Podcasts about norwegian cruise lines

A review of Margaritaville at Sea Islander from Ashley. This was a seven-night cruise that sailed to the Western Caribbean from Tampa, Florida. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on Carnival moving ship from New York City, big changes at Norwegian Cruise Line, sickness on Royal Caribbean and more. 

Norwegian Cruise Lines President & CEO Harry Sommer says his company sees robust consumer demand as it is in the midst of upgrading its fleet of cruise ships. Sommer speaks on "Bloomberg Open Interest" with Matt Miller and Dani Burger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather took a seven-night Western Caribbean review of Norwegian Escape from PortMiami. 

In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey sits down with Jérôme Giacomoni, co-founder and Chairman of AEROPHILE, the world leader in tethered gas balloons and immersive aerial experiences. Jérôme shares the story of how AEROPHILE began with a simple idea, to “make everybody fly” and grew into a global company operating in multiple countries, including France and the U.S.Tune in to hear about the company's signature attractions, including tethered balloon flights, the innovative Aerobar concept, and high-profile projects such as how you can experience flying the Olympic cauldron in Paris. Jérôme also shares how AEROPHILE has leveraged its unique platform to explore scientific initiatives like air-quality and climate-change monitoring and how he Integrates unique revenue streams from sponsorship and advertising.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  https://www.aerophile.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-giacomoni-3074b7/Jérôme Giacomoni is co-founder of Groupe AEROPHILE and Chairman of AEROPHILE SAS. Since 1993, he has led the company to become the world leader in tethered gas balloons and balloon flights, operating iconic sites in France, the U.S., and Cambodia, and flying over 500,000 passengers annually. He also pioneered “flying food-tainment” with the Aerophare and Aerobar. Jérôme is a member of IAAPA, serves on the board of SNELAC, and is a Team France Export ambassador, earning multiple awards for entrepreneurship and innovation. Plus, live from the Day 2 of the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Rheanna Sorby –Marketing & Creative Director,  The Seasonal Grouphttps://theseasonalgroup.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheanna-sorby-seasonal/Sohret Pakis – Polin Waterparkshttps://www.polin.com.tr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohretpakis/Thomas Collin – Sales Manager, VEX Solutionshttps://www.vex-solutions.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-collin-18a476110/Peter Cliff – CEO // Founder, Conductr.https://conductr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cliff/Laura Baxter – Founder, Your CMOhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-baxter-4a756466/Josh Haywood – Resort Director, Crealy Theme Park & Resorthttps://www.crealy.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-haywood-68463630/ Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the people that work in them. I'm your host Paul Marden, and with my co-host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're here at IAAPA Expo Europe. In today's episode, I go on a trip on Santa's Enchanted Elevator with the Seasonal Group, and Claire meets Peter Cliff from Conductr. But before all that, let's head over to Andy.Andy Povey: Good morning, everybody. I'm joined today by Jerome Giacomoni from AEROPHILE for our French listeners. I hope I've got that right. Jerome is the chief exec of AEROPHILE and has been the co-founder and president of AEROPHILE. And AEROPHILE supply helium-based balloon observation opportunities. I probably got the marketing on that completely wrong, Jerome. So please, can you share with our listeners what AEROPHILE is all about?Jerome Giacomoni: So AEROPHILE is a company I created with Mathieu Gobbi, my partner, 32 years ago, with a very simple idea, make everybody fly, you know, and we use a balloon to fly. So we have a tethered balloon. We have a huge, big balloon inflated with helium, a gas lighter than air. And we go up to more or less 150 meters high. up to 30 passengers. So we are linked to the ground with a cable, and the cable is linked to a winch. So you have to imagine that you have a winch that— when we go up—pulls when we go down. This is the exact opposite of an elevator because the balloon wants to go higher and higher. We have a lifting force of four tons.Andy Povey:Wow.Jerome Giacomoni:Yes, it's a big one. And so we need a cable to keep it. And thanks to this lifting force, we can fight against the wind.Jerome Giacomoni: And so the balloon can swing when you have some wind because the balloon is just pulled by the cable itself.Andy Povey: And trust me, listeners, they look absolutely spectacular. Just before we started recording, I was admitting to Jerome that I'm scared of heights. So I've stood and watched. The dining balloon, Futuroscope, never managed to pluck up the courage to try it myself.Jerome Giacomoni: This is another concept, Andy. So we have built two concepts. One is a tethered balloon, a real one with helium, with a cable, with a winch, and we fly by ourselves. The balloon flies by itself, okay? We did another concept 20 years after we created our company, so 10 years before now, in 2013, which is what we call the aero bar. It's a flying bar, and you have an inflatable balloon. to cover the gondola, but it's a fake. This is a real elevator, and you have a gondola with some winches and a metallic structure, and you go up and down. So what you saw in Futuroscope is not a balloon. It's a real elevator.Jerome Giacomoni: And the one you can see in Disneyland Paris, Disney World, Orlando or San Diego Zoo are a real balloon named a tethered balloon. So I'm glad you fell down into the trick. You caught me. Yes, I'm glad about that. But we have really two different concepts.Andy Povey: But the concept, the thing that the guest is experiencing, isn't really related to whether it's a balloon or a lift.Jerome Giacomoni: No. i think it's very different okay i think the aerobar is fun and you have the feet in the sky you feel the thrill of height and everything but you stop at 35 meters it's it's quite high for a ride but it's not a real flight And I think the balloon is a real flight. We have a balloon in Paris. We have a balloon in Budapest, Berlin. And you see the city from the sky at 150 meters high, which is very high. So you really experience a flight. With the aerobar, you have a ride, okay? So both of them are related to the sky, are related to the view, but one is really a flight, the other one is really a ride.Andy Povey: That makes absolute sense.Andy Povey: It doesn't reassure me on my fear of heights anymore, that I would like to go up three times, four times taller, higher than the one I saw first. Very interesting. So, listeners, we're often talking about technology and attractions. There's a huge amount of talk about augmented reality, about AI, about motion simulators. The reason, Jerome, we asked you to come and talk to us is because you don't do any of that. No—your experience is fantastic and it's new and it's unique, but there's no technology or very little obvious technology.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, quite little. You know, it's amazing because we do this for now 32 years, as I told you. The first balloon was inflated in 1994. We have sold 120 balloons in more than 40 countries. And each time with the balloon, you have a magical effect, you know, because the balloon itself is very nice— because the balloon itself is a show from people looking at it from the ground. And because... The flight experience is amazing because you are really in the sky. You are really looking at the ground, at the landscape. You have no noise, you know, when you take a helicopter or plane. You have a lot of noise. You are in an enclosed airplane or helicopter. Here you are outside. You are on a balcony flying at 150 meters. And wherever we are, always we have like a magical effect of the flight. And with the flying bar, we decided to do something different— where we say, 'Why drink on ground where you can drink in the sky?'Jerome Giacomoni: So we add the drink to the ride, you know. So you are on a table and you have what we say in French conviviality. So we share a drink. We go at 35 meters and you have the thrill of the view of the height and also the conviviality of drinking. So this is another concept, but both of them are universal. And wherever we do it, we have sold 20 aero bars worldwide.Jerome Giacomoni: Everybody is very happy to have this kind of ride. I would say we are on the side of the main market. You know, we have two niche products. The balloon is a niche product. And the AeroBar is a niche product where we have another experience than a normal ride, like a roller coaster or a flume or a spinning coaster.Andy Povey: You say you're a nice product, but the balloon in Paris for the Olympics, where you lifted the cauldron, had phenomenal numbers of visitors watching. That wasn't something you could go on.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, it was an amazing opportunity. You know, sometimes life gives you some presents.Jerome Giacomoni: And imagine that we were contacted by the Olympic Organisation Committee one day, and we believed it was a joke. And they said, 'We need to talk to you.' And then we discovered that instead of flying humans, they asked us to fly a cauldron. So the Olympic cauldron. And we have like one year and a half of design and manufacturing.Jerome Giacomoni: And then, at 11 pm, 25, the balloon has to fly in front of everybody. I can tell you it was a very stressful time. But so nice and so amazing to have experiences. So, yes, the balloon suddenly was visible by everybody. And that's back now in Paris, isn't it? Yes. First of all, the balloon has to stay only twice— 15 days. You know, you have the Olympics and the Paralympics. So we were open only 30 days in total. And the success was so huge that every night, you have dozens of thousands of people coming to look at it. That's why the mayor of Paris and the French president decided to keep it.Jerome Giacomoni: And just after the deflation of the balloon, they call us back and say, 'Jerome and Mathieu, we would like to have the balloon back.' So we work again with the city of Paris and the French presidency, and we agreed to put the balloon.Jerome Giacomoni: Three times, three months. So from June 21st, in France, this is a music event, you know, the Day of Music. To September 14th, which is a day of sport. So every year until the Olympic game of LA, we will operate the balloon for three months in the summertime. Fantastic.Andy Povey: So, Jerome, you operate in lots and lots of different countries all over the world. I think it's 14 countries that you've been.Jerome Giacomoni: No, we sold, but we operate only in the US and in France.Andy Povey: Ah, okay. Interesting.Jerome Giacomoni: We own ourselves, we operate ourselves, six balloons in the 120 we have sold. So we operate three in Paris region. One, the Parc André Citroën, where we have the Generali balloon since 1999. One in Disneyland Paris since 2005. So we are in Disneyland Paris for now 20 years. Time is flying. And the last one, the Cold Run, which is a very specific event that we operate now for one year and for the next two years. And in the US, we operate Disney World Orlando in Disney Spring since 2009, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2005, and Irvine. South of LA since 2007. So we operate now six balloons for a long, long time, except the cold run. And we keep selling balloons.Jerome Giacomoni: We sell more or less five to six balloons every year.Andy Povey: And how do you find the differences between the French culture and you're on either side of America, so the differences between the different coasts of America and France?Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, we... We are in the US, but we are also in Mexico, in a lot of countries in Asia. In the Middle East, we have a beautiful balloon in Dubai. We have a beautiful balloon in Seoul. So we work a lot with very different cultures. You know, it's very interesting to sell the same product to different cultures. So I would say... The main difference probably lies in the contract. It's very funny when you make the contract. I would say a 'yes' is not the same 'yes' depending on the culture. But everybody is, you know, you... You love people when you work worldwide. You learn a lot, you discover a lot. You have to learn with different cultures. And I have the chance in my professional life to experience that and to meet people from all over the world. And, you know, my job is to go on site, and discuss with someone, and see if it's possible or not to have a balloon at this place.Jerome Giacomoni: So it's always a beautiful job because I travel in a lot of countries in beautiful spots.Jerome Giacomoni: We don't succeed a lot because, if not, I would have sold thousands of balloons. We have always constraints with local authority, with food traffic, etc. But always, it's a pleasure to meet people. And once... The balloon is accepted by the local authority when the customer has a finance for it. Then start more or less a one-year work together between installation, work on site, inflation, and training of the team. And after... They fly with their own wings, even if we have no wings with our balloons.Andy Povey: Very good. And I imagine that you don't put balloons into ugly places.Jerome Giacomoni: We did, sometimes for specific contracts. Ugly, I won't use this name, but not very obvious, logical site. But it has happened. Sometimes we do for small events or for specific needs.Jerome Giacomoni: But yes, most of the time, the sites are very interesting.Andy Povey: So there are other things you're doing with the balloons. So the air quality messaging that you have above Paris. Tell us more about your opportunities to influence in other areas.