Carnival Cruise Line recently banned a popular cruise item from certain venues aboard its fleet of "FUN" ships. 

Like other cruise lines, Carnival has a long list of prohibited items that aren't allowed onboard its ships. Many items, including explosives, other dangerous weapons, or illegal drugs, are common sense. 

Costa Cruises is most known for the deadly capsizing of the Costa Concordia in 2012, where over 30 people lost their lives when the ship's captain strayed from the original course and sailed dangerously close to the Tuscan island of Giglio.

Still, many travelers report disappointing experiences aboard Costa ships, and it's often thought of as the worst-rated cruise line at sea. Common complaints include poor-quality food, bad customer service, dirty cabins, and disorganized operations.

Carnival Cruise Line has been around since 1972, with the first cruise setting sail on March 11, 1972. Since then, the cruising industry has changed dramatically. 

In fact, the original Mardi Gras was advertised as being 27,000 gross tons. Her namesake, which was launched in 2021, is a little over 180,000 gross registered tons. 

Last year, I finally set sail on an epic journey to The Last Frontier, having wanted to cross Alaska off my bucket list for years. I loved the experience so much that I booked another Alaskan cruise months later. 

Although nothing compares to the warm sand and turquoise waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean, Alaska left a lasting impression with its snow-capped mountains, wildlife sightings, and towering glaciers. 

Having taken over 30 cruises, there have been times when I've felt ripped off while onboard. Sometimes, it's my fault. For example, forgetting to purchase shore excursions in advance means I'll inevitably pay more for the same product on the ship. 

This happened a few years ago when I waited until the last minute to plan my day ashore at Royal Caribbean's private island. Although cruisers have reported scoring epic deals to Thrill Waterpark, I shelled out $149 for a full-day pass. 

When you first start cruising, it's easy to assume that your base cruise fare is all you need for a fun and relaxing vacation. And for the most part, this can be true! Cruising is a fairly inclusive vacation with dining, entertainment, transportation, and accommodations all bundled into your cruise fare. 

Solo cruises aren't as scary as you might think. They're a great way to explore at your own pace and meet new people, making them surprisingly peaceful and social. 

I've sailed alone to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and — most recently — Alaska. However, my solo trip to The Last Frontier was unexpected, as my partner woke up feeling ill the day before our flight to Seattle. 

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 social media mistake that got someone banned from Carnival Cruise Line and multi-million dollar upgrades coming to Celebrity's Solstice Class. 

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. 

Celebrity is investing $250 million in some of its oldest ships to make them better than ever. 

The Solstice Class initially debuted in 2008, when Celebrity Solstice hit the high seas for the first time. Over the next four years, Celebrity added four more ships to the new beloved class, including Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Reflection.