This week on The Podcastaways, Trevor, Tom, and Jen take a break from cruise news for a very important investigation: did Tom’s mirror move… or are we living in Bizarro Land?

Then we’re joined by Kira Jackson (aka @KiraKiraWonders) for a fantastic behind-the-scenes interview about life working on Princess Cruises. Kira shares what it was like having a niche acting role as a live “character performer” who hosted bingo in character, why longer cruises feel totally different than shorter ones, how crew culture impacts guest experience, and what passengers do that makes crew quietly panic (spoiler: kids on railings).

We also get into cruise classics like favorite ports (hello, Jeju), ship size debates, crew gifts (yes… the ducks), ship internet reality, and we settle the only question that truly matters: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

Follow Kira: Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @KiraKiraWonders

https://www.instagram.com/kirakirawanders/

Speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways to leave us a voicemail.

Cruise With us on FRGC 4, September 2026 - Contact Amanda Barmore with Have Luggage Will Travel https://flow.page/haveluggagewilltravel

Galveston is back in the spotlight, and we are updating the full port-day playbook. Trevor, Jenn, and Thomas rank Galveston against their other favorite homeports, then get practical with where to stay (Texas City vs Seawall, plus a few “bougie” picks), where to eat (from pho to seafood to that reliable Waffle House energy), and what to do if you have extra time before sail day.

We also hit the real-life lessons: why you should double-check which terminal you’re walking to, what to watch for with parking and car safety, and the best ways to get from the airport to the island without turning embarkation day into a stress marathon. Then we wrap with a listener audio moment that spirals into cruise buffet truth-telling and a little breakfast dessert drama.

If you cruise out of Galveston, this episode is your shortcut to a smoother trip.

Speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways to leave us a voicemail.
FRGC 4.0 and 5.0 https://flow.page/haveluggagewilltravel

Jen’s “stuck in traffic”… sure. So Trevor and Tom take the helm for a cruise-news joyride that somehow includes the Winter Olympics, the Three Stooges, and at least one emotional-support turtle.

Today we hit the big headlines:

• Carnival apologizes after fleetwide IT issues slowed embarkation/debarkation and impacted multiple ships (and yes—navigation/safety systems were part of the disruption): https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/02/carnival-apologizes-for-fleetwide-it-issues/

• Royal Caribbean updates its policy on recording-capable smart glasses (restricted zones include restrooms, youth areas, medical areas… and the casino): https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy

• Royal Caribbean names “Skipper” as the next Chief Dog Officer for Legend of the Seas (because cruise news is wild now): https://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-reveals-name-of-legend-of-the-seas-chief-dog-officer/199512

• Carnival Encounter inspection in Australia after whistleblower/union allegations—Carnival says regulators found “no deficiencies” (story still developing): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-10/carnival-cruise-exploitation-claims-what-we-know/106325788

• The Park West cruise-auction controversy: a guest says the Muhammad Ali glove delivered wasn’t the exact glove they bid on—fine print matters: https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-guest-says-auction-item-was-swapped-after-5000-winning-bid/199261

Plus: SpeakPipe messages, debarkation speed-running in New Orleans, and the ongoing Sea Day Brunch existential crisis (banana cream pie discourse included).

Carnival Sea Day Brunch menu (official PDF): https://www.carnival.com/-/media/images/explore/dining/menus/seaday-brunch-menu.pdf

Leave us a message on SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways

This week on Carnival Cruising Podcastaways, Trevor, Jenn, and Thomas are back together and, thankfully, all survived another week without medical emergencies (hydration saves lives).

The crew dives into Carnival’s latest price increases, including changes to Bottomless Bubbles and gratuities, and debates whether four sodas a day is a lifestyle choice or a cry for help. Things escalate when they discuss a five-year-old Royal Caribbean cruiser with over 700 loyalty points, raising serious questions about gaming the system, suite math, and who is really in charge of the ship.

They also cover:

• Drink packages, soda economics, and age discrimination (allegedly)

• Drug-sniffing dogs, port security horror stories, and thrift-store luggage mishaps

• Build-A-Bear regret at sea

• Party cruises gone very wrong

• Why you should never assume you’ll remember repacking your bag with dignity

It’s cruise news, questionable math, and classic Podcastaways banter—all in one voyage.