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, you know, the balloon is not only a ride, a passenger ride, but it's also an amazing opportunity for communication and for advertisement. So in the city center, like Paris, Berlin, or Seoul, the balloon is used also as a giant advertising billboard. So you have two revenues. You have the revenue of the passenger, but you have also the sponsor revenue.Jerome Giacomoni: When we started the balloon in Paris, it was extremely difficult to get the authorisation to have a balloon in Paris centre. We are two kilometres south of the Eiffel Tower. But you remember, we had the famous Millennium, the Y2K. uh and and so the mayor faris was looking for a new idea and we propose a balloon And they gave us only a one year and a half contract. And the investment was quite huge. And we told him, OK, we can do it, but we cannot do it for only one year and a half. Except if you accept that we have a name on the balloon, a naming and a sponsor on the balloon. And the mayor say yes. And we start another business where we put sponsor on the balloon. And this is a very good business because it makes a... activity immediately profitable so we did that in Paris in 1999 and in 2008 the balloon was like 10 years old because when you fly you have your the balloon is huge we talk about a 32 meters high balloon we talk about like a 12-story building.Jerome Giacomoni: So everybody knows the balloon in Paris. Everybody can see it. And so, when we fly, we have 400,000 people who immediately see us. So we decided to give citizen aspect. And we start— pour changer le couleur de la balle selon la qualité de l'air. C'était en 2008. Et parce que nous l'avons fait, nous avons des scientifiques... coming to us and say, 'Hey, this balloon is a wonderful platform to measure air quality because you make like a carrot of the air from zero to 150 meters. Jerome Giacomoni:  Can we bring some scientist instrument on the gondola? And we say yes. And then we start to make science. And then we start to make scientific publications, scientific publications. And then we start a new business where the balloon is not only a tethered gas balloon for passenger, it's only... advertising billboard and now it's only a scientific platform and so this is very interesting and the last things we have done in 2024 no this year in 2025 is to use the balloon for global climate change. As you know, we have two main gas pollutants for the climate change, CO2 and CH4. And the balloon is a perfect platform to measure evolution on CO2 and CH4. So we are working with a European group named ICOS. gathering all the best laboratories in Europe, who are making a huge study on how CO2 and CH4 how they are in each city.Jerome Giacomoni: And Paris has been chosen as a pilot city. So we are very glad to work with them. And so now the Balloon is also working on climate change. And we will have big, big, big LED screen. So we make some technology sometime, as you said, to inform people on the temperature elevation in Europe and in the world. And the news are very bad, as everybody knows.Andy Povey: But that's fascinating. I love the integration you've been able to take from this unique proposition and apply it to different markets, different problems.Jerome Giacomoni: You know, Andy, I think we have to exit from the box. My message to... all people who are listening to us.Jerome Giacomoni: Okay, passenger rides is very important. It's a key market for many of us. But sometimes we can use... another way to find new flow of revenue, like advertising, and we can be also helpful to our other citizens, like working freely for scientists to make measurements on pollutants of the air. This helps with both air quality and also climate change.Andy Povey: It's a beautiful concept, Jerome. I love it. Love it.Andy Povey: So, final question. Your experiences are obviously very unique. What advice would you have for a venue and possibly a smaller venue that doesn't have the resources to be able to build something 150 metres high or put something 150 metres into the air? What advice would you give them on how to make a compelling experience for visitors?Jerome Giacomoni: I really believe that you have to stick on your roots, okay? I mean that people want authenticity.Jerome Giacomoni: And as you know, we are very keen on balloons, as you can imagine. So we make in our, you know, Paris, it's in Paris where you have the first flight. Yeah. In 1783. Montgolfier, brothers. Yes, with the Montgolfier brothers, with Charles, the scientist. So we really stick on our roots. And I think where you are in Brittany, where you are in Japan, you have to follow your own road and your own path. By feeling what could be the good idea, but also what is your feeling inside you. You need to have something different that you feel very confident with.Andy Povey: Beautiful final thought, Jerome, I like it a lot. So listeners, stay authentic and be passionate.Jerome Giacomoni: Exactly, the right word is passionate.Paul Marden: Next up, let's get some soundbites from the show floor.Rheanna  Sorby: My name's Rheanna. I'm Marketing and Creative Director for the Seasonal Group. We are curators of Christmas magic all year round. Wow, wow.Paul Marden: So you make Christmas special?Rheanna  Sorby: We're the Christmas elves.Paul Marden: Awesome, awesome. I can see you've got such a great set of stands. What have you got here that you're exhibiting for the first time?Rheanna  Sorby: We have Santa's Enchanted Express, which is a three-minute experience that transports customers and guests from a very festive train station to the North Pole in just under three minutes. So it's quite a Christmas miracle. And it also transports on nine pallets. So it's a great return on investment for customers there if it's 24 people on. We also have our elevator experience, which went viral last year. And then we have VR, animatronics, and a lot of our famous items, like the snowman here, just dressed as a little, it's some sort of operator.Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. So we don't have a lot of luck with lifts at the moment because the team got stuck in a lift yesterday for about 45 minutes. Stop it. We got rescued by the... Well, I didn't get in the lift. I walked because there wasn't enough room. But two of them had to be rescued by the fire brigadeRheanna  Sorby: Okay, so this might be triggering. Well, you know.Paul Marden: Oh, no, I found it hilarious.Paul Marden: I was hugely supportive on the outside, yelling into them.Paul Marden: But Santa won't let me get stuck in a lift today, will he? Absolutely not.Rheanna  Sorby: No, there's an emergency exit. Excellent.Paul Marden: So what's new and innovative then about the Santa Express? What are you bringing to market?Rheanna  Sorby: So a lot of our clients, we sell business to business. They're struggling to get people into shopping centres and we're finding that we need to create retail theatre. So that is something I see as a massive trend moving forward. People want nostalgia. They want an experience, something memorable. But also our customers need a way to return investment as well. So they hopefully will spend something with us and then ticket the experience. So that's something that we're pivoting our business towards. Trying to create a brand new experience every year. A lot of people are struggling nowadays, cost of living.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely.Rheanna  Sorby: It's difficult, so we're trying to find a way that brings the Christmas magic to people's doors.Paul Marden: We are, where are we at the moment? We're in September, so we've still got a couple of months left before Christmas 2025, but that must be over for you.Rheanna  Sorby: No, the quality of the street is on the shelves. It's already happening. The install season starts literally on Monday for us. Really? Yes. When we get back, we land and then we start installing.Paul Marden: And so this is the busy time. So let's talk about Christmas 2026. What are the trends that you see coming along at that point?Rheanna  Sorby: Whimsical, whimsical. So we've got Wicked number two coming out. And we've also had all like the Whoville, that sort of style, the Grinch. So imagine pastels, furry trees, things that don't quite make sense, a lot of whimsical wonderland, I would say, trend-wise. But equally immersive experiences and how we can bring magic to you.Paul Marden: Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you ever so much. Rheanna, it's been lovely to meet you. Thank you for coming on the podcast. And let's go and visit Santa in his lift, shall we? Yeah, excellent.Paul Marden: And here it is. So we are surrounded by suites in an old-fashioned lift. And there's our doors closed.Paul Marden: Oh, how amazing is this? We're going up.Paul Marden: Ice like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Great Glass Elevator. This is amazing. We're up over the clouds. Just stunning. There's a train there. I think we're going to follow into the tunnel after the train. Yes.Paul Marden: Got cold, now we're underground. Now we're in the tunnel.Paul Marden: And I think this might be Santa's factory.Paul Marden: Let's get ready.Paul Marden: Merry Christmas. The big man's chair as well. Can I take a seat in the big man's chair? Ho, ho, ho.Sohret Pakis: Hi, Paul. My name is Shorhet Pakis. I'm the brand ambassador for Polin Waterparks.Paul Marden: What are you launching this year at IAAPA? What's new for you?Sohret Pakis:Last year, we have won two big awards for a themed water slide, which is... Stingray it was in Nantes in France and it was something big because you know it was like Europeans best water slide number one and I have a brass ring award winner about two million number one but last night in Porta Ventura Stingray has won the second time best water slide of Europe award. But we have something new about it. Last year when I was telling about Stingray, it was an eight-person slide. This year we have something new. Now the capacity went up to 10, especially when we're talking about all these queue management issues. So that's something wonderful. And also, you ask, what is new? This year, we have something very exciting. A parrot-themed stingray. It's the same slide, but it's parrot-themed.Sohret Pakis: It's coming to Dubai by January. It's going to be open.Paul Marden: So can I ask you, what makes that innovative? What's new about that?Sohret Pakis: Actually, it's a very specifically themed waterslide. You know that POLIN has been pioneer in RTM manufacturing and U-texture. It's kind of a composite material technology which we can make waterslides look.  Look like a character, actually. We are the company who did this first because we said that storytelling is very important. Yes, but you know, slides are just slides. So we just wanted the slides look like the characters in that story. Of course, behind that, there is huge material technology, composites technology, design technologies. Actually, that's the time when we introduced King Cobra years ago. And now with Stingray, we took it much further. So actually, the team looks perfectly like a Stingray, but at the same time, it's a water slide with so many features. It has two big towers and between the towers, there's a bridge. From each tower, two slides start with a very special mist roofing and very special bridge where you can just see what's happening all over the slide.Paul Marden: So the queuing experience is enriched so it doesn't feel quite so long and boring because you can watch what everyone is doing.Sohret Pakis: It is, yes.Paul Marden: Super impressive. So we have been asking everybody to think about what are their predictions for 2026?Sohret Pakis: Everybody is talking about AI. Everybody is talking about immersive. So AI, of course, will make a huge difference in operation, especially.Paul Marden: In what way?Sohret Pakis: Actually, in guest satisfaction, because personalisation is very important in our industry. Whoever comes to the park, they are the heroes at the park. And so actually, if the park can make them feel that they are the heroes, truly— if that's their birthday, if that's their wedding anniversary, so whatever. If the park can make you feel that you're special, and thanks to technology, now it's possible.Paul Marden: Absolutely. That's so interesting. Thank you so much for your insights and for joining us on Skip the Queue. Thank you.Thomas Collin: I'm Thomas, I'm from VEX Solutions, so we are a VR company at the start, and now we're going to the arcade with mixed reality as well. Okay, so that's a nice link. What are you launching here at IAFA? So here for the first time we are introducing VEX Party Dash. The Party Dash is a mixed reality arcade machine. So automated, people can go on it, play on it. You have two huge screens that are really highly interactive. You can walk on the screen, you can touch the screen. The goal is really to make you moving. So that's what we want to do with the Dash.Paul Marden: That's amazing, isn't it? So we're watching people at the moment. You can see lights up on the floor that they're stepping on and on the wall.Thomas Collin: What is really the key aspect of this product is that it's highly attractive. People, they just go around, they stop by it, they want to try it. Actually, we can say, 'Hey, come and try it,' because we watch you, we see you. So we can say, 'Hey, come and try it.' And people stop by, they play it. It's highly immersive, but also highly active. Yes. You're just not standing on an arcade, sitting down. No, you're really moving around. So, this is really good for kids and families. Absolutely. That's what we see.Paul Marden: So, where do you see this being