Drink packages are one of the most expensive add-ons, costing hundreds of dollars for a weeklong cruise. Although many cruisers skip them to save money, I find that they're worth the splurge and make my vacation feel more inclusive. 

Recently, my partner and I sailed aboard Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, on a 7-night voyage to the Eastern Caribbean. We both have Diamond status within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, so we get four complimentary drinks per day. 

A violent fight broke out aboard Carnival Sunrise over the weekend, resulting in passengers being banned from sailing with the line again. 

The incident happened at around 5:30pm on Saturday, June 7, after Carnival Sunrise had departed from Half Moon Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. 

Carnival Sunrise was halfway through a 4-night round-trip sailing from Miami, which departed on June 5, 2025. 

While Celebrity doesn't operate the largest cruise ships at sea, they're committed to keeping their fleet as modern as possible. Regardless of the size, you will find an impressive number of restaurants, bars, cabin categories, and amenities compared to other fleets. 

Whether you're seeking a ship that offers the best of what Celebrity has to offer or an intimate experience that's more focused on the destinations, you're sure to find the perfect ship for your next voyage. 

Although many cruisers expect to watch South Florida's skyline disappear into the horizon during sail away, a fast-growing port is making waves on the Gulf Coast. 

Galveston, Texas, is quickly becoming one of the nation's top cruise departure ports. With major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises investing in new terminals, Galveston is being transformed from a regional favorite into a massive cruise hub.

Although Royal Caribbean began operations in 1968, it wasn't until 1970 that it launched its first purpose-built cruise ship. Even though it would be a modest vessel today, it was completely revolutionary at the time. 

Royal Caribbean continued to build and release more ships, but things really started to set off when the cruise line debuted its ground-breaking Freedom Class. These ships were the largest in the world until 2009, until Royal Caribbean broke their own record by introducing Oasis of the Seas. 

MSC Cruises is an Italian family-owned cruise line that invites travelers to experience the world at an affordable cost. The uproar of MSC has caused the number of passengers to double in the last few years, with new terminals popping up in different parts of North America.

The top-rated cruise line has also partnered with the NBA’s New York Knicks, becoming their official cruise line partner and gaining significant promotion during games at Madison Square Garden.

Would you fly across the world for a 2-night cruise? Most wouldn't even consider this, but I was excited to take on the challenge. 

I recently embarked on an unforgettable trip to Europe for a 2-night cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. For just $99 per person, this cruise was dirt-cheap. Instead of spending thousands to fly to Europe during spring break, I decided to roll the dice and use my airline standby benefits.

Last year, the CDC inspected 151 ships as part of its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which evaluates everything from food preparation to public pools and medical facilities. 

However, only a fraction received perfect scores. Among these, one line was the most consistent. Out of 30 perfect scores, Norwegian Cruise Line had 7 ships receive a flawless 100. 

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 cruise line that's investing millions into its older ships and a new banned item aboard Carnival Cruise Line. 

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.

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