Cruise Radio

Daniel reviews MSC Cruises's ship Meraviglia, which is homeported in Brooklyn, New York City, and sails Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. This is MSC Cruises' first ship that sails year-round from New York City. 

A review of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas in a Sky Suite. 

A seven-night Western Caribbean cruise review of Carnival Jubilee. Staff writer Richard Simms is here with cruise news.

A review of Harmony of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ship that is currently sailing from Galveston, Texas to the Western Caribbean. 

A Southern Caribbean review of Carnival Vista after its dry dock. Dan Skilken, President of TripInsurance.com stops by to answer some listener questions on the Norwegian Cruise Line guests being stranded in Africa and medical conditions on a cruise ship. Staff writer Richard Simms drops by with cruise news. 

A review of Celebrity Infinity.

A review of a nine-night Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam that included a stop at the ABC islands, and Carnival Corporation's private island Half Moon Cay. 

A Southern Caribbean review of Norwegian Viva from San Juan, Puero Rico. 

A review of Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas from Kevin. Kevin's family took a three-night weekend cruise to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral on this Oasis-class ship. Staff writer Ricahrd Simms has cruise news. 

Will gives us a review of Carnival Spirit. This was a seven-night cruise to Southeast Alaska from Seattle, Washington. Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of Celebrity Silhouette during a transatlantic crossing. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.

Full review of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. 

Joe reviews his family's seven-night cruise on Carnival Jubilee from Galveston to the Western Caribean. 

Angie has a review of her seven-night cruise aboard Holland America Line's ms Eurodam. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas review from a preview cruise with around 5,000 guests onboard. Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, stops by the talk about the new resort Celebration Key. 

A review of MSC Meraviglia to the Bahamas and Florida. 

A review of Carnival Vista during a Caribbean review. We are also answering your travel insurance questions. 

Sheldon took an Eastern Med cruise on Celebrity Apex last fall and gives us a comprehensive review of his sailing and trip. 

A seven-night review of Carnival Venezia cruise out of New York City to the Bahamas. Plus, this week's cruise news. 

Scott gives us a review of Virigin Voyages' Scarlett Lady from PortMiami. 

Cruise news with staff writer Richard Simms. 

An overview of Carnival Cruise Line's new ship, Carnival Jubilee. Cruise news from staff writer Richard Simms. 

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's latest ships Norwgeian Viva on a 10-night cruise. 

A seven night review of Norwegian Joy during Thanksgiving in 2023. 

Kevin gives us his review of Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas. 

A review of P&O Cruises Iona. This was a 14 night cruise to Lisbon and Spain from the UK. 

A review of the brand new Celebrity Ascent from Port Everglades, Florida. 

A review of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A seven-night review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky to the Caribbean. Staff writer Richard Simms has this week's cruise news. 

A review of a Celebrity Millennium Alaska cruise that started in Anchorage, Alaska and went south to Vancouver. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on Carnival Corporation losing a court lawsuit, a man overboard, data charges at sea, and a shipyard employee stealing trade secrets. 

Adam gives us a review of Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas up to the Canada/New England area. Staff writer Richard Simms gives us this week's top cruise industry news stories. 

Mark gives us a review of Disney Wonder out of San Diego. Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of Virgin Voyages latest vessel, Valiant Lady. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

Nick and his wife cruised on Carnival Vista from Galveston, Texas. We get a full review of the ships and the ports of call. 

An eight-night Southern Caribbean review of Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Celebration. 

A review of Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam to the Southern Caribbean. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.

A review of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of MSC Seaside from Port Canaveral, Florida. This was a three night cruise down to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. 

Dan Skilken of TripInsurance.com drops by the tackle some of your listener questions. 

Richard Simms has cruise news. 

Matt reviews his seven-night Mediterranean cruise on MSC Seaview that sailed roundtrip from Barcalona, Spain, over Memorial Day weekend. 

In this podcast episode, Doug welcomes Heather as a guest to review her recent cruise on Carnival Glory. Heather and her husband chose this seven-night cruise out of New Orleans and booked a suite on the ship.

They had a smooth embarkation process and were impressed with the spaciousness and storage of their suite. Heather mentions that the ship sometimes felt crowded, especially in the atrium and pool deck areas. 

She also talks about their experiences in Key West, Freeport, and Nassau ports. Heather highlights the convenience and ease of disembarkation with a suite and shares some tips for first-time cruisers on Carnival Glory.

A review of Norwegian Sky review. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of Carnival Luminosa on an eight-night sailing from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. 

A review of Celebrity Beyond. Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of a Caribbean sailing aboard Scarlet Lady. 

A Christmas cruise that Dale and his family took aboard Carnival Magic. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's 2013-launched Norwegian Breakaway. 

