Ben just returned from a two-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. The world's largest cruise ship that spent some time in dry dock and Europe before coming back to her home-port of Port Everglades, Florida. On this episode, Ben talks about his first impressions of Allure of the Seas, staterooms, entertainment and what the ship is like on sea days. Since this was a two-day cruise, Ben tried to squeeze as much as he could while he was on-board. 

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

This week we are broadcasting from Royal Caribbean's brand new Anthem of the Seas. This ship is hands down the smartest ship in the world! From robotic bartenders, indoor skydiving and bumper cars. Hear a comprehensive Anthem of the Seas review. 

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

On this episode, we get a review of Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas from Scott. Scott and his family did a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing aboard Freedom and he covers every step of his cruise from embarkation to food to ports. Scott leaves no stone unturned on this Freedom of the Seas review. 

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

• Hurricane causes major ship movies in Bahamas and Bermuda
• Grand Cayman could see a new cruise pier
• HAL raises gratuities 
• Queen Mary 2 to undergo massive drydock in 2016
• Carnival Crop unveils new high-speed shipboard WIFI 
• Question: How safe is it to cruise during hurricane season?  

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

Janet just returned from Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas, a five-night cruise from Bayonne, NJ to Bermuda. Hear Janet discuss the ship, Bermuda, and some first time cruise tips. Janet leave no stone unturned on this Liberty of the Seas review. 

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

On this show, we get a review of Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas from Don. Don and his family did a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cruise had an interesting twist when both a tropical storm and hurricane affected their sailing. Hear a comprehensive review of Adventure of the Seas. 

• Carnival cutting lobster 
• Norwegian Escape shipyard visit 
• Norwegian changing daily service charge policy 
• Celebrity Cruises add late night room service fee

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

Kerry and his wife just returned from a seven-night cruise aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. On this sailing they did a Western Caribbean itinerary that included a stop at Royal Caribbean's private island Labadee, Haiti. 

Hear a comprehensive review of Oasis of the Seas from a guy who is no stranger to the Oasis-class ships. 

We turn the tables this week and I get interviewed about my recent sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas. I talk about pre-cruise thoughts, dining, entertainment, the ship, and the private island Coco Cay and Nassau, Bahamas. 

• fathom going to Cuba (I will play the NPR clipping)
• Royal cutting Dynamic Dining from ships 
• Norwegian going a la carte on specialty 
• Cunard NYC event 
• Celebrity's new female captain 

We answer a listener question about what to do when visiting St. Kitts this summer. 

Listener Don and his wife just returned from Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas to Nassau, Bahamas and Coco Cay. Don gives us a comprehensive review of the ship, dining, entertainment, and more. 

Cruise Guy has Cruise News on: 

• More cruise lines canceling after Tunesia
• New Holland America Line entertainment
• Royal Caribbean shaking things up in China and Alaska
• Carnival Sunshine seasonally leaving Port Canaveral

Resources Mentioned: 

• Enchantment of the Seas review
• Carnival Corp orders 10 ships

Listener Question: Do you need a passport for a cruise within the USA that starts and ends in a different port? The short answer is yes, you do. Stewart goes into more detail.

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

On this episode, Ben Souza from CruiseFever drops by to talk about 16 cruise hacks that every cruise vacationer should know. Ben covers everything from onboard dining, before you cruise tips, drinking on your cruise, and excursions. 

Cruise Guy stops by with Cruise News on Virgin Cruises lawsuit, Royal Caribbean's new ships Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, Holland America's upcoming ship, Viking River Cruises heading to the Mississippi River, and Carnival Cruise Line moving more ships. 

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

Don Bucolo and his wife just returned from Royal Caribbean's brand new Quantum of the Seas, based in Bayonne, NJ - for now.

This cruise ship has it all; from almost two dozen dining venues, indoor skydiving, robotic bartenders to bumper cars. This is one ship you'll want to take a cruise vacation on! 

This week we are broadcasting aboard Royal Caribbean's brand new Quantum of the Seas. On this sailing, we put all the brand new features to the test like the RipCord by iFly indoor skydiving, Northstar pod that takes you 300 feet above sea level, and the Seaplex, complete with bumper cars, roller skating, a trapeze school and more.

We also push technology to the test on this voyage where we link of with a listener via Skype to take a couple of questions about the ship, dining, and why someone should sail on it.

Royal Caribbean added to its portfolio of exclusive, groundbreaking onboard experiences that have never before been imagined at sea with a skydiving experience called RipCord by iFly, as well as the engineering marvel North Star, a glass observation capsule that gently rises more than 300 feet in the air to treat guests to dramatic 360-degree views.  More “firsts” including bumper cars, a circus school with flying trapeze and roller skating can be found inside SeaPlex, the largest indoor active space at sea. There isn't much you can't do on Quantum of the Seas.

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?

This week, we chat with listener, Don Harlem, who just returned from a 12-night Med cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, roundtrip Barcelona. Don gives us a full review of Serenade of the Seas, including: his pre-cruise stay, embarkation from Barcelona, first impressions of the ship, stateroom, dining, entertainment, ports, and his overall thoughts of Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas.

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

Listener, Janet Heaton, just returned from a seven-night sailing on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas from the port of Baltimore. Janet talks about embarking from Baltimore, first impressions, public areas, the food, stateroom, entertainment, outdoor areas and the ports.

Cruise Guy has cruise news on MSC Cruises ordering two more ships, Norwegian Jewel out of drydock, Carnival heading to Mexico year-round, Holland America Line dumping two ships, and Disney Cruise Lines heading to Hawaii in 2015. 

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

Listener Janet gives her review of her latest five-night Bermuda sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Hear a review of the ship, food, entertainment and her recap of things to do in Bermuda.

Cruise Guy has cruise news on Carnival LIVE, Royal Caribbean sending another ship to Australia, plus the latest Harris poll shows cruise interest is down. 

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

Listener Theresa gives us her review of her latest sailing on Allure of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship! Theresa breaks down the public areas, rooms, what it's like on sea days and the dining.

Cruise Guy stops by with cruise news on Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Queen Mary 2, and a new cruise port at Port Canaveral. 

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

Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network joins us to give her review of her recent sailing aboard Royal Caribbbean's Brilliance of the Seas. Hear all about the cruise ship, dining options, entertainment and ports of call.

Plus, Jacksonville, Florida celebrates 10 years in the cruise ship industry and we were there! 

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

The Royal Caribbean ship fire is the big talk of the week. This week we talk to a passenger who was aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas when a fire started just off the coast of the Bahamas. Plus, more experts join us.

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

This week, we talk to listener Eden Kendall, as she gives her review of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas. Plus, Cruise Guy is here with Cruise News. 

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

We learn about the 100th anniversary cruise of the Titianic and a listener review of Allure of the Seas. Cruise Guy drops by with Cruise News. 

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

Listener Lisa gives her review of Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas, travel writer Chris Owen stops by the answer listeners questions, and Cruise Guy gives us cruise news. 

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