What is it like sailing Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Sharon just returned from a seven-night sailing from New York City to Canada/New England and she talks about her sailing as a first-timer sailing Cunard Line. She discusses what it was like sailing Cunard line and how it differs from the mass market cruise lines that she is used to sailing. 

Date: July 28, 2019 

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

We get a review of Carnival Cruise Line's New Orleans based Carnival Valor on a cruise to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico. 

Sherry has cruise news on: 

• Carnival has crew gratitude video series 
• Celebrity cruise ship lost power
• Carnival Panorama completes sea trials 
• MSC debuts new island in video 
• Chair hogs go to court

Listener Question: How can I find cheap air for my European cruise?

Rob answers some European cruise excursion questions. 

--

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

Joseph Farcus is a legend in the cruise industry. He designed every Carnival Cruise Line ship from 1977 to 2011, and stayed with Carnival Corporation until he retired in 2014.

Joseph recently published a book called Design on the High Seas, and he joins me to talk about the book and gives us a look behind the curtain.

He also discusses how he designed the signature Carnival funnel, why so many Carnival Cruise Line ships have neon and other questions.

Amazon link to Design on the High Seas. 

Date: July 21, 2019 

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss on a seven-night cruise. We get a comprehensive review of this Breakaway-plus class ship from a guest who traveled solo. Bliss spends the summers in Alaska and winters sailing the Caribbean. 

We answer your travel insurance questions regarding sailing during hurricane season, the difference between credit card insurance and a regular policy, and the cut off line for buying a travel insurance policy. 

Sherry has cruise news on: 

• Political unrest diverts cruise ships from San Juan
• Allure of the Seas getting a massive makeover
• Carnival is beefing up Bermuda calls 
• Western Caribbean beaches are still struggling with seaweed
• Tropical Storm diverts, extends, and shortens Caribbean cruises 

Listener Question: We are light sleepers, can you recommend a deck that we won't hear much noise from the engine, dining, or elevators? 

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

We get a review of Carnival Victory, a ship that sails three and four nights out of Miami, Florida. This was a three-night Bahamas cruise. Matt gives us a bow to stern overview of the ship and what he did in the Bahamas. In 2020, Carnival Victory will undergo a $200 million dry dock to become Carnival Radiance. 

Richard has cruise news: 

• Toddler falls from Royal Caribbean ship balcony 
• Royal Caribbean honors drinking pricing error 
• Royal Caribbean ship heads to New Orleans 
• Norwegian Cruise Line app goes fleetwide 
• Carnival Cruise Line rolls out brunch menu to more ships
• Carnival starts recycling soap by the end of July 2019

Listener Question: What cruise ship do we pick, Anthem of the Seas or Norwegian Bliss? 

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

A review of one of Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class cruise ships, Independence of the Seas. This was a four-night cruise out of Port Everglades over to Cozumel, Mexico. Mike gives a detailed review of the cruise and what the ship was like.

Sherry has cruise news on:

• Carnival Panorama is one step closer to the USA 
• A new cruise exhibit is on the Queen Mary in Long Beach 
• Enchanted Princess will debut in exactly a year - where is it going? 
• MSC Cruises is now including their gratuity in the price of the cruise fare

Listener Question: I bought the beverage package for an upcoming NCL sailing, and pre paid the 20% gratuity already. Am I going to be charged more when I am on the ship?

---

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.

Going behind the headlines on this week's cruise industry news.

• Royal Caribbean's pricing error on the drink package, will they eventually make good on it?
• Carnival Cruise Line changes their specialty dining program - what's going to be different?
• A first for the cruise industry dry dock is going to happen with Carnival Vista on July 12.
• And Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled their July 5 sailing because of unforeseen mechanical issues. 

Date: July 3, 2019

Support our sponsor: Audible

Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day trial at http://audibletrial.com/cruise.