Cruize Cast (Travel)

James and Kaleigh discuss their recent experiences in France and compare common myths about travel in France to what they've seen. 

Hosts Kaleigh and James return after a year hiatus to discuss their travels and what is coming up on the podcast.

Join James and Kaleigh for a complete review of the newly refurbished Navigator of the Seas. They discuss cruising with a child and kids clubs as well as in depth reviews of specialty restaurants Chops Grill, Sabor and Giovanni's Table. Activities and entertainment are reviewed and much more!

Join James, Kaleigh, Jason and families as they record the 100th episode of CruizeCast live on the Carnival Dream. They discuss what it is like to cruise with family, including the pros and cons. They also discuss a little of what has gone into making CruizeCast over the years and celebrate the 100th episode. This episode is also available in video format from the Popular Cruising video podcast.

James and Kaleigh reveal expectations for their upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. This cruise is particularly interesting for them because it will be the first one in which they bring along their daughter. They highlight their port plans and expectations for cruising with a child for the first time.

We discuss the details of the main dining room on cruises including the difference between traditional and anytime dining, how cruise dining differs from restaurant dining and some of our favorite tips and hints. 

James and Kaleigh review their recent New Year's cruise on the Caribbean Princess. They discuss the ship, entertainment, stateroom, ports and of course, spend a lot of time on dining and food.  The new port at Houston is highlighted with tons of tips and details for sailing with Princess out of this new venue. 

We're back with a new episode all about what it is like for a veteran cruiser to try Carnival Cruise Line for the first time.  Does it live up to its reputation (both good and bad)? See what Jason thought.  

We are back with a new episode that details the upscale cruise line, Azamara. Find out all about the food, staterooms, entertainment, itineraries and much more! Our long absence means we have lots of cruise news and CruizeCast updates.  

This week is all about cruising in Italy. We discuss Italian cruise ports, the major sites and cities, and ideas for pre or post cruise side trips.  Get planning advice for Rome, Venice, Florence, Ravenna, Naples, Ferrara and Padua with specific ideas for how to incorporate those destinations into your cruise. Cruise news features a newly named ship for Carnival, a new ship order for Norwegian and the sentencing of the Costa Concordia crew.

This week we discuss and detail Carnival Cruise Lines. We talk about the specifics to Carnival that might surprise you, things that you'll love, and the things about Carnival that some people find controversial.  We provide tons of tips, suggestions and ways to enhance and get the most out of your Carnival Cruise vacation.

This week we discuss the growing trend of specialty restaurants at sea. We highlight our favorites, honorable mentions, least favorites and restaurants we'd love to try in the future. Cruise news features big moves for Carnival, both in leadership and ship deployment.

This week we discuss the laid-back Greek cruise ports of Katakolon and Corfu. We give details on the best attractions and things to do in each port with a little history. Food recommendations, shopping tips and touring advice are all highlighted.  Of course, we give complete details on how to see the sites completely on your own. Cruise news features RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com and their recent cruise announcement.

Jason and guest, Darlene, discuss the tangible differences in luxury cruising, specifically Silverseas Cruise Line. We learn about the food options, staterooms, inclusions, and all the information you need to determine if luxury cruising is for you. Jason also interviews cruise director, Don Fluke, for an insider's perspective. Our news includes a new ship for Galveston.

This week we detail and discuss the newest ships coming on the scene as well as the extensive refurbishments taking place. The ships we discuss are the Norwegian Breakaway, Quantum of the Seas, Carnival Sunshine, Disney Magic, and Royal Princess. We talk about the features we are most excited about and what we are looking forward to.

Mike Faust from CruiseCurrents.com joins us to review Holland America's Eurodam. He details dining options and quality, staterooms, daily entertainment and nightly shows. Cruise news features some exciting announcements from Princess Cruise Lines and a peak at upcoming announcements from two cruise lines.

James and Jason break down each of their top five favorite cruise ports in the world with highlights and suggestions. Cruise news features sea trials for some new ships and the Oasis class in Europe.

