Cruises are a time to kick back, relax, and not think about day-to-day responsibilities. Who wants to worry about cooking and cleaning on vacation?

Even so, there are some rules—both explicit and implied—that you should follow while onboard. You should not, for instance, smoke in areas that are not designated for smoking or engage in any unruly or disruptive behavior. You could end up cooling off in cruise ship jail or stuck with a hefty fine! 

Chair hogs are one of the most annoying parts of a cruise. A sunny sea day can be instantly ruined by guests who rush to throw towels, books, and other belongings on the pool chairs, even if they have no intention of returning for hours. 

While cruise lines try to limit chair hogs by monitoring which chairs are actively used, there's only so much they can do. You will inevitably find guests who don't care if they frustrate others and leave their belongings on chairs to attempt to reserve them for later. 

Disney Cruise Line is one of the pricier mainstream options, so I avoided it for years, opting for more budget-friendly lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. 

However, growing up sailing with Disney and having fond family memories aboard Disney Magic and Fantasy, I longed for the day I'd return to the most magical ships at sea—there's nothing quite like sailing with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and your other favorite pals!

You won't go hungry on a Carnival cruise, from multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room to hearty poolside burgers from Guy's Burger Joint. Though plenty of dining options are included, some cruisers may want to splurge on a meal in one of the ship's specialty restaurants. 

Have you ever wondered how you've traveled from Point A to Point B so fast while on your cruise vacation? 

You are not in your typical vehicle weaving through cars on the highway; there isn’t any traffic; and you aren’t stressing about getting to your destination at a certain time.

It is crucial to remind yourself that this is a completely different ballpark—you are on a big ship in the middle of the ocean where you are not in a rush! Your hands are not on 10 and 2, and there's no need to slam the breaks. You can simply relax as you glide across the water.

With only six ships currently in operation, Disney Cruise Line is one of the smallest mainstream cruise lines, and each ship is part of one of three classes: Magic, Dream, and Wish.

Disney does not have as long of a history, either. Disney Magic, the cruise line's first ship, debuted in July 1998, followed by Disney Wonder in August 1999, Disney Dream in 2011, Disney Fantasy in 2012, Disney Wish in 2022, and Disney Treasure in 2024. 

There are countless activities to try on a cruise ship, from ice-skating to surfing simulators, but perhaps no activity is as controversial as the onboard art auction.

Most mass-market cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line, offer art auctions on any given sailing. These auctions are held by Park West Gallery, a commercial art gallery claiming to be the world’s largest art dealer. The gallery partners with cruise lines, working with over 90 ships around the world.

New fees will add to the cost of a Carnival cruise in 2025.

In addition to cruise fares, passengers are responsible for gratuities, port fees, and taxes. Combined, they can easily add another $170+ to your total cost. 

However, many ports are increasing their tourist tax to combat over-tourism and alleviate the environmental and social impacts. This is something that neither Carnival nor other cruise lines have any control over. 

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 things you shouldn't wear on a cruise ship and why you should book a cruise with a travel agent. 

If you are busy but want to keep up with all the helpful cruise advice we share, this is an easy-to-digest look at our recent articles.

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