Disney has added a bunch of new features to Pirates of the Caribbean Online, including raising the notoriety level cap to 50. Players will now gain more experience when defeating enemies to help them reach the new cap.

In addition to the level cap increase, the weapon reputation level has been bumped up to 30 and new cave environments have been added that are filled with new high-level enemies. Also, ships now sail faster and no longer lose speed when turning.

The newest developer's diary entry gives players on update on the state of the Caribbean. The first half of the entry focuses on improvements the team has made to the game in response to player feedback, such as ones regarding performance issues. The team has redesigned the major islands and changed the graphics for avatars in an attempt to have the game run better on more computers, and the developers have changed quests lines, added new tutorial hints and added the Stowaway feature as another transportation option.

As for what's coming in the future, the diary entry states we'll an increase in the level and gold caps, the addition of higher level enemies in new cave environments, and new storylines and quests. These changes will hopefully be implemented by the end of summer. Starting this month, new quests and GM-hosted events will be added to introduce the changes.

You can read the full entry below.

About a week ago, the ability to become a stowaway on ships as a means of travel was implemented in Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Well, the team has updated its player's guide with information on how to sneak yourself onto a ship.

To become a stowaway, simply request passage from a Dock Worker on one of the main islands of Port Royal, Tortuga, Padres del Fuego or Cuba. You'll have to pay some gold, but you'll be crated up as cargo and sent on your way!

In order to help fans kick-off their summer, the Pirates of the Caribbean Online team has partnered with Comcast to give 10,000 players each a free month of unlimited access to the game. To enter, all you need to do is visit this page on the official site and log in with your membership information. If you're not a member, you can register for free.

You have until June 30 to enter in the contest. A one-month unlimited subscription costs $4.95. You can read the official rules here.

According to the official news blog, Pirates of the Caribbean Online has received some new features and improvements, some of which make the game more accessible for new players. For example, early quests have been modified for better playability and more than 70 tutorial pop-up hints have been added to help get new players acquainted with the mechanics.

In addition, dockworker NPCs have been added to give pirates the transportation option of becoming a stowaway on a ship. The team has added 38 new, player-submitted ship names to the game, and enemy difficulties in areas throughout PotBS have been changed. You can read all of the updates after the jump.

Also, the following announcement was made in a separate post: "For security reasons, we have removed the ability to tab between Linked Accounts on the Pirate selection screen. Please sign in with each account's unique login and password for the account you want to play."

The Pirates of the Caribbean Online team is introducing weekly Crew Up Days this Friday, May 22, in an attempt to help players find some new crewmates. On Fridays and Saturdays from 7-8 p.m. PST you'll be able to meet up at Port Royal Beach on Antiros and Baraba Oceans to group up with pirates and add to your crew.

If your crew's already set, you can check out the 38 new ship names that will be available very soon in the latest game update from any Shipwright. The names of the result of a ship-naming contest the team held a few months ago. Thousands of names were received, but 38 were chosen as winners for their uniques and creativity. You can view all of the names here.

Many MMOs celebrate various holidays with big events, from Halloween celebrations to Christmas events. But Pirates of the Caribbean Online is taking the time to support a holiday that may not get as much attention in the world of video games: Mother's Day!

Starting today, you can get a tattoo for mom at any tattoo parlor in the game. A variety of designs will be available until Sunday. So if you're looking for a unique gift, now's your chance to show how much you care on your avatar.

The Pirates of the Caribbean Online team recently implemented numerous changes in the game, and it all started with the destruction and rebuilding of Port Royal. Captain Walter has provided players with an eyewitness account of the explosions that shook the town to the ground. The Navy quickly rebuilt Port Royal, which "set into motion events that would change the Caribbean forever." And that's only the beginning of the updates !

Log in now to experience the new Port Royal, the new Tutorial, plus the improved Player Profile and Chat Interface. But that's not all! Now Basic Access members reputation gains are no longer reduced and it's easier than ever to browse your wardrobe! We've also addressed a cargo hold full of other issues players have contacted us about.

Whether you're a new pirate or a seasoned adventurer, let us know what you think of the updates.

Do you fancy the pirate's life? Well if you haven't entered the Pirates of the Caribbean Online Live the Pirate's Life Contest yet, you now have some more time; the deadline's been extended to Feb. 15.

To celebate the one-year anniversary of the game, which occurred on Halloween 2008, Disney's asking players to shoot a video of themselves (with their pirate gear, of course) explaining why they love Pirates of the Caribbean Online. The grand prize winner gets a ton of stuff, including a 3-day trip for 2 to Disneyland (including airfare), two night accomodations at the Disneyland Hotel (with one of those nights being in the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite), a chance to meet the Pirates of the Caribbean Online crew, and more!

So if you haven't entered yet, you may as well use this deadline extension to get to work on your video. You can submit your entry and read all the rules and prizes here.

Pirates of the Caribbean Online is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Oct. 31, and the developers have a ton of announcements and surprises in store for players.

Lead developer Greg Wiatroski posted a diary entry on what's in store in the next year for the game. He said that ships customization will increase, a more traditional inventory system, such as banks and slots, may be implemented, and more features will be added for both basic and unlimited members.

Also, according to a press release by Disney Online, "Pirates of the Caribbean Online partnered with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to bring a little Pirates magic into the life of Job McCully, a 10-year-old boy in Arkansas who is a leukemia survivor and has endured a bone marrow and double lung transplant." The episode will air this Sunday at 8 p.m. PST on ABC.

Keep reading for more anniversary information.