Cruise Radio: Weekly Cruise News & Travel Tips

Latest Episodes:

Carnival Cruise Ship Designer Joseph Farcus - Design on the High Seas - CRR 007 Jul 21, 2019

Show notes

Joseph Farcus is a legend in the cruise industry. He designed every Carnival Cruise Line ship from 1977 to 2011, and stayed with Carnival Corporation until he retired in 2014.

Joseph recently published a book called Design on the High Seas, and he joins me to talk about the book and gives us a look behind the curtain.

He also discusses how he designed the signature Carnival funnel, why so many Carnival Cruise Line ships have neon and other questions.

Amazon link to Design on the High Seas.

Date: July 21, 2019

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546 Norwegian Bliss Review, Travel Insurance Qs, + Cruise News | Norwegian Cruise Line Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss on a seven-night cruise. We get a comprehensive review of this Breakaway-plus class ship from a guest who traveled solo. Bliss spends the summers in Alaska and winters sailing the Caribbean.

We answer your travel insurance questions regarding sailing during hurricane season, the difference between credit card insurance and a regular policy, and the cut off line for buying a travel insurance policy.

Sherry has cruise news on:

Political unrest diverts cruise ships from San Juan
Allure of the Seas getting a massive makeover
Carnival is beefing up Bermuda calls
Western Caribbean beaches are still struggling with seaweed
Tropical Storm diverts, extends, and shortens Caribbean cruises

Listener Question: We are light sleepers, can you recommend a deck that we won't hear much noise from the engine, dining, or elevators?

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed.

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

Ovation of the Seas Alaska Review Summer 2019 | Royal Caribbean - CRR 006 Jul 14, 2019

Show notes

We finally got a review of Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas. This cruise ship was launched in 2016 for the Asia and Australia market. Now the ship is spending the summer in Alaska. Scott and his family just returned from the ship and gave us a comprehensive review of this Quantum-class cruise ship.

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545 Carnival Victory Review 2019 + Cruise News | Carnival Cruise Line Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

We get a review of Carnival Victory, a ship that sails three and four nights out of Miami, Florida. This was a three-night Bahamas cruise. Matt gives us a bow to stern overview of the ship and what he did in the Bahamas. In 2020, Carnival Victory will undergo a $200 million dry dock to become Carnival Radiance.

Richard has cruise news:

Toddler falls from Royal Caribbean ship balcony
Royal Caribbean honors drinking pricing error
Royal Caribbean ship heads to New Orleans
Norwegian Cruise Line app goes fleetwide
Carnival Cruise Line rolls out brunch menu to more ships
Carnival starts recycling soap by the end of July 2019

Listener Question: What cruise ship do we pick, Anthem of the Seas or Norwegian Bliss?

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net

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544 Independence of the Seas 2019 Review + Cruise News | Royal Caribbean Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

A review of one of Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class cruise ships, Independence of the Seas. This was a four-night cruise out of Port Everglades over to Cozumel, Mexico. Mike gives a detailed review of the cruise and what the ship was like.

Sherry has cruise news on:

Carnival Panorama is one step closer to the USA
A new cruise exhibit is on the Queen Mary in Long Beach
Enchanted Princess will debut in exactly a year - where is it going?
MSC Cruises is now including their gratuity in the price of the cruise fare

Listener Question: I bought the beverage package for an upcoming NCL sailing, and pre paid the 20% gratuity already. Am I going to be charged more when I am on the ship?

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Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed.

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

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Beyond the News Headlines - CRR 005 Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

Going behind the headlines on this week's cruise industry news.

Royal Caribbean's pricing error on the drink package, will they eventually make good on it?
Carnival Cruise Line changes their specialty dining program - what's going to be different?
A first for the cruise industry dry dock is going to happen with Carnival Vista on July 12.
And Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled their July 5 sailing because of unforeseen mechanical issues.

Date: July 3, 2019

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

Being on a Sinking Cruise Ship - Costa Concordia - CRR 004 Jun 30, 2019

Show notes

This week we go back to an interview that Matt and I did back in January 2012. This was when the cruise ship Costa Concordia sank off the coast of Italy. We interviewed a passenger who was on the ship at the time of sinking and he gave us a play-by-play of what actually happened.

Support our sponsor: Audible

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543 Carnival Sunshine Review 2019 + News | Carnival Cruise Line Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

This week we get a review of Carnival Sunshine on a sailing that went to Grand Turk and Amber Cove. We get a comprehensive review of the food, shows, the layout of the cruise ship, and the ports of call.

Sherry has cruise news on:

Carnival guests airlifted after a bus overturned in the Bahamas
Norwegian Cruise Line is stopping the open bar on two cruise ships
MSC Cruises gives more details on the new private island
Virgin Voyages details Rock Star Suites
Listener Q: The ship casino on a California Coastal Cruise and reporting earnings.

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed.

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

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Being the Last Cruise Ship in Cuba - Norwegian Sky Review 2019 - CRR 03 Jun 23, 2019

Show notes

Tommy was on the very last cruise ship into Cuba. He talks about what it was like being there when the Cuba ban was announced and also gives us a review of Norwegian Sky. Norwegian Sky sails year-round from Miami, Florida.

Tommy is the host of the Always Be Booked podcast.

542 Carnival Mardi Gras Reveal, Medical Evac Insurance, Koningsdam Review | Holland America Line Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

This week we discuss the new features added to Carnival Mardi Gras, get a review of Holland America Line's ms Koningsdam, interview a travel insurance expert about medivac coverage, and get cruise news with Sherry Laskin.

Sherry has cruise news on: