Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup!
This is a helpful post of everything you may have missed from this week, including Carnival dining changes and the best (and worst) parts about sailing with Margaritaville at Sea.
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Carnival wants to give cruisers a better experience: Changes coming to Celebration Key's dining
Carnival wants guests to be happier at Celebration Key. Initially, guests could use their Island Eats voucher for 25% off a meal at one of the destination's full-service restaurants.
However, Carnival has since updated its policy in response to guest feedback.
Effective Wednesday, September 24, 2025, all visitors to Celebration Key can use their Island Eats voucher for 40% a single entrée at one of the sit-down restaurants.
Read more: Carnival wants to give cruisers a better experience: Changes coming to Celebration Key's dining
Princess Cruise Ships by Age: Newest to Oldest
Princess Cruises has been around since 1965, with the first cruise setting sail on December 3, 1965. Since the cruise line's launch over 60 years ago, the cruising industry has dramatically changed.
In fact, the original Sun Princess was advertised as being around 17,000 gross tons. Comparatively, her namesake, which was launched in 2024, is a little over 177,000 gross registered tons.
Whether you are a fan of newer or older ships, Princess Cruises' fleet of 15 (soon to be 16 once the cruise line launches Star Princess) has a vessel that's perfect for every cruiser. Here is a list of Princess's ships by age as of 2025.
Read more: Princess Cruise Ships by Age: Newest to Oldest (2025)
Celebration Key Complete Guide: Everything to know about Carnival's private destination in The Bahamas
Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s newest private destination in The Bahamas, and it’s a much-anticipated port stop on Caribbean cruise itineraries.
Celebration Key is located on the southern shore of Grand Bahama Island, and the area spans 379 acres. Currently, 68 acres have been developed, and future expansions are planned for the coming years.
If your Carnival cruise visits Celebration Key, it’s helpful to know what to expect before you set sail. From the pools to cabana rentals and restaurants, here’s everything you need to know about this new private destination.
This cruise line canceled over 55 sailings: how it affects passengers
Norwegian Cruise Line canceled more than 55 cruises on four ships.
Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Dawn will swap homeports in 2026 due to redeployment efforts.
The cruise line also made changes to a few sailings aboard Getaway and Joy.
Read more: This cruise line canceled over 55 sailings: how it affects passengers
Your Norwegian loyalty status is about to get a lot more valuable
Starting October 15, Norwegian Cruise Line's new loyalty status match program will let members of NCL, Regent, and Oceania's programs enjoy reciprocal status — regardless of which brand they sail with.
With more than 30 ships sailing to hundreds of destinations across the globe, shared loyalty status means that you can enjoy the perks and privileges equivalent to your tier status, no matter where your travels take you.
Whether you're an Ambassador member within NCL's Latitudes program or have sailed over 1,000 nights with Regent, you'll enjoy the same recognition across all three brands.
Read more: Your Norwegian loyalty status is about to get a lot more valuable
6 Margaritaville at Sea Experiences You Won’t Find on Other Cruise Lines
Margaritaville at Sea is one of the most fun and affordable cruise lines afloat.
Besides the obvious Buffett-influenced air of escapism onboard, there’s plenty that sets the two— (soon to be three—) ship line apart from its competition.
Here's a look at some of the offerings you’ll only find when you sail with Margaritaville at Sea.
Read more: 6 Margaritaville at Sea Experiences You Won’t Find on Other Cruise Lines
Carnival introduces new lunch option to make dining easier for families
Carnival Cruise Line's Family Express lunch menus are already a hit. The new Lido Marketplace selections are perfect for selective eaters, while still offering enough variety for the rest of the family.
The menus feature kid-approved favorites like chicken tenders, plain spaghetti pasta, hot dogs, mac & cheese, and sugar sprinkle cookies.
There are also more sophisticated options that appeal to adults, including salmon croquettes, turkey escalopes, savory pork ribs, and chicken mirabella.
Read more: Carnival introduces new lunch option to make dining easier for families
Virgin Voyages overhauls cruise fares, adds no-frills option
Virgin Voyages is making waves with a pricing shake-up — and not in a good way.
When the adults-only cruise line launched in August 2021, people quickly became fans of its inclusive pricing structure.
However, Virgin Voyages recently announced a new 3-tier pricing structure that eliminates included gratuities.
Read more: Virgin Voyages overhauls cruise fares, adds no-frills option
Comparing Carnival Balcony Cabins: Standard vs. Cove vs. Extended
Carnival ships have different categories of balcony cabins, so what's different between each one?
Although they aren't the cheapest staterooms, balconies are arguably the most popular choice for a cruise ship cabin.
Not all balconies were designed equally, though. Carnival, for example, has different categories, each with its own layout and unique perks.
Read more: Comparing Carnival Balcony Cabins: Standard vs. Cove vs. Extended
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney reroute ships away from growing tropical storm: See changes
Last week, cruise lines rerouted ships away from a strengthening disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean.
Even before it intensified into a named storm, its path prompted cruise lines to take precautionary measures to ensure passenger and crew safety.
Read more: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney reroute ships away from growing tropical storm: See changes
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. 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!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
