42. So About Texas Cruises, Carnival Cruise Hate, and the Joy of Cruising | Mandy the Cruise Planner

Today I talk to Manday the Cruise Planner. She is content creator who is well known on TikTok for her cruise news and hot takes on all things cruising. On the podcast today we talk about what Texas cruises are like, why people hate on Carnival Cruises, what is appealing about cruising and more. Follow Mandy on TikTok at:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mandythecruiseplanner See the video of this podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisetalknet Get a travel insurance quote here: https://insuremytripus.pxf.io/APyPDN ----- My favorite cruise reads right now: Endurance: https://amzn.to/4hJ6Gh8 Dungeon Crawler Carl: https://amzn.to/40ERISF ----

A lot people start their cruise life with Carnival but many realize that there are different cruise experiences out there to try and sometime they switch over. On today's epsiode I talk to Amsoil Adam, a motorcyle content creator and cruise. We talk about his experiences on the new Sun Princess cruise ship, he switch from Carnival to Princess and more. Check out the video of this podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@cruisetalknet Check out Adam's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@amsoiladam Get a travel insurance quote here (affiliate link): insuremytripus.pxf.io/APyPDN  

Former cruiser crew member Lucy from the Cruising as Crew YouTube channel joins the conversation today. We talk about her 10 years working as a crew member in the industry, including how she got into cruising, the challenges of working 80+ hours a week and more. Make sure you check out Lucy's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CruisingAsCrew Video version of the podcast is here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisetalknet  

What is a Virgin Cruise Like? My brother Chris Barnette joined me on the podcast today to talk about his first cruise experience on Virgin Voyages.  Check out the video version of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisepodcast  

Tony and Don discuss their recent cruise experience, focusing on their itinerary and the various ports they visited. They talk about their favorite spots, such as the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and the icebergs in Greenland. They also discuss the food options on the ship and the entertainment, including the production shows and other performers. The conversation then shifts to the topic of rude behavior on cruises and the recent protests in Amsterdam that have impacted cruise itineraries. They express their frustration with the protesters and discuss the need for consequences for interrupting legitimate business. In this conversation, Tony and Don discuss various topics related to cruising, including the impact of protests on cruise ports, the rising prices of cruises, the launch of new cruise ships, the value of cruising compared to land-based vacations, the future of mega ships, the inclusion of gratuities in cruise prices, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions of cruising. They also address the use of clickbait titles in their videos and the potential impact on viewers' decision to cruise.  

Ilana from Life Well Cruised is one of the top cruise content creators in the world. She provides here audience and community with a wealth information about how to make their cruise vacation more efficient and enjoyable. Millions have used her cruise tips to prepare for and make the best of their cruise. We cover a lot in this episode including how Ilana started cruising, what she thinks about the state of cruising in 2024, mega-ships, packing cubes, and her essential cruise tips for both new and seasoned cruisers.  Check out Life Well Cruised here: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeWellCruised Check out the video version of this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisepodcast  

There seems to be a trend in the cruise industry to build bigger and bigger cruise ships. That is certainly the case with Royal Caribbean International. It begs the question are mega cruise ships good for cruising? I am joined today by Royal Caribbean expert Matt Hochberg of Royal Caribbean blog. We talk about mega cruise ship, his recent experience on Icon of the Seas, the role of private islands in cruising and much more.  Check out the video version of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisepodcast Check out Matt's Videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@RoyalCaribbeanBlog  

This week we talk to Derrick Phillps from the Island Time YouTube channel. Derrick is a seasoned cruiser and a travel agent and he recently completed cruises on both Royal Caribbean and Carnvial Cruise Line's newest cruise ship. He gives his take on Icon of the Seas, Carnival Jubilee, cruising with kids and more.  Check out the video version of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisepodcast Check out Derrick's channel Island Time here: https://www.youtube.com/@IslandTimeTravel

Recently I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Bill Panoff, the Editor-In-Chief of Porthole Magazine. He asked my cruise origins and my approach to cruising. Enjoy this reversal where I get asked questions for a change.  Check the video version of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@cruisepodcast Check out Bill's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CruiseandTravelBP

Long time Princess and Carnival cruise Mike also know as The Nauti Cruiser joins me to talk about cruising on the new $1 billion dollar Carnival Jubilee and about how he cruises for free by gambling in the cruise casino. Video version of the podcast can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLoGEyIWH6f6mkJxDCweDag