This is a helpful roundup of everything you may have missed from this week on Cruise Blog, including news about passengers getting arrested in Miami and what it's like to cruise during a hurricane.
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Carnival passengers arrested after using fraudulent gift cards to pay for their cruise
Two Carnival cruisers were arrested at PortMiami on suspicion of operating an extensive retail fraud scheme targeting Winn-Dixie stores.
Rogerio da Cunha Fernandes, 45, and Aida Parada la Paz, 43, were arrested on Monday, August 18, 2025, after disembarking their Carnival cruise ship in Miami, Florida.
A third suspect, Beatriz Paz-Roca, 66, was detained a few hours later outside a Winn-Dixie store in Doral, Florida, where she fraudulently bought a $150 Amazon gift card.
Read more: Carnival passengers arrested after using fraudulent gift cards to pay for their cruise
False alarm triggers man overboard situation on Disney cruise ship
Hours after departing Nassau, Bahamas, guests sailing aboard the Disney Wish were alarmed when the secret emergency code for "man overboard" was broadcast throughout the ship.
Around 8:00pm on August 26, the Disney Wish began to slow down, and crew members jumped into immediate search and rescue efforts. According to eyewitnesses, crew members were throwing life rings over the port side of the ship, and at least two rescue boats were deployed.
However, it was later revealed that no passengers or crew members went overboard. Instead, the alarm was likely sounded because of debris in the ocean.
Read more: False alarm triggers man overboard situation on Disney cruise ship
I tried Margaritaville after 10 cruises with Royal Caribbean. Here's what I liked and disliked about the Islander
After a dozen cruises only on Royal Caribbean in the past few years, John decided it was time for a change. Living in Florida, he has a good selection of cruise lines to pick from; however, he recently heard about the refurbished Margaritaville at Sea Islander and gave it a try.
First, he was greatly impressed with the ship's refurbishment. There are a few hints that it was built in 2000, but it looked like a brand-new ship to him.
Here are some other observations from John's first cruise on Margaritaville.
Norwegian Aqua Cruise Ship Inside Cabin Photos + Review
Elizabeth stayed in the cheapest cabin aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua.
There are cabin types for all travelers, ranging from balconies to spacious multi-story suites. However, she chose the most affordable stateroom onboard: a standard interior cabin. Although the stateroom lacked natural light, it surprised her with its smart storage options and modern design.
Overall, Elizabeth's interior stateroom on Norwegian Aqua was the perfect home-away-from-home for a 4-night getaway.
Read more: Norwegian Aqua Cruise Ship Inside Cabin Photos + Review
Dramatic Video Shows 99-Year-Old Man Medically Evacuated by Helicopter from Princess Cruise Ship
Two passengers were medically evacuated from a Princess cruise ship on Sunday, August 24.
The Coast Guard’s Northwest District watchstanders received word from the Ruby Princess that the ship had two patients in need of immediate medical evacuations.
The eldest was a 99-year-old man who was suffering from complete esophageal obstruction, a serious blockage of the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
Read more: Dramatic Video Shows 99-Year-Old Man Medically Evacuated by Helicopter from Princess Cruise Ship
I booked a cruise during hurricane season. Although the itinerary was changed, I had a great time and would do it again to save money
After taking over 30 cruises, Elizabeth finally had a sailing impacted because of a major hurricane.
Wanting to combine a visit to New York City with a cruise vacation, she booked a short 4-night getaway on Norwegian Aqua to Bermuda. Elizabeth had been looking forward to relaxing on the island's famous pink sand beaches for months, but Hurricane Erin had other plans in mind.
Although she was hopeful that the storm would change paths, she received an email from Norwegian Cruise Line the day before embarkation with the itinerary change. Instead of heading to Bermuda, the cruise would call at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Celebrity Cruises announces new Godmother of Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Cruises has chosen a renowned chef to be the Godmother of Celebrity Xcel.
Janaína Torres, who was voted World's Best Female Chef 2024, has been named the Godmother of Celebrity's newest cruise ship.
She is the first Brazilian chef to hold the honor for a major cruise line, marking a new era of elevated culinary experiences at sea.
Read more: Celebrity Cruises announces new Godmother of Celebrity Xcel
10 reasons you should book an interior room on your next cruise
There's no denying that cruise vacations have gotten more expensive. However, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to cut back on your overall cost.
One easy way to save money on a cruise is to book an interior stateroom. Staying in a dark, windowless cabin may sound jarring at first, but it isn't as bad as you think!
Interior staterooms are typically the cheapest accommodations on any cruise ship, and while they don't offer any natural light, they're a great value that allows you to still enjoy all of the standard amenities as everyone else.
Read more: 10 reasons you should book an interior room on your next cruise
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!
