I've eaten countless cruise ship meals during my two-decade cruising career. Some have exceeded expectations while others left a lot to be desired. 

Rarely do I expect cruise food to be Michelin-caliber; however, some dishes really are that good! 

I've found that certain lines, namely Celebrity and Princess, tend to offer more consistent dining experiences, but that doesn't mean other lines haven't surprised me. 

Here are the 9 best things I've tasted on cruise ships that stood out from the rest. 

Packing for your first cruise can seem intimidating. You don't want to forget any essentials, but you also don't want to overpack since cabins are smaller than standard hotel rooms. Not only that, but there are certain nuances to cruise vacations that first-timers might not know about. 

For example, many cruise lines host fun theme nights aboard their ships. From fun 80s-inspired discos to formal nights and Southern tailgates, you may want to pack a few fun accessories or outfits.  

Would you spend a week in a tiny room with no windows? At first, I thought I'd hate interior cruise cabins. The idea of being in a small space with no natural light sounded claustrophobic and depressing, especially when on a moving hotel with great ocean views. 

However, after over 10 sailings in inside staterooms, I've realized they have some surprising perks. While they certainly aren't for everyone, they're perfect for the right traveler. 

Balconies are popular cabin options for cruisers because you have private, front-row access to the passing scenery and deep blue ocean hues. 

Not all balconies were designed equally, though. One unique option on Carnival ships is the cove balcony. This semi-enclosed stateroom has a balcony built into the ship's superstructure and is located on the lower decks, sometimes as low as Deck 2. 

Booking shore excursions at the right time is one of the most important parts of planning a successful cruise vacation. Reserving tours too late can severely limit your options or result in paying more for popular activities. 

From booking directly with the cruise line to planning your own day ashore and finding a reputable third party, there are several ways to secure the perfect excursion experience. While each comes with its own benefits, one key factor remains the same: you don't want to wait until the last minute to research your port of call. 

While cruise lines have their policies, there are also unwritten "rules" that frequent cruisers swear by. 

These range from etiquette around hygiene practices to going with the flow when things don't work out as planned. 

We share lots of cruise updates and advice on Cruise Blog, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week, including a first look at MSC's newest cruise ship sailing from Miami, Florida, and Norwegian's plans to make its private island in the Bahamas even better.

This is an easy-to-digest overview of our recent articles for busy bees who want to stay updated on this week's news and tips. 

Let’s face it — cruises aren’t as cheap as they used to be. However, that doesn’t mean finding affordable fares is impossible!

Cruising during the shoulder season, AKA the beginning or end of a region's peak tourist season, is one of the easiest ways to save money on your cruise. 

Guests anxiously awaiting an upcoming MSC cruise were delivered bad news: their sailing is canceled due to a mechanical problem affecting the ship's speed.

MSC made the difficult decision to cancel MSC Meraviglia’s May 11 cruise to the Bahamas. The weeklong sailing was slated to depart from New York’s Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and call at Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.