On this episode, we check in with the cruise editor for TravelPulse.com and Vacation Agent Magazine, Theresa Masek, to give us a cruise rewind of 2014. We cover some of the big news that hit the headlines like Carnival LIVE, Quantum of the Seas, Margaritaville on Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean dining partnerships. Plus, we look ahead at new ships in 2015. Cruise vacations were great in 2014 and are just ramping up. Happy New Year! 

Earlier this month President Obama announced a new travel-friendly policy with Cuba. This a big step for the United States getting into Cuba since the embargo was put in place over 50 years ago.

With 11.6 million North Americans cruising in 2013, this could be huge for Cuba's economy.

I recently had a chance to sail on Costa Cruises' Costa Mediterreana to the Caribbean. Our 11-night voyage went to Nassau, Bahamas; the Dominican Republic, Tortola, Antigua, St. Maarten, and Freeport, Bahamas. We check in with the International Host aboard the ship and get some cruise passengers' thoughts. 

On this episode, Jason Leppert from Popular Cruising drops by to chat about the major differences between luxury cruises and a mass market cruises. Having never sailed on a luxury cruise before, this interview was very eye opening.

Travel expert, Jason Coleman, tackles some listener questions on what cruise is the “right” cruise for a family, tipping with infants, and suggestions for using a smartphone at sea.

Listener Joe Tolley from Charlotte, North Carolina just returned from a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard the 2,974-guest Carnival Conquest, a Conquest-class cruise ship based currently based in Miami.

Joe talks with us about his family's cruise to Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk.

Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® has Cruise News:

• Celebrity orders two new ships
• Carnival offers longer itineraries
• Norwegian partners with Margaritaville
• Virgin cruises
• New CEO Royal/Celebrity
• Voyager of the Seas completes $80m refurbishment

Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network just returned from a sailing aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Breeze where she participated in one of the cruise line's signature Carnival LIVE sailings. This particular sailing had country music/Top 40 group Lady Antebellum. Hear all the details of this sailing. 

• Norwegian Cruise Lines staying in NOLA through 2018
• New ultra luxury Seabourn ship ordered 
• Costa Captain back in court - what's going on with the trial?
• Did we see any black Friday sales that were totally WOW
• Majesty of the Seas leaving Miami
• We're seeing a lot of cruise ships canceling Belize lately because of weather - will we ever see a pier?
• What is the world's busiest cruise port in 2014?