Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of April 17, 2026!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed this week, including a passenger who won a lawsuit against Carnival for being overserved alcohol and another cruise line that raised its daily gratuity rate.
Sign up for our Cruise Blog Newsletter to have this conveniently delivered to your email inbox in the future!
Carnival cruise passenger wins $300K lawsuit after being served 14 shots of tequila before serious fall
A cruise passenger won a hefty lawsuit against Carnival Corporation & plc., with a jury finding the Florida-based company negligent for over-serving alcohol and liable for subsequent injuries.
During an eight-and-a-half-hour period, Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from California, was served 14 tequila shots at six different bars aboard the Carnival Radiance ship, including the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, the adults-only Serenity Bar, and the RedFrog Rum Bar.
Sanders' attorneys argued that Carnival’s bartenders should have stopped serving her once she became visibly intoxicated.
Another cruise line quietly hikes daily gratuities for passengers as 9 in 10 Americans blast tipping
Over 39 million travelers are expected to embark on a cruise vacation in 2026. Despite the strong demand and booking records, another cruise line has joined the growing list of companies hiking daily gratuities for its guests.
Effective May 11, 2026, MSC Cruises will raise the daily gratuity rate (AKA "Hotel Service Charge") on North American sailings to the Caribbean and Alaska by $1 for standard cabins and $3 for exclusive Yacht Club suites.
This will bring the new rate for standard cruise rooms to $17 per person, up from $16, and Yacht Club suites to $23 per person, up from $20.
Read more: Another cruise line quietly hikes daily gratuities for passengers as 9 in 10 Americans blast tipping
What Cruise Lines Does Carnival Own?
Carnival is one of the most well-known cruise lines at sea. However, many other lines operate under its parent company's umbrella.
Carnival Cruise Line is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, which is the world's largest cruise operator, with more than seven distinct brands and 90 ships sailing worldwide.
The most popular lines include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line. That said, its portfolio encompasses everything from luxury expedition vessels to regionally focused brands in Europe.
Read more: What Cruise Lines Does Carnival Own?
Liquefied natural gas: How do LNG-powered cruise ships work?
It's been over 10 years since the first cruise line announced an LNG-powered ship, marking a significant shift toward a cleaner, more environmentally friendly industry.
AIDAnova officially became the world’s first cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2018, capable of operating in port and at sea using four Caterpillar dual-fuel hybrid engines driven by LNG. Since then, over a dozen more vessels have followed, including the world's largest Icon Class ships.
The industry's push toward sustainable fuel alternatives is exciting. But what is LNG — and how does it work to make cruise ships more environmentally friendly?
Read more: Liquefied natural gas: How do LNG-powered cruise ships work?
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.
