Ocean liner vs cruise ship, are the two vessels in competition? Not quite.

You don’t hear too much about ocean liners nowadays, yet cruises are a hot topic. So much so, “cruisetok” is a trending hashtag on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The hashtag “#cruise” alone has almost 15 million posts associated with it.

The glamour, the high-class dining, the endless entertainment—cruise ships are evolving more and more to captivate people all over the world. But before these extravagant ships took the seas, there were ocean liners.

Margaritaville is one of the newest cruise lines at sea. As such, even veteran cruisers might not know what to expect on a ship where it's always 5 o'clock onboard! 

All jokes aside, I recently sailed onboard Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship, the Islander, on a 4-night getaway from Tampa to Progreso, Mexico. While most of the overall cruise experience was consistent with what you might expect on popular lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, there were a few distinct features that set Margaritaville apart. 

Having been on over 25 cruises, I can confidently say that cruising is one of the most exciting and relaxing ways to travel. However, even seasoned cruisers can make costly mistakes that leave a sour taste in their mouths. 

I've had my fair share of slip-ups, from forgetting to place my phone in airplane mode to booking pricey last-minute excursions. These mistakes can quickly add up, making your vacation more expensive than planned and causing you unnecessary stress. 

Recently, a Royal Caribbean cruise passenger went overboard while sailing on Explorer of the Seas. Unfortunately, it wasn't a one-time occurrence. Though not insanely common, it's not rare for passengers to go overboard while on a cruise. 

Even if you've never seen a cruise ship deploy its lifeboats to aid in the search and rescue mission, you've likely seen new headlines about people falling overboard. 

When a passenger goes overboard, the situation is immediately treated as an emergency, and the cruise ship’s crew jumps into action. 

Inside cabins on cruise ships are controversial. Some love them because of their value. Others would rather make budget cuts elsewhere to afford a balcony stateroom. 

Within the past few years, I've stayed in interior cabins on countless cruise ships, including two of the largest in the world: Symphony and Wonder of the Seas. Though nearly identical, the Oasis Class ships have some stark differences, including their staterooms. 

3-day cruises are a great way to take an affordable getaway. Rather than spend a fortune on a weeklong cruise or cut corners to make it more affordable, these short cruises offer the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure without breaking the bank. 

Carnival Cruise Line added a menu item to a popular onboard restaurant, sparking a debate about how healthy cruise ship food really is. 

John Heald, Carnival's social media-famous Brand Ambassador, took to Facebook to share Guy's Burger Joint's new burger. 

Carnival has adjusted itineraries on four ships departing in 2025, 2026, and 2027.

It's not uncommon for cruise lines to tweak itineraries. Sometimes, the changes are minor, such as adjusting the hours in port. Other times, however, they could completely swap a port of call. It can be frustrating, especially if you booked a specific cruise for one port. 

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 a look at Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ship and our review of Margaritaville at Sea's drink package.

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. 

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