Cruise News Roundup Starts

Patrick Wiscombe 0:50

All aboard for segment number three of the Inside Travel Talk podcast radio show. This is the world famous, the infamous Just Cruising segment where it's only about cruising and it's only about the cruise news of the week. And there's quite a bit going on this week. So let's get to the cruise news headlines.

Legend Of The Seas Early Booking

Patrick Wiscombe 1:15

Probably none bigger than the new ship from Royal Caribbean called Legend of the Seas. And it is now on sale, which is good news because it's always the least expensive time to book a cruise. What do we know about this new ship?

Mark Faldmo 1:30

They are sailing late summer into the fall. They'll be in the Mediterranean. Then they'll move the ship to the Caribbean. So the very first passenger sailing is August 2nd of 2026. So this is not this coming summer, but next summer. It has a pretty good itinerary sailing round trip, Barcelona, goes to uh Palma de Majorca, goes to La Spisa, which is in Italy. That would be a port close to Florence and Pisa. Then it goes to Rome, Naples, and back to Barcelona. That's a good itinerary. That is. That is a kind of a classic Western Mediterranean itinerary, but it has great ports. One thing about this is it has pretty good prices for a new ship. Now I'm only going to talk about the balcony cabins because the inside cabins are only about $100, $150 less. So there are lower prices in this, but a balcony cabin starts at $2275 per person, which when looking at these new ships that Royal Caribbean puts out, that's about three to four hundred dollars lower than their typical seven-day cruises. And I think the reason why is because we're just at the very beginning stages of that. I bet in two months or so, as that ship starts getting more press and starts selling, it is going to go up to those traditional prices. So now is the best time to book that.

MSC’s New Miami And Barcelona Terminals

Patrick Wiscombe 4:14

Yeah, that'll be at the new terminal.

Mark Faldmo 4:16

It welcomed its first guests earlier in February. And the Miami terminal has the capacity to handle up to 36,000 guests a day and can board up to three ships at a time. It can well, and it can accommodate up to three ships simultaneously. They will rent that space out to other cruise lines as well. Their Barcelona facility, which actually just took passengers last week, it really improves MSc's footprint around the world. Barcelona is the busiest passenger cruise port in Europe, and they've all been kind of really kind of interesting, older, almost run-down buildings. I've sailed out of Barcelona quite a bit. So this new cruise port is going to be great for those uh traveling on MSc and also Explorer Journeys, which is their kind of high-end yacht market that they sail out of in Barcelona.

Patrick Wiscombe 5:12

By the way, that Explora One, the name of the ship, beautiful ship. Yes. I know that Patrick and Nikki, after kind of looking at Explora 1, I was like, dang. Okay, need to go check that one out. Yes. Yep.

Princess Deepens Alaska National Parks Trips

Patrick Wiscombe 5:26

Princess Cruises is expanding its Alaska National Parks cruise tours adventures in 2026. Anything that has Alaska and national parks, probably gonna be pretty amazing.

Mark Faldmo 5:40

This year, for the first time, they announced a new product, which was the Alaska National Park Cruise Tour, which was a 15-night expedition. Oh wow. It includes Voyage of the Glaciers, which is uh the north or southbound cruise, but then it also includes stays at the four princess-owned wilderness lodges.

Patrick Wiscombe 6:00

Oh, and we talked about that a few weeks ago when they announced that.

Mark Faldmo 6:04

Yeah, it's been so successful that they are going to extend that for 2025-2026, and they're adding many more sailings to do that. These cruises are a great way you visit Glacier Bay, Denali, Rangel, Keynife Fiords, and Katmai, all beautiful places, but I think almost everywhere in Alaska is beautiful to visit. Now there's this extra option on Princess to really take a deep dive into Alaska. Princess, I think, does Alaska the best. They do it better than any other cruise line with this, including longer salines from Los Angeles and San Francisco, that Princess has added. They are the best way to see Alaska.

Patrick Wiscombe 6:48

The one wish that I had personally is that seven days in Alaska for me, when Nikki and I went on Norwegian's Bliss, I wish that we had had another seven days.

