Cruise Radio: Weekly Cruise News & Travel Tips

A review of Carnival Cruise Line's new ship, Carnival Venezia, as it sailed its first cruise from New York City to Bermuda.

he most valuable lesson from Ben's experience is that the ship is not designed for short cruises, as it is more suited for longer, relaxing trips.

Ben recommends that those looking for a party cruise consider a four or five-day trip from Miami, which is better equipped for such an environment.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

Bahamian government's plan to raise port taxes [00:01:00] The Bahamian government wants to raise port taxes, which is an expense that cruise lines pass on to cruisers. Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, recently told Travel Weekly that Carnival would like to push these new fees off for a while.

NTSB report on a cruise ship collision in Alaska [00:03:52] The NTSB released their report about a cruise ship that hit the dock last year in Alaska, and it turns out that back in 2021, the pier had been extended as part of a renovation process, but the information was not actually passed along to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Royal Caribbean's new ship Utopia of the Seas [00:05:50] Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, an Oasis class ship, will start sailing next summer and doing short cruises out of Port Canaveral.

Princess Cruises' New Ship [00:07:36] Discusses Princess Cruises' new ship, Sun Princess, and its family-oriented features, including a new area called Park 19 with a sea breeze attraction, splash zone, and ping pong tables.

Norwegian Cruise Line's New Shows [00:10:34] Discusses Norwegian Cruise Line's decision to replace their Broadway-style shows with cheaper, jukebox musicals, and the potential impact on guest experience.

New Carnival Cruise Line Menus [00:13:22] Discusses the new menus being introduced on the Carnival Dream, which include more vegetarian options and the ability to order items from specialty restaurants for a surcharge.

Food Talk [00:15:38] Doug Parker and Richard Simms discuss the new menu on Carnival Cruise Line's Dream ship, including the steakhouse selections and the main dining room's comfort food.

Travel Insurance during Hurricane Season [00:20:55] Dan Silkin, President of tripinsurance.com, advises listeners to buy travel insurance to protect against hurricanes canceling their vacation, but notes that cruise ships are not considered destinations by insurance companies.

Compensation for Missed Ports [00:23:25] Doug Parker asks Dan Silkin if missing a port due to political unrest, like Royal Caribbean's abrupt departure from Haifa, would be compensated by travel insurance, but Silkin notes that ports of call may not be considered destinations by insurance companies.

Norovirus and COVID-19 [00:25:13] Discussion on how travel insurance policies cover norovirus and COVID-19, and the importance of having third-party medical proof for filing a claim.

Medical Coverage on Cruise Ships [00:30:38] Explanation of how travel insurance policies cover medical treatment on board a ship, even if the incident was not reported locally, and the importance of having travel insurance for medical coverage.

Primary Coverage for Medical Expenses [00:31:12] Importance of buying a travel insurance plan with primary coverage for medical expenses, as domestic health insurance policies may not cover medical treatment on board a ship or outside the United States.

Travel Insurance Coverage [00:32:18] Discussion on the importance of medical evacuation coverage and recommended coverage amounts for different travel destinations.

Disputed Insurance Claim [00:36:03] Advice on how to appeal a denied insurance claim and the option to file a complaint with the state insurance bureau.

Customer Perception of Carnival [00:40:12] Discussion on a customer's negative experience with Carnival Cruise Line and the importance of customer perception in the service industry.

How to Contact Trip Insurance [00:41:25] Dan Silkin, President of Trip Insurance, shares how to contact their customer support line or send an email for assistance.

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Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

In this episode of Cruise Radio, we interview Chris about his 11-night cruise on Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze to Alaska.

Chris shares his pre-cruise thoughts, experience boarding the ship, and itinerary highlights. He recommends Windstar Cruises for their knowledgeable expedition leaders and the Star Breeze as an expedition ship. Doug and Chris also discuss dining options and enrichment and entertainment options on the ship.

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Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

In this episode of Cruise Radio, host Doug interviews Mark about his 11-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Azamara Quest from Azamara Cruises. Mark shares his experiences on the ship, including the embarkation process, dining, entertainment, and amenities. He also talks about his time in various ports of call and his post-cruise time in Zurich. Mark highly recommends Azamara as a fantastic luxury cruise line and praises the attention to detail and the quality of the food.

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Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

Doug shares his initial thoughts on Carnival Venezia. Staff Writer Richard Simms has cruise news.

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Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

This podcast episode discusses Doug's 20-day sailing experience on the Holland America Line's ship ms Rotterdam. Doug and Richard discuss boredom with all those sea days, music, meals, and internet connectivity.

Doug shares his experience at the exact spot where the Titanic sank, stepping out of his comfort zone by trying new things like painting and playing pickleball.

They also briefly mention the ports of call on Richard's Rotterdam sailing, including Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid statue. Doug dispels some myths about cruising at the end of the episode.

Sponsor

Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

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About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

On this episode of the Cruise Radio podcast, host Doug Parker and staff writer Richard Simms discuss various topics related to the cruise industry.

They talk about the record-breaking number of passengers at PortMiami, the opening of the newly revitalized Nassau cruise port, Virgin Voyages' new ship, Carnival bringing another ship to Florida, and where to get your passport stamped in Nassau, Bahamas.

We also get a review of a 10-night Carnival Miracle cruise to Alaska. Our guest shares his experiences on the cruise including embarkation, dining, entertainment, and ports of call. We offer tips for future cruisers, such as exploring the ship, booking excursions early, and purchasing trip insurance. Despite some minor hiccups, our guest and his family all had an enjoyable experience on their Carnival Miracle cruise to Alaska.

Sponsor

Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.

Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.

Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.

Follow Cruise Radio's Socials:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Patreon

About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.

A review of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and share their experiences dining and exploring on the ship.

This week we discuss recent incidents in the cruise industry, including MSC Cruises failing a CDC inspection, a Royal Caribbean guest arrested for placing a camera in a bathroom, and a man being airlifted from a Carnival ship for eating a battery. The hosts also discuss the impact of 9/11 on the cruise industry and share positive stories about Norwegian Cruise Line's Giving Joy contest and the Queen Mary hotel.

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Today's episode features a review of a Norwegian Escape cruise in the Mediterranean by a Madison, as well as cruise news segments by staff writer Richard Simms.

We discuss rumors about Carnival Cruise Line requiring passports for all passengers, which are later debunked, and stress the importance of having a government-issued birth certificate and a passport for cruises. Simms talks about Royal Caribbean's recent problem of overbooking their ships and offering compensation to passengers who opt out of their cruise.

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In this episode of Cruise Radio, Doug Parker interviews Lee Mason, the cruise director aboard Carnival Celebration. They discuss Lee's background, his journey to becoming a cruise director, and the difference between an entertainment director and a cruise director. Lee also talks about the new safety drill, e-muster, and how it has been received by guests and the US Coast Guard. Additionally, Lee shares his thoughts on the exclusive shows on Carnival Celebration, his preference for the main theater in the front of the ship, and his favorite itineraries. Finally, Lee gives advice to a listener on cruising for the first time and how to avoid seasickness.

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