We share a lot of cruise updates and advice on Cruise Blog, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week, including Carnival's fleet expansion and our review of Wonder of the Seas.
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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Cruise passenger banned for life after stealing someone else's bag
Most guests leave their luggage with porters before embarking on a cruise ship under the assumption it will be safely delivered to their cabins. However, that wasn't the case for one unlucky Carnival passenger.
Jason and Tammy Merritt were looking forward to celebrating their anniversary on an 8-night cruise aboard Carnival Magic in early February. Things quickly went downhill when Jason's bag never made it to his stateroom.
The culprit had stolen the bag and kept it in their stateroom during back-to-back sailings. According to Merritt, she's been banned from cruising with Carnival again.
Read more: Cruise passenger banned for life after stealing someone else's bag
Carnival Cruise Line expands fleet with two new ships in 2025
2025 is gearing up to be an exciting year for Carnival Cruise Line as the cruise giant prepares for two new ships.
Two former P&O Australia ships—Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure—are set to join Carnival's fleet as Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure in March.
As Grand Class cruise ships, Adventure and Encounter measure around 109,000 gross registered tons (GRT), making them roughly the same size as Carnival's Conquest Class.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line expands fleet with two new ships in 2025
Royal Caribbean offers clever solution for annoying problem at world's busiest cruise port
Miami is home to one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. As such, it's not uncommon for upwards of eight vessels to be in port on the same day, meaning thousands of guests are embarking and disembarking daily.
This constant flow of travelers has led to significant traffic, especially during peak cruise times when ships like Icon of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas are in port.
To combat the problem, Royal Caribbean has begun offering complimentary bus shuttles on disembarkation day to help consolidate the flow of passengers and reduce congestion.
Read more: Royal Caribbean offers clever solution for annoying problem at world's busiest cruise port
Norovirus outbreak infects over 80 people on a 16-night cruise
Carnival's Princess Cruises reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on one of its ships with over 80 sick people onboard.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coral Princess had 69 ill passengers onboard the February 21, 2025 voyage. 13 crew members were also unwell, bringing the total affected on the 91,627 gross registered ton (GRT) ship to 82.
The outbreak was reported to the CDC on March 7, 2025. 3.62% of passengers and 1.45% of crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms. There were 1,906 guests and 895 crew onboard.
Read more: Norovirus outbreak infects over 80 people on a 16-night cruise
I tried Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas: Is a mega ship the best?
Elizabeth finally tried a cruise ship that had been on her radar for years, but it wasn’t as different as she thought.
Her first-ever vacation on an Oasis Class ship was over a decade ago, so she's watched the evolution of these massive vessels, from the addition of the Ultimate Abyss to the expansion of dining options. When Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, she knew she eventually had to sail onboard to see how she compared to the original Oasis Class ships.
Read her review of Wonder of the Seas below!
Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas: Is a mega ship the best?
Carnival Cruise Line Changes Itineraries for Four Ships
Carnival adjusted itineraries on four ships departing in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Last week, Carnival Cruise Line contacted passengers on four ships to alert them of changes to their itinerary. The adjustments impact 12 sail dates over the next two years, ranging from short Bahamas getaways to 12-night Southern Caribbean voyages from Manhattan.
Carnival Venezia, Sunrise, Horizon, and Mardi Gras are impacted. If your cruise was changed, you should have received an email from Carnival or your travel agent. However, you can contact the cruise line with any questions about your particular voyage.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line Changes Itineraries for Four Ships
8 things I wish I'd known before going on my first Margaritaville cruise
Margaritaville is one of the newest cruise lines at sea. As such, even veteran cruisers might not know what to expect on a ship where it's always 5 o'clock onboard!
All jokes aside, Elizabeth recently sailed onboard Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship, the Islander, on a 4-night getaway from Tampa to Progreso, Mexico. While most of the overall cruise experience was consistent with what you might expect on popular lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, there were a few distinct features that set Margaritaville apart.
Here are 8 things she wishes she had known before going on a Margaritaville cruise.
Read more: 8 things I wish I'd known before going on my first Margaritaville cruise
"I can feel my arteries clogging": Carnival cruise's new menu item concerns cruisers over lack of healthy choices
Carnival Cruise Line added a menu item to a popular onboard restaurant, sparking a debate about how healthy cruise ship food really is.
John Heald, Carnival's social media-famous Brand Ambassador, took to Facebook to share Guy's Burger Joint's new burger, the BBQ Rum Runner.
While many Carnival guests are excited about the new addition, others raised concerns about the lack of healthy food options on cruise ships.
I paid over $3,500 to stay in tiny, windowless cabins on two mega Royal Caribbean ships. One was better than the other
Within the past few years, Elizabeth stayed in interior cabins on countless cruise ships, including two of the largest in the world: Symphony and Wonder of the Seas. Though nearly identical, the Oasis Class ships have some stark differences, including their staterooms.
Interior cabins may not have the luxury of an ocean view or balcony, but with the variety of activities on Oasis Class ships, they're an affordable way to experience everything these engineering marvels offer without breaking the bank.
Here's her comparison of the cheapest cabins on two of Royal Caribbean's mega-ships.
I've been on nearly 30 cruises. Here are 8 big mistakes passengers make
Having been on over 25 cruises, Elizabeth can confidently say that cruising is one of the most exciting and relaxing ways to travel. However, even seasoned cruisers can make costly mistakes that leave a sour taste in their mouths.
She's had her fair share of slip-ups, from forgetting to place her phone in airplane mode to booking pricey last-minute excursions. These mistakes can quickly add up, making your vacation more expensive than planned and causing you unnecessary stress.
Here are 8 costly cruising mistakes and practical tips on how to avoid them, so you can make the most of your cruise vacation.
Read more: I've been on nearly 30 cruises. Here are 8 big mistakes passengers make
New Celebrity Cruise sale offers big savings on exotic sailings
Celebrity Cruises released its newest Galápagos expeditions for 2027, offering travelers an all-inclusive option to explore the infamous Galápagos in style and comfort.
As exciting as that is, Celebrity is making it even more enticing by offering exclusive early booking deals for those eager to reserve their once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
From now through May 1, 2025, travelers who book their 2027 expedition cruise aboard Celebrity Flora can save 50% on the second guest in their stateroom and enjoy complimentary airfare when booking flights from the United States or Canada directly through Celebrity (up to $750 per person).
Read more: New Celebrity Cruise sale offers big savings on exotic sailings
What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?
Recently, a Royal Caribbean cruise passenger went overboard while sailing on Explorer of the Seas. Unfortunately, it wasn't a one-time occurrence. Though not insanely common, it's not rare for passengers to go overboard while on a cruise.
Even if you've never seen a cruise ship deploy its lifeboats to aid in the search and rescue mission, you've likely seen new headlines about people falling overboard.
When a passenger goes overboard, the situation is immediately treated as an emergency, and the cruise ship’s crew jumps into action.
Read more: What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
