The Daily Cruise and Travel News ”Podcast” with Tom Drake

MSC is rolling out a new app that will help you have less contact with the crew. Lufthansa plans to acquire 90% of the former Alitalia as long as the bloated bureaucrats approve it! The French government holds 1700 cruise guests hostage because they didn't wash their hands! Royal Caribbean warns guests that they are not responsible for the junk they put on their door!  

John Chidsey has all the answers to fix NCL Holdings. But does he? 200 different ships will visit the Caribbean this year because it's cheap and convenient! The port of Victoria remains very popular despite the outcry of the residents who live near the pier! Carnival Cruise Line is being sued by a woman who took a turn too fast with a rental scooter!  

Azamara will be spending money on the ships and looking for non-English-speaking guests. The Guru is not worried about Hantavirus. Trust the CDC? Soon, the Crystal Serenity will have a pool bar? The Guru will be there! Vessel inspections on cruise ships have increased despite staff cuts. How about that?  

Even with fewer Canadians showing up, Orlando tourism numbers go up! There is no reason to panic about the Hantavirus! Sadly, the Guru will never be invited to join Delta 360! Listeners report to the Guru that the boarding process for the Norwegian Jewel in Philadelphia was hassle-free!

The Guru hired a public relations agency that delivered negative PR! Carnival is turning one of the ships into an adults-only ship so they can have more grown-ups. Grownups on Carnival.. probably not Neurovirus strikes Caribbean Princess, but as usual, mostly among guests who don't wash their hands! AOL Travel publishes an article telling us that the worst cruise ship buffet is on Carnival. Duh!  

Consumer Reports names Lindblatt Expeditions the best cruise line. Except it's not a cruise ship. Guests on board the Hantavirus ship were able to leave in Spain! Disney reports very good numbers despite all the angst about the economy and the war! Marriott also had good numbers thanks to their select hotel business!  

 Are the hantavirus guests being held hostage on that Dutch ship? Another Carnival guest ends up in handcuffs after punching a teenager in the mouth! Malta officials have stuck their noses in the air, and they only want rich people to visit! Spirit Airlines lawyers ask the court for permission to sell every asset quickly. Facebook marketplace is good.!!

NCL guest passes away while snorkeling in the Bahamas! A Magistrate in DC apologizes to the White House shooter because his Airbnb isn't up to snuff!! The DOT secretary said there will be no handouts to the budget airlines.  Join the Guru live on Facebook at 10 AM!  

Hantavirus is not common in the United States. Only 200 cases last year! The tram in Juneau slammed into the base and injured five employees. This is why the guru never rides the tram! Carnival Corporation is facing lawsuits after being hacked by the Shiny Guys! The United flight that landed in Newark arrived safely but took out a tractor-trailer, a jeep, and a light pole.

Entertainers are all scrambling to get booked as performers on cruise ships.  Congress finally agrees to fund DHS and pay the TSA employees! Two amazing paramedics help deliver a brand new baby as the plane circles the airport! The Guru will be live on Facebook and YouTube beginning Monday at 10 AM!    

Europe refuses to protect the Strait of Hormuz, even if it means planes are parked.  Royal Caribbean is now charging $30 more to find out early how bad the location of your Guarantee room will be. Is Crystal Grace, debuting in 2028,  already sold out for its first season? The majority of initial visitors travel to just five destinations!

 Royal Caribbean signs the paperwork for two more big ass ships! 22 Monks get arrested for carrying 224 pounds of cannabis. Now we know how they get them to shave their heads! Is the boss at JetBlue secretly lighting candles, praying that Spirit goes under? The Guru will be back live on all social media starting Monday at 10 AM!

 The PGA Tour bails out of Hawaii because it can't play on brown grass. The Suez Canal remains closed, so the Oceania Vista will visit Africa! Did NCL do the right thing by turning their beautiful private island into Six Flags over the Bahamas? If the US government gives money to the budget airlines with Scott Kirby demand some money for his airline?  

The White House correspondents' dinner shooter wasn't a rocket scientist, but he could've been. Regent Seven Seas cares about what the travel advisors think. How about the guests? The Guru is now on Facebook and YouTube every day at 10 AM starting tomorrow. Lots of pictures! Some companies are paying at $1 million fee to get through the Panama quicker. Guess who's paying for that?  

 NCL's terminal in Philadelphia will not win any architectural awards! Liberal bonehead groups are warning travelers about coming to America for FIFA! Did the Iranians really seize an MSC ship because a rich son is hanging out with the Trumps? The Guru is not a fan of any cruise line's air package!

 Why didn't Oceania use professionals to deliver the message about Aurelia? Air transportation in Europe right now is pretty shaky, thanks to fuel costs and lousy Management! Did Oceana finally admit they could never sell out a 180-day World Cruise on an "O" ship? Will the US government eventually buy Spirit Airlines?

