Stepping on your cruise ship is an exciting feeling. Though you might be hours from sailing away, your vacation has officially begun! Amidst all the excitement, however, there are a few important things that you'll want to cross off your embarkation day to-do list. 

We share lots of cruise updates and advice here, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week.

If you are busy but want to keep up with all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest look at the recent articles and updates we've shared

Carnival Cruise Line has a wide variety of accommodations onboard for guests to book while sailing on their fun-packed, family-friendly ships. From cheap interior staterooms to higher-end suites, Carnival’s ships have cabins for every budget and travel group.

From catching up on your rest to exploring new ports of call and enjoying all of the ship's amenities, it can be difficult to squeeze in a workout on a cruise.

Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you have to completely abandon your fitness goals. When it comes to navigating the ship, you can incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Rather than taking the elevator, opt for the stairs to get your heart pumping and burn a few extra calories. 

If you're looking for an itinerary-focused cruise to Alaska, look no further than Holland America Line. They've been sailing to Alaska for over 75 years, longer than any other cruise line, and now, they're guaranteeing that guests will see one or more glaciers on their cruise. If not, passengers are entitled to a Future Cruise Credit.  

Nobody wants to fall ill on vacation. Unfortunately, that was the case for nearly 200 cruisers onboard Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas and Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess in April. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that during the April 5 sailing from Los Angeles, 115 out of 2,532 passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess contracted norovirus, in addition to 28 crew members. The sailing is scheduled to return to LA on May 7. 

Though part of the allure of cruising is visiting multiple places within a single vacation, the ship itself is often considered a destination in and of itself. 

From world-class dining to entertainment options that rival those in major cities, cruise ships offer numerous onboard experiences for guests to enjoy. Because the ship is essentially a floating playground, passengers may not always feel the need to disembark in port. 

If you are torn, here are 8 reasons you should consider staying onboard during port days. 

Since joining the company in 2015, Carnival Cruise Line's President Christine Duffy has led a fleet of 30 ships that welcome more than six million guests annually, as well as overseen the introduction of seven ships, including the brand-new Carnival Jubilee. 

For most, cruise ship mattresses are simply a place to rest each evening after a fun day onboard or ashore. Others, however, see it as a multi-purpose piece of furniture, as revealed by a recent social media post. 

The picture, which was originally shared to a Facebook group called Royal Caribbean Cruises, depicts two Royal Caribbean passengers lounging on a mattress that they brought out to their balcony. Notably absent is the standard balcony furniture, which consists of two chairs and a small table.