Drink packages are among the most common cruise add-ons. While your cruise fare includes select beverages, drink packages make the experience more inclusive by giving you access to a wider variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. 

However, they aren't always the most affordable. Some cruise lines charge over $80 per person, per day for their most inclusive packages, making them a serious investment. 

Royal Caribbean is making a bold push into the short-cruise market, and the brand-new Utopia of the Seas is a perfect example of that investment. But, it wasn’t always possible to take a short cruise on a massive, state-of-the-art cruise ship.

For decades, short itineraries were hard to find. Even if you could find a 3-night or 4-night sailing, it was almost guaranteed you’d be cruising on an old, small, and dated cruise ship.

Norwegian Aqua, the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, will arrive in the United States three days later than originally planned due to unfavorable weather conditions. To ensure the safety of guests and crew members, the ship’s disembarkation port has also been changed to avoid the severe weather along its original course.

One of Carnival's cruise brands bid farewell to its last two ships before being shut down after over 90 years in service. 

Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure finished their last voyages under the P&O Cruises Australia brand in mid-March. After undergoing a short drydock, they entered service as Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure as part of Carnival's strategy to expand its operations in Australia and the South Pacific. 

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 Carnival's new partnership and a frequently overlooked cruise cabin you should book. 

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.

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Carnival, one of the most popular cruise lines in the world, teamed up with Wyndham Rewards to make earning points on fun-filled cruise vacations easier than before. 

Starting March 25, Wyndham Rewards members can book Carnival vacations through Wyndham Travel Bundles, making it easier to plan everything from flights to pre-cruise hotel stays and excursions while earning Wyndham Rewards points for future trips. 

When people think of Royal Caribbean's private island, they often envision the massive waterpark, hot air balloon, overwater cabanas, and zipline. While Perfect Day at CocoCay has a slew of activities for cruisers to enjoy, not all of them are included in the cost of your cruise. 

As a year-round cruiser, I'm no stranger to summer heat. When prepping for a voyage in June, July, or August, I take precautions to ensure I don't overheat while on my long-awaited vacation, regardless of whether it's to the Bahamas, Caribbean, or Mediterranean. 

One cruise passenger unknowingly started a huge debate over tipping cabin stewards in cash. 

John Heald, Carnival's Facebook-famous Brand Ambassador, took to the popular website to ask how other guests felt about giving crew members money as a tip. "Poll time. Things that I have been asked today," he begins, "Spelling thank you out in money."