Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of November 28, 2025!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed from this week, including a cruise passenger who was arrested after allegedly knocking another guest unconscious and a man overboard incident aboard the Disney Wonder ship.
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Man accused of knocking elderly passenger unconscious on cruise ship
A Florida attorney is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting an elderly passenger aboard a cruise ship over the weekend, newly released Miami-Dade County criminal court records show.
Phillip Ortiz, 38, of Miami Lakes, Florida, is accused of physically attacking a cruise passenger 65 years or older on the Norwegian Encore cruise ship. He was arrested on Saturday, November 22.
According to the arrest affidavit, the confrontation began when the victim told Ortiz he could not enter a hallway because it was not open to guests at the time.
Read more: Man accused of knocking elderly passenger unconscious on cruise ship
Cruise passenger jumps overboard from a Disney cruise ship
A 73-year-old man from Australia is presumed dead after going overboard from the Disney Wonder in the early morning hours of November 22, 2025.
According to reports, the man went overboard from Disney Wonder around 4:30 in the morning as it was sailing across the Tasman Sea.
Authorities told 7 News Australia that the man is believed to have jumped intentionally, though his full identity has not been released publicly. The cruise ship turned around and immediately initiated an emergency search.
Read more: Cruise passenger jumps overboard from a Disney cruise ship
Teen found dead on Carnival cruise died by asphyxiation, outlets report
Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old soon-to-be high school graduate found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month, died by asphyxiation, according to ABC News sources close to the investigation.
Kepner was found hidden under a bed in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon on November 7. Her body was wrapped in a blanket and covered by life jackets.
Sources told ABC News that Kepner died from a bar hold, meaning that an arm was forcefully held against her neck, with investigators noting two bruises on the sides of her neck consistent with a chokehold.
Read more: Teen found dead on Carnival cruise died by asphyxiation, outlets report
After years of reviewing cruises, I’ve narrowed down my top 10 tips to help you plan your perfect voyage
Elizabeth has been cruising since she was five years old. While she does not remember every aspect of her weeklong Disney cruise, she remembers the excitement of boarding the ship and wanting to explore every nook and cranny.
Over the years, her love for cruising has grown into a full-fledged obsession. And as a travel writer of over three years, she has honed her cruise planning skills, learning the ins and outs of different cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and cabins.
Although she is not perfect and can still make silly mistakes, her experiences — good and bad — turn into practical tips that she loves sharing with fellow travelers and cruise enthusiasts.
MSC adjusts Bahamas cruise last minute due to propulsion problem
Guests onboard MSC Meraviglia's November 30 cruise were notified that their itinerary will be adjusted due to planned maintenance that affects the ship's sailing speed.
"Due to planned maintenance affecting the ship's cruising speed, we have made some necessary adjustments to your itinerary below," the email notice reads.
MSC Meraviglia’s arrival in Port Canaveral, Florida, has been delayed until 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, with departure set for 9:00 p.m. As such, all shore excursions in Port Canaveral have been cancelled.
Read more: MSC adjusts Bahamas cruise last minute due to propulsion problem
26 Do's and Don'ts for your Carnival cruise in 2026
It's not too late to begin planning your 2026 Carnival cruise vacation.
Although the cruise line isn't welcoming any brand-new ships in 2026, there's a lot to look forward to, from unique itineraries to the unveiling of the revitalized Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay.
Even if you're a loyal Carnival cruiser, there are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind when planning your voyage next year that will help make the most of your time onboard and minimize pre-cruise stress.
Read more: 26 Do's and Don'ts for your Carnival cruise in 2026
Who owns Virgin Voyages?
Virgin Voyages is one of the newest cruise lines at sea. However, it’s also one of the most exclusive.
Unlike mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, Virgin Voyages caters exclusively to adults. That means you have to be 18 or older to sail on one of its striking scarlet-red funneled ships.
But who’s behind this bold approach to cruising? Here’s everything you need to know about the ownership, vision, and leadership driving Virgin Voyages.
Read more: Who owns Virgin Voyages?
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.
