Independence Day Special: Fireworks, Pool Noodles, and Happy Endings

Happy 4th of July from the Golden Crew! Join Trevor, Tom, and Jen for a special holiday episode as they celebrate America's birthday (recorded totally on July 4th, we swear). This week: We discuss our exciting poop cruise documentary watch party plans, share the miraculous Disney cruise rescue story of a 5-year-old who went overboard (spoiler: Disney magic saved the day!), and debunk the outrageous $19.99 pool noodle rumor at Celebration Key. Plus, Tom's playing Jimmy Buffett for people who actually know who he is, we invite our Australian listeners to celebrate American independence with us, and Tim from Down Under asks about that special feeling of stepping onto your first Carnival ship (yes, crying is acceptable). Trevor also casually mentions he wrote a choose-your-own-adventure book where he kills Tom multiple times. Fair warning: This is a shorter episode because we have "things to see and people to do."

The Golden Crew has reached the acceptance stage! Join Trevor, Tom, and Jen as they move past their VIFP grief and embrace the chaos. This week: We discover Tom's bandmate doesn't know who Jimmy Buffett is (Gen X parents have failed!), plan an epic watch-along party for Netflix's Carnival Triumph "poop cruise" documentary, and tease mysterious changes coming to the show in August. Plus, Trevor finally admits he's accepted his fate as a future red card holder, we debate Lido breakfast vs. sea day brunch, and somehow end up discussing Trevor's first wedding disaster (hint: "help me" was involved). We also catch up on listener messages from our neglected Speak Pipe, including our Australian correspondents who wants to cheat at finding ship coins. Fair warning: This episode contains acceptance, denial, and Trevor's multiple breakfast strategy.

The Golden Crew faces their darkest hour as Carnival drops a bombshell announcement about major changes to the VIFP loyalty program! Join Trevor, Tom, and Jenn as they navigate the five stages of grief over the new points and stars system that's replacing the beloved days-based program. In this emotional rollercoaster of an episode, we break down what spending $18,000 might get you (spoiler: maybe platinum status?), debate whether families will have to split their points four ways, and discover why casino players just got royally screwed. Plus, Trevor contemplates his MSC status match options, we send our support to John Heald who's taking heat from angry cruisers, and somehow manage to turn existential dread into comedy gold. Fair warning: This episode contains speculation, mathematical confusion, and Trevor singing Celine Dion. You've been warned.

The Golden Crew is back! Fresh off his Alaskan adventure, Trevor joins Tom and Jenn to discuss the latest cruise happenings. This week: Carnival cracks down on social media rule-breakers (mess around and find out!), the newly upgraded Carnival Valor emerges from dry dock with exciting new features, and we dive into the art of being a pier runner spectator. Plus, Trevor shares his genius platinum perk laundry hack, we debate the merits of ship coffee options, and somehow end up discussing white chocolate vs. dark chocolate for way too long. Fair warning: this episode contains approximately 50% cruise content and 50% delightful chaos, including discussions about bleach spots, cat celebrities, and why you should never post your rule-breaking on TikTok.

Pack your parkas, Pod Castaways! Trevor's back from the Last Frontier with tales from FGC #3 aboard the Carnival Luminosa. Join Trevor and Tom as they dive into all the Alaskan adventures, from getting uncomfortably close to whales (20 feet!) to discovering that OG Carnival burgers might just be better than Guy's (controversial, we know).Trevor breaks down the Luminosa's unique Spirit/Vista hybrid design, shares stories from ports like Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau, and reveals why the ship's banana cream pie redemption arc is everything we hoped for. Plus, hear about the amazing Pod Castaways community members they met, including birthday boy Steven and superfan Gerald!No water slides? No problem! Find out why this Alaska cruise still gets Trevor's seal of approval and get the scoop on FGC #4 coming September 2026.Fair warning: This episode may cause sudden cravings for reindeer fart shots and double patty burgers. You've been warned! 🛳️🐋🍔"

Trevor, Tom, and Jenn are back with a jam-packed episode diving into Carnival’s newest hot topic—Celebration Key! 🌴 From environmental efforts to economic impacts, they break down everything Carnival is doing (and maybe not doing 👀) to prep this private paradise. Plus, Trevor makes a case for runway videos at sea, Tom relives a hilarious elevator encounter, and Trevor gets called out for his editing (or lack thereof). Also—big updates on the FRGC 4 aboard the Carnival Jubilee in 2026! 🚢💃🎧 Leave us a voicemail: Speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways🛳️ CCP Group Cruise (AKA FRGC 4): https://flow.page/haveluggagewilltravel

With Jenn MIA (because somebody forgot where her priorities lie), Tom and Trevor go rogue in this unfiltered, one-take wonder. From Carnival scrapping physical shore excursion tickets to the debut of limited-edition Jack Daniels bottles onboard, they dive into the latest cruise news with sarcasm, heart, and a healthy dose of tech nostalgia. Throw in some SpeakPipe shoutouts (toilet flush talk included), a conspiracy theory about Guy Fieri’s tequila, and a Zune player that may or may not contain a gorilla fight—yeah, this one's got layers. Buckle up. No edits. No rules. No Jenn.

In this wild ride of an episode, the Podcastaways crew dives into powdered alcohol smuggling attempts, haunted Long Beach ports, overpriced cruise add-ons, and whether Dog the Bounty Hunter is lurking in Hawaii. Jen leads the charge, Trevor tries to get scattered at sea (unceremoniously), and Kennedy’s Roomba collection grows dangerously sentient. Also: do you really need travel insurance? Tune in for laughs, cruise tips, and possibly a goodwill intervention.

Today, The Golden Crew sets sail into the art (and chaos) of cruise packing! Trevor, Jenn, and Tom break down must-have items for first-time cruisers, from formalwear hacks to laundry service secrets. We swap hilarious travel mishaps, reveal unexpected cruise essentials (yes, even poopouri makes the list), and share why overpacking is the silent villain of every seven-day trip. Plus, we tackle an audience question: What’s the best U.S. port to cruise from if you're traveling internationally? Get ready for a perfect blend of laughter, life-saving tips, and a few unexpected detours into wrestling, haunted offices, and beach bag blunders. 🌴🚢🎒

It’s just Trevor, Tom, and Jenn on deck this week—and things get real weird, real fast. We kick things off by confessing the one thing we’ve each tried on a cruise and absolutely hated (hint: snails and slow check-ins don’t mix). From there, we stumble into the great passport photo debate—should you smile, or should you look like your soul left on embarkation day? We also talk about Carnival’s new hardline stance on booze smugglers (spoiler alert: you could get banned), and share our own strategies for sipping smart while staying within the rules.And then—finally—a podcast mystery gets solved thanks to a Speakpipe voicemail that had us crying with laughter. Toilet talk? Maybe. Worth it? Definitely.All this, plus Jenn’s now-official nickname for Christine Duffy... "The Dove."