Tired of living for the weekend? The Destination: Luxe Weekly Newsletter helps busy professionals turn travel daydreams into real departures—with cruise news, theme park tips, and smarter ways to vacation more often. Subscribe and start planning the trip your 9-to-5 self really needs
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Welcome Back to Destination: Luxe Weekly This week, Carnival officially opens its highly anticipated private destination, Celebration Key. Princess Cruises unveils a perk refresh for their Premier Plus package. And in the theme park world, Universal is teaming up with one of the country’s top science museums to offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the magic and innovation behind its parks. Plus, I’m sharing my thoughts on Universal’s Islands of Adventure and whether that Express Pass is really worth it.
Let’s get into it.
The Luxe Lowdown
🚢 Carnival Officially Opens Celebration Key
Carnival’s long-awaited Celebration Key is officially open — and it’s a major step forward in their private island game. This brand-new destination in the Bahamas features five immersive zones, including family-friendly beach areas, an adults-only retreat, and a large freshwater lagoon surrounded by loungers, dining, and cabanas
What I love: this type of destination has worked wonders for Royal Caribbean, and it’s great to see Carnival stepping up with a modern, curated port experience. It’s a huge upgrade from older beach stops that often felt like afterthoughts
However, a key drawback is the disconnect between the drink package onboard and onshore — guests can’t use their Cheers package at Celebration Key, which feels like a misstep. Continuity across the full vacation experience matters, especially with more guests looking for seamless, all-inclusive vibes. Still, this is a promising move from Carnival, and I’m excited to see how it evolves
🛳 Princess Cruises Adds Fresh Perks to Premier Plus
Princess Cruises is updating its Premier and Plus Packages starting July 22 — and while they’re calling it a guest-inspired enhancement, the changes are a mixed bag
The refreshed Premier Package now includes 24-hour room service with expanded access, reserved theater seating, and Unlimited casual and specialty dining meals at select venues. Meanwhile, the Plus Package adds two more casual dining meals per voyage, for a total of four
Here’s the catch: To make room for these updates, several perks are being removed — including juice bar access, fitness classes, Medallion shipping, Princess Prizes, and unlimited premium desserts. If you’ve been enjoying those extras, you may want to double-check your package details before your next sailing
While it’s nice to see Princess trying to keep their offerings relevant and personalized, cutting perks without lowering the price might rub loyal cruisers the wrong way. Still, these adjustments show that Princess is listening to usage data and reshaping its value proposition — just make sure the new version still fits your vacation style
🏛️ Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition Coming to Philadelphia
Get ready, theme-park fans—Universal is bringing its magic to Philly. From February 14 to September 7, 2026, The Franklin Institute will host “Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition”, an immersive showcase celebrating 100+ authentic artifacts and behind-the-scenes stories from Jurassic World, How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, and more
The 18,000-square-foot experience spans eight themed galleries and features 25 interactive stations—letting you build roller‑coasters, design monster masks, and explore animatronics, robotics, costuming, and visual effects that bring theme parks to life
More than just a nostalgia trip, this exhibit delves into the technology, artistry, and storytelling behind some of the most iconic rides and lands, including the brand-new Epic Universe. For any theme-park aficionado or curious family, Philly’s next mega-attraction is a must-visit
This week, I’m spotlighting one of my favorite parks — Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando. This park nails the idea of, well, adventure. From the tropical entrance to Jurassic World to Marvel Super Hero Island, every area feels bold and immersive
Noteworthy: VelociCoaster is hands down one of the best coasters on the planet — smooth, fast, intense, and beautifully themed. Combine that with iconic franchises like Harry Potter, Spider-Man, and Jurassic Park, and it’s easy to see why this park is a fan favorite
Room for Improvement: The Toon Lagoon and Comic Strip areas feel dated and disconnected from today’s audiences. They’re aimed at families, but the IPs don’t resonate the way Marvel or Potter do. It’s time for a refresh
Insider’s Insight: If you're visiting during peak times, Express Pass is a must — but don’t expect a walk-on experience. Even Express lines can get long for top attractions. Check the crowd calendar at Undercover Tourist before you go and plan accordingly
Bottom line: Islands of Adventure lives up to its name — thrilling, immersive, and packed with must-dos — but a little strategic planning (and maybe an Express Pass) goes a long way
Tired of living for the weekend? The Destination: Luxe Weekly Newsletter helps busy professionals turn travel daydreams into real departures—with cruise news, theme park tips, and smarter ways to vacation more often. Subscribe and start planning the trip your 9-to-5 self really needs
