Cruise Talk Weekly

Carnival is giving cruisers stickers for prepaying their gratuities—but is it a clever incentive or an awkward way to single people out? Tony and Tommy debate the idea, and one of them might actually change his mind.

Plus, we discuss the Villa Vie crisis and its impact on residents, what cruise loyalty is worth when benefits get suspended, and how cruise lines keep finding ways to get us spending more onboard. We also tackle dining room dress codes, nonstop ship announcements, and the risks of bringing prohibited items on a cruise.

Along the way: a coffee-and-cookie dispute, questionable cruise director jokes, and the cruises we're looking forward to next.

Find Tommy on the Always Be Booked Cruise Podcast and Tony on YouTube at La Lido Loca.

Good Change or Money Grab?

Carnival Cruise Line is shaking things up with new Fun Packs, a three-alcoholic-drink Cheers! Social option, and dynamic pricing for drink packages and Wi-Fi. But are these changes actually giving cruisers more flexibility and value, or are they simply another way for cruise lines to increase onboard spending?

In this episode of Cruise Talk Weekly, Tony Barnette and Tommy Casabona break down Carnival's latest announcements, debate the pros and cons of bundled cruise packages, and discuss whether dynamic pricing could save passengers money or make cruising more expensive.

The conversation also explores Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, Carnival's evolving loyalty system, growing traffic problems at PortMiami, and Virgin Voyages' partnership with JetBlue for an adults-only flight and cruise experience.

Plus, Tony and Tommy tackle the increasingly controversial subject of tipping, including cruise porters, prepaid gratuities, and whether tipping culture has gotten out of hand.

Topics discussed:

• Carnival's new Fun Packs and Cheers! Social drink option

• Dynamic pricing for Carnival drink packages and Wi-Fi

• Cruise package value versus a la carte pricing

• Carnival and Royal Caribbean loyalty programs

• Royal Caribbean's Club Royale casino experience

• PortMiami congestion and proposed traffic improvements

• Virgin Voyages and JetBlue's adults-only travel package

• Cruise gratuities, porters, and tipping culture

Join the conversation: Are Carnival's latest changes a good deal for cruisers or a money grab?

Cruise Talk Weekly features Tony Barnette of La Lido Loca and Tommy Casabona of the Always Be Booked podcast discussing cruise news, industry trends, and the issues that matter to cruise travelers.

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]

Follow us on social media: @cruisetalktnt

Cruise Talk Weekly #37 — Are Cruisers Wasting Money on These Things?

Are you wasting money on your cruise vacation? This week, Tony and Tommy debate which cruise extras are worth the price and which ones might be a complete waste of money!

From expensive shore excursions and specialty dining to cruise photographs, drink packages, and balcony cabins, we're breaking down the purchases that divide cruisers. Is paying more always a bad deal, or is there value in convenience, peace of mind, and the overall experience?

Plus, Tony shares his back-to-back cruise experience aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, and we discuss the incredible Odyssey of the Seas overboard rescue, cruise itinerary disruptions, passenger compensation, and the latest cruise news.

And as always, there's plenty of laughter, unexpected stories, and a few strong opinions along the way.

The big question: What's the biggest waste of money on a cruise ship?

Join Tony Barnette and Tommy Casabona for another episode of Cruise Talk Weekly!

Follow us: @CruiseTalkTNT Email: [email protected]

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What would you happily pay extra for on a cruise? Tony and Tommy dream up everything from pizza delivery and onboard pet care to private parties—and robot girlfriends. Plus, cruise news and passenger shenanigans. What extra would YOU pay for? Tell us in the comments!

See the video of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisetalktnt

Get More Tommy here: ⁨@alwaysbebookedcruisepodcas1247⁩

More Tony here: ⁨@LaLidoLoca⁩

Tony and Tommy talk about the cruise things they used to do—but don't anymore. From drink packages and formal nights to pier running, snorkeling, cruise activities and more, how has the way you cruise changed over the years?

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisetalktnt

Cruise Talk Weekly is back for Season 2! Tony and Tommy catch up and quickly go off the rails with a packed conversation about cruising. This week, they talk short cruises and why cruise lines are putting newer ships on shorter itineraries, a slot machine fire aboard a Carnival ship, cruise casino fees, private-island spending, drink packages, and Norwegian's move from Broadway-style productions to tribute shows featuring legendary artists.

Along the way, the conversation detours into Great Stirrup Cay, Celebration Key, the ABC Islands, cruise entertainment, Gen X nostalgia, the Beastie Boys, old-school hip-hop, giant car stereos, and whether you should really walk away from a slot machine bonus just because the machine next to you is on fire.