used? What sort of attractions will take this?Thomas Collin: Actually, with this product, it can go either in the attraction side or either at the arcade side. So, you can play it as one game, and you can play a three-minute game like an arcade, or you can actually book for 15 minutes. Since there is not a single game, but multiple games, you can play different games, you can play different levels inside the main gate. So you have a high replayability. Because we want you to come back, we want to attract the gamers, and then make them come back.Paul Marden: 15 minutes with this much activity sounds like quite a tall order. It's a workout.Thomas Collin: It's a workout. It's a workout. Yeah, yeah, yeah.Peter Cliff: Hi, my name is Pete Cliff. I'm from Conductr. We're here in Barcelona and it's so exciting to be back at IAAPA. Now, what we're super excited about this year is talking about our collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Lines on Great Stirrup Cay. It's their new water park. It's a great project. We're excited to talk to people about it. It's also lovely to be back in Barcelona. It's been, I think, about six years since we were last back here, and it's always one of my favourite European cities for IAPA. It's great to meet with people from the industry, reconnect with old colleagues and friends, and really see what's happening. There's a huge amount of innovation and special projects that are launching all over the show floor. So yeah, great to be back, and can't wait to see what the future of the themed entertainment industry has to offer.Laura Baxter: My name is Laura Baxter. You may know me as the girl with the purple jumpsuit on LinkedIn. I am the head of marketing for Black Gang Shine, but have most recently just announced that I've gone into freelancing and I've launched your CMO.Paul Marden: And I have to say, the jumpsuits work because I was about 50 metres behind you earlier on and I spotted the Your CMO logo on the back of the jumpsuit, so well done for that. We've talked to a lot of suppliers with stands that are exhibiting. From your perspective, this is your first time stepping over to the dark side and coming to an IAPA. What's the experience like for you? What are you here to get out of the show?Laura Baxter: I'd say it's twofold. Mainly it is for networking. Obviously anybody who's anyone in the industry is here. But also, it's inspiration because I want to be able to talk about new and exciting stuff with... Potential clients that I may have and ideas still for Black Gang as well. So, when you walk around show floor, which is just so vibrant and there's so much going on everywhere—you turn, you can draw inspiration from so many of the suppliers here.Paul Marden: What have you seen that's innovative?Laura Baxter: There's a huge amount of stuff being done with tech and it's very interesting because I think that's where a lot of people are going to think that they need to go, because that's the way of the world now, and the next generation don't know life off of a screen and they're expecting to have these incredible digital experiences.Laura Baxter: I'm not convinced that is the way to go. But yes, it's still impressive tech. So for me, there are things that I stand back out and look at and I'm like, 'Whoa, that's really, really cool.'Laura Baxter: I'm not so sure it's potentially what consumers want, though, controversially.Paul Marden: It's really hard, isn't it? Because as a parent of young kids, you want them off the tech as much as you possibly can. But you need a hook. To be able to attract them, don't you? So there's been some amazing stuff here that bridges that gap between the real world and the tech world. So, summer season 2025 is over. What are your predictions about summer 26 and what operators should be thinking about right now?Laura Baxter: It's a really tough market, we all know that. Budgets are tight for households, so there is an awful lot more thought going into their spending and what they're doing and where they're choosing to take that little bit of disposable money that they do have. Therefore actually I don't think next year operators should be thinking about huge innovations or new attractions. I think they need to strip back to basics and nail their customer service. I think guest expectations now are so high. because they're parting with money that is a little bit more precious to them than perhaps if they don't leave at the end of that day having had a good experience they feel ripped off they're going to go straight to review platforms they're going to let it all out and actually you need to be focusing on making sure that every single touch point with that customer is bang on and we're talking pre-visit as well from the your website journey to buying it to the follow-up emails to the pre-visit emails to that first person they meet on front of house to the ride operators to the events team if you have that kind of entertainment on park if you are not nailing your experienceLaura Baxter: You are going to lose out well.Paul Marden: I think we should end it right there. That there is a nugget of gold.Paul Marden: So I am here with co-host Andy Povey and our good friend Josh Haywood from Crealy down in Devon.Josh Haywood: Hello.Paul Marden: It's the end of day two. What have you seen, Josh? What's blown your socks off?Josh Haywood: Good couple of days so far. We're probably into 40,000 steps, which is great. I think technology is the thing that struck me this week so far. Just the small changes that some of the operators and some of the manufacturers are putting into their existing kits. So, for example, I attended a seminar this morning about bowling. and normally temping bowling is temping bowling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But now there's augmented reality, and they've got features on the lanes, and it's not about just taking all the pins down, it's taking pin one and six out, and all those things they're trying to do to reinvent older, more traditional attractions, which I think I find really interesting. Yeah. I think some of the seasonality stuff, the Christmas and Halloween stuff has been really good. We sat on a train and went on a journey and the seats rumbled and the sound and the visual effects, they were great.Paul Marden: I saw that. There was no room for me to go and sit on that train. It was amazing.Josh Haywood: I thought that was really good. And, you know, I've been really impressed with generally the show. I think you can get around it all as well. It feels really friendly. I think the sun shining always helps as well. It's not too tough, is it?Paul Marden: I mean, the last time we were in Barcelona, we were all wearing face masks. Absolutely, yes. So it's really refreshing to be back here. And not have that.Josh Haywood: Absolutely. And not have to queue to get in as well. I think that was interesting on the first day.Paul Marden: Oh, did they see you and then just wave you through?Josh Haywood: Red carpet was up for, of course, award-winning theme park and resort. Paul Marden: Mr. Hayward. Did you say award? Winnie and obviously you're on the back of your two awards in the theme park awards last week. How was that? And then we've got some really exciting news from Creeley.Josh Haywood: I saw it at the press this morning. Yes, so a couple of things happened last week. So first of all, we had our anniversary 25 years of Maximus the Coaster. The Vekoma Coaster, 25 years. The first coaster in Devon. It was Devon's first coaster, over half a million riders later. It's done 2 million miles around the track. It's great. So we did a sort of event for that, and we used it to sort of make some announcements about future attractions, which I'll tell you about in a minute. But then we went to the Theme Park Awards last week at Wickste Park, where... We've been the recipients of a few bronze and silvers, and we go being little old us and hope for the best. And then the award I really wanted to win was one of two: the best for families and the best for value. And when the family award came up, they said, 'In bronze is such and such, in silver.' And I was like, 'Well, there you go.' That's all that's left for another year. And then when they said the win at gold was cruelly for best for families, we were delighted. I got a bit emotional about it. I think we would just work so hard over the years to be the best in the Southwest, certainly. And certainly since we put Sootyland in as well. We won the award for Toddlers.Josh Haywood: So it was a double wham. And within 10 minutes as well. It wasn't separated. Within 10 minutes, I just got my breath back from the first one. And then we were up on stage again taking that second award. Oh, it's tough, isn't it? Which was great, yeah. Multi-award winning. Multi-award winning theme parking resort. Devon's finest. Most right in Devon. We're just going to... absolutely bleep the hell out of this for the next 12 months because who knows we may not win it again so we'll just shout from the treetops about this and then we also won thanks to martin rose and rose events uh silver for best entertainment event for the city show It's still very popular, the legacy brand. People love the Sooty show. And as I said at the awards, we sell loads of those puppets. People love a Sooty and a Sweep. So it's been a really good collaboration for us.Paul Marden: We were at our first away day for our Merak team back a few months ago down at Creeley, and I found a little sooty puppet underneath the lectern. I was absolutely chuffed to bits. And there he was, just sitting at the front of the away day, watching everything going on with Sue next to him.Josh Haywood: He's still popular. We understood when we put Cityland in, it wasn't going to be Peppa Pig. world and we didn't think for a minute we'd even sort of get to those heights of Thomas Land at Drayton Manor but it certainly hit a chord with the older market certainly the nannies and the granddads who remember such from when they were kids and you know it's a legacy brand and it works but what we have done really well is sort of corner that market for younger children and toddlers and we Sort of took some comments over the last 12 to 18 months that we may be missing the mark when it comes to the 8 to 12-year-olds, which we were pretty good at five or six years ago. So we've decided this year that we're going to invest in some thrill attractions. So we've just launched news that we've got two new rides going in next year. One, I can't tell you exactly because we're still going under. Got some planning issues, but we're going to have the Southwest tallest ride and the Southwest first inverted ride. So a multi-million pound investment going in and hopefully that will give us another boost that we need to kick on again. We've still got new accommodation going in. We'll still be doing new events and shows for next year.Josh Haywood: So it's going to be a bumper year for Crealy. Absolutely.  I really look forward to that.Paul Marden: I look forward to you being on the launch ride.Paul Marden: Me down on the ground watching and videoing.Josh Haywood: What they have said, which is really interesting, we spoke to an operator, there's only one other ride like it in the UK, and that operator said, whatever you do, make sure when you put the ride in, you fit a hose pipe and a tap right in. Because you may be washing the seats down more than you would usually on your current ride. So, yeah, it certainly will add that next level of ride experience to our family market.Paul Marden: Yeah, I think that's super important, isn't it? Mr. Povey, what have you seen today that has blown your socks off?Andy Povey: I'm really looking for the place to go and get some more soft, comfortable socks. I've walked so much. I've stood around and listened to so many fantastic talks, had so many brilliant conversations. I'm done. My feet hurt. I need to sit down and have a beer.Paul Marden: Well, I hate to break it to you, but there's another day left. And there's still more interviews to do. Still more opportunities for us to get some interesting stories on Skip the Queue.Andy Povey: Look forward to that.Paul Marden: Gentlemen, I think we're about done. So thank you ever so much. It has been a joy. And Mr. Povey, see you back here tomorrow. Josh, wonderful as always.Josh Haywood: Maybe see you at OrlandoPaul Marden: Oh. Absolutely, yeah.Josh Haywood: We'll do it againPaul Marden: Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you liked it, leave a comment in Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you didn't, let us know on hello@skipthequeue.fm. Today's episode was a team effort for Sami and Emily from Plaster, Steve from Folland Co., as well as Claire and Wenalyn from Skip the Queue HQ. We're back again tomorrow for more fun from IAAPA, including Andreas Andersen from Liseberg, one of Scandinavia's most visited parks. See you all tomorrow. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Imagine booking your dream cruise on one of the world's biggest lines—only to realise within hours of boarding it's not for you. In this video, I break down the FOUR most popular cruise lines based on passengers carried—Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Carnival—so you can choose wisely and avoid an expensive mistake. I compare: - What these “resort style” mega-ships all have in common - What each does BEST and where each FALLS SHORT - Fleet sizes, global itineraries and private islands - Key fare differences and hidden costs - Cabins: from budget inside rooms to luxury suites (including ship-within-ship concepts) - Dining styles and quality - Entertainment and onboard activities - Who each line is REALLY best for—and who should steer clear Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveller, this guide will help you match the right line to your travel style and budget. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