We discuss a little bit of everything this week as Jason addresses some of the news topics which occured during his vacations. Our correspondent, Mark, provides a short review of the Azamara Quest and gives details from Cruise Shipping Miami, including a visit aboard the Carnival Breeze.  Cruise news features a Viking River ship coming to the Mississippi, new European itineraries for Celebrity and safety upgrades for Carnival.

Inspired by recent news stories, we answer the question: what could keep us from cruising in the future? We take an indepth look at the Carnival situation, as well as other factors that could influence our cruise decisions. Our cruise news features details of new ships from Norwegian and Princess.

This week Jason interviews the cruise director of the Azamara Quest, Tony Markey.  Tony talks about his experiences with Azamara, life on the sea, and the future of Azamara. Cruise news features stories from Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, as well as Dancing with the Stars on Holland America and the Grammys on Norwegian. 

Continuing with our popular Mediterranean Cruise Port series, this week we tackle Athens, fully highlighting an itinerary which includes detailed information on how to take public transportation into the city, see the sites we think are the best, and travel back to the cruise port. We include attraction and restaurant information with a little history thrown in for good measure. 

Cruise news features stories from Windstar and Carnival. We also discuss a listener question about the summer placement of cruise ships in the United States.

This week we interview a passenger from the Carnival Triumph and get the true scoop about exactly what happened on that ill-fated cruise.  We discuss the penetration of the news story in popular consciousness and the possible future impact. A letter from a listener provokes a conversation about the value of Disney Cruise Line, and we delve into the recent changes in tipping policies, inspired by news from Royal Caribbean.

We discuss all the different optons normally offered by cruise lines throughout the day and highlight some of our favorites.  Our cruise news includes the recent news from the Carnival Triumph, the naming of Project Sunshine and the best large cruise ship as named by Conde Nast. 

Jason tells us all about his upcoming South America cruise on the Azamara Quest including itinerary, a ship preview and the cruise line. Cruise news features an in-depth discussion of the new drink packages and the controversy surrounding them, the Zumba fitness program on Celebrity and Norwegian and the new video of the Carnival Sunshine.

We hear what it has been like to cruise for the past 35 years, including the changes in the cruise industry, some cruising favorites and what might keep someone cruising for that long. Our cruise news features Norwegian going public, the Cake Boss on the Norwegian Breakaway and Dive-In Movies on Carnival.

With the recent wave season cruise deals including free drink packages and upgrades, we dissect whether or not we think the deals are worth the extra fare. Cruise news includes a Carnival delay, the year anniversary of the Concordia tragedy and fireworks on Norwegian.

This week we break down all of the United States cruise home ports and share our favorite things about each of them.  Cruise news features stories from Carnival's all-inclusive packages and a new European port for Royal Caribbean.

This week our new co-host, Jason Leppert from PopularCruising.com, shares his recent experience on board the Viking Freya. He gives details on ports in Austria, Hungary and Germany along the Danube and explains how river cruising differs from ocean cruising. Our news features the newest Oasis-class ship including name speculations, and recently announced expanded children's and teen programs on the Royal Princess.

Relaxation is the focus on this episode where we discuss the most relaxing cruise lines and destinations. We also attempt to uncover what it is that makes a cruise so relaxing in general.

This week we recap our ship visit onboard the new Celebrity Reflection including details on dining, decor and more. Cruise news features all inclusive packages from Royal Caribbean, a new waterpark on MSC, and a Miami-themed cruise ship from Norwegian.

The excellent destination of Disneyland is our topic today, as we think it is a great pre or post cruise add-on from Los Angeles or San Diego.  We detail the parks and accomodation options and share our favorite features about the original Disney theme park.  We also review the new Cars land in Disney's California Adventure.  Cruise news features stories from Livorno, Carnival and New Orleans.

This week we give thanks for our favorite things from each cruise line and share our Christmas wishes for what we think would improve the cruise experience on each line. Cruise news features stories from the up and coming port of Houston and a new drink package on Norwegian.

This week we review our cruise on the Crown Princess including details of entertainment, dining, activities, staterooms, ship layout and more! Our cruise news features stories from Carnival, Grand Cayman, and Venice.

Finally back from our big trip, we reflect upon the best and worst aspects of the extensive vacation.  We highlight the best ports, our favorite moments and the surprises we encountered along the way.  We also discuss a lot of cruise news featuring a slew of new ship builds, changing policies and more.