A review of Celebrity Summit out of Bayonne, NJ that sailed a seven-night Bermuda cruise. 

A review of Carnival Cruise Line's ship Carnival Panorama. This was a seven-night cruise from Long Beach, California down to the Mexican Riviera. 

Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news: 

Topic 1: Passenger Falling Overboard: A passenger on Mariner of the Seas fell off the ship while trying to take a selfie. The crew was able to rescue her after 45 minutes.

Topic 2: Carnival Corporation's Financial Success: Carnival Corporation announced during its quarterly report that they are making money again and have seen a record number of bookings. They currently have $72 billion worth of deposits for future cruises.

Topic 3: Port Miami Accident: An accident involving a 30-foot boat hitting a ferry boat caused Port Miami to be shut down, impacting about 30,000 cruise passengers. Three ships were waiting at sea to enter port, causing a chaotic situation.

Topic 4: Conversion of Jazz Clubs into Non-Smoking Casinos" Explanation of the conversion of jazz clubs on Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas into non-smoking casinos.

Topic 5: Celebrity Cruises to Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay: Announcement that Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Beyond will sail out of Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay starting in the summer of 2024.

Carnival Panorama review 

Boarding the Carnival Panorama. Angie discusses their experience of boarding the Carnival Panorama, including the check-in process and the organization of the terminal.

First Impressions of the Carnival Panorama: Angie shares their initial thoughts on the Carnival Panorama, describing its fresh look, bright colors, and unique digital screen in the central atrium.

Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom: Angie describes their deluxe ocean view stateroom, highlighting its spaciousness, additional sofa, and the surprise of having two bathrooms. Discussion about cabin space, luggage storage, and availability of USB plugs.

Review of the buffet options on the ship, limited dinner offerings, and alternative casual dining options.

Experience with the main dining room, use of the Hub app for reservations, and overall satisfaction with the food.

Ship Crowds and Ocean Plaza Description: Angie discusses the crowded areas on the ship, mainly the Ocean Plaza venue and the small pools on Lido deck. 

Smoking in the Casino: Angie talks about the casino's smoking policy and the balcony cabins above the smoking area.

Exploring Puerto Vallarta Description: Angie shares their experience exploring Puerto Vallarta, including visiting art galleries, walking along the Malecon, and visiting the cathedral.

Late Night Departures. Discussion about the departure times of the itinerary, explicitly mentioning Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

Whale Watching in Cabo. Describing a whale watching tour taken in Cabo, including the option to book through Carnival or with local vendors.

Facial Recognition and Disembarkation. Talking about using facial recognition during embarkation and disembarkation, as well as the process of getting off the ship and organizing luggage.

Discussion about trying different cruise lines and the motivation behind it.

Description of the Carnival Panorama ship and its comfortable spaces.

Conclusion of the interview with Angie about her first-time sailing experience with Carnival Cruise Line.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A review of Carnival Magic from New York City down to the Eastern Caribbean. 

Richard shares his latest trip to Bermuda on a five night cruise from New York City on Norwegian Gem. 

Royal Princess review. Kurt and his wife took a 15-night cruise aboard Royal Princess from San Francisco to Hawaii over Christmas and New Year's. He goes over his thoughts of his cabin and the dining and entertainment on board, how the weather was on the way to Hawaii that time of year, and what he did while in Hawaii for four days.

Richard has cruise news: 

Listen to unedited interviews with cruise line executives. Join the Cruise Radio Extra Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cruiseradio 

Tim and his wife recently took a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival's newest ship Carnival Celebration. He goes over his first impressions of an Excel-class ship, what he thought of the BOLT roller coaster, how he liked the dining and entertainment options on board, and what he and his wife did while in port.

Richard has cruise news: 

Listen to unedited interviews with cruise line executives and public figures. Join the Cruise Radio Extra Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cruiseradio 

Adam, his three-year-old daughter, and his father-in-law took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas out of Bayonne, New Jersey, this past December. The cruise visited Florida and the Bahamas. He goes over why Anthem is the perfect ship for chilly winter weather, what their experience was with the entertainment, how his daughter liked the kids' club, and what they did during their day at Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Richard has cruise news: 

A 2023 review of Carnival Luminosa. This was a three-night sailing from Brisbane, Australia with no ports, otherwise known as a cruise to nowhere. A frequent Carnival Cruise Line cruiser, John gives us the details about the ship and his initial thoughts on the refurbishment that Luminosa underwent following its transfer from Costa Cruises. 

