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. 

Offering natural light, access to fresh air, and, often, additional space, balcony cabins are the most popular cruise ship accommodations. I’ve stayed in dozens of them, but the latest was on brand-new MSC World America, MSC Cruises’ latest World Class vessel.

Eating is a quintessential part of any cruise vacation, from the all-you-can-eat buffet to indulgent three-course meals in the dining room. Because of the variety of dining options, you're unlikely to go hungry while onboard — there will always be something tasty to satisfy your palate!

However, there are a few odd quirks about cruising that someone new to vacations at sea might not expect. For example, eating dinner in a cruise ship dining room is unlike anything you'd experience at a traditional restaurant at home. 

Historically, all you need to board a domestic plane in the United States is a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license. Cruise ships, however, are stricter, and if you fail to provide proper documentation, you will be denied boarding. 

While it's important to budget for cruise add-ons like alcoholic beverages and shore excursions, one key part of cruise planning is transportation.

Living in North Carolina means I'm not a short drive to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Instead, I must factor in the cost of airfare. 

Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on true crime podcasts, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's hottest restaurants.

When I started cruising, I never knew there were ships as big as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class.