How old do you have to be to go on a cruise by yourself?

Growing up, a rite of passage was partaking in Senior Beach Week. After graduating high school, it is customary for graduates to rent a house or condo to celebrate their accomplishments with their friends before going off to college in the fall.

For years, I avoided Carnival Cruise Line like the plague. 

The popular cruise line has been subject to negative stereotypes, especially compared to competitors like Royal Caribbean. Some even refer to it as the "Walmart of the Seas." 

Carnival is often associated with lower-quality food, rowdier crowds, and dirty ships (remember the infamous "poop cruise" incident of 2012?). 

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 the cleanest cruise ships at sea and major mistakes you should avoid making. 

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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As a frequent cruiser, inside cabins help me get the most bang for my buck. While they're often cramped and lack natural light, their value is undeniable compared to pricey balcony staterooms. 

Last year, I stayed in interior cabins on seven different cruise ships, ranging from Carnival Elation to Quantum of the Seas and Disney Magic. 

Annual data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that 2024 was the worst year for cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreaks in over a decade. There were 16 reported outbreaks on ships last year, up from 14 in 2023. 

Growing up, my family and I would cruise occasionally, sometimes taking two trips a year, but as my love for cruising has grown, I've started to sail much more often. Last year, my travels reached an all-time high, as I embarked on 11 cruises to places like the Bahamas, Alaska, and Europe. 

I've found that cruising doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, I think it's one of the most affordable ways to travel, especially when you consider how much is included in the price. 

A passenger died after contracting norovirus on a cruise ship.

Alan Forster, 77, passed away from suspected kidney failure after a cruise last October, The Independent reported. He was sailing aboard P&O Cruises' Arcadia from England to the United States and Canada. 

The passenger who jumped overboard while cruising on Norwegian Epic over Christmas has been identified. 

Dan McGilvray, 51, of Broomfield, Colorado, vanished after climbing over a balcony and leaping off the ship, bouncing off a lifeboat as he plummeted toward the sea. 

I've spent 55 days at sea on five different cruise lines within the past year, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney.

My voyages took me everywhere from the Bahamas to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Greek Isles. Sailing on various lines also meant the onboard experience varied. 

Even as a frequent cruiser, I learned something from each trip. Here's some cruising advice I'm applying to my 2025 travels.