This week we look at how our perceptions of cruising have changed from our first cruise to now.  We look at common misconceptions and concerns of new cruisers, and habits that experienced cruisers may fall into. No news this week because we are traveling.

Jason from PopularCruising.com joins us to predict the future of the cruise industry. We guess which items are more likely to happen from a list of either/or options.  Some are fun, some are serious; all are entertaining.  We have no news this week because we are traveling.

This week we provide an unedited look at our upcoming European vacation with details of the ports and itinerary. We discuss which ports and cities we think we'll like best, and which ones we expect to unimpress. Follow our journey on facebook!

This week we share some of our favorite experiences and things that we generally only get from cruising.  Cruise news looks at some new features on Princess' upcoming ship, a new port for Royal Caribbean, and rumors of a possible 3rd Oasis class ship.

Jason from PopularCruising.com tells us all about his recent experience on the Disney Wonder for the Inaugural Pixar Themed Cruise in California.  He also shares details from dining at the most expensive specialty restaurant at sea on the Disney Fantasy.  News features stories from the coming Norwegian Breakaway, updates to a newer Carnival ship and a coming upgrade to the Serenade of the Seas.

There was a lot of cruise news this week, so we take the time to cover it all with our own commentary thrown in.  Carnival discontinues a popular program, Royal Caribbean invites you to sail with Barbie and protests in North Africa disrupt cruise itineraries.  We also chat about planning a cruise based entirely on the desires of your kids.

This week we review a wide variety of cruise books including the Berlitz, Fodors, Frommers and Rick Steves guides, as well as crew autobiographies and cruise-centric magazines.  Our cruise news features stories from Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.  We also discuss the all-inclusive alcohol package on Carnival further.

This week we discuss a cruise port which many people may not consider, but actually provides a great vacation/cruise option and is centrally located for many Americans.  Our news includes Norwegian's new specialty dining package, Carnival's test of an all-inclusive drink package and Hurricane Issac.

This week we answer questions from listeners about kids in the main dining room, drunks on Carnival, and European cruise itineraries.  Our cruise news features stories about several themed cruises, plus some new policies regarding children on Norwegian and MSC.

Matt from the unofficial Royal Caribbean blog at royalcaribbeanblog.com joins us to give an overview of the cruise line, plus information from a recent earnings call about future potential ships and deployments. Our news features a new program from Carnival which allows for early embarkation, as well as the launch of the Queen of the Mississippi and the effects of Hurricane Ernesto.

This week we discuss which ships are the best to cruise if you don't want to spend beyond the base fare.  Which ships feature the best included dining, entertainment and amenities? Our cruise news this week features Carnival's solution to "chair hogs", a new CEO for Celebrity and an interesting look at what might happen if you choose to wear only a bathrobe on a cruise ship.

This week, Mikey Faust of MikeysCruiseBlog tells us all about his first Mediterranean cruise aboard the Mariner of the Seas.  He highlights the cities of Barcelona and Rome and compares and contrasts Europe to a Caribbean cruise.  Cruise news features stories of a shore excursion accident and a new law which might affect future cruise pricing.

This week we delve into all the different options for drink packages on cruise ships including soda, wine, and alcoholic options.  We also talk about the rules various lines have about what you can/cannot bring on the ships.  Value, costs, options and availability are all detailed.  Cruise news includes the resignation of Celebrity CEO, Dan Hanrahan, and an improvement to the port gateway to Athens.

We examine Mediterranean cruise ports and for each one, talk about the main attraction or preconceived notions concerning the port. We then talk about what we think is the best thing in/about each port.  Our cruise news features the newest announcement about the Norwegian Breakaway, as well as the fate of the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the lawsuit about the upcoming Charleston cruise terminal.

Shon Ford, also known as CruiseMan3000, joins us this week to share his love for Norwegian Cruise Line.  He gives us details from his most recent cruise aboard the Norwegian Star, along with tons of port touring advice for Bermuda.  Cruise news features stories of higher quality Internet on Royal Caribbean and a new Costa Concordia lawsuit.

