Cruise Radio: Weekly Cruise News & Travel Tips

Latest Episodes:

267 Star Princess Review + Cruise News | Princess Cruises Oct 17, 2014

Show notes

On this episode, Jason Leppert, editor of Popular Cruising joins us to talk about his latest experience aboard Princess Cruises' Star Princess, a cruise ship based seasonally on the West Coast. Jason gives us a full review of the itinerary and a bow to stern review of this 950' cruise ship. This Star Princess review includes: dining, entertainment, ports, embarkation, public areas, and first time thoughts.

Star Princess is scheduled to remain based in San Francisco, operating cruises to Mexico and Hawaii.

Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy stops by with Cruise News on:

Cruise passenger quarantined with ebola relation
Norwegian Escape reveal
Carnival Vista construction officially underway
Princess Cruises has a slew of celebrities for their upcoming christening of Regal Princess
A lot of new enhancements to Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, you may be surprised
Norwegian Jewel back in Houston

Listener Question

Joe Tolley in Charlotte, NC: Offsite parking in Miami, I've read some horror stories, should we suck it up and pay the 20 clams/day at the port?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

266 NCL Pride of America Review + MSC Cruises Packages | Norwegian Cruise Line Oct 10, 2014

Show notes

On this episode, Jason Leppert, editor of Popular Cruising joins us to talk about his latest experience aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America, a cruise ship based year-round in the Hawaiian islands. Jason gives us a full review of the itinerary, the ship, dining venues and entertainment aboard the ship.

Finally, a cruise that over-nights in different ports!

MSC Cruises has launched Inclusive Experiences, a new pricing structure in which guests choose an "experience" based on their own personal preferences and amenities desired while cruising. Valued at up to $700+ per person, guests have the option of selecting from four different experience categories — Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, and MSC Yacht Club — ranging from a la carte to all-inclusive amenities. As a positioned industry expert, Theresa Masek, editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent Magazine, chats with us about the packages and gives her thoughts.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

265 Carnival Sunshine Review, Cruise Week + Cruise News | Carnival Cruise Lines Oct 03, 2014

Show notes

Listener Rick from Jacksonville, Florida returns to Cruise Radio to gives us a complete Carnival Sunshine review. Rick gives us his impressions of the ship, the food, entertainment, ports, and some first time cruise tips for Carnival Sunshine.

Emily Kaufman has been a leading expert in travel since her first television appearance in 1996. She currently contributes to The Today Show as a frequent guest, was the travel contributor to Good Morning America, is currently the travel contributor on The Steve Harvey Show, and regularly appears as the travel expert in top 25 TV markets across the country including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more offering practical travel tips and advice. Emily stops by this evening to give us some fall cruise travel advice.

Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:

Carnival returning to Cabo for the first time with Carnival Miracle
Carnival adds steak in dining room for fee
A college student falls to his death off the mast of Carnival Ecstasy
Free private dining restaurant will debut on Norwegian Escape
Princess Cruises debuting a Princess at Sea app aboard Regal Princess
We're tracking Quantum of the Seas - what is she doing now?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

264 Disney Fantasy Review, Carnival Great Vacation Guarantee + Cruise News Sep 26, 2014

Show notes

Carter and his wife are from Central Florida and just returned on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Disney Fantasy. Carter joins us to give us a bow to stern review of Disney Fantasy, leaving no stone unturned. Carter covers embarkation, first impressions, the stateroom, dining, entertainment, how the outside of the ship handles itself on sea days, and some first time cruise tips for Disney Cruise Line. You won't want to miss this Disney Fantasy Review.

Jim Berra is the Chief Marketing Officer for Carnival Cruise Lines and joins us to talk about Carnival's Great Vacation Guarantee. Basically if you think the sailing stinks, Carnival will fly you home and refund the cost of the cruise. Turns out you have a better chance of dating a supermodel than using the Great Vacation Guarantee.

Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:

Carnival Corp earnings were released – have they finally recovered from their past financial issues?
Royal Caribbean's new ship - Quantum of the Seas completed it's conveyance – how'd it go?
Norwegian Escape keel laid – what exactly does this mean?
Princess to participate in 2015 Rose Parade
Oceania increasing daily gratuities to $16 per person, per day
Cabo San Lucas – how is recovery after the hurricane?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

263 Carnival Inspiration Review + Cruise News | Carnival Cruise Lines Sep 19, 2014

Show notes

Listener, Marcy Bucy, from California joins us to give us her review on her latest sailing aboard Carnival Inspiration, a three-night Mexico cruise her family recently took out of Long Beach. Marcy gives us a bow-to-stern review of Carnival Inspiration and talks about the Cheers Beverage program and Faster to the Fun.

Stewart Chiron the Cruise Guy has cruise news on:

Royal Caribbean is busy over in Europe cutting steel and getting Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and their upcoming ship that they just cut the steel on.
Carnival's Vacation Guarantee

Holland America named their new ship - let me guess, it ends in dam?

