Cruise Radio: Weekly Cruise News & Travel Tips

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.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 cruises 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.

We talk to:

• Gavin MacLeod, Captain Stubing
• Stewart Chiron the Cruise Guy
• Rick Griffin and Sandi McKenna, Midlife Road Trip
• Peter Knego, Maritime Historian
• Phil Reimer, Canada.com
• and more...

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail the Columbia or Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest? These rivers are practically untouched and have some of the best scenery that America can offer, not to mentioned a ton of American history.

This week, we are broadcasting aboard the 88-guest SS Legacy, a coastal replica steamer that sails with UnCruise Adventures. Take a journey with us!

On this broadcast, we talk to:

• Captain off the SS Legacy, Captain Dano
• Heritage Leader/Cruise Director, Ryan
• Cruise Expert at About.com, Linda Garrison
• Savvy Navigator, Jeff Ward
• Editor of Popular Cruising, Jason Leppert

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

This is a not-to-miss episode as we chat with the folks at MTN Communications and talk about staying connected at sea. MTN just launched the website ConnectAtSea.com and it's a portal filled with great information when it comes to your cruise vacation. Whether you're just texting, Facebooking, calling or surfing the web - everyone has to be connected these days.

Brent Horwitz, Senior VP & General Manager, Cruise for MTN joins us to cover all bases about staying connected at sea. There is no stone left unturned in this interview.

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

• Quantum of the Seas is officially Royal Caribbean's and arrived in Southampton this week - how long until she heads westbound to the United States?
• Holland America continues Dancing with the Stars through 2016
• Disney Cruise Line itineraries have been announced for 2016 - anything new?
• Have their been any cancelations or skipped ports overseas because of political unrest or ebola?
• What's the latest talk from China? How's Hong Kong doing?

Listener Question

My wife and I want to go to Alaska on the Celebrity Solstice, when's the best time to go? Is it better to sail out of Seattle or Vancouver; we live in Ontario.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 week, 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 Escape
• Bermuda 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 week

Listener Question

I 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?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 reveal
• Carnival Vista construction officially underway
• Princess Cruises has a slew of celebrities for their upcoming christening of Regal Princess
• A lot of new enhancements to Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, you may be surprised
• Norwegian Jewel back in Houston

Listener Question

Joe 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?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 over-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.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 Miracle
• Carnival adds steak in dining room for fee
• A college student falls to his death off the mast of Carnival Ecstasy
• Free private dining restaurant will debut on Norwegian Escape
• Princess Cruises debuting a Princess at Sea app aboard Regal Princess
• We're tracking Quantum of the Seas - what is she doing now?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 no 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 Line. 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 – how'd it go?
• Norwegian Escape keel laid – what exactly does this mean?
• Princess to participate in 2015 Rose Parade
• Oceania increasing daily gratuities to $16 per person, per day
• Cabo San Lucas – how is recovery after the hurricane?

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]

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 it's affecting cruise passengers.

Thoughts or reviews? Email me: [email protected]