Mark Faldmo 6:59

I could have spent two weeks up there easily. Princess has their own train cars, so does Holland America, but they have their own domed cars. You can get off the ship at the port, walk 50 yards over to the train, get on your train car, and then they take you up to Denali. These cruise tours are a great way to see the interior of Alaska. I've done the interior of Alaska off of a cruise tour twice. I would rather do that. Add that extension onto the cruise and go see some of these places like the Kenai Fjords and Denali.

Repositioning Cruises Explained For Sherry

Patrick Wiscombe 7:35

We were talking about repositioning cruises, and Sherry had a repositioning cruise question. She said, I heard you mentioned repositioning cruises a few weeks ago. Can you explain more what a repositioning cruise is and do you have any spring dates? Let's start there. What's a repositioning cruise?

Mark Faldmo 7:55

Repositioning cruise is when cruise ships need to transition from one geographical region to another for different seasons. For instance, a ship might reposition from its winter Caribbean season to its summer Mediterranean season. So they need to move that ship from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. So these are often kind of one-off cruises. They're often longer itineraries, and you have more days at sea, but you also go to less frequently visited ports. Some of the repositioning cruises that I've been on have just been unique. I did one, the ship that was coming, it was Norwegian cruise line, and they were repositioning from their summer Europe season down to the Caribbean. And so I did a London to New York, which did Iceland, a couple ports in Canada, New England, and down. One thing, repositioning cruises are usually really good prices, but also kind of unique, off-the-beaten cruise ports that you go to. One thing, if you are looking at a repositioning cruise, you'll have to look at the days at sea and see if you're okay doing that many days at sea. As I've often said on this, the more I cruise, the more I like days at sea. The most I've ever done at one time was five days at sea. But the ships have a lot to keep you occupied and going during the day, you know, all the entertainment and everything. But repositioning cruises are often a little bit more laid back because you're not in a different port every other day. Some of the repositioning cruises I've I've seen them have as many as eight days at sea before. But for the price, it's a great way to go.

Three Spring Repositioning Deals Compared

Patrick Wiscombe 9:40

Do they move the Prima, that ship?

Mark Faldmo 9:42

Yes, they do. Sherry did ask about spring cruises. So I looked at a few things, April and May time frame. Norwegian is moving the Prima and it's a New York to London area. So it's ports, it leaves New York City, goes to Halifax, Nova Scotia, goes to Reykjavik, Iceland. It actually overnights in Reykjavik, Iceland. That'd be good. Goes to Belfast in Ireland, Liverpool, England, La Havre, which is in France. That would be where you go see the landing beaches at Normandy, and then ends in Southampton. It sets sail April 27th. It's a 14-day cruise, and that starts at $9.99 per person for an inside cabin or $14.05 for a balcony.

Patrick Wiscombe 10:33

The Prima is a nice ship too.

Mark Faldmo 10:35

You've been on the Prima, right? I was. I was on the inaugural naming ceremony for the Prima, which actually happened in Reykjavik, Iceland. Okay, what about other ships? So another one I found that was a really good price, and this again was is a transatlantic again. It's on virgin voyages, and it's moving its ship from the Caribbean, particularly the port of San Juan, to Barcelona. This one is one that has several days at sea. It leaves San Juan and then it has seven days at sea, but then it visits Tenerife, Casablanca, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia in Spain, and Barcelona.

Patrick Wiscombe 11:16

Oh wow. How many days is that one?

Mark Faldmo 11:18

So that one's a 14-day cruise as well. And it starts at 9 59 per person. It's an April 12th departure date. And then a balcony cabin starts at 1533 per person.

Patrick Wiscombe 11:48

You know, if you think about it, that's about $100 a day for a 14-day cruise per person. It is. Wow. Okay.

Mark Faldmo 11:54

Then I've got one more. Man, you're loaded this week. I am. It's a 25-day repositioning cruise, and it goes from Tampa, Florida, through the Panama Canal and ends in Whittier, Alaska. Oh wow. You're getting a Panama Canal cruise, a Mexican Riviera cruise, West Coast US cruise, and an Alaska cruise on this. I'll just quickly go through the ports on this. It leaves Tampa, it goes to Cartagena, Colombia, Cologne and Panama, cruising through the Panama Canal, it goes to Costa Rica, it goes to Porto Quetzal, which is in Nicaragua, it goes to Acapulco, Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Astoria, Oregon, then Ketchikan, Juno, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier, and ends in Whittier, Alaska. Wow. How much is that one? So I would say 24 25-day cruise starts at $17.99 per person. Wow, that is amazing. So basically, take the month of April off. Take the month of April off. And that one was again April 3rd. And that one you get the best of three different regions. You know, Panama Canal, which is fascinating. You get that Central America. Then you get Astoria, Oregon, one of my favorite places to visit, mainly because I like all the Goonies stuff that's there. Um, and then you get an Alaska cruise.

