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 first look at MSC's newest cruise ship sailing from Miami, Florida, and Norwegian's plans to make its private island in the Bahamas even better.
This is an easy-to-digest overview of our recent articles for busy bees who want to stay updated on this week's news and tips.
Sign up for our Cruise Blog Newsletter if you want the roundup delivered directly to your email inbox in the future!
I tried Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class for the first time. I hated the crowds but loved the never-ending activities
When Sarah started cruising, she never knew there were ships as big as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class.
She began cruising on smaller vessels such as Freedom of the Seas, Carnival Elation, and Disney Magic. Though she enjoyed every cruise, the smaller ships did not have as much entertainment, and she would sometimes get bored or tired of relaxing on the pool deck.
Sarah recently returned from a 7-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship launched in 2022. While she loved the activities and dining options, she wasn't a fan of the large crowds.
A first look in photos: MSC World America, MSC’s largest cruise ship for U.S. passengers
When you combine the best parts of ships from several major cruise lines on one vessel and mix in some new innovations, the result is MSC World America. After more than a decade of trying to woo North American passengers, MSC Cruises is likely to have found a winner with the latest in its behemoth World Class of ships.
You can expect to find plenty of glitzy restaurants, cozy bars, retail outlets, attention-grabbing shows, and adrenaline-pumping pursuits, including a new robo-swing attraction that juts passengers out over the side of the ship.
Ashley was lucky enough to be one of the first passengers onboard and gave us a first look at the ship to help you decide if it might be right for you.
Read more: A first look in photos: MSC World America, MSC’s largest cruise ship for U.S. passengers
The Cruise Line That’s Quietly Taking Over the World
Most people have heard of North American-based cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. However, the European line MSC Cruises has a solid plan to infiltrate the global cruise market — and it's working.
At this year's Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami, Florida, MSC Cruises USA Chairman Rick Sasso revealed five key pillars that have propelled MSC to the top of the cruise game: Volume, Value, Voice, Variety, and Vision.
To put it into perspective, MSC Cruises brought its first ship to North America in 2019. By 2025, they have built the world's largest cruise terminal in Miami and christened MSC World America, the line's first purpose-built ship designed exclusively for the Caribbean.
Read more: The Cruise Line That’s Quietly Taking Over the World
Teenager sentenced to prison after faking a bomb threat on a Carnival ship
A Michigan teenager was sentenced to eight months in prison for faking a bomb threat on a Carnival cruise. The 19-year-old was upset that his girlfriend and her family were sailing without him, while he was stuck at home pet-sitting.
Joshua Darrell Lowe appeared in federal court in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Monday, April 14, 2025, and was sentenced to prison for calling in a bogus bomb threat in January 2024. The email, which read, "Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship," resulted in a full-scale response from the crew and authorities.
For starters, the crew aboard Carnival Sunrise had to check over 1,000 cabins to ensure everyone's safety, while the U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaica Marine Police were also called in to assist and escort the ship to port.
Read more: Teenager sentenced to prison after faking a bomb threat on a Carnival ship
I took my first cruise and am hooked, but I made rookie mistakes on my Carnival sailing
There are a lot of intricacies when planning a cruise compared to a land vacation. For instance, unlike traditional restaurants, dining on a ship usually means set times for meals. Without knowing the difference, you could select a time you're unhappy with.
Posting to the r/CarnivalCruiseFans thread on Reddit, Dangernood69 wrote about their first cruise aboard Carnival Valor, a Conquest Class ship launched in 2004. Though it was an overall positive experience, they made a few "rookie" mistakes and wanted to share them with others.
Read more: I took my first cruise and am hooked, but I made rookie mistakes on my Carnival sailing
This is the most popular cabin type on any cruise ship, and I sailed in one on MSC World America
Offering natural light, access to fresh air, and, often, additional space, balcony cabins are the most popular cruise ship accommodations. Ashley has stayed in dozens of them, but the latest was on the brand-new MSC World America, MSC Cruises’ latest World Class vessel sailing from Miami.
Although the ship resembles some members of the Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line fleets in layout and onboard offerings, its cabins are more reminiscent of MSC’s Seaside Class ships, featuring elegant but simple furniture and a neutral color scheme.
Here’s what she liked and what she didn’t, so you can see if a Deluxe Balcony cabin will meet your needs the next time you set sail.
Read more: This is the most popular cabin type on any cruise ship, and I sailed in one on MSC World America
Cruise passenger denied boarding serves as a tough reminder for everyone
Historically, all you need to board a domestic plane in the United States is a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license. Cruise ships, however, are stricter, and if you fail to provide proper documentation, you will be denied boarding.
