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 a massive fight in Carnival's terminal and a cost breakdown of a weeklong sailing on the world's largest ship.
For busy bees 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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Carnival Cruise Line cancels sailings, here's why
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled several sailings aboard two of its vessels due to dry dock rescheduling for 2026.
The itinerary cancellations impact multiple Caribbean itineraries on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic during the spring of 2026. In addition, one unique repositioning cruise was cancelled.
Carnival Magic will now enter dry dock between April 18, 2026, and May 24, 2026; however, the ship was initially scheduled to enter dry dock in the fall of 2025. In addition, Carnival Dream’s 13-night transatlantic sailing during the summer of 2026 has been cancelled.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line cancels sailings, here's why
I spent $7,400 on a 7-night trip on the world’s biggest cruise ship. Here's what everything cost, from a $3,800 cabin to a $990 drink package
Cruising has never been pricier, as the soaring demand has driven up fares across the industry. In addition to higher fares, onboard add-ons, including drink packages, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions, have also been subject to price hikes.
Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries in size, amenities, and price. When she launched in January 2024, it wasn't uncommon to find windowless inside cabins advertised for $2,000 per person!
Elizabeth knew her vacation aboard Icon of the Seas would be more expensive than other Caribbean cruises, so she booked her 7-night trip nearly 16 months in advance to give herself plenty of time to budget and prepare.
I rode a first-of-its-kind swing on a cruise ship. The extra-cost ride was surprisingly thrilling but left me feeling dizzy
“How scary can it be?” is what Ashley thought to herself when she first learned of Cliffhanger, a mechanical swing ride that propels people out over the side of MSC Cruises’ new MSC World America cruise ship.
Given that new vessels have debuted in recent years with aerial bikes, roller coasters, and even attractions that flip riders upside down, a swing seemed tame in comparison.
So, is Cliffhanger on MSC World America worth trying out? Here’s her take on the experience, along with everything you’ll want to know, from pricing to height requirements.
Two dozen passengers banned for life after a massive fight breaks out on Carnival's newest cruise ship
24 passengers were banned from sailing with Carnival Cruise Line after a massive fight broke out in Galveston's cruise terminal while collecting their luggage.
Trelle Ray shared a one-minute video of the incident on Facebook, saying, "It went down this morning." The clip shows a large group of guests shoving past barriers inside the terminal. At least one person was pushed to the ground and punched while security guards tried to break up the brawl. There was also one arrest made.
The guests had just disembarked Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, after a weeklong Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas. The 7-night itinerary called at Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Roatán, Honduras.
I took my grandma on a Carnival cruise. We made great memories, but not everything went as expected
Jenna took her grandma on a 4-night Carnival cruise, and while they mostly had fun, they also encountered some unexpected challenges. Whether crazy lines at the cruise terminal or long waits to go ashore, not everything went to plan.
They boarded Carnival Firenze, one of Carnival’s newest vessels, for a 4-night getaway from Long Beach. The short cruise was filled with exciting adventures, but it wasn’t all sunshine and roses.
Even though the duo had a great time, these mishaps almost wreaked havoc on their Carnival cruise vacation.
Read more: I took my grandma on a Carnival cruise. We made great memories, but not everything went as expected
One cruise line just came up with the best drinks at sea, and you've probably never heard of it
Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship features more drinks than basic Bahama Mamas and strawberry daiquiris.
Enjoying a refreshing poolside cocktail or sipping on a glass of wine before an evening show are quintessential cruise experiences. However, guests will find an enhanced beverage program designed to be different than your average cruise ship bar aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander.
To learn more about what sets the Islander’s beverage experience apart, we spoke with Eric Neuwirth, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Margaritaville at Sea. During our conversation, Neuwirth shared that the vision behind the Islander’s beverage program was to bring Buffett's carefree lifestyle to life through its drinks.
Read more: One cruise line just came up with the best drinks at sea, and you've probably never heard of it
There are 5 choices I'm really glad I made on my cruise on the world's largest ship — but one thing I'd skip next time for a better experience
Elizabeth recently returned from a 7-night cruise aboard the world's largest ship, Icon of the Seas. She had been looking forward to this particular vacation for nearly a year and a half, and though hours of planning helped ensure a memorable experience, there's one mistake she wouldn't make again.
Her partner's dad always says, "If you're going to do something, do it right," and they took that advice to heart when planning our Icon cruise. From the unlimited drink and dining packages to shore excursions and unique onboard attractions, the couple made the most of our weeklong vacation.
In doing so, they unintentionally overexerted themselves. Here are the five things that were worth the extra cost on this trip and the one thing she'd skip next time.
From pigs to stingrays, these are the 5 things to do on a cruise that tourists can't get enough of
Planning shore excursions is one of the most exciting parts of a cruise. While the ship is certainly a unique destination, the activities are lacking compared to Caribbean, Alaska, and European tours. You can't, for example, swim with stingrays on a cruise ship or take a helicopter to the top of a glacier!
Shore Excursions Group, one of the world’s largest shore excursion providers, revealed that travelers in 2025 are chasing more adventure, culture, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences than ever before. This means cruise passengers are booking more immersive and bucket-list-worthy experiences at each port of call, rather than basic snorkeling tours or simply roaming the shops.
Here are five of the most popular cruise tours right now.
Read more: From pigs to stingrays, these are the 5 things to do on a cruise that tourists can't get enough of
Best Ways to Get From the Miami Airport to Cruise Port
PortMiami is the busiest cruise port in the world, surpassing Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. As such, the Miami International Airport is the first point of entry for millions of passengers each year.
Getting from the Miami airport to the cruise port is easy enough, with the airport located less than 10 miles away. However, not all transportation options are created equally. While some cruisers may want the cheapest options, others might want to splurge on private transfers to kickstart their vacation in luxury.
Between shuttle buses, rideshares, taxis, and private transportation, there are plenty of ways to make the short journey from the Miami airport to the "Cruise Capital of the World."
Read more: Best Ways to Get From the Miami Airport to Cruise Port
Carnival publicly responds to unruly cruise ship fight
Carnival's Brand Ambassador spoke out after a massive brawl broke out in Carnival's Galveston cruise terminal.
24 passengers were involved in a violent fight after disembarking Carnival Jubilee, the cruise line's newest ship, on Saturday, April 26. Consequently, the two dozen guests were banned from cruising with Carnival ever again, while a 21-year-old was arrested.
John Heald, Carnival's social media-famous Brand Ambassador, shared his thoughts about the clash on his Facebook page, which has over 612,000 followers. Unfortunately, he wasn't surprised by the behavior, saying that the etiquette of guests at theme parks and cruises is akin to "a pack of starving hyenas" these days.
Read more: Carnival publicly responds to unruly cruise ship fight
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 over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