Motheo Khoaripe speaks to Abrie Rautenbach, Deputy Co-Chair of the B20 South Africa Sustainable Food Systems Task Force and Executive for AgriBusiness at Absa Group, about building resilient food systems across Africa. The conversation, part of B20 South Africa’s priority agenda, explores how inclusive financing, sustainable agriculture, and trade can bolster food security and climate resilience across the continent. In other interviews, Iga Motylska, travel writer and guidebook author, chats about Norwegian Cruise Line voyage experience that explored the Greek isles and Turkey, featuring stops in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa Follow us on social media 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motheo Khoaripe speaks to Iga Motylska, travel writer and guidebook author, about Norwegian Cruise Line voyage that explored the Greek isles and Turkey, featuring stops in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape.    Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Die Tourismuswirtschaft profitiert derzeit stark vom Wachstum der Kreuzfahrtsparte. Im Reise vor9 Podcast sprechen wir mit Kevin Bubolz, dem Europa-Chef von Norwegian Cruise Line, über aktuelle Entwicklungen in der Branche und in seinem Unternehmen.

Voicemail: 951-292-4377;  When does All/Small/Tall become positive expected value?  Lucky You;  NE Time Gambling coming to an end;  Dip in Las Vegas visitation;  Trip reports:  Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino;  Aria;  The Cosmopolitan;  Palms;  Resorts World Las Vegas;  Fontainebleau Las Vegas;  Norwegian Cruise Lines;  Golden Gate;  Harrah's Cherokee Valley River

In tonight's jam-packed episode, we dove into our excitement for the upcoming cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) brand-new ship, the Aqua!

A review of a seven-night Greek Isles cruise on Norwegian Viva. Norwegian Cruise Line's second ship in its highly successful Prima-class.  Ben gives us a detailed bow to stern review. 

