Meteorologist Greg Dees answers the question on why Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line always miss their private island because of weather. And lightning in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Colleen McDaniel from Cruise Critic joins us to talk about the big winners in their 2018 Editors' Picks Awards. 

Sherry Laskin has cruise news on:

• Itineraries for Carnival Cruise Line's new Carnival Mardi Gras
• Princess Cruises private destination Princess Cays caught fire 
• Virgin Voyages is rolling gratuities into the cruise fare 
• Princess announces the largest balconies at sea 

Shelly from CruisingExcursions answers some listener questions on some cruisers sailings to Rome, Athens, Mallorca, and Mykonos. 

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.

We get a review of Celebrity Infinity this week. This week's guest is a seasoned cruiser but his first time sailing on Celebrity Cruises. This four-night cruise left from Port Everglades and went to Key West and Nassau, and had one sea day. 

Dan Skilken from TripInsurance.com answers a question about a cruise guest who almost got stuck in Mexico needing emergency surgery. 

Sherry Laskin has cruise news on:

• The kid who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and lived to tell the story. 
• Virgin Voyages releases rock star cruise suites. 
• MSC Cruises gives us more details about their upcoming island Ocean Reserve Cay.

Dan Skilken from TripInsurance.com answers a question about a cruise guest who almost got stuck in Mexico needing emergency surgery. 

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.

 A full review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky. This ship is one of Norwegian's smaller cruise ships and sails year-round from Miami, Florida. Matt did a back-to-back sailing on this one so he sailed a four-night and then a three-night sailing. The itinerary on the cruise included Cuba, Nassau, Bahamas and the cruise line's private island of Great Stirrup Cay. 

To catch up on this week's cruise news please check out the Cruise Radio News feed by clicking here or by typing in Cruise Radio News where you listen to your favorite podcast. 

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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.

Bonus Cruise Radio episode. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas had to end their cruise a day early after a norovirus outbreak of almost 500 guests onboard. We talk to a guest who just returned from the ship and gives us a play by play of what happened during the sailing. Also we talk to a Commander at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention who heads up the Vessel Sanitation Program.

Video on the return of Oasis of the Seas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8OvqRq3SvU&t 

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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.

We get a Carnival Elation review from Tony and Jenny. Carnival Elation is a Fantasy-class ship that underwent a massive dry dock in 2017 to add another deck, more dining options, and refurbishing all the existing staterooms. This was a five-night Bahamas cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, and Half Moon Cay. 

Sherry has cruise news:

• Mexican cruise destination rocked by violence 
• 2018 Norovirus report released
• Carnival Cruise Line reverses room service charge 
• Venice is now charging day visitor tax 
• 100-year-old woman celebrates a birthday on a cruise ship
• Carnival Cruise Line captain and crew honored for rescue 

Listener questions:

• How much does the sky suite on Celebrity Edge cost? 
• My dining time is during sail away - what happens?

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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.

We get a review of Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess was launched in 2004 and carries just over 3,100 guests. This review is of a back to back cruise doing Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Sherry has cruise news on:

• One cruise line issued their guests a warning about Nassau, Bahamas 
• Carnival Cruise Line signed a contract to get faster internet at sea
• St. Maarten ended 2018 with a record-breaking cruise day
• Carnival's float made a debut in the 2019 Rose Parade
• Royal Caribbean is testing a new program in their casino on Harmony of the Seas 

Listener question: Do you have any free beach recommendations for Grand Turk. We are taking our first cruise in February.  

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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.