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 passenger who was critically injured on an excursion in Nassau and a look into a windowless cabin aboard Carnival Luminosa on a weeklong sailing to Alaska.
This is an easy-to-digest overview of our recent articles for busy bees who want to stay updated on all the helpful cruise advice we share.
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I stayed in a cruise cabin with no windows during a 7-night Alaska sailing. I’m shocked at how much I enjoyed my $1,700 stay
Elizabeth stayed in a windowless cabin on her weeklong cruise to Alaska, but it wasn't as bad as she thought.
Alaska is known for its snow-capped mountains, wildlife-filled waters, and dramatic fjords. It's nice when you can take in the scenery from your private balcony, but that luxury isn't cheap.
So, on her recent 7-night cruise aboard Carnival Luminosa, she kept her costs low by booking an interior stateroom.
Two-year-old unexpectedly dies on a cruise ship in front of parents
A toddler suddenly passed away on a 7-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Costa Toscana, the Italian line's newest ship that debuted in 2021.
The ship was en route from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, to Savona, Italy, when the child collapsed mid-play in front of his parents, Italian publication Notizie reported. Costa Toscana departed from Civitavecchia on May 17 and arrived in Savona by 8:30am on the 18th.
Attempts to revive the two-year-old were unsuccessful. The parents, who were from France, stayed with their son's body until Costa Toscana arrived in Savona.
Read more: Two-year-old unexpectedly dies on cruise ship in front of parents
Carnival cruise ship rescues 4 people and 3 dogs from disabled catamaran
Carnival Splendor rescued 4 people and 3 dogs off a disabled catamaran drifting in the South Pacific. The rescue happened on Thursday, May 22, on the third day of the ship's 8-night cruise from Sydney, Australia.
Carnival Splendor was sailing south of New Caledonia when they were alerted about the catamaran's distress call from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea.
It took Carnival Splendor five hours to reach the catamaran and successfully rescue two couples and their three dogs. According to Carnival Cruise Line, they were welcomed onboard the ship carrying 3,300 guests and are receiving food, water, and medical assistance.
Read more: Carnival cruise ship rescues 4 people and 3 dogs from disabled catamaran
I Live on a Cruise Ship Most of the Year for Free, What It's Like
Have you ever wondered what it's like to work on a cruise ship? Life at sea is vastly different than regular 9 to 5 jobs. It takes a special kind of dedication, adaptability, and resilience to thrive on a cruise ship.
One crew member employed by Carnival UK took to Reddit to share insight into what their life on P&O ships is like.
In the post titled, "I work and live on a cruise ship. [Ask me anything]," breckdeep candidly answers questions about the realities of ship life, including what the food for crew is like, as well as the demanding schedule.
Read more: I Live on a Cruise Ship Most of the Year for Free, What It's Like
I cruised to Alaska with Carnival after 4 sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas — I wasn’t prepared for these 7 surprises
Carnival is known for rowdy cruises to the sunny Caribbean and Bahamas. However, they also offer itineraries to places like Europe, the South Pacific, and Australia.
Recently, Elizabeth embarked on a weeklong cruise to Alaska aboard Carnival Luminosa. The 7-night cruise sailed from Seattle to Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
It was different from any other Carnival cruise she had been on, including a short getaway to the Bahamas aboard Carnival Elation and a Caribbean voyage aboard the line's newest ship at the time, Carnival Celebration.
Here are 7 things she wishes she had known before embarking on a Carnival cruise to The Last Frontier.
6 reasons I’m even more excited for Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico
Royal Caribbean is determined to make its Perfect Day experience even better.
The cruise line recently revealed details about its upcoming Perfect Day Mexico project set to welcome passengers in 2027, and it's going to be amazing.
Perfect Day Mexico promises to elevate the private destination experience with the same blend of thrill and chill that has made CocoCay a sought-after and unforgettable port of call.
Read more: 6 reasons I’m even more excited for Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico
Passengers told cruise ship captain suddenly died during sailing
Captain Michele Bartolomei suddenly passed away during a 19-night cruise around Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China while fulfilling his duties at the helm Diamond Princess.
Guests aboard the sailing reported being awoken by a late-night announcement around 2:00am, calling for the medical team to report to the medical center on Deck 4.
Hours later, it was confirmed that Captain Bartolomei passed away as the Diamond Princess arrived in Taipei, Taiwan.
Read more: Passengers told cruise ship captain suddenly died during sailing
I skipped the pricey cruise line excursions in Alaska and booked with a third party. It was easier and better than expected
A cruise to Alaska isn't complete without amazing tours. From helicopter rides over towering glaciers to wildlife excursions and dog sledding adventures, there's no shortage of activities for all interests.
However, before making any reservations, you might wonder whether booking directly through your cruise line or a third party is worth it.
Elizabeth spent the afternoon on a tour through Shore Excursions Group and would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the famous Mendenhall Glacier on a budget, while still having time to grab fresh seafood in downtown Juneau.
I brought a 12-pack of soda on a Carnival cruise — Here's why it was a smart hack
Did you know you can bring your own drinks on a Carnival cruise?
While Elizabeth has brought wine on cruise ships before, it took her over 30 sailings to finally haul a 12-pack of soda onboard.
Instead of buying Carnival's pricey CHEERS! package, she decided to keep her costs as low as possible by purchasing soda at a local supermarket en route to the terminal on embarkation day.
Read more: I brought a 12-pack of soda on a Carnival cruise — Here's why it was a smart hack
Carnival cruise passenger critically injured in the Bahamas
A 22-year-old cruise passenger sailing aboard Carnival Sunrise was critically injured after falling off a ferry during an excursion in Nassau to Pearl Island.
Hannah Smith, a recent college graduate from Memphis, Tennessee, embarked on the cruise with a friend to celebrate the milestone.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse en route back to the cruise ship when Smith went overboard and was sucked into the ferry's propellers.
Read more: Carnival cruise passenger critically injured in the Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line experiments with adults-only cruises for the first time
One of the most family-friendly cruise lines is kicking kids off select sailings.
Carnival notified passengers booked on Carnival Magic's November 1, 2025, voyage that the ship will be adults-only due to an "operational change." The reason is that the sailing is now a special Casino Event cruise part of the line's Players Club program. As such, all guests must be at least 21 years old.
That's not all, either. Reddit users have reported seeing new "SEA" sailings exclusively for adults available aboard Carnival Conquest.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line experiments with adults-only cruises for the first time
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!
