Cruise Radio

On this episode we check in with 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! 

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 shipsCarnival offers longer itinerariesNorwegian partners with MargaritavilleVirgin cruisesNew CEO Royal/CelebrityVoyager of the Seas completes $80m refurbishment

Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network just returned from a sailing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Breeze where she participated in one of the cruise lines signature Carnival LIVE sailings. This particular sailing had country music/Top 40 group Lady Antebellum. Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:Norwegian Cruise Lines staying in NOLA through 2018New ultra luxury Seabourn ship ordered Costa Captain back in court - what is going on with the trialDid we see any black Friday sales that were totally WOWMajesty of the Seas leaving MiamiWe're seeing a lot of cruise ships canceling Belize lately because of weather - will we ever see a pier?Who is the world's busiest cruise port in 2014?

"The Canada/New England itinerary had been on our to-do list for several years. We chose this particular sailing because it started in Quebec City, and we really wanted to spend time there pre-cruise (instead of NYC). It also offered more stops in Canada than New England, though it did have the tradeoff of Saguenay/Gaspe vs Saint John NB. This was also our opportunity to book one of the highly desirable aft Caribe deck corner balcony cabins on Ruby Princess. And we wanted to sail during the fall for a chance to see some brilliant fall colors."Kristin Ladewig from St. Louis, MO recently returned from a 10-night sailing aboard Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess, a sailing that started in Quebec City and ended in New York City. Kristin leaves no stone unturned on this detailed Ruby Princess review.

Jim Grace, CEO of Insure My Trip tells us when to purchase travel insurance. 

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 it.

We are behind the scenes with the Love Boat cast for an unscripted conversation. 

This week we are broadcasting aboard Princess Cruises latest ship, Regal Princess. She was first launched May 2014 in Europe and is now spending the winter and spring in the Caribbean.The 3,560-guest Regal Princess now begins her maiden season of Caribbean cruise vacations out of Ft. Lauderdale. Among the special features found onboard the ship are a dramatic multi-story atrium serving as the social hub of the ship, offering a host of dining and entertainment options; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; the Princess Live! Television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; Princess Watercolor Fantasy, a fountain and music show; the Night Sky Lounge, a new nighttime experience that enables guests to enjoy a chic and contemporary poolside nightclub under the stars, and balconies on all outside staterooms.

For years the cruise industry has asked boarding passengers to fill out a health questionnaire, primarily to help stop the spread of norovirus. In light of the Ebola concerns, cruise lines today began asking more pointed questions about whether they’ve had contact with a person with Ebola or someone who helped care for such a patient, according to the CLIA. Theresa Norton Masek is the editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent Magazine and cruise beat writer for TravelPulse.com, she joins us and talks about the ebola virus scare last week on a cruise.Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy stops by with Cruise News on: After we recorded last wk, the Carnival Magic wasn't allowed into Cozumel because of the hospital worker on board who handled ebola - what was the status on this cruise?102 year old Miami Bar to be featured on upcoming Norwegian EscapeBermuda got hammered by a hurricane last weeknd, what's the status and are cruise ships finding new temporary ports?Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas getting closer - anything new during her second round of sea trials?Royal Caribbean earnings call this weekListener QuestionI want to ask a question and I cant seem to get a straight answer from different sites on the internet,when sailing from New Orleans to Mo Bay Jamaica....Is it possible to see Cuba? The reason I ask is back in 08 we were on the conquest from Galveston to Mo Bay and overheard some people saying that they seen the lights of Cuba as we passed at night. Was that true?

