We share a lot of cruise updates and advice on Cruise Blog, and this is a roundup of everything you may have missed from this week, including the cleanest cruise line and news about a passenger getting banned after fighting aboard a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas.
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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This was the "cleanest cruise line" in 2024, according to the CDC
Last year, the CDC inspected 151 ships as part of its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which evaluates everything from food preparation to public pools and medical facilities. However, only a fraction received perfect scores.
Among these, one line was the most consistent. Out of 30 perfect scores, Norwegian Cruise Line had 7 ships receive a flawless 100.
In fact, one vessel — Norwegian Breakaway — was inspected twice during the year and earned a perfect score both times. This level of consistency is difficult to maintain in the industry and highlights the line's commitment to maintaining high sanitation practices across its fleet.
Read more: This was the "cleanest cruise line" in 2024, according to the CDC
Cruise passenger banned for life after throwing chairs during violent brawl
A violent fight broke out aboard Carnival Sunrise last weekend, resulting in passengers being banned from sailing with the line again.
The incident happened at around 5:30pm on Saturday, June 7, after Carnival Sunrise had departed from Half Moon Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas.
Carnival Sunrise was halfway through a 4-night round-trip sailing from Miami, which departed on June 5, 2025.
Read more: Cruise passenger banned for life after throwing chairs during violent brawl
I bought Royal Caribbean’s drink package for my 7-night cruise. It was worth the $1,000 cost, even though I would have saved money without it
Drink packages are one of the most expensive add-ons, costing hundreds of dollars for a weeklong cruise. Although many cruisers skip them to save money, Elizabeth finds that they're worth the splurge and makes her vacation feel more inclusive.
Recently, she and her partner sailed aboard Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, on a 7-night voyage to the Eastern Caribbean. They both have Diamond status within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, so they get four complimentary drinks per day.
Still, they decided to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package for the trip, costing around $70 per person, per day, because they wanted the flexibility to enjoy cocktails by the pool, wine with dinner, and specialty coffees in the morning without checking their onboard statement.
Carnival Cruise Ships by Size: Largest to Smallest
Carnival Cruise Line is one of the most popular mainstream cruise lines at sea and has a large fleet of ships ranging from 70,000 to over 184,000 gross registered tons.
Today, Carnival has 29 ships in its fleet with another 2 expected to enter service between 2027 and 2028. The largest Carnival cruise ship is Carnival Jubilee, while the smallest is Carnival Elation.
We posted a deep dive into Carnival Cruise Line's entire fleet based on ship size from biggest to smallest, based on gross tonnage!
Read more: Carnival Cruise Ships by Size: Largest to Smallest
Look out, Florida! This Texas port is poised to become a top cruise spot
Although many cruisers expect to watch South Florida's skyline disappear into the horizon during sail away, a fast-growing port is making waves on the Gulf Coast.
Galveston, Texas, is quickly becoming one of the nation's top cruise departure ports. With major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises investing in new terminals, Galveston is being transformed from a regional favorite into a massive cruise hub.
Recently, Disney Cruise Line announced plans to sail from Galveston year-round, following companies like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Since 2012, Galveston has been a seasonal port for Disney.
Read more: Look out, Florida! This Texas port is poised to become a top cruise spot
Carnival copies Royal Caribbean's dining strategy with quick dinner service
It’s been over two years since Royal Caribbean updated its Main Dining Room menus to expedite service, and now Carnival seems to be following suit.
Carnival Cruise Line is testing a new express dinner service aboard Carnival Vista that will get you in and out of the dining room in 45 minutes. Generally, Carnival's dinner service takes around an hour and a half.
The test is only available for guests with Anytime Dining, so those who prefer the traditional seating won't have access to the quicker option.
Read more: Carnival copies Royal Caribbean's dining strategy with quick dinner service
Carnival VIFP Levels: Guide to Carnival Cruise's Loyalty Program
Carnival's VIFP Club rewards the line's most loyal cruisers with perks like priority boarding, free drinks, members-only rates, and access to exclusive events.
Although the benefits aren't as lucrative as other lines, Carnival continues to maintain a strong fan base. The perks are a nice way to boost the fun aboard Carnival's fleet that can't be replicated elsewhere!
Curious as to what being a "Very Important Fun Person" gets you? We broke down the benefits of each VIFP tier, the perks you can expect, and how to make the most of your Carnival cruise loyalty level in a recent post.
Read more: Carnival VIFP Levels: Guide to Carnival Cruise's Loyalty Program
Top 33 MSC Cruises questions answered
MSC Cruises is an Italian family-owned cruise line that invites travelers to experience the world at an affordable cost.
The uproar of MSC has caused the number of passengers to double in the last few years, with new terminals popping up in different parts of North America.
We answered 33 popular questions about MSC Cruises, ranging from dining concerns to embarkation ports, in the article below!
Read more: Top 33 MSC Cruises questions answered
I always do these 4 things when I get to my cruise cabin, and they make a huge difference
Having been on over 30 cruises, Elizabeth has gotten her embarkation day routine down pat.
While she always leaves room for a little spontaneity, there are a few things she always does as soon as she gets to her cruise ship cabin.
Here are four things she always does when she gets to her cruise stateroom that make a huge difference.
Read more: I always do these 4 things when I get to my cruise cabin, and they make a huge difference
I spent $4,000 on a 2-night cruise in Europe. It was a whirlwind, but I’m not sure I’d do it again
Would you fly across the Atlantic Ocean for a 2-night cruise? Most wouldn't even consider this, but Allie was excited to take on the challenge.
Last year, she embarked on an unforgettable trip to Europe for a 2-night cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. For just $99 per person, this cruise was dirt-cheap. Instead of spending thousands to fly to Europe during spring break, she decided to take a chance and use her airline's standby benefits.
Although flying standby helped keep costs down initially, she spent more than $4,000 on the whirlwind trip. Not having confirmed tickets was more stressful than anticipated, and she's not convinced the whirlwind trip was worth the cost.
Read more: I spent $4,000 on a 2-night cruise in Europe. It was a whirlwind, but I’m not sure I’d do it again
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!
