Did you know you can bring your own drinks on a Carnival cruise?

While I've brought wine on cruise ships before, it took me over 30 sailings to finally haul a 12-pack of soda onboard. 

Instead of buying Carnival's pricey CHEERS! package, I decided to keep my costs as low as possible by buying soda at a local supermarket en route to the terminal on embarkation day. 

Carnival is known for rowdy cruises to the sunny Caribbean and Bahamas. However, they also offer itineraries to places like Europe, the South Pacific, and Australia. 

Recently, I embarked on a weeklong cruise to Alaska aboard Carnival Luminosa. The 7-night cruise sailed from Seattle to Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. 

A toddler suddenly passed away on a 7-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Costa Toscana, the Italian line's newest ship that debuted in 2021. 

The ship was en route from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, to Savona, Italy, when the child collapsed mid-play in front of his parents, Italian publication Notizie reported. Costa Toscana departed from Civitavecchia on May 17 and arrived in Savona by 8:30am on the 18th. 

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work on a cruise ship?

From cabin stewards who keep staterooms tidy to bartenders serving up crafted cocktails, there's no denying that crew members help everything run smoothly.

That said, life at sea is vastly different than regular 9 to 5 jobs. It takes a special kind of dedication, adaptability, and resilience to thrive on a cruise ship. 

Captain Michele Bartolomei suddenly passed away during a 19-night cruise around Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China while fulfilling his duties at the helm Diamond Princess. 

Guests aboard the sailing reported being awoken by a late-night announcement around 2:00am, calling for the medical team to report to the medical center on Deck 4. 

Hours later, it was confirmed that Captain Bartolomei passed away as the Diamond Princess arrived in Taipei, Taiwan. 

I stayed in a windowless cabin on my weeklong cruise to Alaska, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. 

Alaska is known for its snow-capped mountains, wildlife-filled waters, and dramatic fjords. It's nice when you can take in the scenery from your private balcony, but that luxury isn't cheap. 

So, on my recent 7-night cruise aboard Carnival Luminosa, I kept my costs low by booking an interior stateroom. 

A cruise to Alaska isn't complete without amazing tours. From helicopter rides over towering glaciers to wildlife excursions and dog sledding adventures, there's no shortage of activities for all interests. 

However, before making any reservations, you might wonder whether booking directly through your cruise line or through a third party is worth it. 

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 review of Royal Caribbean's adult-only beach (and why it's worth the money), as well as non-negotiable cruise cabin rules. 

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.

Last week, I sailed on my first Carnival cruise to Alaska. Prepping for a trip to the Last Frontier differs from sailing in the sunny and warm Caribbean. However, there are a few smart pre-cruise preparations that make embarkation smoother and help save money, regardless of where you're headed. 

For example, you don't want to wait until the last minute to make your travel arrangements, as you'll end up paying more for flights and accommodations.