Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are the two biggest mainstream cruise lines in the industry with millions of passengers setting sail onboard these competing lines each year.

Each cruise line adds their own special flair to the cruising experience. This is how they differentiate from one another in the competitive travel market. Royal Caribbean is known for building mega-ships with onboard thrills and dazzling entertainment, while Carnival places a heavy focus on fun, casual dining, and creating a lively atmosphere onboard.

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.

While Caribbean sailings are relaxing, nothing can beat the culture and history that accompany a European cruise. Every year, you can probably find me taking a cruise somewhere in Europe, as it is my favorite cruising destination in the world. 

This spring, I traveled to Europe for a repositioning cruise from Málaga, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal. This cheap cruise was onboard Norwegian Sun, which is one of the oldest ships in the cruise line’s fleet.

When planning the perfect vacation, one of the most important aspects is your "home away from home." In the case of a cruise ship, this means your cabin. 

Choosing the perfect cabin requires a little bit more research than selecting a hotel room, especially when you know most hotel chains will assign your room upon check-in. Cruises are different in that you have the ability to select your exact room when you make your initial booking. 

MSC Cruises is known for their low prices and is becoming increasingly popular with cruisers who want to make the most of their vacation budget. 

While the European cruise line has a number of ongoing sales and promotions to help save you money on the price of your cruise, there is one strategy I use to make sure I get the most bang for my buck. 

Oftentimes, you can find a great value on transatlantic cruises. This, however, means that you have to be committed to spending many days onboard the ship as it sails across the Atlantic Ocean. 

When taking a transatlantic voyage, the ship that you are on is being repositioned from one homeport to another, marking the beginning or end of a specific cruise season. When, for instance, you sail from Florida to Barcelona or Rome, this is because a ship is getting ready to begin her season in Europe. 

Is The Key worth it? This is a controversial question many cruisers wonder when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise.

There are plenty of negative reviews online about The Key. Some say it’s “too pricey for what it is” or “it sounds good in theory but is a waste of money.” On the other hand, some claim The Key is worth the extra cost.

Needless to say, I wanted to see what it was like for myself. Here's what I thought about The Key on my 7-night Western Caribbean cruise onboard Adventure of the Seas. 

Packing for a cruise can be stressful for some. Maybe you've combed through every packing list you can find but are still worried about packing the wrong attire of forgetting something important. This can be especially true for first-time cruisers, or even if you are trying a new-to-you cruise line.

To keep things simple, I almost exclusively travel with just a carry-on, even for 7-night cruises. I find that this simplifies my travel immensely.

When most people think of cruising, they think of a family vacation where they can create memories and spend time with loved ones. 

Cruises, however, make for a great solo trip, too! With so many scheduled activities, it is easy to show up and strike up a conversation with fellow passengers. Plus, you get to explore new places around the world, so you know you will always have something to talk about with others.