On this episode Jason Leppert, editor of Popular Cruising joins us to talk about his latest experience aboard Princess Cruises' Star Princess, a cruise ship based seasonally on the West Coast. Jason gives us a full review of the itinerary and a bow to stern review of this 950' cruise ship. This Star Princess review includes: dining, entertainment, ports, embarkation, public areas and first time thoughts.Star Princess is scheduled to remain based in San Francisco, operating cruises to Mexico and Hawaii.Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy stops by with Cruise News on: Cruise passenger quarantined with Ebola relation  Norwegian Escape revealCarnival Vista construction officially underwayPrincess Cruises has a slew of celebrities for their upcoming christening of Regal PrincessA lot of new enhancements to Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, you maybe surprisedNorwegian Jewel back in HoustonListener QuestionJoe Tolley in Charlotte, NC: Offsite parking in Miami, I've read some horror stories, should we suck it up and pay the 20 clams/day at the port?

On this episode Jason Leppert, editor of Popular Cruising joins us to talk about his latest experience aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America, a cruise ship based year-round in the Hawaiian islands. Jason gives us a full review of the itinerary, the ship, dining venues and entertainment aboard the ship.Finally a cruise that spends multiple nights in different ports!MSC Cruises has launched Inclusive Experiences, a new pricing structure in which guests choose an “experience” based on their own personal preferences and amenities desired while cruising. Valued at up to $700+ per person, guests have the option of selecting from four different experience categories — Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, and MSC Yacht Club — ranging from a la carte to all-inclusive amenities. As a positioned industry expert, Theresa Masek, editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent Magazine, chats with us about the packages and gives her thoughts.

Listener Rick from Jacksonville, Florida returns to Cruise Radio to gives us a complete Carnival Sunshine review. Rick gives us his impressions of the ship, the food, entertainment, ports and some first time cruise tips for Carnival Sunshine.Emily Kaufman, has been a leading expert in travel since her first television appearance in 1996. She currently contributes to The Today Show as a frequent guest, was the travel contributor to Good Morning America, is currently the travel contributor on The Steve Harvey Show, and regularly appears as the travel expert in top 25 TV markets across the country including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more offering practical travel tips and advice. Emily stops by this evening to give us some fall cruise travel advice.Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:Carnival returning to Cabo for the first time with Carnival MiracleCarnival adds steak in dining room for feeA college student falls to his death off the mast of Carnival EcstasyFree private dining restaurant will debut on Norwegian EscapePrincess Cruises debuting a Princess at Sea app aboard Regal PrincessWe're tracking Quantum of the Seas - what is she doing now?   

Carter and his wife are from Central Florida and just returned on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Disney Fantasy. Carter joins us to give us a bow to stern review of Disney Fantasy, leaving now stone unturned. Carter covers embarkation, first impressions, the stateroom, dining, entertainment, how the outside of the ship handles itself on sea days and some first time cruise tips for Disney Cruise Lines. You won't want to miss this Disney Fantasy Review.Jim Berra is the Chief Marketing Officer for Carnival Cruise Lines and joins us to talk about Carnival's Great Vacation Guarantee. Basically if you think the sailing stinks, Carnival will fly you home and refund the cost of the cruise. Turns out you have a better chance of dating a supermodel than using the Great Vacation Guarantee.Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy® stops by with Cruise News:Carnival Corp earnings were released – have they finally recovered from their past financial issues?Royal Caribbean's new ship - Quantum of the Seas completed it’s conveyance – howd it go?Norwegian Escape keel laid – what exactly does this mean?Princess to participate in 2015 rose paradeOceania increasing daily gratuities to $16 per person, per dayCabo San Lucas – how is recovery after the hurricane?

Listener Marcy Bucy from California joins us to give us her review on her latest sailing aboard Carnival Inspiration, a three-night Mexico cruise her family recently took out of Long Beach. Marcy gives us a bow-to-stern review of Carnival Inspiration and talks about the Cheers Beverage program and Faster to the Fun. Stewart Chiron the Cruise Guy has cruise news on:Royal Caribbean is busy over in Europe cutting steel and getting Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and their upcoming ship that they just cut the steel on. Carnival's Vacation Guarantee Holland America named their new ship - let me guess, it ends in dam? Last week we talked about NCL buying a couple new cruise lines - anything new on that front? Houston cig and liquor tAX and how its affecting cruise passengers.