I'm working on my schedule for the rest of the year. I currently have an opening from August 5- October 11th. I had hesitated on booking Gulf cruises in August and September due to Hurricane season. However, the forecast is for a STRONG el Nino weather pattern. Which apparently lowers the chance of severe storms so I looked again to fill my schedule. MSC Seascape out of Galveston, TX for the month of August runs at these bargain prices. (screen shots attached) 7 day cruises with same route in a solo Inside guaranteed cabin, Bella Experience! Would you pay the extra $50/week to choose your cabin? So $112 for gratuities weekly. Embarkation date-------Price Aug 9 $333 Aug 16 $371 Aug 23 $362 Aug 30 $315 total: $1381 The benefits of going out of Galveston is I lived in Texas for over 2 decades. So I wouldn't have to pay for parking. I'd park at a friends and ride a bus/train to Houston then use a shuttle company from a Houston Airport to the terminal and back. About $50 round trip. I think prices may be even lower in September (Highest Hurricane risk) but didn't check yet. I wonder what the communities thoughts are on the option to book one or all. I already have the Grandiosa booked out of Orlando(Canaveral) in November. Never been on MSC so a bit leery about booking a month blind. But figure it will be fine. Does anyone have concerns, red flags or previous experience that I should consider?

I found an EXTREMELY low price on a solo cabin on the MSC Grandiosa out of Port Canaveral. Only $386.45 USD for a 7 night cruise. I am now booked on a 7 night trip November 7th through the 14th. Looking forward to a trial run on this cruise line!

A $440 million USD verdict against 4 cruise lines is upheld in the US Supreme Court. https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/21/supreme-court-cuba-tied-lawsuit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR8uPZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqOGk0WUl2dUNxcUlIYTVVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnTvC6-koTttJ5l-SuHvqAOpD5J6dHikBqkdg2Z8hcjr03y-V_jEbZVyIQLN_aem_xUiqKjmc9RNCVZAb1zcB8w

Whether this was a mechanical malfunction, a medical issue or just carelessness it's another horrible incident in the Cruise World this week. Look out for those you love and hold them tight. You never know when or how things will change. https://www.cruisehive.com/woman-dies-after-scooter-plunges-off-pier-at-carnivals-celebration-key/209019

I feel like cruise gratuities are becoming one of the biggest talking points in cruising lately, especially as prices continue to creep up across the board.💰 I completely understand why they exist and the role they play for crew. I also think a lot of people, especially first-time cruisers, are shocked when they see how quickly the extra costs add up once gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and speciality dining all get added on. Some people prefer prepaying everything upfront so the cruise feels “done” before they board, while others would rather keep that flexibility onboard. One thing newer cruisers should know is that gratuities are often automatically added throughout your holiday, whether that is daily service charges or extra gratuities added onto drinks and speciality dining onboard, so it is always worth factoring that into your budget before you travel. Very interested where everyone sits on it now. Do gratuities bother you, or do you just see them as part of cruising at this point?😊👇