloved Celebrity Cruise Captain announces she's leaving
How Carnival is stuffing more people on its new cruise ships
Carnival Cruise Line is planning its biggest class of ships yet. However, with that, they're also planning to stuff as many passengers onboard as possible.
The new "FUN" ships will measure around 230,000 gross registered tons (GRT), making them larger than most of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, excluding Wonder and Utopia of the Seas. They're expected to be delivered in 2029, 2031, and 2033, respectively.
With over 3,000 cabins, they will have more staterooms than the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas. This means that at full capacity, Carnival's new ships can carry nearly 8,000 passengers, despite being smaller.
Read more: How Carnival is stuffing more people on its new cruise ships
11 do's and don'ts of cruise ship tipping
In addition to the base fare, cruisers must budget extra for gratuities, or tips for crew members.
Gratuities are divided to help cover the cost of everyone who works to make your vacation special, including cabin stewards, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and others who work behind the scenes and contribute to the overall cruise experience.
Read on about 11 do's and don'ts of tipping on a cruise ship.
Read more: 11 do's and don'ts of cruise ship tipping
Can you stay on the cruise ship at port?
You aren't forced off the ship on port days. Whether you've been to that specific destination before or want a rest day, you're free to stay on board when your ship is in port.
In fact, staying on the ship is a great way to enjoy the amenities with fewer crowds. Additionally, some ships offer special activities and deals for those who remain onboard.
For example, if you want a relaxing afternoon in the spa, you can often save money by booking a treatment on a port day. Alternatively, you may want to enjoy the pool deck with fewer crowds compared to a busy sea day.
Read more: Can you stay on the cruise ship at port?
Back to back cruises: Pros, cons, and how to book
Have you ever dreaded disembarkation day, wishing you could stay onboard for another cruise?
Many cruisers may find solace in booking a future sailing, but for those who aren't ready for the excitement to end, a back-to-back cruise can be the perfect solution.
Ready to learn more? Read our guide to booking back-to-back cruises.
Read more: Back to back cruises: Pros, cons, and how to book
Pricing data shows it's cheapest to book a cruise vacation much earlier than I thought
There’s no secret formula to determine the cheapest time to book a cruise.
For many, booking a cruise vacation requires careful budgeting. Costs can quickly add up, from the base cruise fare to shore excursions, internet packages, specialty dining, airfare, and more. Not to mention, cruise fares have continuously increased over the last few years.
Because no one can predict what will happen in the future, the best strategy we have to answer this question involves looking at history. By analyzing pricing data over the last 12 months, we can get a better idea of how cruise fares fluctuate over time.
Read more: Pricing data shows it's cheapest to book a cruise vacation much earlier than I thought
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.
