After nine Norwegian Cruise Line sailings in the past two years, I thought I had experienced it all—until my most recent cruise aboard the Norwegian Jade, where I finally indulged in one of the ship’s most exclusive luxuries for the first time: the Thermal Suite at the Mandara Spa.

Choosing the right cabin for your cruise vacation is as important as selecting the right ship. From tiny interior staterooms to lavish suites, there are a variety of options available. When booking, it's important to establish your budget and evaluate your expectations for your cabin experience. 

Let's assume, for example, you're a family of five excited to go on your first-ever cruise. Most cruise ship cabins accommodate a maximum of four passengers, so you'll either have to split your family into two separate staterooms or book a larger cabin. 

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas returned to Miami, Florida, after completing the cruise line's first-ever world cruise. Passengers spent 274 days traveling the globe exploring diverse cultures, marveling at iconic landmarks, and creating lifelong bonds with other guests, so it's no surprise that returning to land has been a hard adjustment for some. 

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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Following last week's decision to change the itineraries on eight ships, Carnival has announced three more ships have had their itineraries adjusted on select sailing in 2025 and 2026.

According to Carnival's cruise contract, they can tweak itineraries, ranging from minor changes to the hours in a specific port to completely changing scheduled calls. 

Booking cruise vacations in advance typically helps guests secure the best rate and gives them something exciting to look forward to, so loyal Celebrity cruisers will be thrilled to know that we know when Celebrity Cruises will open up new 2026-2027 cruises. 

The deployment schedule covers Alaska, Australia, Bermuda, Canada/New England, the Canals, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Europe, South America, Caribbean, and Asia, giving potential sailors plenty of itinerary choices. 

From unlimited buffets to multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room, there's no shortage of food on a cruise ship. However, when you are finalizing your packing, you might wonder if you can bring your favorite snack onboard, especially if you're a picky eater or have certain dietary restrictions. 

Whatever the reason, while cruise lines have specific rules regarding bringing food onboard, most allow small quantities of non-perishable snacks. Some may even allow alcohol to be brought onboard on embarkation day!

Hurricane season is upon us, and the latest storm in the Gulf of Mexico is impacting Carnival Cruise Line’s current operations.

Hurricane Francine poses a significant threat to the coast of Louisiana as the storm approaches land. The hurricane is anticipated to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday night as a Category 1 hurricane. With September 10 marking the climatological peak of hurricane activity, the storm is no surprise given the current conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.

Most cruisers will agree: food indulgence and cruising go hand-in-hand. One of the best aspects of cruising is having unlimited access to food throughout your voyage. Even better, most dining options are included in your cruise fare.