Today's guest makes me feel blessed because his story illustrates just how fortunate I am. Meet Jon Muq. He's a singer/songwriter from Austin TX via Uganda. Growing up, music was not a presence in his life. But sound was. He grew up without electricity so music was not a priority. But once he discovered music, it became an obsession; particularly the song We Are The World. Jon learned to play guitar on a borrowed acoustic. His first gig was playing in a hotel for food. The first song he ever wrote was for a friend in need. He began posting his music to social media which landed him a gig on Norwegian Cruise Lines. That gig was a huge culture shock. But once his contract was over, he was stuck in the Bahamas. He made his way to Austin and met people who helped him. But because of his visa, he wasn't allowed to perform for three years. Jon tells me how Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys found the videos he was posting and reached out to him. After spending time getting to know each other, they went into the studio. It took a grand total of four days to make Jon's debut, Flying Away. We talk about Jon's approach to writing, his next album, and his theory on perimeters and burritos. Follow Jon on social media @jonmuq. Check out jonmuq.com for more information. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send money through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now enjoy Jon Muq's story On Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. It's pretty amazing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re returning to a subject that continues to evolve: Cruise lines’ private islands and destinations. Even after this episode was recorded, Carnival opened its long-awaited Celebration Key and Norwegian Cruise Line announced big plans for Great Stirrup Cay. Royal Caribbean Group has often been at the forefront of these discussions, with its Perfect Day projects, a planned destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests. In this episode, Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about the inspiration for Royal’s thrill-and-chill vibes, competition and the evolution of land-and-sea vacations in the Caribbean. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Summer series: This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. Related links Perfect Day Mexico: Royal Caribbean previews its next frontier of fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-previews-Perfect-Day-Mexico The Grand Lucayan overhaul is an $827M bet on cruise tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Grand-Lucayan-Resort-overhaul-analysis Royal Caribbean expects to open its South Pacific destination in early 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa Holland America Line reveals plans for an upgraded Half Moon Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa MSC Cruises will develop a private island adjacent to Ocean Cay www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-Cruises-developing-luxury-island-near-Ocean-Cay Carnival Corp.'s private-destination plan: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan NCLH starts construction of a pier on Great Stirrup Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-starts-construction-of-Great-Stirrup-Cay-pier The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gil Green is a renowned film director from Miami, Florida, whose work is deeply rooted in music. Growing up in a culturally diverse community, Gil's early exposure to Southern Hip Hop and Jamaica's Dance Hall scenes, ultimately led him to pursue filmmaking as a tool to showcase the compelling stories of these subcultures. While studying at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Gil directed his first music video for the Miami Hip Hop group BACKLIVE. The video, created as his thesis project, earned widespread attention by airing on national music networks like MTV and BET—a remarkable achievement for an unsigned group. This breakthrough moment paved the way for Gil to become a mainstream music video director. Throughout his career, Gil has directed over 300 music videos received multiple awards for his work, including an MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip Hop Video for Lil Wayne's “Lollipop.” Other prominent artists under Gil's resume, include DMX, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Sting, Bon Jovi, Wyclef, DJ Khaled, Jason Derulo, Snoop Dogg, J Balvin, Ludacris, Camila Cabello, Sean Paul, and Pitbull. Gil views music videos as "mini-movies" and has recently embarked into the narrative format as a director. In 2025 he directed a hidden chapter for the Disney film franchise, “The Descendants” which premiered on Disney Plus. More recently Gil has directed the short film, “Ride To Daytona”, slated to premiere at the 2025 Miami Film Festival. Other short films, such as Who Is Lou Gherig? and ADONAI, tackle significant social issues like ALS and mental health and have garnered critical acclaim on the festival circuit. Gil founded the production company, 305 Films, expanding his creative pursuits into commercial work for major brands like Budweiser, Norwegian Cruise Line, Boost Mobile, and the Miami Heat. His commitment to giving back to the community led to the creation of LOVE, CAMERA, ACTION, a non-profit that provides free film workshops for underserved youth in Miami. Through this initiative, Gil continues to inspire the next generation of filmmakers while cementing his reputation as a visionary director and cultural leader. Screen Heat Miami Screen Heat Miami (SHM) is hosted by veteran Miami based producers Kevin Sharpley and JL Martinez and each week covers the latest trends in the film, tv, and entertainment industry, including interviews with global and local industry leaders, all told from a "Miami" point of view.

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem on a three-night cruise from PortMiami to Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island. 

Send us a textHello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul. This week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am proud to welcome Alissa Musto, Recording Artist, Singer, Pianist, Actor, Miss America Finalist. And Alissa performs as a guest entertainer onboard cruise ships. I am as passionate about music and comedy as I am about cruising so when I get a chance to have a conversation with an entertainer who also has performed on cruise ships, I am in my glory. What a resume! Alissa's website describes her as “Retired pageant queen playing piano around the world,”A Musician, Singer-Songwriter, Actor, Miss Massachusetts 2016 & Miss America Finalist, World Traveler, Vanlifer, Sailor, Reality TV Contestant, Harvard 2016, University of Miami (MM?) 2019, and, 30 under 30. Wow, I want to hear about it all. Of course, what we on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, most want to hear about is Alissa being a guest entertainer for Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, MSC and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Alissa has dazzled audiences while sailing through over 50 countries. The song quickly hit 20,000 views on Facebook and Alissa's story was featured in Conde Nast Traveler, GEN (a Medium publication), The Washington Post, the cover page of The Herald News, NBC Boston, Good Morning America and ABC's national lifestyle network, Localish.Do you have a dream car?Support the showSupport thejoyofcruisingpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113608/supporters/newSupport Me https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drpaulthContact Me https://www.thejoyofcruising.net/contact-me.htmlBook Cruises http://www.thejoyofvacation.com/US Orders (coupon code joyofcruisingpodcast)The Joy of Cruising https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingCruising Interrupted https://bit.ly/CruisingInterruptedThe Joy of Cruising Again https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingAgainIntl Orders via Amazon

David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about what's to come at Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line's private island in the Bahamas. Herrera details the upcoming pier set to be completed by the end of the year, a new water park featuring a 28,000-square-foot pool, a kids' areas, sports facilities and other amenities scheduled to debut by mid-2026. These upgrades are now being previewed at “pop-ups” in New York and Miami. For more information, visit www.ncl.com/gsc. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Fed kept rates on hold with dissent from Waller and Bowman. Powell said will not let tariffs become inflationary.BoJ maintained rates as expected, raised growth and inflation outlook. Continued to note uncertainty over trade.US equity futures rebounded after-hours with strength in tech/AI-related names after Microsoft (+8.3%) and Meta (+11.5%) smashed Q2 earnings.US President Trump announced that South Korea will be subject to a 15% and make USD 350bln in investments in the US.European equity futures suggest a mildly positive open. Hang Seng lags post-disappointing Chinese PMIs.DXY rally pauses for breath, EUR/USD remains on a 1.14 handle. USTs rebounded off the lows after post-Powell pressure.Looking ahead, highlights include French CPI, PPI, German Unemployment Rate, CPI, EZ Unemployment Rate, Italian CPI, US Challenger Layoffs, PCE (Jun), Jobless Claims, Employment Wages, Chicago PMI, Atlanta Fed GDPNow, Canadian GDP, SARB Policy Announcement.Earnings from Shell, Unilever, LSE, Haleon, Standard Chartered, Anglo American, Sanofi, Schneider Electric, Safran, Credit Agricole, Saint Gobain, SocGen, Accor, Teleperformance, Air France, AB InBev, BBVA, Holcim Puma, Lufthansa, BMW, Apple, Amazon, Strategy, Coinbase, Reddit, Roku, CVS, Roblox, AbbVie, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cigna, Mastercard & PG&E.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

