Cruise Radio: Weekly Cruise News & Travel Tips

878 Voyager of the Seas 2025 Review + Cruise News | Royal Caribbean

·50 min·5 clips

Doug Parker reviews Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas and interviews Port Canaveral's director about handling 8 million passengers.

The episode opens with host Doug Parker introducing the show's focus on cruise news and a review of Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas. Staff writer Richard Sims presents the weekly news segment, starting with a rumor about Norwegian Cruise Line considering a status match program, which senior VP John Chernesky later clarified is not currently in development. Sims explains the concept of status matching and why it can upset loyal customers. Next, he reports on the P&O Aurora cruise canceled last-minute due to dry dock delays, leaving passengers with only a day's notice on Easter Sunday. Sims then covers Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic cancellations for 2026 due to dry dock scheduling, noting compensation offers. He mentions a source at shipyard Navantia describing industry-wide stress from new ship construction and mandatory IMO inspections. Other news includes MSC Meraviglia canceling a May sailing due to propulsion issues, Disney Adventure's float-out in Germany, and an Australian traveler denied U.S. entry after a Hong Kong stopover. The episode transitions to an interview with Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral's director. Murray discusses the port's ease of access, parking expansions for ships like Star of the Seas, and a focus on LNG fuel over shore power. He details terminal upgrades, facial recognition use, and transportation options from Orlando. The final segment features a review by guest Nicholas of his nine-night back-to-back cruise on Voyager of the Seas. Nicholas explains he booked through casino offers, paying $400 total for four people. He describes the ship as dated with cabin issues like plumbing and AC problems, but praises Royal Caribbean's service. Nicholas covers dining in the main dining room and Chops Grille, entertainment like laser tag, and ports including Cozumel, Freeport, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. He shares tips on back-to-back procedures and recommends the ship for quick getaways but not for thrill-seekers.

As heard by us

A practical cruise-news episode built around Port Canaveral logistics and Nicholas's nine-night Voyager sailing.

Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas anchors a Cruise Radio episode that moves cleanly from cruise-line rumor control into the practical realities of Port Canaveral, then closes with Nicholas's nine-night Voyager sailing.

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Why you'd press play

You get a cruise-news rumor, Port Canaveral logistics, and Nicholas's nine-night Voyager conversation in one brisk listen.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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