This week we compare cruising in the early 80's to now, examining costs, service, tipping, ship size, itineraries and more.  We look at the things that have remained the same (which may surprise you) and the things that have changed.  Our cruise news features Carnival Cruise Line's new loyalty program. We highlight all the differences and new amenities as well as some of the complaints from fellow guests.

We tackly some of our listener questions this week with topics as diverse as what to do on a departure day in Barcelona to how much luggage you can bring on a ship.  Cruise news features stories from Disney, the end of pilot strikes in Norway and the new Carnival Breeze.

Vanny from CruiseExpertsTravel joins us this week to share her experience onboard the Oceania Riviera and to give us some insider info about what separates this "premium plus" category ship from premium or luxury cruise lines. Cruise news features stories of strikes in Norway, a stolen iPhone aboard the Disney Wonder and a new Royal Caribbean ship in China.

This week we are coming to you from Disney World, which gave us the idea to compare cruising to the average land vacation.  What are the pros and cons for each? What are those things you take for granted when cruising that you just don't get in a land vacation. Cruise news features deployment news for Royal Caribbean and Costa.

This week, our friend Becca joins us to tell us all about her experience on Princess Cruise's Sappire Princess.  In this review of her California coast cruise, she gives us details about dining, entertainment, activities and much more.  Our cruise news features stories from Celebrity, Oceania and Princess' new itineraries,

We cover lots of cruise news this week with stories from Carnival, Costa, and Titanic II. Our guest, Mikey, from mikeyscruiseblog tells us all about the ships he toured at Cruise3Sixty: Holland America's MS Maasdam and the Carnival Liberty. 

We continue our Mediterranean cruise port itinerary series with the city of Florence, tourable from the Livorno or La Spezia cruise ports.  We review attractions and discuss what a sample day in Florence might look like with suggestions, tips, route info and possible costs. Our cruise news features stories of new ship features from Norwegian and Princess as well as a new ship in Miami and new itineraries for Carnival.

Our Norwegian expert, Scott, returns to review the Norwegian Epic with full details on dining, entertainment, ship amenities and staterooms.  Cruise news this week features a rumor about Royal Caribbean, new international regulations and a tragedy involving the Star Princess.

This week we delve into the pros and cons of the different stateroom categories on cruise ships. We also explain guaranteed staterooms, analyze the best stateroom locations on a ship, and give a general primer on the staterooms sizes for each cruise line. Cruise news features stories of a new year-round homeport for Norwegian Cruise Lines and a new river cruise on the Mississippi.

Debra Gordon of MEI/MousefanTravel joins us to tell us all about the brand-new Disney Fantasy ship including reviews of the shows, new features and staterooms. Our cruise news included the Titanic Memorial Cruise and a new television show, "Love For Sail", filmed on board Norwegian Cruise Line.

Listen to our complete review of the Celebrity Eclipse with details on ship layout, staterooms, activities, entertainment and much more! We also talk recent cruise news with stories of a fire on board the Azamara Quest and the "arrest" of the Carnival Triumph.

In this episode, we detail some of the costs that you may not normally consider when booking a cruise. We talk about when may be the best time to book as well as additional costs like specialty dining, shore excursions and more. Our cruise news features some details from the new ships coming from Norwegian and Princess, and a Silversea ship collides with a commercial vessel in Vietnam.

This week we discuss the food on Celebrity Cruise Lines with Vice President and head of all culinary operations for Celebrity Cruises, Jacques Van Staden.  He gives us insight into his creation of specialty restaurants Qsine and the Lawn Club Grill as well as a bit of a peek into how Celebrity maintains its high reputation for dining. We also give our reviews and impressions for the various venues on board the Celebrity Eclipse. Cruise news includes Carnival's extensive refurbishment project of the Carnival Destiny and the christening of the Disney Fantasy.

Vanny of Cruise Experts Travel joins us this week to tell us all about her hometown, the cruise port of Vancouver. She details transporation options, hotels, and attractions in and around the city.  She also shares details of their contest to win a cruise aboard the Norwegian Epic in the Mediterranean. Cruise news features details from the Costa Allegra and the Carnival Splendor excursion robbery as well as a new game show on Norwegian and a new ship order for Royal Caribbean.

