Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a major Category 5 hurricane on Monday, October 8, before weakening as it continues to barrel toward Florida's Gulf Coast, impacting cruise itineraries. 

Florida is preparing for the storm's arrival, with the state's Division of Emergency Management gearing up for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Milton is expected to make landfall by mid-week and bring rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches across portions of the state, with localized totals up to 15 inches. 

Celebrity Cruises is among one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. Though not the largest, they have a modest fleet of 14 ships offering impressive itineraries around the world. By late 2025, they're expected to welcome another Edge Class ship to their fleet, increasing the number of operational vessels from 14 to 15. 

Two Carnival Cruise Line guests are banned for life after smuggling a handgun onboard their cruise ship. To make matters worse, the couple posted about the incident on social media, catching the attention of the cruise line.

After months of planning your cruise, it’s finally time to start packing your suitcases before you set sail! Packing can be equally stressful as it is exciting, especially if you are limited on packing space. First-time cruisers might struggle particularly if they aren’t sure what to expect for their cruise vacation.

We share lots of cruise updates and advice here, and this is a weekly roundup of everything you may have missed from this week.

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 the recent articles and updates we've shared.

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Welcome guest writer Sydney Wall! Sydney graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in English and a concentration in creative writing in 2021. She has always been passionate about traveling and never stops looking for adventure. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's in Accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill and continues to write every opportunity she gets.

I had never been on a cruise before my friend and I decided to journey across the Atlantic from Baltimore to Bermuda. The 5-night stay was rocky, but the fun was never-ending. 

No, the longshoreman strike won't affect cruise ship passengers. 

The U.S. port strike went into effect on Tuesday, impacting ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. It's the first coast-wide International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike since 1977, with 45,000 unionized dockworkers raising their pickets. 

Cruise operations typically have dedicated facilities separate from cargo handling; however, ships are serviced and stocked by working members of the ILA. 

Intrigued by the affordable fare and the convenience of embarking in New Orleans, just a short drive away, I finally got to experience Carnival Cruise Line. More specifically, I was curious to see what the cheapest stateroom on Carnival Valor would offer.

The days of worrying about adding a drink package, specialty dining, and other extras to your cruise fare are over—at least for one cruise line!

Norwegian Cruise Line has upgraded their popular "Free at Sea" program to offer a more enhanced and streamlined experience for passengers. From premium cocktails to delicious specialty dining, Norwegian is honing in on the concept of "MORE," focusing on more onboard offerings, more places to explore, and more value.