Though I love exploring new ports of call and enjoying the ship's amenities, part of my pre-cruise excitement is knowing I'm days away from unloading the dishwasher and making the bed one final time before some time off. 

Instead of being responsible for day-to-day tasks, I know I'll be attended to by friendly crew members, from the Main Dining Room wait staff to my cabin steward. 

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

What comes to mind when you think of Carnival Cruise Line? You might immediately picture a wild, party crowd; some might even dare to call the onboard experience rowdy.

For many years, I avoided Carnival like the plague. I would even roll my eyes if I was docked next to a Carnival cruise ship. Not only did their ships look outdated and drab, but the blasting music was enough to turn me off.

Nobody wants to receive an unexpected bill on vacation. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, while cruising on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Before they were allowed to disembark, they had to pay over $2,500 in medical bills for services that Wasney received onboard as a result of a series of seizures. 

Millions of travelers embark on cruises from Port Miami annually. In 2024, over 8.3 million passengers watched Miami's skyline disappear as they sailed toward the Bahamas or Caribbean. 

As one of the most popular cruise ports in the world, Miami welcomes guests from all over the world. As such, many cruisers rely on pre-cruise hotels to ensure they don't miss their ship's departure due to delayed or canceled flights. 

Last month, I embarked on my first Transatlantic cruise sailing onboard Norwegian Epic. Preparing for this voyage felt a bit daunting at times when it came to packing. After all, I would be gone from home for 2 weeks and was planning on taking only a carry-on suitcase! 

This cruise was a 14-day sailing that embarked in Orlando, Florida and disembarked in Civitavecchia, Italy with two scheduled stops at Gibraltar, United Kingdom and Alicante, Spain. 

Though unexpected events like the onset of a sudden illness or death in the family can deter vacation plans, calling customer service to find out that the cruise line's system canceled your reservation days before you were set to depart isn't exactly how you'd want to begin your vacation. 

With 3- and 4-night sailings during the off-season costing less than $100 per person, per night, they make for a great vacation choice due to their convenience and affordability. 

Traveling with friends, however, can be awkward, especially if you aren't super close to each other. Even if you are, sharing a 200-square-foot cabin (or smaller) can test the strongest bonds. 

Texas might be known for cowboys and country music, but the Lone Star State is also home to the new Texas-sized Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Jubilee has made quite the splash in her new Texas homeport of Galveston as Carnival Cruise Line’s latest cruise ship. Filled with an endless amount of things to do, eat, and see, Carnival Jubilee is one of the best cruise ships for families looking to have the ultimate vacation.