It’s not uncommon for cruise ships to completely sell out, but what happens when you book the cheapest and last available cabin?
I did just that on my recent Carnival cruise. After coming across a cheap cruise fare aboard Carnival Firenze just two weeks before departure, I couldn’t pass up the last-minute getaway. At just $846 total, or $423 per person, it was a fantastic deal for a 4-night cruise.
Congratulations on deciding to cruise onboard the beautiful Carnival Valor! Sailing from New Orleans, a cruise on board Carnival Valor is unique compared to traditional Caribbean voyages from popular ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa.
While Carnival Valor offers a wide variety of staterooms, from tiny inside cabins to large suites, some rooms aren't the best fit for certain travelers.
Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest ship, Carnival Sunshine, barely passed a recent health inspection by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The vessel received a barely passing score of 89/100 during a routine health check by the CDC, which is only a few points above the passing threshold.
Cruise ships need to receive a score of 86 or higher in order to pass routine health inspections. The CDC conducts these health inspections to ensure vessels are safely operating and following official guidance.
One of Carnival's brands is shutting down its operations in Texas.
Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess was scheduled to offer cruises from Galveston, Texas, between November 2026 and March 2027. However, Princess canceled over 15 sailings as part of its broader global fleet deployment strategy.
Many cruisers dream of scoring an upgrade on their upcoming voyage. Who wouldn't want a better cabin for less?
Unfortunately, there's no way to guarantee an upgrade. For example, you could be on a fully booked sailing, which would squash your chance of receiving an upgrade to an ocean-view balcony stateroom.
However, some strategies may increase your chances of scoring that coveted cabin upgrade.
Drink packages are among the most common cruise add-ons. While your cruise fare includes select beverages, drink packages make the experience more inclusive by giving you access to a wider variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
However, they aren't always the most affordable. Some cruise lines charge over $80 per person, per day for their most inclusive packages, making them a serious investment.
Royal Caribbean is making a bold push into the short-cruise market, and the brand-new Utopia of the Seas is a perfect example of that investment. But, it wasn’t always possible to take a short cruise on a massive, state-of-the-art cruise ship.
For decades, short itineraries were hard to find. Even if you could find a 3-night or 4-night sailing, it was almost guaranteed you’d be cruising on an old, small, and dated cruise ship.
Norwegian Aqua, the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, will arrive in the United States three days later than originally planned due to unfavorable weather conditions. To ensure the safety of guests and crew members, the ship’s disembarkation port has also been changed to avoid the severe weather along its original course.
