Have you ever wondered why Carnival only allows guests to carry one bottle of wine onboard?

Though it would be nice to bring unlimited alcohol on cruise ships, alcohol sales are where cruise lines make a significant portion of their revenue. 

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 fleet expansion and our review of Wonder of the Seas. 

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. 

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Most guests leave their luggage with porters before embarking on a cruise ship under the assumption it will be safely delivered to their cabins. However, that wasn't the case for one unlucky Carnival passenger. 

Jason and Tammy Merritt were looking forward to celebrating their anniversary on an 8-night cruise aboard Carnival Magic in early February. Things quickly went downhill when Jason's bag never made it to his stateroom. 

Miami is home to one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. As such, it's not uncommon for upwards of eight vessels to be in port on the same day, meaning thousands of guests are embarking and disembarking daily. 

This constant flow of travelers has led to significant traffic, especially during peak cruise times when ships like Icon of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas are in port. 

To combat the problem, Royal Caribbean has begun offering complimentary bus shuttles on disembarkation day to help consolidate the flow of passengers and reduce congestion. 

I finally tried a cruise ship that had been on my radar for years, but it wasn’t as different as I thought. 

My first-ever vacation on an Oasis Class ship was over a decade ago, so I've watched the evolution of these massive vessels, from the addition of the Ultimate Abyss to the expansion of dining options. 

When Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, I knew I eventually had to sail on her to see how she compared to the original Oasis Class ships. However, after finally stepping on board, I realized she wasn’t as different as I had expected.

Though rare, you can get banned from a cruise ship for certain actions. 

While cruise lines want you to let loose and enjoy your vacation onboard, you must also take care to obey their rules and policies. These are in place to ensure that everyone has a safe voyage! If you don’t, you could find yourself the subject of a nasty news article. 

From stealing suitcases to jumping off of balconies, here are 10 reasons guests have been banned from cruising.

Celebrity Cruises released its newest Galápagos expeditions for 2027, offering travelers an all-inclusive option to explore the infamous Galápagos in style and comfort, from glamping under the stars on board to snorkeling with sea lions and kayaking with sea turtles. 

As exciting as that is, Celebrity is making it even more enticing by offering exclusive early booking deals for those eager to reserve their once-in-a-lifetime adventure. 

Carnival's Princess Cruises reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on one of its ships with over 80 sick people onboard. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coral Princess had 69 ill passengers onboard the February 21, 2025 voyage. 13 crew members were also unwell, bringing the total affected on the 91,627 gross registered ton (GRT) ship to 82.

The outbreak was reported to the CDC on March 7, 2025. 3.62% of passengers and 1.45% of crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms. There were 1,906 guests and 895 crew onboard.

After welcoming just one new ship to its fleet in 2024, 2025 is gearing up to be an exciting year for Carnival Cruise Line as the cruise giant prepares for two new ships. 

Two former P&O Australia ships—Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure—are set to join Carnival's fleet as Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure in March.