BoJ maintained rates as expected, raised growth and inflation outlook. Continued to note uncertainty over trade; Ueda said, no large change to central outlook that growth pace will slow down and underlying inflation stalls.US President Trump announced that South Korea will be subject to a 15% tariff and make USD 350bln in investments in the US.European bourses opened higher but have waned off best levels, NQ outperforms after stunning earnings from META +12% & MSFT +8%.Ongoing USD rally pauses for breath ahead of PCE, JPY pressured after BoJ Governor Ueda.JGBs boosted by Ueda, USTs towards the post-Powell lows into PCE.Crude lacklustre, Gold benefits from haven flows & copper dented by Trump tariff details.Looking ahead, US Challenger Layoffs, PCE (Jun), Jobless Claims, Employment Wages, Chicago PMI, Atlanta Fed GDPNow, Canadian GDP, SARB Policy Announcement.Earnings from Apple, Amazon, Strategy, Coinbase, Reddit, Riot, Cloudflare, Roku, CVS, Roblox, AbbVie, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cigna, Howmet Aerospace, Mastercard & PG&E.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Gold Star Father George Lutz More on George: https://tragedytotribute.orgwww.HonorandRemember.orgNew Book Chronicles a Father's Sacred Journey to Honor America's Fallen HeroesForeword by Dennis MillerGold Star father George A. Lutz has written a book that is a unique tribute to his son, Tragedy to Tribute: One Father's Grief Fuels a Passionate Journey to Change the Mindset of a Nation. It is a deeply personal and powerfully patriotic book that traces his journey from heartbreaking loss to a national mission of remembrance. This release marks the 20th anniversary of the death of his son, Corporal George "Tony" Lutz II, who was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on December 29, 2005. On that fateful day, Corporal Tony Lutz was killed by a sniper's bullet while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. The devastating news shattered his family and friends, plunging them into shock, grief, and an unimaginable loss - a pain familiar to countless other families across the nation. In the months following Tony's funeral, his father George visited other families who had lost loved ones in the war. What he discovered was a powerful, unspoken bond - a fellowship forged by sacrifice and shared sorrow, stretching back generations to the American Revolution, when the first patriots gave their lives for our country's freedom. As the grief of these families turned to acceptance, one question echoed in their minds as it did in Tony's family: Will their loved ones truly be remembered? Determined to find an answer, George set out to discover a specific symbol that America used to honor military fallen in a way that would endure. Thus, the 'Honor and Remember' Flag was born - a definitive beacon of appreciation to forever recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. George's mission of unification led him across all fifty states, grieving with thousands of Gold Star families, walking through the halls of Congress and speaking to whomever would listen. His tireless advocacy ignited a movement for national remembrance, fighting for the recognition and respect that every fallen warfighter and their families deserve. What began in the wake of unimaginable devastation has grown into a nationwide movement. In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz shares how he transformed his grief into purpose, creating the Honor and Remember Flag - a unifying symbol to publicly recognize every U.S. military service member who has died in the line of duty. Establishing the flag as our nation's unified expression of appreciation became a national mission. Through George's tireless efforts, the flag has become a powerful emblem of sacrifice, family, and enduring gratitude. With a moving foreword by cultural commentator and longtime supporter Dennis Miller, the book opens with a heartfelt reflection on Lutz's extraordinary resolve: "As George navigated the depths of despair involved in the five stages of grief, with God's help, he entered a sixth stage: an indefatigability about never letting Tony and his sacred brethren ever be forgotten." In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz invites readers into the most sacred spaces of loss and healing - from the knock on the door that changed his life forever, to the quiet hours of anguish, and ultimately to the birth of a national movement. It is a story of faith, family, purpose, and the sacred power of remembrance. Today, the Honor and Remember Flag flies proudly across the country: · Legislated as an official state symbol in 28 U.S. states;· Recognized in federal bill H.R.1363;· Seen at NASCAR's Memorial Weekend tribute, NHL Playoffs and Norwegian Cruise Line vessels;· Displayed at corporate offices, state buildings, town squares, schools, churches, and homes; and· Presented in thousands of ceremonies to Gold Star families across the nation. "This book is not just about Tony," says his proud father. "It's about every son and daughter who never came home - and every mother, father, spouse, and sibling who carries that sacrifice in their hearts forever. It's about a promise: We will never forget the sacrifices they made for our freedom." ABOUT THE AUTHOR: George Lutz is the founder of Honor and Remember, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to permanent public recognition of every U.S. service member who died in the line of duty. A Gold Star father and passionate advocate, Lutz has traveled to all fifty states, bringing honor, healing, and unity to thousands of military families across generations. Go to: TragedytoTribute.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Weekly: Karen Kataline - @KarenKataline More info on Karen: www.karenkataline.com 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Gold Star Father George Lutz More on George: https://tragedytotribute.orgwww.HonorandRemember.orgNew Book Chronicles a Father's Sacred Journey to Honor America's Fallen HeroesForeword by Dennis MillerGold Star father George A. Lutz has written a book that is a unique tribute to his son, Tragedy to Tribute: One Father's Grief Fuels a Passionate Journey to Change the Mindset of a Nation. It is a deeply personal and powerfully patriotic book that traces his journey from heartbreaking loss to a national mission of remembrance. This release marks the 20th anniversary of the death of his son, Corporal George "Tony" Lutz II, who was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on December 29, 2005. On that fateful day, Corporal Tony Lutz was killed by a sniper's bullet while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. The devastating news shattered his family and friends, plunging them into shock, grief, and an unimaginable loss - a pain familiar to countless other families across the nation. In the months following Tony's funeral, his father George visited other families who had lost loved ones in the war. What he discovered was a powerful, unspoken bond - a fellowship forged by sacrifice and shared sorrow, stretching back generations to the American Revolution, when the first patriots gave their lives for our country's freedom. As the grief of these families turned to acceptance, one question echoed in their minds as it did in Tony's family: Will their loved ones truly be remembered? Determined to find an answer, George set out to discover a specific symbol that America used to honor military fallen in a way that would endure. Thus, the 'Honor and Remember' Flag was born - a definitive beacon of appreciation to forever recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. George's mission of unification led him across all fifty states, grieving with thousands of Gold Star families, walking through the halls of Congress and speaking to whomever would listen. His tireless advocacy ignited a movement for national remembrance, fighting for the recognition and respect that every fallen warfighter and their families deserve. What began in the wake of unimaginable devastation has grown into a nationwide movement. In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz shares how he transformed his grief into purpose, creating the Honor and Remember Flag - a unifying symbol to publicly recognize every U.S. military service member who has died in the line of duty. Establishing the flag as our nation's unified expression of appreciation became a national mission. Through George's tireless efforts, the flag has become a powerful emblem of sacrifice, family, and enduring gratitude. With a moving foreword by cultural commentator and longtime supporter Dennis Miller, the book opens with a heartfelt reflection on Lutz's extraordinary resolve: "As George navigated the depths of despair involved in the five stages of grief, with God's help, he entered a sixth stage: an indefatigability about never letting Tony and his sacred brethren ever be forgotten." In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz invites readers into the most sacred spaces of loss and healing - from the knock on the door that changed his life forever, to the quiet hours of anguish, and ultimately to the birth of a national movement. It is a story of faith, family, purpose, and the sacred power of remembrance. Today, the Honor and Remember Flag flies proudly across the country: · Legislated as an official state symbol in 28 U.S. states;· Recognized in federal bill H.R.1363;· Seen at NASCAR's Memorial Weekend tribute, NHL Playoffs and Norwegian Cruise Line vessels;· Displayed at corporate offices, state buildings, town squares, schools, churches, and homes; and· Presented in thousands of ceremonies to Gold Star families across the nation. "This book is not just about Tony," says his proud father. "It's about every son and daughter who never came home - and every mother, father, spouse, and sibling who carries that sacrifice in their hearts forever. It's about a promise: We will never forget the sacrifices they made for our freedom." ABOUT THE AUTHOR: George Lutz is the founder of Honor and Remember, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to permanent public recognition of every U.S. service member who died in the line of duty. A Gold Star father and passionate advocate, Lutz has traveled to all fifty states, bringing honor, healing, and unity to thousands of military families across generations. Go to: TragedytoTribute.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A review of Norwegian Getaway from New York City to Bermuda in 2025. Plus staff writer Richard Simms has this week's cruise news. 

They were able to pack light. Uninhibited Americans have set sail from Miami on board an 11-day nude cruise. Bare Necessities partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines for the flesh-flashing voyage, with passengers crowding onto the Norweigan Peal before it left port.In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, The Puerto Rican Day Parade drew huge crowds to Manhattan, with revelers putting their pride on boisterous display in what organizers called the largest cultural festival in the country.In Decison 2025, A congresswoman and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot secured the endorsement of the highest-ranking Hispanic official in her state. A mayor highlighted his arrest by immigration officials. The New Jersey gubernatorial primary has emerged as a crucial test for Democrats seeking to regain Latino support nationally.And in the American West in Los Angeles, President Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom after a second day of clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear.

