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

MSC is still spending its money promoting its product, but not the food! Skrewball whiskey has made peanut butter drinkable! Why? It is the final days of the Jersey Boys on  Norwegian Cruise Line as they find other places to spend their money! Sadly, the Guru won't see the Amazon River after all, as he fell victim to the Brazilian money grab!  

MSC is spending more money to update its private island! Not so fast!  A District Court judge in Mexico has halted construction of Royal Caribbean's custom Meyer destination, citing environmental concerns. Is Rob Caribbean's new build targeted towards adults-only non-family cruising? They are keeping quiet. If you're planning a trip to Brazil, remember to get your visa early. In the case of the Guru, just remember to get it.

Hotel CEOs continue to blame their problems on anybody but themselves! Clean up your own house! One season traveler said that Southwest's first day of assigned seating was chaotic and surprising! Alaska cruise visitors will increase by 10% over last year, even though some residents want to go in the other direction. Delta is buying a whole bunch of Airbuses while Boeing tries to get its wings together!

Oceania bosses help lay the keel of their new build, named Sonata. Barnival Cruise Line is now going to Africa, but not from Baltimore! Oceania's new build will be stunning and larger than any of their ships! The Wyndham Grand Barbados review from the Guru in this episode!

The Guru says that hotel rooms need to have bathrooms behind closed doors! MSC arrives in Miami with a new terminal and gorgeous new offices! Mother Nature really messed up many cruisers' vacations! A gimmick? HX Expeitions offering a refund if Trump invades Greenland!

Somebody wants cruise ships! The Port of Colon celebrates the arrival of the Brilliant Lady! Does Oceania plan to reduce the capacity on the R ships and elevate the luxury? NCL warns guests to be prepared for VAT taxes that many countries are demanding while onboard! Will a 10% cap on credit card interest hurt the travel industry or the banks more?

The Port of New Orleans is celebrating over one million guests.  The WSJ announces the best airline in America is Southwest. There goes their credibility! Those hotels that were temporarily closed due to the ICE protests were receiving bomb threats. Even their brains are frozen in Minnesota. New York City now has laws that force hotel operators to tell the truth!

MSC installs new state-of-the-art yard software to help keep Italian captains from whacking the pier. Holland America has new immersive tourist tours called Meet the Maker. Thankfully, not meet your maker. So, you think you wanna be a travel agent? Get ready to work hard if you wanna make any money. Margaritavilleat Sea is adding even more bars. That's their product. Smart move.

Mexico bans vaping in most areas. Cartels? Priorities? Are some host agencies the new timeshares of the travel industry? Civil unrest in Minnesota forces two hotels to close. Arrest them! Tendering to remote islands remains a risky business!

Airlines and travel companies want to start charging you for the privilege of talking to someone on the phone! Which mental midget in South Africa thought it was a good idea to have their navy train with the Russians, the Chinese, and the Iranians? Curacao has become a very nice tourist destination! MSC has adjusted the food selection on its Galveston ship to reflect the demographics! Lots of Barbecue!