Welcome guest writer Georgia Burgess! Georgia is an engineer in Dallas, Texas. While she does have a long-standing love of travel, she will be the first to tell you that her favorite place to go is home because that’s where her dog is. In her free time, she can typically be found knitting with her friends, on a walk with her dog, or watching Dallas Stars hockey.

If you’re preparing for an upcoming cruise, you might be looking to stock up on some essentials before setting sail. I am always searching for budget-friendly ways to fill up my suitcase.

One of my favorite pre-cruise tasks is heading to the store to look for items that I want to take on my cruise. Shopping is much more fun than packing clothes, in my opinion! After hitting up the dollar store this fall, I couldn’t believe how many must-have cruise items I found.

Cruise ships aren't built overnight. The average time to build a cruise ship is 12 to 18 months, from when the keel is laid to the maiden voyage welcoming paying guests. However, the entire process, from its conceptualization to its official launch, can take over 5 years. 

Last week, I set sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. The massive cruise ship, which measures over 236,000 gross registered tons, is known as the “World’s Biggest Weekend” for the cruise line.

As a Florida resident, I was thrilled to learn the latest vessel from Royal Caribbean would be a few hours’ drive from home. Even better, I loved the opportunity to enjoy a quick escape aboard this brand-new vessel, which debuted in July 2024.

It's important to prioritize rest between exploring new ports of call and enjoying the ship. However, cruise ship beds aren't always the most comfortable. I find most beds on the firm side, and getting a good night's rest can be tough if you're used to a softer mattress. 

Many cruisers won't sail without a drink package. Rather than paying for each drink individually, drink packages let you pay a daily price for an unlimited or a set number of beverages. They're great for convenience and to help establish a budget before embarkation. 

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 look into a Grand Terrace Suite on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander and cruise ship tipping do's and don'ts. 

For those busy but who want to stay updated on all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest overview of our recent articles. 

Holland America Line's Eurodam has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing with over 70 passengers ill onboard. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Eurodam has 79 sick guests onboard its current voyage which departed on February 18, 2025. 9 crew members are also reportedly ill. 

The outbreak was reported to the CDC on February 23, 2025. 3.8% of passengers and 1.1% of crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms. There are 2,057 guests and 834 crew onboard.

Have you ever dreaded disembarkation day, wishing you could stay onboard for another cruise? Many cruisers may find solace in booking a future sailing, but for those who aren't ready for the excitement to end, a back-to-back cruise can be the perfect solution. 

Instead of packing for a weekend or weeklong getaway, you can extend your vacation without the hassle of booking multiple flights or worrying about finding a hotel between voyages.