660. The physical and emotional pain you have worked through is your gift to give to humanity and Joey Corona proves it. Joey Corona is a lifelong Meta Mover, Movement catalyst, motivator, and longevity expert. He holds a master's degree in Physical Education and Exercise Physiology from Florida International University (where he competed on the men's golf team) and a post-grad certification in Golf Biomechanics from the Chek institute and The Titleist Performance Institute. He recently added a bachelor's and master's degree in golf stroke engineering from The Golfing Machine. His golf accomplishments include the Illinois Junior college championship and the Chicago City Amateur Championship as well as 35 other titles. He is a devout Black Belt Martial Artist in Shotokan Karate. After grad school, Joey went to Sea with Norwegian Cruise Line as Onboard Fitness Director heading their Sports Afloat Program and traveling the World. While with NCL he interviewed over 500 professional athletes as NCL became the Official Cruise Line of the NFLPA, Major League Baseball, the PGA, NHL, AVP, NHL, NASCAR, and the NBA. After ships, he directed the "Sports Afloat" program from NCL's home offices. As a yoga teacher, he has attained E-RYT status, the highest credential of the Yoga Alliance. His students include Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Alicia Silverstone, Vanessa Williams, Boris Becker, Vince Vaughn, Isaiah Thomas, and Gabrielle Anwar. Currently, he works with Olympic gold medal boxer Cool Hand Luke Campbell and World Middleweight Champion Vitaly Kopelynko. He was the official yoga teacher for the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas. And the creator of GolfYoga. The professional golfers that he has taught include Jim McLean, Erik Compton, Willy Pumarol, Veronica Felibert, Helen Alfredson, Charlotta Sorenstam, and Jill McGill. He was recently invited to teach at the National Yoga Journal Conference. Joey combines his quick wit, levity, command of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, and his love of music into a sensational movement experience. He teaches his signature Yoga program exclusively in the Miami area at LaGorce Country Club, Trump National Doral Golf Resort and Spa, The Continuum, Fisher Island Spa, Anatomy @ 1220, and the Equinox Fitness Centers. He has appeared on The Today Show, Fox and Friends Live, Deco Drive and contributed articles for Fit Magazine, Golf for Women, and Shape. "There is absolutely no better human movement protocol Than Yoga. After 5000 years of testing, yoga has proven itself and is the finest longitudinal study of health science known to man. “Some people move Mountains, I move People!” Joey says about his passion for instructing Yoga.  

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel in 2025 from Tampa, Florida to Boston, Massachusetts. 

David Herrera, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the evolution of the Prima-class experience with Norwegian Aqua, from its expanded spaces and innovative Glow Court to the Aqua Slidecoaster replacing the Prima Speedway racetrack. Herrera also shares upcoming enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay, the brand's resilience amid global uncertainty, and why the Prince-themed “Revolution” show is his entertainment favorite. For more information, visit www.ncl.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

How is hospitality education evolving? Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and Associate Dean at New York University's Jonathan M Tisch Center of Hospitality, joins Dan today to discuss the realm of hospitality education. Their discussion spans Nicolas's unique career path that started from being a high school dropout and chef apprentice in Switzerland, to becoming a chaired professor of hospitality. They explore the essential role of hospitality in everyday life and its potential for significantly impacting careers. The two dive into the future of hospitality education, emerging pathways for students and apprentices, and the substantial impact of hosting hospitality conferences. The episode also highlights the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities, the evolution of the experience economy, and how institutions like NYU are shaping the future of the hospitality industry.Takeaways: Say "yes" more often to opportunities that come your way, even if they are outside your comfort zone. These can lead to unexpectedly positive outcomes and career paths.Recognize that the hospitality industry offers multiple pathways, including traditional four-year degrees, apprenticeships, and associate degrees that can credit work-based experience. Explore these options based on your circumstances and goals.Take advantage of financial aid and scholarships offered by institutions like NYU, especially if financial constraints are a concern. These avenues can significantly reduce the economic burden of higher education.Understand that the principles of hospitality (such as making people feel cared for and appreciated) are applicable across various industries beyond hotels and restaurants. Develop and leverage these skills to enhance your career in any field.Strive to positively impact others through your work. Whether you're an educator, manager, or employee, making a difference in people's lives is deeply rewarding.Be open to different roles and industries throughout your career. Experiences in jobs like hotels, consulting, and even internships can provide diverse skills and perspectives that are highly valuable.Quote of the Show:“ One thing that's always been exciting for me is when you can positively impact someone else, and that's probably why I am doing what I'm doing.” - Nicolas GrafLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-graf/ Website: https://www.nyu.edu/ Shout Outs:0:41 - TAM's Incubator https://tamsincubator.com/ 0:49 - Jonathan M Tisch Center of Hospitality https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m--tisch-center-of-hospitality.html 5:24 - Virginia Tech https://www.vt.edu/ 6:29 - University of Houston https://uh.edu/ 6:34 - Essex Business School https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/essex-business-school 6:42 - Cornell University https://www.cornell.edu/ 10:37 - Pennsylvania State University https://www.psu.edu/ 12:15 - Langone Health NYU https://nyulangone.org/ 12:26 - Harvard University https://www.harvard.edu/ 14:43 - National Academy Foundation https://naf.org/ 15:30 - Marriott Family Foundation https://www.jwasmarriottfoundation.org/ 15:51 - Bill Marriott Institute of Hospitality https://hospitality.utah.edu/ 16:01 - University of Utah https://www.utah.edu/ 17:43 - Howard University https://howard.edu/ 17:46 - Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership https://business.howard.edu/hospitality-leadership 20:23 - Pyramid Hospitality Group https://www.pyramidglobal.com/ 22:30 - Danny Meyer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Meyer 22:32 - Setting the Table https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business/dp/0060742763 24:01 - Pine and Gilmore https://strategichorizons.com/pine-and-gilmore/ 24:56 - Macy's https://www.macys.com/ 25:16 - Adrian Cheng https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-cheng-chi-kong/ 25:21 - Rosewood Hotels https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/default 27:18 - Ritz Carlton https://www.ritzcarlton.com/ 28:35 - Hilton https://www.hilton.com/en/ 29:19 - Capital One https://www.capitalone.com/ 29:56 - Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/ 30:04 - Tiffany's https://www.tiffany.com/ 32:45 - Norwegian Cruise Line https://www.ncl.com/ 34:23 - Citizen M https://www.citizenm.com/ 42:45 - Johnson and Wales https://www.jwu.edu/ 42:58 - Chip Wade https://chipwade.com/ 42:59 - Union Square Hospitality Group https://www.ushg.com/ 43:02 - Marcus Samuelsson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Samuelsson 50:44 - Questrex https://questex.com/ 

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's brand new ship Norwegian Aqua. This was a seven-night cruise from Port Carnival to the Eastern Caribbean.  Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on Carnival selling a ship, Royal Caribbean bailing on Labadee, a flood on Carnival Conquest , and more. 

John Chernesky, senior vice president of North America sales for Norwegian Cruise Line, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Norwegian Aqua, the newest ship in the Prima Plus class. He explains how the design builds on previous ships with expanded public spaces, new dining concepts like Sukhothai and the Indulge Food Hall, and standout attractions including the Aqua Slidecoaster. Chernesky also details luxury upgrades to The Haven, highlights entertainment options including a Prince tribute concert, and outlines current and upcoming itineraries. For more information, visit www.ncl.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

A Mexican Riveria review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on Royal Caribbean earnings, Norwegian Cruise Line loss, Carnival Cruise Line fighting, and a guest arrested on Royal Caribbean. 

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer says mid and high income consumers are still doing well despite economic uncertainty. Sommer spoke with Bloomberg's Matt Miller, Katie Greifeld and Sonali Basak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheri had the chance to sail on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, but how does it compare to Royal Caribbean?Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook: /royalcaribbeanblogYouTube: royalcaribbeanblogEmail: matt@royalcaribbeanblog.comLeave a voicemail: (408) 6ROYAL6You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS.

Mark Conroy, veteran cruise executive and now a consultant with Mark S. Conroy & Associates, reflects on life spend in cruising with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report. One of the most popular cruise executives among travel advisors, Conroy has worked for Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Viking Line, Commodore Cruises, Renaissance Cruises, Radisson and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. He also has served with some of most legendary cruise executives in the business—a virtual who's who of cruise icons who have shaped the industry (and we consider Mark to be a cruise icon himself). To connect with him on LinkedIn, visit www.linkedin.com/in/markconroy2. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Mark Kansley, senior vice president of hotel operations for Norwegian Cruise Line, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report aboard the new Norwegian Aqua about the ship's expanded pool deck, enhanced atrium, upgraded cabins, multigenerational amenities, and entertainment, including “Revolution," a Prince tribute stage show. Kansley also discusses culinary additions including a Thai venue and plant-based outlet, and shares how Aqua was purpose-built for warm-weather cruising in the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.ncl.com or www.norwegiancentral.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Get ready for an unforgettable journey with Martin, Roman and Shirlie as they reveal the wildest, most unbelievable holiday stories in this exclusive episode from a cruise ship for FFS! My Dad is Martin Kemp. From their epic Caribbean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, to shocking near-death experiences, these stories will leave you speechless … We also learn that Shirlie and donkeys have a special relationship… Email us at ffs@insanity.com Listen by clicking 'Play' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever it is you're listening now. Make sure to Subscribe or Follow, Rate and Review to help others find the podcast. FFS! My Dad Is Martin Kemp, this has been an Insanity Studios production

Scott gives us a review of Norwegian Cruise Line's first Prima-class ship, Norwegian Prima. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news. 