 Princess and Holland America are doing a good thing in Ketchikan! Port Canaveral CEO John Murray puts the cruise lines on notice! Spirit might get the help they need from the federal government, according to the President. European leaders still do not have any military assets protecting their ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

 The clueless president of Mexico calls the victims of the pyramid shootings "affected individuals"? Sorry, when you're shot and killed. You are a victim. Minnesota tourism officials tell people to visit while the governor of Minnesota is in Spain bashing his country. Clueless Tuesday. The CDC still doesn't know if the small outbreak on Insignia was actually norovirus. 

 Norway continues to lead the world in saving the planet by Tuesday! Norovirus shows up on Oceania Insignia, but almost all with the guests because the crew washes their hands. Minnesota launches an Explore Minnesota campaign to encourage people to visit. Waste of money? The USS Navy blows a hole in an Iranian box ship. Nice shot, people!

 MSC is raising gratuities for all guests who already get their own coffee! A federal jury awards $300,000 to a nurse who got drunk and fell down the stairs, but lived to sue Carnival. The FAA has stepped in and reduced the number of takeoffs and arrivals at a Chicago airport because the airlines are too greedy to do it themselves. There is more Norovirus on land in the US than you will ever see on a cruise ship!

The Guru does not feel sorry for any cruise line whose ships were stuck in the UAE! The new Atlas Ocean Voyages sailing yacht sounds amazing to the Guru! An elderly man went overboard on a carnival ship in Australia. Sad news. CNBC and Bloomberg reported that Spirit Airlines will cease operations this week. They better be right.

The guru wonders whether sponsoring a sailing team will sell one suite on Explorer journeys, and whether they even care! Does anybody really think that the United American Airlines merger would ever be approved? Get real people! Explora Jouneys Big Boss made some good points at Seatrade! HAL is spending 500 million on refurbs! Great move!

Today's podcast features the Guru talking all about his time at Sea Cruise Global. It includes his report on the State of the Union address by Dud Barr and the Q&A session with four of the cruise industry's big bosses. This podcast is a must-listen to for anybody in the business, wondering what it's like to hobnob with the goober smoochers!

The Schmilton Cabana Miami continues to disappoint! At Seatrade, Immerse and Elevate are the words of the day! Why aren't they talking about the Value of cruising at Seatrade? Canceling a presentation without notice at Seatrade is what the cruise business is all about!

Cruise lines are bailing on Tracy Arm in Alaska due to unsafe landslide conditions. Relax, there are plenty of other arms. Hotels have stopped whining about international visitors not coming! Now they are excited that Americans are trying out their poorly run properties! Red Bull and Twinkies as a signing bonus? The FAA is now recruiting gamers to be Air Traffic controllers. Listen to hear about jail rooms on Royal Caribbean!

 One patriot group wants to ban the sinking of the USS United States. A little late to the sinking! MSC signs an agreement to build another revenue-producing destination in the Bahamas! The Guru disagrees with the AI chatbot Claude about Crystal! Will Seatrade Cruise Global be ready for the GuRu tomorrow?

 Global Port Holdings grabs another destination to rebuild. Acapulco.? Good luck. Meyer Werft is pimping and all electric cruise ship. But it depends on European destinations installing shore power. Good luck. The Guru wonders whether the old Seabourn Ocean ships can actually sail up a river in Europe.  

 The former number two guy at Oceania is now the number one guy at the Apollo Group Maritime. MSC will build a private destination in the Bahamas, seeking out the guests' money on and off the ship! No surprise here. Amtrak is Tommy's doghouse for being a lousy railroad with dishonest people. Global ports holding is not looking to rule the world. Just every cruise port in the world

 Oceania announced it will refurbish the 15-year-old Marina. Huna Corporation received approval to ensure Juneau is even more crowded in the summer. Crazy Corsica fishermen keep the Sun Princess from docking because the fuel costs too much. Why not? Delta joins JetBlue and United, jacking up their checked bag prices. Money. Money. Money.

 The port of St. John is opening two months early to welcome a couple of thousand disgruntled Viking voyages cruisers! Expedition cruising might be trending, but 12 people for Como resorts does not. Norwegian Cruise Line will use a hotel for check-in rather than a tent in Philly. The cast shows here on Explora II are really good and really live. A nice surprise.

Virgin Voyages has to cancel the five-day trip to Bermuda because the Harbor pilots are slightly timid. The Explorer II is an excellent floating hotel. But it's not very entertaining, and I'm not sure they care! The Guru loves the idea of another terminal in the Port of Tampa. Easter brunch in the buffet restaurant is not the same as in the Main Dining Room.

 Are pink slips flying at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings? United raises checked bag fees and adds confusing price options! Calling all bird watchers! Has the Guru got a trip for you? Day three onboard Explorer II. Happy Easter!! 

 The Guru applauds Carnival's dedication to special needs cruisers. Well done. NCL rolls out prepaid parking in Miami.  The Guru does not agree with some travel aid agents who say their clients are afraid to travel. Explora II checks off most of the boxes. A desk chair in the suite would help!  

Oceania is opening a bakery Academy for its bakers. Shouldn't they already know how to bake? Did you know that Tokyo Disneyland is a franchise? The Guru did not know. The FAA told San Francisco airport officials to reduce the amount of arrivals. Unsafe to use side-by-side runways.. Many people think the historical hotels are wonderful. He's not one of those people.  

