Things To Do In SW Florida

Port Canaveral has been singled out as the best North American homeport and Virgin Voyages has been named the best cruise line by Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best in Cruise Awards.

The Celebrity Xcel was recognized as the best new ship and the Oceania Allura was chosen as the best new luxury ship in the 17th annual awards. Margaritaville at Sea took the top spot in the cruisers’ choice ranking for the best ocean line.

With more passenger demand than ever, cruise lines are all racing to compete for customers with new ships coming online every year, plus top-tier onboard experiences, service and dining. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to figure out the best cruise line to book, but this ranking helps customers find a trip that’s most suitable for them.

The awards are chosen by combining the experience of Cruise Critic staff members with reviews of real travelers.

Here are the takeaways from Cruise Critic’s Best in Cruise Awards.

Best Cruise Line

Virgin Voyages, named the best cruise line for ocean voyages, increased its Florida-based footprint this year by bringing its fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, to Miami for the winter sailing season. Since 2021, Virgin has been challenging the norms of the cruise industry, and that bet seems to be paying off. read more

By Redd Brown, Dina Katgara, Bloomberg News

Americans are increasingly over the “slop bowl.”

Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava — once stars of the restaurant industry — are struggling as diners tire of all those pick-your-own ingredients piled atop rice or greens. Instead, lunchgoers are choosing offerings with more texture, like sandwiches and tacos, that fill them up and often cost less.

Even Steve Ells, the founder of Chipotle and the burrito bowl that rocketed the chain to lunchtime fame, has moved on. At a Manhattan location of his new concept Counter Service, there’s a red neon sign depicting a lunch bowl with a slash through it. It’s a bowl-free zone, reinforced by a website that proclaims “we love sandwiches” and “anything, as long as it can go on bread.”

“We’ve gone back to handheld,” said Ells, who left Chipotle in 2020. That came more than 15 years after debuting a bowl in response to customers opening up their burritos and asking for a fork to eat the innards. The bowl quickly became the chain’s top-selling menu item and spawned a boom that led to chains such as Cava and Sweetgreen. read more

The first residents have moved into the recently completed condo tower at the Four Seasons Private Residences in Disney’s exclusive Golden Oak community, occupying some of the swankiest — and priciest — condominiums in the market.

Construction of the tower and 31 units was completed in November. Disney won’t comment about specific sales numbers, but according to public records, the developer has closed 12 sales in the last three weeks for a combined $70.37 million, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The sales prices range from $5.28 million to $7.4 million. Each buyer also must pay condo assessments totaling between $100,000 and $200,000 annually.

Host Hotels and Resorts bought the Four Seasons Resort Orlando and adjacent land in 2021 for $640 million. The vacant land had previously been approved for timeshares, but the developer rezoned it for condominiums. HHR and Disney jointly announced the expansion of the Four Seasons branded residences in July 2024.

“We are very pleased with sales and sales interest for this new development,” said Page Pierce, Disney’s vice president of real estate development. “There are a limited number of units still available.” read more

The family of a Kissimmee man who was fatally injured in September while riding the Stardust Racers coaster at Epic Universe has reached an “amicable resolution” with Universal Orlando Resort, their attorney announced Saturday.

A news release from Ben Crump, a civil rights and personal injury attorney, said terms of the agreement between the family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, and Universal, which opened Epic in May, are confidential. The one-paragraph statement did not say if Universal would pay Zavala’s family or, if so, how much.

“The family is grateful for the community’s support and asks for privacy at this time,” Crump’s statement said.

Zavala had a spinal condition since birth and used a wheelchair, his family said. On Sept. 17, while riding Stardust Racers  — a fast-paced rollercoaster that reaches speeds of 62 mph and rises up to 133 feet — Zavala was flung forward, his head slamming into the seat in front of him repeatedly, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which ruled his death an accident. read more

By JOSH JACQUOT, Edmunds

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, the remaining weeks of December could very well be a great time to buy. Several recurring industry trends converge at year-end, creating favorable conditions that can help you save money. The auto experts at Edmunds have come up with three key reasons why December often delivers the opportunity for better deals — and what to know to ensure you get the best one.

Year-end sales quotas and dealership incentives

Manufacturers and dealers operate under annual targets, and December is when they make their most concerted effort to meet them. According to Edmunds transaction data, December has historically delivered the highest average discounts off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for both new and used cars. The pandemic somewhat upended that, sending new car prices skyrocketing year-round as demand exceeded supply, but that blip has largely stabilized since 2022.

Typically, as the calendar year draws to a close, automakers and their dealer networks shift into high gear, deploying cash-back incentives, financing specials and price cuts to help them meet sales goals and finish the year strong. As a car shopper, you can take advantage of this year-end push. By choosing to buy a vehicle in December, you are more likely to encounter a dealership willing to make a deal, even if it’s less profitable. read more