On today's episode, Megan takes you along on her family's Spring Break vacation.  Hear all about her experiences on a Western Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line!Tune in every Thursday for a new episode of Simplifying the Magic, where Megan and Jess share their passion for Disney and travel, offering expert tips and tricks to make planning your next vacation a breeze!As premier travel agents with Fantastical Vacations, we'd love to help you plan your next getaway! Reach out to us at SimplifyingtheMagic@gmail.com for assistance with Disney, Universal, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and more!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram:Simplifying the Magic on FacebookSimplifying the Magic on InstagramFind Megan at:Vacations by Megan Gibson on FacebookMegan on InstagramFind Jess at:Jess on FacebookJess on InstagramThank you so much for listening!

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's ship Norwegian Escape. 

Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO discuss comments from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about a potential tax crackdown on ships and why peace in the Middle East will be more meaningful to its bottom line. He speaks with Bloomberg's Matt Miller and Katie GriefeldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

APAC stocks followed suit to the mixed performance stateside for most of the session after tariff-related confusion and NVIDIA's earnings.US equity futures eked slight gains in predominantly uneventful trade but were indecisive and immediately fluctuated post-NVIDIA (-1.5% aftermarket) earnings despite the AI darling beating on top and bottom lines.White House still plans to implement 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico next week, at least for now — despite comments from US President Trump that raised hopes of another delay, according to Axios.US President Trump said he will be announcing tariffs on the EU very soon and that the EU can try to retaliate on tariffs, as well as noted that EU tariffs are to be 25% on autos and other things.European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.5% after the cash market closed with gains of 1.5% on Wednesday.Looking ahead, highlights include French Producer Prices, Spanish CPI, Germany Unemployment, EZ Sentiment, US Durable Goods, GDP 2nd Estimate (Q4), Core PCE Prices (Q4), Jobless Claims, Japanese Tokyo CPI, Retail Sales, ECB Minutes, Speakers include Fed's Barkin, Schmid, Barr, Bowman, Hammack & Harker, Supply from Italy & UK, Earnings from Vistra Energy, Norwegian Cruise Line, Dell, Swiss Re, AXA, Technip Energies, Ocado, Aviva, Rolls Royce, Taylor Wimpey, Beiersdorf & Eni.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

NVIDIA +1.1% in US pre-market after headline beats whilst Q1 gross margins are seen easing.European bourses on the backfoot with sentiment hit in Europe amid Trump's EU tariff threats; US futures gain.Pick-up in US yields provides reprieve for USD, USD/JPY eyes a test of 150.Crude trims recent losses but metals pressured by a firmer Dollar.Looking ahead, US Durable Goods, GDP 2nd Estimate (Q4), Core PCE Prices (Q4), Jobless Claims, Japanese Tokyo CPI, Retail Sales, ECB Minutes, Speakers include Fed's Barkin, Schmid, Barr, Bowman, Hammack & Harker, Earnings from Vistra Energy, Norwegian Cruise Line, Dell.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Last week, Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee and Norwegian Cruise Line sales exec John Chernesky joined cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about the new cruise-ship class of 2025. This week, they're talking about Wave season, the industry’s period of big sales and good deals, and general trends. Is year’s Wave a wave or a tsunami? Other topics of note: Does Wave start in January, or has it moved backwards into the holiday season? And what’s the story with onboard spending? This week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will report its Q4 and full-year 2024 results, and that will provide additional color into how this year’s Wave is going. We’ll try to provide an update to that in our upcoming Folo episodes. This episode was recorded Feb. 5, nearly three weeks ahead of NCLH's earnings call. The episode has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises: https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links: Andrea Zelinski's reporting on the 2025 Wave season: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Early-report-2025-Wave-season Royal Caribbean Group's record start to Wave: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-reports-record-start-to-Wave-season Carnival Corp. sets company record for full-year revenue: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-earnings-Q4-2024 Our previous episode with Michelle Fee and John Chernesky on new ships in 2025: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/the-importance-of-new-cruise-ships-of-2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a text155 - Ready to embark on a solo adventure? Join Travel Inspired hosts Rob and Kerri Stuart as they reveal why solo cruising – both river and ocean – has become the ultimate way to explore Europe and beyond. Whether you're dreaming of gliding down the Danube or sailing across the Pacific, this episode is your complete guide to independent cruise travel.Discover how luxury river cruise lines like AmaWaterways, Riviera Cruises, and Emerald Cruises are transforming solo travel with dedicated single cabins and exclusive solo sailings, while innovative ocean lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages are revolutionizing the solo experience with specialized lounges and social spaces. From boutique river ships to modern ocean vessels, learn how cruise lines are adapting to welcome a new generation of independent travelers.In this episode, we explore:Top river and ocean cruise lines for solo travelersMoney-saving tips on single supplements and exclusive dealsDifferences between river and ocean cruising for solo adventurersReal stories from experienced solo travelers, including trans-Pacific journeysHow to choose between intimate river cruises and vibrant ocean voyagesSocial opportunities and activities for independent travelersExpert insights on the future of solo cruise travelPlus, get a sneak peek at our upcoming European cruise ship tours and stay tuned for next week's episode on maximizing airline miles and points for your travel adventures!#SoloTravel #CruiseLife #RiverCruise #OceanCruise #TravelTips #LuxuryTravel #SoloFemaleTravel #TravelPodcast #TravelInspiration #Wanderlust #EuropeanVacation #CruiseVacationWant to turn your dream vacations into reality? Listen now and start planning your 2025 adventures!Plan your vacation!----------------------- Do you have a destination you want us to cover? Please reach out to us and let us know. You can send a direct message to us on Instagram.Check out the CMV YouTube channel for travel inspiration.Want to learn a new language? Then use our referral code and join DuoLingo - the app. It's free, it's fun, and imagine what spending 15 mins a day learning a new language instead of mindlessly scrolling on Facebook can do for you.  JOIN HERERemember, the world is a book and those who don't travel only read a page.Be Travel Inspired.

We’re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we’re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it’s Wave season. In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships evolved to cater to customer demand? This is part 1 of a two-part series. Next week: Early signs of Wave season. This episode was recorded Feb. 5 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links Cruising’s new-ship class of 2025, parts 1 and 2 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2 Many pluses on the upcoming Norwegian Aqua https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua Cruise Planners: www.cruiseplanners.com Norwegian Cruise Line: https://www.ncl.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Human Rights Campaign, (HRC), joins The Trevor Project and GLSEN in reducing staff and refocusing their efforts in the new political climate. Our question to all these non-profits is, how have you advanced LGBTQ rights in the last few years? Then, an angry customer who purchased a Subaru Outback tried to return it by driving through the dealership. He is now charged with a couple of felonies due to damages of more than 85K. Finally, a Bare Necessities nude cruise left Miami last week on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship and “no-fondling is allowed.” Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/4aza5LW YouTube Music: bit.ly/43T8Y81 Pandora: pdora.co/2pEfctj YouTube: bit.ly/1spAF5a Also follow Tim and John on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/focusgroupradio

Ben shares his cruise on Norwegian Bliss to Southeast Alaska from Seattle, Alaska. 

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America on a seven-night Hawaiin cruise that sailed roundtrip from Honolulu.  Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.  Subscribe to the Cruise News Today YouTube by clicking here.  Follow Cruise Radio's Socials LinkedIn  | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube  | Twitter | Patreon

A review of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl on a 10 night Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Rome.    Follow Cruise Radio's Socials: LinkedIn  | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube  | Twitter | Patreon

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes Damara McKoy, a key member of the digital marketing team at Norwegian Cruise Line. They discuss Norwegian's approach to email marketing, personalization, and the company's recent rebranding efforts.=================================================================Best Moments:(02:21) Damara's career path and journey to Norwegian(04:49) Norwegian's welcome email series and personalization efforts(06:35) Interactive email features and polling implementation(09:26) Norwegian's rebranding from "Free at Sea" to "More to Sea"(11:42) Norwegian's corporate culture and love for puns(13:14) Jay's attempt at cruise-related puns=================================================================Guest Bio:Damara McKoy is the manager of the email marketing program on the domestic side at Norwegian Cruise Line. With a background in graphic design, she has worked in automotive and retail marketing before joining Norwegian. Damara is passionate about personalization and enhancing guest experiences through email marketing. Her expertise lies in creating custom experiences for customers and implementing innovative strategies to increase engagement and drive customer engagement.=================================================================MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Marigold is a relationship marketing platform designed to help you acquire new customers and turn them into superfans with their best-in-class loyalty solutions. Don't take my word for it though, American Airlines, Honeybaked Ham, Title Boxing, and Notre Dame University are also customers!Regardless of your size, check out Marigold today to get the solution you need to grow your business!Check out this free content from marigold that Jay has loved digesting, 5 Steps For Selecting The Right Email Marketing Platform.

As Carnival cements its success by going public, founder Ted Arison and his son and CEO Micky set their sights on growing the company through acquisition. They make long-time rival Royal Caribbean their target. But with a new ambitious executive at the helm, Royal Caribbean isn't going down without a fight. Norwegian Cruise Line struggles to keep up with the competition.Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.