I've been cruising since I was five years old and have been on many of the major lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Disney, Princess, and Celebrity. However, one relatively new cruise line that often gets overlooked but is worth considering is Margaritaville at Sea. 

One of the biggest reasons I prefer cruising over a land-based vacation is the unmatched convenience. Cruising makes it easy to see multiple countries, cities, and regions with ease. You can see so much in a shorter amount of time without needing to repack your suitcase or figure out logistics. 

In this way, I am always looking for unique itineraries to visit new destinations. For years, the idea of staying on the ship while in port never even crossed my mind. Why wouldn’t I want to make the most of my time exploring new places?

Choosing the right cabin can make all the difference when planning your Carnival cruise. Some staterooms are more spacious than others, while certain cabins are more centrally located. 

I've had my fair share of bad cruise cabin locations. For example, when sailing on Carnival Vista, I selected a Junior Suite at the front of the ship. While excited about the larger cabin, I didn't realize how much I'd hate staying in a room so far forward. 

In October 2023, I sailed on my first-ever Carnival cruise onboard their newest ship at sea, Carnival Celebration. 

I stayed in an interior room that cost $1,900 for 7 nights.

After sailing onboard Carnival Celebration and Carnival Vista in 2023, I decided to try one of Carnival's older ships on a short 4-night cruise to The Bahamas. 

It was my first time sailing onboard a Conquest Class ship, so I wasn't sure what to expect considering my only Carnival experiences had been on newer vessels. 

A few Carnival guests received an email stating they'd have to complete a mandatory in-person safety briefing on their upcoming sailings.

Following the pandemic, many lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity, introduced e-muster drills as a way to ensure social distancing among guests. Years later, the virtual muster drill remains in place on many cruise lines, offering a more streamlined and efficient process.

Have you ever wondered why Carnival only allows guests to carry one bottle of wine onboard?

Though it would be nice to bring unlimited alcohol on cruise ships, alcohol sales are where cruise lines make a significant portion of their revenue. 

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 Carnival's fleet expansion and our review of Wonder of the Seas. 

For those busy but 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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Most guests leave their luggage with porters before embarking on a cruise ship under the assumption it will be safely delivered to their cabins. However, that wasn't the case for one unlucky Carnival passenger. 

Jason and Tammy Merritt were looking forward to celebrating their anniversary on an 8-night cruise aboard Carnival Magic in early February. Things quickly went downhill when Jason's bag never made it to his stateroom.