When you combine the best parts of ships from several major cruise lines on one vessel and mix in some new innovations, the result is MSC World America. After more than a decade of trying to woo North American passengers, MSC Cruises is likely to have found a winner with the latest in its behemoth World Class of ships.

Cristiano Ronaldo made a bizarre appearance in a new advertisement for a small cruise line with a single ship. 

Ronaldo, one of the world's most famous soccer stars, was seen in an Instagram ad with his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, promoting Aroya Cruises, a Saudi Arabian cruise line. The one-minute video begins with Rodríguez scrolling through her phone past images of luxury cars and jets before pausing at a picture of a cruise ship. 

We share a lot of cruise updates and advice on Cruise Blog, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week, including MSC World America's arrival in Miami, Florida, and Margaritaville at Sea's new casino policy.

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

Sign up for our Cruise Blog Newsletter if you want the roundup delivered directly to your email inbox in the future!

Drink packages are divisive among cruisers. Some love their convenience, while others think they're a waste of money and encourage unruly behavior. 

Growing up, drink packages were non-negotiable for my family — I can't tell you how many virgin piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris my sister and I sipped on while sailing through the Caribbean! Because of my childhood experiences, having unlimited access to beverages on vacation quickly became one of my favorite parts about a cruise. 

Cruisers sailing aboard Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship reported receiving free drinks while playing in the casino. 

Most cruise lines only reward players with so many points through their respective casino loyalty programs. However, Celebrity Cruises offers complimentary beverages to cruisers actively playing in the casino, and it seems Margaritaville at Sea is following suit. 

MSC Cruises' new luxury line just announced a new loyalty program with an enticing status match offer. 

Explora Journeys, which launched its first ship in 2023, has redefined ocean travel with its super yacht-inspired vessels. However, compared to other lines, including its sister-brand MSC Cruises, it lacked a loyalty program to reward return cruises for choosing to sail with them over competitors. 

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most recognizable names in the cruise industry. Both mainstream cruise lines focus on offering affordable, family-friendly vacations across their expansive fleets. However, after sailing on the newest ships from both cruise lines, I’m convinced that one mega-ship stands out as the better choice.

Carnival’s CEO is optimistic about the cruise industry’s resilience, despite concerns over a recession.

Josh Weinstein, Carnival Corporation's President, CEO, and Chief Climate Officer, spoke during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025's State of the Global Cruise Industry Keynote about the company's Q1 financial results.  

He admitted they had a good quarter, but the bookings were more inconsistent than usual. "It was choppy...There were highs. There were lows as we went through the quarter," he said. 

Margaritaville at Sea is giving away free 7-night cruises on its newest ship, the Islander. The catch? They're only available to eligible heroes. 

Expanding on the line's successful "Heroes Sail Free" program, Margaritaville is releasing new offers ahead of Heroes Month in May. These include free staterooms for two on 7-night Caribbean sailings, fundraising events, and dedicated onboard tributes with community-building partners.