NCLH boss Chidsey will join the Seatrade Keynote panel. Adam Goldstein still has influence at NCLH, even though he is not on the board. Royal Caribbean will start pimping credit cards! Do we need to be told not to go to the Middle East?

 Royal Caribbean's new mega-mother will have eight neighborhoods! Air Canada's CEO is out the door because his French was lousy! The US is sending people to the moon on Wednesday, and they left politicians behind! The girl will be sitting with the rest of the press at SeaTrade Cruise Global. A milestone in his comedy career.

Villa Vie Residences is now a ship of peace? The new president of Norwegian Cruise Line needs to be less pessimistic. The Houthis are back to being annoying! The Guru is not ready to embrace Skillcation.

Today's top stories from the guru. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings cleans out the board. Appoints five new members. After Congress goes home for the weekend, President Trump finds a way to pay TSA workers! Be careful in Florida. A cruise ship crew member who was caught shoplifting was immediately deported. Norwegian Cruise Line christens their new ship. The Godmother is in the witness protection program.  

Today's Top Stories with Commentary! Explore journeys cancels its Middle East cruises next winter. Too soon. President Trump will sign an executive order to pay the TSA workers as part of a National Emergency declaration. British Airways flight attendants placed a woman who had passed away on a heated floor for 13 hours. Smart? The Guru received his press credentials for Seatrade Global. Oh boy!

The top stories from the guru this morning: The guru thinks United's couch in economy is stupid! The new "flighty" app should be called Let's Catch the Airlines Lying app! TSA screeners are so good that they can tell a Mac from a PC. Yeah....sure! The Guru puts major-league baseball in Tommy's doghouse!  

Here are today's stories with a little bit of commentary! The guru loves that Zac Brown is partnering with Margaritaville at Sea to present some great new Nashville entertainment. No surprise here. The new cruise terminal in Philadelphia will not be ready for the first Norwegian cruise. Yo, somebody go rent a tent. The Azamara World Cruise will also be a bourbon experiment if the guests don't drink it all!

Here are the top stories from the Guru! Norwegian Cruise Line grabs some cheap publicity by giving away $10,000 for a painting of an ugly bear. Travel advisors are working hard to convince clients that Mexico is safe because they're only shooting at cartel members! Travel advocate Elliot gets it all wrong about Norovirus. Hear the real story from the Guru! Hotel operators continue to whine about the state of their business. Try to improve your properties!

The Guru accepted an invitation to spend the night at Mar-a-Lago. During this podcast, you will hear what it's like to enjoy dinner two tables over from the most powerful man on the planet, who is also DJing during dinner. In a completely unrelated story, the Guru talks about a Carnival guest who is suing Carnival  because the tour boat bench she was sitting on collapsed, and she never got to see the pigs on Pig Island! Lots of stories, lots of commentary, a few laughs, and a little bit of music.   

The first of the Four Seasons yachts sails on its inaugural! Hot air at sea! Oceania tells its World Cruisers they will skip the Suez! Jet fuel prices have jumed 57%, but no one has stopped booking! The Las Palmas cruise port is now the largest in Europe thanks to privatization!

Today's stories with a "bit of commentary." Prices for international air travel will be increasing, especially with airlines that didn't hedge or fuel bets! Norwegian Cruise Line sent a letter to spring backers warning them of the consequences of acting like a schmuck. Florida's governor protects the coastline of Manatee County from one more cruise terminal. The Guru joins the LibSyn family!

On this episode of The Daily Cruise and Travel News Podcast, Tom Drake—The Guru—discusses people so desperate to lose weight that they are combining medication with wellness tips. For once, the host agrees with airline executives who are demanding that the United States Congress begin funding TSA employees. The U.S. State Department is also warning Americans not to travel to southeastern Turkey—and the Guru wonders why anyone would. Tom reminds world cruise passengers that they will not be sailing through the Suez Canal, so they should be ready for Africa. Lots of news, lots of fun, and a little bit of commentary.

The Suez will not be safe anytime soon! Africa, here we come! The top ten clean cruise lines! No surprises. The Italian Olive Oil guy is back at Oceania on some ships! The Guru questions the credibility of all magazines!  

The little cruise line that could! Victory Cruises will spend $5 million updating its two ships! How creative are the creative people building shows for ships?  The people in Dubai are not as worried about being attacked as the media portrays! Don't apply for a status match if you're anticipating being elevated on the other cruise line!

The Guru thinks the Princess boss has the right focus. Fix-not reinvent! Gavin Newsome is in Tommy's doghouse! The Guru offers praise for Sid from Hampton Inn in Vancouver! Ungrateful Portland Maine politicians go for the money grab!    

Ouch! Carnival cancels 11 cruises for this fall. People make plans, you know? Virgin Voyages will debut an Indian restaurant on the Valiant Lady. The idea is a Valiant one. The U.S has lost 5% of international travel, but it is still pretty popular! Check out www. bestatseatours and travel with the Guru!