It's cruise news, cruise opinions, stories from the ships, and the kind of tangents you'd expect when Tony and Tommy get together. Welcome back to Cruise Talk Weekly.

Have you ever heard someone say they'd never take a cruise because the ship might sink… or that cruise ships are just floating petri dishes?

This week on Cruise Talk Weekly, Tommy and Tony discuss some of the biggest misconceptions non-cruisers have about cruising. From fears of seasickness and safety to whether cruises are boring, they break down what people often get wrong before the conversation naturally wanders into cruise news, travel stories, and a few unexpected tangents.

Along the way, they also discuss:

• Tommy's move back to New York
• Tony's recent Ireland land cruise adventure
• Frank Del Rio's legal battle with Norwegian Cruise Line
• A Carnival crew member saving a choking child
• Cruise ship fights and lifetime cruise bans
• World Cup fever and why Americans view soccer differently

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or just cruise curious, there's something here for everyone.

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/VUDdCQKsnHw

Thank you for listening to Cruise Talk Weekly with Tony and Tommy! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with a fellow cruiser. Your support helps us continue bringing you weekly conversations about the cruise industry, travel, and everything in between.

Follow Cruise Talk Weekly on social media: 📺 YouTube: @CruiseTalkTNT 📸 Instagram: @CruiseTalkTNT 🎵 TikTok: @CruiseTalkTNT

Until next time, thanks for listening, and we'll see you on the next Cruise Talk Weekly! 🚢

What kind of cruiser are you?

This week on Cruise Talk Weekly, Tommy and Tony introduce a new Cruise Frequency Framework and break down the different types of cruisers—from first-time cruisers and occasional vacationers to enthusiasts and full-fledged Super Cruisers.

Along the way, they discuss what turns someone into a frequent cruiser, why some people cruise once and never return, and why others find themselves booking cruise after cruise. Tony also shares his recent experience on a short Carnival Glory getaway and explains why a three-day cruise might be exactly what some cruisers need.

Plus, the guys discuss major cruise industry headlines, including:

• John Heald's changing role at Carnival Cruise Line
• Former Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio's lawsuit
• Norwegian's recent strategy changes and canceled sailings
• The growing popularity of short cruises and private island destinations

Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a Super Cruiser, this episode is for you.

What kind of cruiser are you? Let us know in the comments!

🎙️ Cruise Talk with Tommy & Tony

📧 Email the show: [email protected]

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Cruise comedy is back in the spotlight after another Carnival comedian faces complaints from passengers who attended an adults-only comedy show. This week, Tommy and Tony dive into the ongoing debate over comedy, free speech, cruise entertainment, and whether some guests are simply too quick to be offended.

They also discuss the latest cruise controversies, including a passenger suing Carnival after suffering burns on a hot pool deck, Royal Caribbean guests protesting after missing a glacier viewing in Alaska, questions about alcohol policies and drink packages, cruise line bans tied to social media behavior, and propulsion issues aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

Plus, casino talk, cruise ship traditions that have disappeared, and a few unexpected detours into childhood ice cream trucks and cruise gambling strategies.

📺 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@cruisetalktnt 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/cruisetalktnt 🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@cruisetalktnt

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Cruise Lines Are Getting Pushback | Royal Caribbean, NCL & Carnival

This week on Cruise Talk Weekly, Tony and Tommy dive into another wild week in cruising. From Royal Caribbean hitting a major roadblock in Mexico to Carnival slap fights, buffet crackdowns, NCL ceiling collapses, and the growing debate around cruise line changes, there's a lot to unpack.

The guys also discuss solo cruising, cruise line gimmicks, ship-within-a-ship experiences, Carnival's new loyalty opt-in, and whether cruise lines are starting to push passengers too far.

CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Opening Banter 03:10 Cruise Line Threatens Cleaning Fees for Buffet Food 17:00 Are Cruise Lines Cutting Too Much? 24:30 NCL Ceiling Collapse & Cruise Ship Safety 33:45 Cruise Ship Attractions, Roller Coasters & Gimmicks 46:30 Ship-Within-a-Ship & Solo Cruising 1:02:00 Cruise Ship Lines & Crowds 1:12:30 Royal Caribbean Mexico Project Denied 1:24:00 Carnival Slap Fight & Lifetime Ban Debate 1:37:00 Carnival Loyalty Program Opt-In 1:40:00 Camouflage Clothing Ban in Caribbean Ports 1:45:00 Carnival's "America's Cruise Line" Branding Debate

Follow Cruise Talk Weekly: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@cruisetalktnt Instagram: https://instagram.com/cruisetalktnt TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@cruisetalktnt

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