🎧 Buckle up, hydrate, and maybe skip the fourth soda.

Trevor is out, but the show rolls on as Tom and Jenn take the helm for a wide-ranging cruise chat packed with news, debates, and classic Podcastaways chaos.

This week, we dive into Carnival Sunshine’s upcoming Africa itineraries, including historic first-ever ports like Morocco and Tanzania, plus a transatlantic sailing that has us seriously tempted. We also tackle one of cruising’s most hotly debated topics: Should you always fly in the day before your cruise? (Spoiler: yes… but with nuance.)

Along the way, we cover winter weather impacts, ships returning early, snow on the Lido deck, frozen Serenity waterfalls, and why Mother Nature always laughs at cruise plans. There’s also talk of private islands, mega-ships vs. smaller ships, hand-washing truth bombs, casino etiquette, and why some cruise traditions just won’t die.

Cruise news, strong opinions, and plenty of laughs—just another day aboard the Podcastaways.

🎧 Listen now and cruise smarter.

📣 Leave us a voicemail:

Speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways

Jennnn is back from a Hawaii sailing, and she comes bearing stories. From driving to the port for the first time and packing like an absolute pirate, to late-night embarkation drama in San Francisco and sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, this episode is packed with real cruise talk and classic Podcastaways chaos.

We dive into Princess Cruises boarding efficiency, sea days that blur together, island stops across Hawaii, and why driving to a port completely changes how much junk you bring onboard. Plus, we break down shore excursions, non-ship tours, and what makes some itineraries worth repeating.

Somehow, we also end up debating robot lawnmowers, smart litter boxes that weigh your cats in kilograms, karaoke competitions at sea, and whether Sweet Caroline should ever be attempted in the wrong octave. (Spoiler: no.)

It’s cruise advice, travel stories, light scandal, and tech nonsense, all rolled into one episode. Just the way we like it.

🎤 Leave us a voicemail:

https://speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways

It’s just Trevor and Mr. Kennedy this week as the crew tackles a packed episode of Carnival cruise news, myths, and strong opinions.

We break down Carnival’s expanded adults-only sailings for 2026, including which ships we’d actually choose and whether these casino-focused cruises are worth the hype. We also clear the air on one of cruising’s biggest fantasies: the so-called “free upgrade fairy” and why it almost never exists in today’s fully booked ships.

There’s a heads-up for anyone sailing out of Port Miami, where a race day could create real embarkation delays, plus a look at Carnival’s quiet increase to onboard service charges and how those extra percentages add up over the course of a cruise.

We also wade into a surprisingly heated debate about working on a cruise ship, including laptop warriors taking Zoom calls at Java Blue, and whether Carnival should create dedicated business centers at sea.

Finally, we tease next week’s special segment, “Pack Like a Pirate,” where we’ll share packing tips, mistakes, and must-haves. Listeners are encouraged to send in their own tips via Speakpipe for a chance to be featured.

As always, opinions are strong, pants are optional, and anything that happens on the ship… stays on YouTube.

🎙️ Leave us a voicemail:

https://www.speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways

🎵 Music: “Across the Savannah” by Aaron Kenny

Licensed via the YouTube Audio Library

It’s a brand-new year and a brand-new episode of The Podcastaways—and we’re kicking off 2026 by laying down the unwritten rules of cruise etiquette that everyone should know… but many clearly don’t.

Trevor and Thomas dive into the dos and don’ts of life at sea, from chair hogging and elevator chaos to teen curfews, adults-only areas, buffet behavior, and why ship time is not a suggestion. We also break down Carnival’s stricter enforcement of the 1 a.m. curfew for under-18 cruisers, debate whether lifetime bans are too harsh, and talk about cruise lines like Oceania and Viking going fully adults-only.

Along the way, expect real cruise stories, pet peeves, questionable passenger behavior, a little AI chaos, and plenty of laughs—because if you’re going to cruise, you might as well do it without becoming that person everyone complains about.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned Platinum pro, this episode might save your vacation—or at least keep you from getting side-eyed on the Lido deck.

🎙️ Leave us a message on Spotify or SpeakPipe and tell us: what’s your biggest cruise etiquette pet peeve? https://speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways

Because remember—you’re unique, you’re special, you are loved… and anything that happens on the ship stays on YouTube.