This week we get a review from a first-time cruiser who took a quick three-night sailing on Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral, Florida. This sailing had one Fun Day at Sea and a port stop in Nassau, Bahamas. We get a comprehensive ship review through the lens of a first-time cruiser. 

Richard Simms has cruise news: 

• Carnival makes adjustments to onboard dining 
• New cruise port coming to The Bahamas 
• Margaritaville at Sea sets sail 
• Record booking day for one cruise line 
• Cruise ship bumps into a dock in Alaska

Listener Question: If I test positive after my cruise, do I have to notify the cruise line? 

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A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's 2019-launched ship Norwegian Encore. Encore was only in service for a couple of months before the pandemic shut the cruise industry down.  

Richard has cruise news: 

• Two cruise lines have resumed full operation 
• CDC makes changes to cruise line rules 
• Carnival is sailing from San Fransico for the first time ever 
• Celebrity Cruises picks a godmother for Celebrity Beyond 
• Barnacles cause a cruise to be canceled

Listener Question: I heard Princess Cruises is now offering all-inclusive pricing, what can you tell me about that?  — Julie 

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A review of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

A review of Carnival Cruise Line's last Vista-class ship, Carnival Panorama. This was a seven-night cruise from Long Beach, California, to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan, Mexico. We get a comprehensive review of the cruise ship, dining onboard, and ports of call down in the Mexican Riviera.  Richard Simms has cruise news: 

• Australia has reopened its cruise industry 
• Grand Cayman drops cruise ship restrictions 
• Jimmy Buffett's cruise ship is being converted to a Margaritaville at Sea 
• Self-serve buffets are back on Royal Caribbean 
• Norwegian Escape returns to service 
• Another drug bust on MSC Seaside in Europe

This week we get a review of Celebrity Constellation. This was an 11-night cruise from Tampa, Florida to the Caribbean and Central America.

We get a full review of the ship, the destinations, and what Kirk and his wife thought of a longer-than-normal cruise. 

Richard Simms has cruise news on: 

• Cruising is back for Canada and Alaska
• Royal Caribbean cuts steel for one ship and names the next vessel 
• Prices are on the increase at Carnival Cruise Line 
• Another Fantasy-class ship scrapped 
• 10 guests on MSC Seaside were busted for transporting drugs 

Listener Q: What are the requirements for iFly on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas? 

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

We get a review of Disney Dream. This was a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral to Nassau, Bahamas, and the private island Castaway Cay. 

Dan Skilken from TripInsurance.com drops by discussing the importance of travel insurance over the past few months, including the Crystal Cruises' bankruptcy, Norwegian Escape running aground, CDC lifting cruise travel advisory, and canceling an Eastern European vacation because of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. 

Scott gives us a review of the largest cruise ship in the world in 2022, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. This was a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage from Port Everglades. We get a comprehensive review of this brand new cruise ship.  

Richard Simms has cruise news: 

• CDC drops cruise travel warning 
• New zone revealed aboard upcoming mega-ship Carnival Celebration. 
• Another sailing of Norwegian Escape was canceled due to ongoing repairs. 
• Discovery Princess enters service from Los Angeles. 
• Grand Cayman welcomes cruise ships again 

Listener Question: What do I need to know about doing a back-to-back cruise on two different cruise lines this December in Port Canaveral? 

 

 

 

A review of Carnival Cruise Line's Miami-based Carnival Sunrise. This vessel used to be Carnival Triumph before a $200 million refurbishment in 2019. The five-night cruise stopped in Ocho Rios and Bimini Island before returning to PortMiami.  ---

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

A review of Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Richard has cruise news: 

• The CDC lowers the cruise travel health warning
• Norwegian Escape cancels voyage mid-cruise after running aground
• Australia is returning to cruising in April 2022 
• Princess Cruises adds two more U.S. homeports this year 
• Carnival Cruise Line wraps its 50th birthday with a giant party on Carnival Conquest

Listener Question: Was your cruise on Norwegian Getaway free? 

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

In this week’s episode, we speak with Adam about his five-night Mariner of the Seas voyage out of Port Canaveral in December 2021. He discusses his cabin, the ship’s food and entertainment, and what he did at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Richard has cruise news:

• Norwegian details upcoming cruise ship
• Carnival's 50th anniversary meet up 
• MSC goes year-round in NYC 
• Carnival Spirit and Carnival Esctasy return to service
• Allure of the Seas goes to three- and four-night sailings in 2023 

Listener Question: What is cruising like in 2022?

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Chris and his wife just returned from a five-night cruise to the western Caribbean aboard Norwegian Getaway. He tells us about his experience with a Haven aft balcony suite, the dining and entertainment on the ship, and his time in Cozumel and Norwegian’s private destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

Richard has cruise news: 

• Carnival details more itineraries 
• 8 cruise lines drop masks mandates
• Norwegian details business in a latest earnings update 
• Could cruise ships become apartments?
• Norwegian Sky returns to sailings 

Listener Question: Should I prepay my gratuity or tip cash at the end?  

Marc and his family recently returned from a six-night New Year's Eve cruise aboard Carnival Miracle from Long Beach, Califonia. This cruise went down to Cabo and Ensenada. We get a comprehensive review of the ship, what he thought of the food, the condition of the vessel, and his overall thoughts of this Carnival Miracle cruise. 

Richard has cruise news on: 

• CDC drops cruise travel warning down one level
• Crystal Cruises hangs it up after 30 years 
• Smoking in the casinos are back for Carnival Cruise Line 
• Virgin Voyages opens its new terminal in PortMiami 
• Most 2023 Norwegian Sky sailings go dark

Listener Q: What is a Carnival Sailabration cruise and are they still available to book? 

We get a review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem. This was a five-night cruise to Bermuda from New York City, with a double-dip at the island. Daniel traveled as both a solo guest and for the first time on Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Cruise news will return next week. Check out the Cruise News Today podcast feed or the Cruise Radio YouTube Channel for daily news. 

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

A Sky Princess review is on deck this week with Marc. This was his very first Princess sailing and it won't be his last. The ship sailed from Port Everglades on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary with stops in Princess Cays, Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. 

Richard Simms has cruise news: 

• A cruise ship on the run 
• Carnival opens bookings for new ship 
• Virgin Voyages is already doing a cabin refresh 
• COVID tests could soon be $10 on Carnival 
• Carnival doubles down on COVID protocols with masks, testing, and vaccinated-only sailings 

Listener Question: Will Carnival Cruise Line require a booster shot? 

 

 

We talk with Isaiah about his recent seven-night cruise aboard Carnival Magic out of Port Canaveral, Florida. He goes over his experience in a balcony cabin for the first time, the food and entertainment onboard, and his time in the ports on this eastern Caribbean itinerary.

Richard has cruise news on: 

•  The CDC has let the Conditional Sailing Order expire
• Crystal Crusies' parent company has filed for bankruptcy 
• Norwegian changes its Free at Sea program 
• Royal Caribbean debuts a new venue on Wonder of the Seas 
• Celebrity is delaying the return of a west coast ship, and canceling a Mediterranean season for one ship
• Mardi Gras cruise director takes a promotion 

Listener question: I signed up for the free testing kit the the United States Postal Service is sending out. Will that test work for my pre-cruise testing requirement? — Billy 

 

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Chad chats with us about his recent sailing aboard MSC Cruises' new ship MSC Seashore. He discusses his stay in the vessel's ship-within-a-ship complex The Yacht Club, as well as his experience with other dining, activities, and entertainment around the ship.

Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net