Dress codes are the subject of conversation this week as we look at the standards suggested by the cruise lines vs. what is accepted in the main dining room.  We discuss opinions on the topic and brainstorm about ways to eliminate the confusion that exists.  Our cruise news features stories from the Costa Allegra and its fire and subsequent engine failure and the robbery of twenty-two cruise passengers from the Carnival Splendor in Puerto Vallarta.

We continue our popular, "A Day In..." series with a full day's itinerary for Naples, Italy with directions and information about Pompeii, the Naples Archaeological Museum, Sansavero Chapel, Galleria Umberto, the Royal Palace at Caserta, pizza and more! We give you the information you need to start planning your cruise day in Naples on your own. Recent cruise news includes stories of Carnival ships in Europe, the newest Princess ship debuting next year, and a Costa Concordia update.

We discuss how to add a little romance to your next cruise as well as our favorite romantic ports and a discussion of why cruising may be a more romantic vacation.  Cruise news features more from the Costa Concordia, new itineraries for Carnival and an interesting survey from Royal Caribbean.

We review our cruise aboard the Carnival Elation with details about food, entertainment, service and general ship information. We include a detailed account of the Chef's Table. Our news this week includes continued coverage of the Costa Concordia with stories also from Holland America, Carnival and Princess. We also examine the recent Norovirus outbreaks.

Disney is our focus this week with news of their recently announced itineraries in Europe and from Miami, along with a preview of their newest ship, the Disney Fantasy. Hans of the Disney Cruise Blog at disneycruiseblog.net joins us to talk about what makes Disney Cruise Line different. We discuss rotational dining, alcohol and soda policies, entertainment and much more.

Our news this week contains updates from the Costa Concordia incident as well as a look at the new renovations on the Windstar fleet. We also discuss MSC's move to Miami.  Our cruise topic is European cruising, and we look at the different itineraries, ports, considerations and include lots of tips for first-timers.

We discuss the tragic sinking of the Costa Concordia, give our opinions on the different accounts of the accident and what this will mean for the cruise industry, and give an overview of basic safety precautions to take on a cruise. 

Marian Krueger from the travelshopgirl blog joins Kaleigh today to talk about why we love to cruise. We discuss misconceptions, our reactions to our first cruises and what keeps us coming back for more. We also discuss recent cruise news stories about Carnival's new ship and a new kid's program for Norwegian.

We review Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, currently sailing out of New Orleans. We cover topics such as food, ship layout, staterooms, entertainment and much more.  We also review the new movie "Chipwrecked!" which features the Carnival Dream and discuss recent cruise news.

This week we review the new show on the Carnival Elation which will be spreading to other ships, where towel animals come to life. We also discuss all the cruise news which transpired during our cruises with stories from Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian and Carnival.

Scott and JC are back to give us a full review of the Norwegian Jade including amenities, staterooms, dining, entertainment and even the Chocoholics Buffet. No cruise news today due to the CruizeCast crew being on a cruise.

This week we discuss the recent awards given to various cruise lines by Porthole Cruise Magazine and Cruise Critic and give our opinions and thoughts. We also discuss recent cruise news from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

A listener, Brian, gives us a review of the Royal Caribbean ship which was "stretched", the Enchantment of the Seas. He tells us all about the food, staterooms, entertainment and service as well as the ports of Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic and Labadee. Cruise news includes stories from Disney, European River Cruises and Oceania.

This week we interview the promoter of the Beatles Tribute Cruise, Woody Lifton, and discuss theme cruises in general. We also cover recent cruise news from Celebrity, Princess and Carnival. 

We detail the many cruise options for the winter sailing season as well as give an update on the Carnival Elation dry dock. We also cover recent cruise news including stories from Royal Caribbean and answer listener email.

Inspired by Carnival's raising of their suggested tipping guidelines, we discuss tipping on a cruise ship, including details for all the lines.  We also explore different opinions on tipping and answer questions.

This week we conclude our interview with Scott and JC as they discuss the cruise ports of their Eastern Mediterranean cruise: Dubrovnik, Piraeus, Izmir and Split.  We also include recent cruise news concerning the expansion of Nickelodeon on Norwegian ships and Royal Caribbean's ship deployments.