Patrick Wiscombe 13:26

That's pretty good. Okay, we got to take a break here. Sherry, I hope that answers the questions. Call Mark in his office during the break. Just get the conversation started. No obligation, anyone listening. Just get the conversation started and find out. Just book the vacation. Do this. Live your life deliberately. Live your life intentionally. Man, I it doesn't get any more intentional than this. 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717. When do we come back? We've got Mark's travel tips, and we've got just a little bit more NCL news. That is next. When the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show continues, alongside Mark Faldmo, my good friend, I am Patrick Wiscombe. Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your weekend. We will be right back.

Todd Carlson 14:22

Explore your world. You're listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo. Call or text the show now. 801-649-3700. That's 801-649-3700. And check out the podcast at InsightTravelTalk.com. We'll be right back. This is the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo. Presented by Blue Planet Vacations.com. America's Best Travel Advisors. Call the show right now. 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. And now your hosts, Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.

Patrick Wiscombe 15:36

Thank you so much for allowing both of us to be part of your weekend. If you want to reach the show during the week, to text your travel-related questions, these text go straight to Mark, 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. To ask your travel-related question, and we will answer it on the air. And we do want to hear from you. This isn't some canned show that we don't want to hear from our listeners. We absolutely want you to be part of the show. So call us in studio 801 or text us 801-649-3700. Coming up in this final segment of the show, we've got Mark's travel tips. And of course, we've got uh more travel news headlines. Let's start with uh just because we're coming off the infamous just cruising segment, Mark, let's start with the Norwegian cruise line story real quick.

More At Sea Perks And Wi-Fi Minutes

Patrick Wiscombe 16:35

I saw that NCL has expanded or is expanding their more at sea Wi-Fi inclusion on longer cruises. That's good to hear because if you're going to be out longer, you need to stay connected.

Mark Faldmo 16:49

Yeah, it is. So if you buy those more at sea rates for cruises 12 nights or longer, they've increased that, I think, from 250 minutes up to 300 minutes. The shorter cruises, 7 to 11 nights, get 150 minutes, and three to six night sailings get 75 minutes of included Wi-Fi.

Patrick Wiscombe 17:10

And let's just talk about more at sea, generally speaking. So more at sea, Wi-Fi is included, but more at sea usually means Wi-Fi and the drinks package.

Mark Faldmo 17:20

More at sea includes a shore excursion credit, the Wi-Fi credit that we just talked about. It includes a specialty dining, a drink package, and third and fourth guests free. And so on the dining and drink package, you do have to pay additional gratuities on that, but the actual base cost of those packages are included in the more at sea.

Patrick Wiscombe 17:45

By the way, Nikki and I took advantage on Norwegian's Aqua, the brand new ship that's coming out. We did take advantage of the uh shore excursion credit for the Bimini Islands, just so you know. Uh-huh.

Mark Faldmo 17:56

That's good. I love Bimini Islands. Yeah, I know you do. Beach Club on Bimini. Awesome. It's great.

Patrick Wiscombe 18:03

Yeah. There is a star attraction, and I don't mean featured attraction. It literally is quite looking at the stars at

Stargazing At Hyatt Regency Maui

Patrick Wiscombe 18:11

the Hyatt Regency in Maui. What details do we have on that? And when does it start?

Mark Faldmo 18:17

Every night from 8 to 11 p.m., the Hyatt Regency Maui has an astronomer on one of their rooftops with three large satellites to help people with stargazing. That's one of the things I I like about Hawaii, probably with the exception of the Honolulu area, is it's pretty dark skies. And you know, you can go out and just look up at the stars. And so these astronomy programs, I I think it's a great thing for a hotel to add, just something that adds a little bit something special to people's vacations.

Patrick Wiscombe 18:52

Alma Waterways is offering a co-branded river cruise with Smithsonian journeys.