Listen to unedited interviews with cruise line executives and public figures. Join the Cruise Radio Extra Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cruiseradio 

Daniel and his family took a five-night sailing in December aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore to what was planned to be a Western Caribbean sailing. The voyage was modified because of strong winds and it wound up having three sea days and two ports of call, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. We get a comprehensive review of The Haven experience on Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Richard has cruise news: 

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Getting you caught up on this week in the cruise industry.

Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on:

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A review of Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Valor. 

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In this episode, we get a review of a four-night voyage to Bermuda aboard Carnival Magic out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Richard has cruise news.

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A review of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas from Cruise Tips TV. This was a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral.  

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Kabir recently took an eight-night Caribbean cruise aboard Virgin Voyages' ship Valiant Lady out of PortMiami. He goes over what sets this cruise line apart from others, how the food and entertainment were on board, and what he did in each port of call.

Richard has cruise news on:

Listener Question: Selina asks, I’m going on a cruise in December. My passport expires three days after we’re supposed to board. Will that be a problem?

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Mentioned in the show:

Kristin and her husband Scott recently took a seven-night western Caribbean cruise out of Miami aboard MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC Seascape. Hear what they thought of their cabin, the food on board, the entertainment, and how they ended up with an extra day at MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay.

Richard Simms has cruise news on: 

Cruise Radio Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cruiseradio 

Kevin, his wife, and their two-year-old son took a Thanksgiving cruise aboard Carnival Horizon to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. He shares their thoughts on their Grand Suite stateroom, the dining on board (including the Thanksgiving feast!), the kids’ club, and more.

Richard has cruise news:

We get a five-night review of Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Beyond. The ship debuted in the Spring of 2022 and sailed its inaugural sailing in November 2022. This sailing went to Mexico, calling at Cozumel and Costa Maya. 

Richard has cruise news: 

On this episode, we get a review of a seven-night cruise aboard Norwegian Breakaway out of Florida to the western Caribbean. Adam goes over the experience his family — including two kids — had on the ship, plus gave details on Norwegian Cruise Line's private destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

On this episode, we get a review of a special seven-night 'The Love Boat' themed cruise aboard Princess Cruises' newest ship, Discovery Princess out of Los Angeles. We hear details on the food, entertainment, and all of the special activities that took place with the cast of 'The Love Boat.'

A review of Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas to Southeast Alaska that sailed from Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Richard Simms has cruise news: 

Dan from TripInsurance.com drops by to answer listener questions on navigating their way around airline cancellations and delays. 

Review of Carnival Pride in Northern Europe and the Baltic. 

The top cruise news stories of 2022 and a question about visiting St. Thomas. 

A review of MSC Cruises Seashore from PortMiami that was taken in summer 2022. 

A review of Carnival Celebration's first passenger voyage: a two-week transatlantic crossing from the UK to Miami with seven sea days in a row. 

Why you need to travel with trip insurance in 2023. Richard Simms has cruise news. 

A review of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas from Bayonne, NJ. 

Looking at some of the changes of Carnival Celebration, Carnival Cruise Line's newest excel class ship.

Richard Simms has cruise news on:

The first sailing on Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship Carnival Celebration. We give some initial thoughts and feedback. 

On this week's episode, we get a review of a western Caribbean voyage out of Port Everglades aboard one of Princess Cruises' newest ships Sky Princess. This interview was recorded in May 2022.

Details on Norwegian Cruise Line's latest ship, Norwegian Prima.

Richard has cruise news: 

A review of Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas from the summer 2022. 

A review of Carnival Cruise Line's ship Carnival Splendor to southeast Alaska from Seattle. This voyage was taken in summer 2022. 

This week we get a review of Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Prima, as it sails its first revenue cruise in Northern Europe. 

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

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Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

We get a review of Disney Cruise Line's brand new ship Disney Wish. This was a three-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, and the private island Castaway Cay. 

Richard Simms has cruise news: 

Listener Question: When is the deadline for buying travel insurance during hurricane season? 

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed. 

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Spirit that sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti earlier this summer. 

Richard has cruise news on: 

Listener Question: Regarding the NCL Platinum specialty dining perks. I will be Platinum after my cruise next month and going on the NCL Prima in January. Some of the restaurants listed like Moderno aren’t on the Prima. Any idea if we will get to choose from any of the other restaurants instead?

A review of Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas on a nine-night cruise to Bermuda, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and the Bahamas. 

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed. 

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

A seven-night Western Caribbean cruise review of Carnival's Mardi Gras. 

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed. 

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.

A seven-night review of Disney Crusie Line's Disney Fantasy. 

A 2022 review of Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Richard has cruise news: 

Listener Question: What is a cruise duck? 

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Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Want daily cruise news? Subscribe to the Cruise Radio News podcast feed. 

Get in-depth cruise news and industry insight at www.cruiseradio.net.