Our friends, Scott and JC tell us all about their European pre-cruise trip including stops in London, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Switzerland, and Venice. Part 2 (next week) will include the ports of Dubrovnik, Piraeus (Athens), Izmir, and Split. We also discuss the recent upheaval in Greece and the realization of Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades.

Today we discuss some of the reasons we think that cruising is becoming more popular in the United States, even with the economic downturn. We also cover recent cruise news from Royal Caribbean and Disney.

This week we talk with Hans from the Disney Cruise Blog about combining a cruise with a Disney World vacation. We give a general overview of the theme parks and resorts and discuss cruise and transportation options. We also recap this week's cruise news from Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity.

Today we discuss the big announcement from Carnival with details about the new features that will be coming to most of the line.  Recent cruise news is also featured.

This week we discuss casinos and gambling on a cruise ship. We also talk about recent cruise news featuring stories from Royal Caribbean and Disney as well as recent cruise trends in France and Great Britain.

This week we talk with Jordan and Joan of RCIFans, who are from Great Britain and love sailing Royal Caribbean so much, they have created a website devoted to the cruise line. Jordan tests our Royal Caribbean knowledge with a cruise quiz, and we learn a bit about the Canary Islands from Joan as well as why she loves cruising at the age of 83. We also discuss recent cruise news with stories from Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival and some updates on new ships.

Join us as we tour Venice, starting at the cruise terminal, cruising down the Grand Canal, and visiting the top attractions of the city such as the Doge's Palace, Basilica di San Marco, and much more with tips on transportation, lodging and dining. We also discuss recent cruise news with stories from Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. 

Cruise dining options are highlighted this week including tips and information on the main dining room, buffets, specialty dining, room service and extras. Cruise news includes stories from Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Lines.

We discuss the factors that go into choosing a cruise including an quick look at each cruise line, and what they have to offer. Ports, itineraries, ships and price are also addressed. We also comment on the recent hurricane and how Carnival and Royal Caribbean each reacted to an unfortunate situation in San Juan as well as tips for cruising during hurricane season.

We interview Jennifer of Care Vacations and Michell of travelinwheels.com to learn about accessible cruise port touring. We also discuss recent cruise news like the Carnival Breeze designs and Celebrity's specialty restaurant pricing.

James interviews a friend from Puerto Rico who gives us some great information about San Juan and how to tour it as a cruise passenger. We also discuss recent cruise news including some new terminals, Disney quarterly earnings and Carnival in Baltimore.

This week we talk with Vanessa Bloy of Windstar Cruise Line, who tells us all about their itineraries, ships, food and ... Fabio from Top Chef? We also discuss the recent cruise news of Carnival Corp. ordering ships for some of its subsidiary brands and increasing cruise traffic to Malta.

We provide you with a detailed itinerary of the port and embarkation city of Barcelona with information on transportation, how to get to the port, attractions and tips for touring. Cruise news revisits the taxi strike in Greece as well as a discussion on whether cruises are really all-inclusive.

This week, we give you a full rundown of one of our favorite cities and cruise embarkation ports, New Orleans. We give you hotel tips, restaurant and attraction recommendations as well as a full commentary on the ships and itineraries out of New Orleans. We also discuss the recent taxi driver strikes in Greece with our opinions and some insight into how this has affected and will continue to affect cruise passengers.

Our friend, Scott, joins us to review his recent cruise on the Norwegian Spirit out of New Orleans. We also discuss the recent river cruise tragedy in Russia and provide you with some great cruise deals.

We find out exactly what someone who has never cruised before knows about cruising though our first cruise quiz as well as discuss the latest cruise news.

We detail how to tour Rome on your own from the port of Civitavecchia including both the Ancient sites and the Vatican sites. We also address recent news which might give insight on Royal Caribbean's future plans for the Mediterranean.

We discuss the different options you have for touring ports from shore excursions, private drivers to doing it on your own as well as cruise news.

We discuss some basics of cruising like tipping, booking, what is included, daily activities and amenities while answering listener questions and reporting on the latest cruise news.

We review the brand new Carnival Magic which we recently joined for the inaugural cruise in the Mediterranean as well as discuss  cruise news.