Mark Faldmo 18:59

Yes, beginning in April 2026,

Smithsonian Journeys With AMA Waterways

Mark Faldmo 19:02

there are going to be Smithsonian journeys on AMA Waterways. So these are going to be extra special in the history and culture. They're going to be tailored to some of the things that the Smithsonian does. They're going to be on the Danube, Rhine, Duro, Seine, and Rhone River. I think they do the best job. And this is actually the second partnership that they have. They also do the Adventure by Disney cruises. They have these partnerships with these other like-minded companies to really get people immersed into the culture where AMA Waterways goes.

Patrick Wiscombe 19:41

You're such a fan of AMA Waterways. Are there any promotions that listeners should take advantage of for the river cruising?

Mark Faldmo 19:47

Right now, through the end of March, they have up to $2,000 off select river cruises. And this is departing in 2025. So it doesn't include those sailings that are the Smithsonian journeys quite yet. But again, up to $2,000 off cruises, which is combinable with their AirPlus credit. So that's airfare rates starting at $8.99 per person to Europe. So $2,000 off plus $8.99 airfare? Correct. Probably the best way to see Europe. There's probably not a better time to book a river cruise than right now.

Patrick Wiscombe 20:23

I saw a story that I think speaks perfectly to the whole purpose of this show. And that is how taking vacation or

The Science Of Taking More Vacations

Patrick Wiscombe 20:32

multiple vacations can improve overall well-being. And that you actually found a study about this.

Mark Faldmo 20:38

The study started out by saying there are 768 million unused vacation days in the US. 30% of those days are forefooted completely. That's crazy. Yeah.

Patrick Wiscombe 20:54

Just forfeited.

Mark Faldmo 20:55

Also, another thing that the survey found is a lot of American workers, 50%, feel burnt out in their job. And that's what vacation days are for. Whether it's just to take some days off and relax in your home, or take some days off and actually go on vacation. There's been some research done on the cognitive impact of vacationing. Vacationing just resets your mind, can really help with some of the things that come with being burnt out at work. Just the fact of planning for a vacation improves your mood. I can buy that people that are planning a vacation or have a vacation planned, they sleep better and they perform better at work when they have vacation planned.

Patrick Wiscombe 21:40

I can buy that. It gives you something to look forward to other than work.

Mark Faldmo 21:44

An interesting another part of that study, there were about 800 participants in this. And those who took a vacation less than once in every six years were more likely to develop heart problems than those who went on vacation twice a year.

Patrick Wiscombe 22:02

A few years ago, I was working for a local radio station here in Salt Lake. And there was a big news event. I was always a slave to someone else's schedule. The only person that had more say in my life were complete strangers. And I finally just made the decision, you know what? I am tired of having my time taken up by people that I don't know. And that is why I started my own company. And that is why I'm just like, I've got to get off this treadmill of life. I'm tired of grinding. I work hard, but I'm tired of my time being dependent on someone else's choices. And that's what got me off. You've got to go live your own life. Ever since doing that, things have improved enormously.

Mark Faldmo 22:46

Now you're starting to take more vacations, which will improve that more.

Patrick Wiscombe 22:51

And I guess that's the point. I now own my time, which is an amazing feeling. And I have to re remind myself how lucky I am that I own my own time. Yes. Yeah. That's gonna do it. You can listen to this show each and every Saturday and

Final Takeaways And Call-Ins

Patrick Wiscombe 23:13

Sunday morning at 11 a.m. right here on this radio station and around the country. And you can stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast at inside travel talk.com. You can actually just stream the show right off that website, insightraveltalk.com, if you don't want to subscribe to the podcast. But if you're a podcaster or on all of the major podcast platforms, just go to insightraveltalk.com. Well now it is your turn to get out and explore the world while you can because you never know what curveballs life is going to throw at you. As we say, live your life deliberately, live your life intentionally, and a big thank you, a genuine, sincere thank you to all of you for listening. We'll talk to you again next week. Have a great week.

Todd Carlson 24:08

That's it. That's the end of the show. You've been listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo. Presented by BluePlanetVacations.com. Book your adventure right now. Call 888-718-7717. That's 888-718-7717. Thanks for listening. Have a great week.