Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of May 15, 2026!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed this week, including a tragic incident at a cruise line's private destination in The Bahamas, a norovirus outbreak, and a review of Carnival's new food menus.
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Carnival passenger dies at Celebration Key after falling off pier into the ocean, cruise line confirms
An elderly cruise passenger died after falling off the pier at Carnival's Celebration Key in The Bahamas.
The tragic accident happened around noon on Saturday, May 9, 2026, according to the Nassau Guardian, when the 88-year-old passenger reportedly lost control of her scooter.
Local investigators suspect that the unidentified victim hit her head on the hull of the Carnival Celebration ship before plunging into the water.
Norovirus outbreak sickens over 110 on Princess cruise ship
More than 100 were sickened in a gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard a Princess cruise ship in the Caribbean.
Among the 3,116 guests aboard the Caribbean Princess, 102 reported being ill during the current voyage that will end on May 11, 2026. 13 crew members also got sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak was reported to the CDC on May 7. About 3.3% of passengers and 1.2% of crew members reported gastrointestinal issues. The predominant symptoms of the infected individuals were diarrhea and vomiting.
Read more: Norovirus outbreak sickens over 110 on Princess cruise ship
I spent seven nights trying the new Carnival food menus. Here are the 5 best dishes I had
Carnival cruise food does not have the best reputation, but the cruise line is trying to change that with its new main dining room menus.
Recently, Elizabeth sailed on the Mardi Gras ship and ate all seven dinners in the dining room to test whether the updates actually delivered a noticeable improvement.
Overall, she thought the cruise line was heading in the right direction, with the new menus having a bit more variety. That said, there were a few misses.
Read more: I spent seven nights trying the new Carnival food menus. Here are the 5 best dishes I had
MSC vs Royal Caribbean: Which is best? I went on MSC World America and Icon of the Seas to find out
Although both MSC and Royal Caribbean’s biggest cruise ships offer unique experiences and a variety of different activities onboard, one is definitely a better bang for your buck.
Last year, Sarah cruised on both MSC World America and Icon of the Seas, but she felt one of those ships gave me more for the price.
Although she enjoyed both cruises, she would argue that her sailing aboard MSC World America offered a better overall value without sacrificing quality.
Read more: MSC vs Royal Caribbean: Which is best? I went on MSC World America and Icon of the Seas to find out
Cruise ship passengers quarantine as confirmed hantavirus cases continue to climb
Cruise passengers who sailed aboard the MV Hondius are currently quarantining worldwide to prevent the spread of the deadly hantavirus.
As of Tuesday morning, nearly a dozen hantavirus cases have been confirmed, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Global health officials have warned that the number could continue to rise. However, the risk to the general public is low at this time since transmission is rare and is typically limited to close-contact settings.
Read more: Cruise ship passengers quarantine as confirmed hantavirus cases continue to climb
7 Unwritten Rules You Must Know Before Eating at a Cruise Ship Buffet
The cruise buffet is one of the most popular restaurants on any ship. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is the go-to spot for cruisers looking for fast service and variety.
Generally speaking, the buffet offers something for everyone — from health-conscious travelers to picky eaters and indulgent foodies. However, before you start loading up your plate, you must understand the basic etiquette that keeps the buffet from turning into a rowdy free-for-all.
In our recent article, we went over seven rules that every cruiser should know before entering the buffet.
Read more: 7 Unwritten Rules You Must Know Before Eating at a Cruise Ship Buffet
I went to Carnival's new private destination in The Bahamas. It's not for me, but I can see why cruise-goers love it
Elizabeth has been visiting cruise line private destinations since 2010. However, in recent years, they've exploded in popularity, with companies transforming basic beaches into resort-style escapes complete with massive pools, upscale clubs, and more
Recently, Carnival Cruise Line opened a brand-new private destination in The Bahamas, Celebration Key. Situated on Grand Bahama Island, this $600 million complex is filled with relaxing beaches, a large freshwater pool, private cabanas, waterslides, and more.
There's no denying that Carnvial did a great job of bringing its vision to life, competing with ports like Perfect Day at CocoCay and Great Stirrup Cay. Still, despite its overall appeal, Carnival's Celebration Key didn't quite win her over. Here's what visiting the new private cruise destination is like — and why she is hesitant to return.
The best ways I use AI to help plan my cruises
There's no denying that AI is rapidly advancing and becoming part of everyday life. Over the past two years, it has surged in both popularity and functionality. AI is no longer something that feels futuristic or limited to certain industries. Instead, it's become an accessible tool that many people use daily, often without even realizing it.
While there are endless use cases for AI, whether in your personal life or your professional life, Allie finds herself using AI more and more for travel planning. From answering quick questions to helping organize more complex logistics, it's become a very helpful tool when she plans her cruises.
If you're looking for ideas on how to leverage this tool, she's provided a list of the best ways she uses AI to help plan her cruises.
Read more: The best ways I use AI to help plan my cruises
I've been on over 25 cruises. Royal Caribbean and Carnival are great, but travelers shouldn't overlook this lesser-known cruise line
Elizabeth has been cruising since she was five years old and has sailed with many major lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Disney, Princess, and Celebrity. However, one relatively new cruise line that often gets overlooked but is worth considering is Margaritaville at Sea.
It would be fair to say that Margaritaville doesn't have the best reputation. Even after recent renovations, the fleet's oldest ship is called the "Dollar Tree at Sea." However, Islander truly changed the game for Margaritaville.
In February 2025, Elizabeth had the opportunity to embark on a four-night cruise aboard Islander to Progreso, Mexico, from Tampa, Florida. Overall, everything about the experience was pleasantly surprising. While she wasn't expecting an awful cruise, she also didn’t expect it to be as enjoyable as it turned out to be.
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.