Last week we talked about NCL buying a couple new cruise lines - anything new on that front?
Houston cig and liquor tax and how it's affecting cruise passengers.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

262 Celebrity Solstice Review + a Loyal Cruiser Program | Celebrity Cruises Sep 12, 2014

Show notes

Jason Leppert is the editor-in-chief of PopularCruising.com and just returned from a seven-night sailing about Celebrity Solstice, a Celebrity Cruises ship that was launched in August 2008 and does seasonal sailing in Alaska. She is currently the largest ship sailing the Alaskan waters. Jason gives us a comprehensive bow to stern review of Celebrity Solstice, the themed Top Chef cruise he was sailing and what it's like living the Celebrity life.

Listener Questions

1. Lauren W. - East TN

We are first time cruisers and would like to know how to pick out our cabin? There are WAAAAAY to many options out there. Any suggestions for a good starting point?

2. GeeWhiz_ on Twitter Might go on Holland America New England/Canada cruise next year. Should we go in September or October?

Loyal Cruiser Website

Loyal Cruiser is a consumer facing company dedicated to ensuring the cruise passenger is rewarded for their travel. This simple centralized loyalty program for cruisers is straightforward and easy to understand. We talk to the CEO of LoyalCruise.com, Baron Forbes, to learn all about the company.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

261 Quantum of the Seas + Pierside Tipping | Royal Caribbean International Sep 05, 2014

Show notes

Theresa Masek, the Editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent Magazine joins us today to talk about her recent shipyard tour of Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas. Theresa gives us 10 awesome new features aboard the upcoming cruise ship.

Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:

Norwegian Cruise Line purchases Prestige
Princess Cruises reveals a trendy night club on upcoming Regal Princess
Plans for a new pier in Venice - how is this going to play with the cruise ship ban?
Oasis of the Seas Europe bound - but back next month - what is she doing over there and why is the Europe stint so short?
Latest from Quantum of the Seas

Listener Question

Submitted to Facebook:

We were unloading our car at PortMiami a few weeks ago and had four bags total - I gave the porter a dollar for each bag and he told me this wasn't sufficient and the charge was $2 per bag. I went ahead and paid the $2 per bag because I didn't want my bag to wind up on the wrong ship! What are the tipping guidelines for curbside porters on embarkation day?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

260 Carnival Magic Review + Passport Question | Carnival Cruise Line Aug 29, 2014

Show notes

Houston-based listener, Sonya Sherow, just returned from a seven-night sailing aboard Carnival Magic, a Carnival Cruise Lines ship based year-round. Sonya gives us a comprehensive review of Carnival Magic, including: embarkation from Galveston, Texas, first impressions of the ship, public areas, stateroom, food, entertainment and the ports of call on this Western Caribbean cruise.

We also tackle three listener questions on how much does a passport cost, how long does it take to get your passport, and ground transportation options between the Miami International Airport and PortMiami. http://www.cruiseradio.net.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

259 Allure of the Seas Review, Cruise Tipping + Cruise News Aug 22, 2014

Show notes

Kerry Stange joins us this week to give us a comprehensive review of Royal Caribbean largest cruise ship Allure of the Seas. Kerry and his wife recently returned from a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. Kerry goes into detail about embarkation out of Terminal 18 in Port Everglades, first impressions of Allure of the Seas, the stateroom, dining venues, entertainment, and ship experience.

Listener Question:

I am looking for direction on the issue of tipping. We no longer use the Dining Room for our meals. We take our meals in the buffet or specialty restaurants. We are generous with our gratuities at these venues for good service. A large portion of the tipping schedule is for dining room personnel, a service we do not use. What would be your recommendation in dealing with this discrepancy? We are told the gratuities are still circulated amongst all cruise personnel? Do we lessen the amount of tipping collected less the dining room portion?

Cruise Guy has Cruise News on:

Cunard announces major makeover for Queen Victoria
What's the status on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas?
Carnival Pride is going to operate unique voyages starting October 2015, what are we gonna see?
CEO of CLIA recently released some norovirus figures - how accurate was this report and what was she trying to prove?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

258 Panama Canal Turns 100 + Cruise News Aug 14, 2014

Show notes

Happy 100th Birthday to the Panama Canal! To celebrate, Sunny Lockwood joins us to chat about a book that she and her husband wrote called Cruising Panama's Canal. An interesting read about how a horrifying life accident turned into a trip of a lifetime.

We answer a listener question about Carnival Sunshine, transportation from the Orlando International Airport to the cruise pier at Port Canaveral, and what to do on the ship.

Cruise Guy has Cruise News and talks about Carnival's new island in Haiti, Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas floated out, Regal Princess' Godparents from the Love Boat, Norwegian Cruise Line's more-inclusive package, and a third Royal-class Princess ship on the way. For show notes and book link check out http://cruiseradio.net.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net

Find in-depth cruise news and ship reviews at https://cruiseradio.net

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