For example, when Elizabeth was boarding Margaritaville at Sea's Islander in Tampa, she saw a family get pulled to the side because someone in their party had only brought a driver's license. While driver's licenses can be used to check in for a cruise, there are additional requirements, including a state-issued birth certificate for closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports.
Recently, one family was denied boarding due to one child using their student ID as photo identification. Port agents said the school ID wasn't acceptable, though they confirmed it with Royal Caribbean before arriving in Port Canaveral.
Read more: Cruise passenger denied boarding serves as a tough reminder for everyone
MSC cancels cruise to the Bahamas because of propulsion problem
Guests anxiously awaiting an upcoming MSC cruise were delivered bad news: their sailing is canceled due to a mechanical problem affecting the ship's speed.
MSC made the difficult decision to cancel MSC Meraviglia’s May 11 cruise to the Bahamas. The weeklong sailing was slated to depart from New York’s Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and call at Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
"Due to a mechanical issue affecting the ship’s ability to operate at standard cruising speeds, we must proceed with necessary repairs. As a result, and with deep regret, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel your upcoming sailing," the notice to passengers reads.
Read more: MSC cancels cruise to the Bahamas because of propulsion problem
Cruise line spends $150 million to make its private island even better
Norwegian Cruise Line broke ground on its $150 million project at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Currently, guests have to tender ashore. However, the new development includes the construction of a pier that will allow two ships to dock.
Royal Caribbean headed a similar project in 2019, and it seems Norwegian wants a slice of Royal's massive success with Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Now, Norwegian is stepping up its game to stay competitive. In addition to the pier, Norwegian is building a large heated pool with a swim-up bar and poolside cabanas, splash pad, adults-only area, and tram service.
Read more: Cruise line spends $150 million to make its private island even better
5 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking into a Cruise Ship Dining Room Ever Again
Eating is a quintessential part of any cruise vacation, from the all-you-can-eat buffet to indulgent three-course meals in the dining room. Because of the variety of dining options, you're unlikely to go hungry while onboard — there will always be something tasty to satisfy your palate!
However, there are a few odd quirks about cruising that someone new to vacations at sea might not expect. For example, eating dinner in a cruise ship dining room is unlike anything you'd experience at a traditional restaurant at home.
Read on to find out which cringey things about eating in a cruise ship dining room might catch you off guard.
Read more: 5 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking into a Cruise Ship Dining Room Ever Again
I've been on 29 cruises and beg cruisers not to make this huge embarkation day mistake
Living in North Carolina means Elizabeth isn't a short drive to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Instead, she must factor in the cost of airfare.
Flying is more convenient than driving, but it comes with specific considerations. Though it might be easy to rebook another flight to your land destination, such as New York or Cancun, cruise ships operate on tight schedules and can't wait for late guests.
Whether you're a first-time cruiser or seasoned sailor, she urges passengers planning an upcoming cruise to avoid this huge embarkation day mistake.
Read more: I've been on 29 cruises and beg cruisers not to make this huge embarkation day mistake
Cristiano Ronaldo bizarrely stars in cruise line ad
Cristiano Ronaldo made a bizarre appearance in a new advertisement for a small cruise line with a single ship.
Ronaldo, one of the world's most famous soccer stars, was seen in an Instagram ad with his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, promoting Aroya Cruises, a Saudi Arabian cruise line. The one-minute video begins with Rodríguez scrolling through her phone past images of luxury cars and jets before pausing at a picture of a cruise ship.
“Georgina and I are happy to feature in this campaign together and can’t wait to take our family on a cruise. We enjoy the Saudi lifestyle, and Aroya Cruises is intrinsically Arabian, from its design to its cuisine. Yalla Aroya Cruises!” said Ronaldo.
Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo bizarrely stars in cruise line ad
I've taken over 15 cruises during the shoulder season. Here's how sailing during the off-season can save you a lot of money
Let’s face it — cruises aren’t as cheap as they used to be. However, that doesn’t mean finding affordable fares is impossible!
Cruising during the shoulder season, AKA the beginning or end of a region's peak tourist season, is one of the easiest ways to save money on your cruise.
Whether you're working with a strict budget or want to allocate more money toward add-ons like shore excursions and drink packages, booking during the shoulder season allows you to enjoy significant savings since the demand is lower.
Cruise bartender shares how much she makes working on a ship
From engineers to cabin stewards, dining staff, and officers, running a cruise ship requires a massive team. Among them are bartenders, who work long shifts shaking cocktails.
A good bartender can make any vacation more enjoyable, but have you ever wondered how much pouring drinks on a cruise ship pays?
Posting to the r/Cruise Reddit thread, Queasy-Objective250 shared some insight into life as a bartender at sea. She received over 130 comments on their post titled, "I worked as a bartender on a cruise ship for 6 months. [Ask me anything]."
Read more: Cruise bartender shares how much she makes working on a 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!
