Podcasts about Southern Caribbean

Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP is a couple's therapist, educator, and researcher with over eighteen years of experience in the helping profession. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and STAIR Method Certified clinician, Akilah specializes in relational healing, focusing on the needs of couples and individuals. Since 2012, she has served as a Social Work Educator at the University of the Southern Caribbean. As the founder of the Relational Healing Institute and the creator of the P.R.I.D.E. model. Her upcoming book: “Working with Marginalized Couples.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mission-evolution-with-gwilda-wiyaka--2888020/support.

We have an adventurous one for you today! Trevor and Cheltsaney join us to discuss their 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing…

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel writer and travel advisor Janice Sakata-Schultze who talks about her Southern Caribbean cruising adventures with Virgin Voyages.  Check out Janice's blog posts about Virgin Voyages, here:  - San Juan, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe: https://www.sanseitraveler.com/article/virgin-voyages-southern-caribbean-san-juan-bvi-guadeloupe  - Barbados, St Lucia & Antigua: https://www.sanseitraveler.com/article/virgin-voyages-southern-caribbean-barbados-st-lucia-antigua  Janice Sakata-Schultze is a travel writer, blogger, content creator and certified advisor. She specializes in culinary, active adventure and wellness travel. More at: https://www.sanseitraveler.com/  Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  Follow this Podcast Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m  This episode is also featured on our Big Blend Radio "Vacation Station" Travel Channel.  Check out our Big Blend Radio Network of podcasts here:  https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Send us a textHello, passionate cruisers! I am delighted to welcome this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, a special guest, Magical Bones. We were introduced to Bones on our recent anniversary cruise to the A, B, and C Islands in the Southern Caribbean on Celebrity Ascent. Bones was a headliner that put on a show that was spellbinding, funny, and captivating as Bones broke into breakdancing! So, I enjoyed his performance but I was knocked off my feet as he shared his story of growing up Black in UK; getting into Bboying, and then into magic.Magical Bones is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the Magic scene in recent years; he has been entertaining audiences globally for over a decade. Starting out his career as a professional hip-hop dancer, he was given the nickname ‘Bones' because of his hard-hitting dance style. An exceptionally skilled break-dancer and a gifted showman, Bones has worked with some of the biggest artists within the music industry such as Madonna, and Alicia Keys, and is the featured dancer in the music video of Mint Royals' No. 1 smash hit single, Singing In the Rain.Now focusing on his career as a magician, Bones' uniqueness resides in his ability to effectively fuse mind-blowing magic with street-dance culture, music & lifestyle. He is a one-off. 2020 saw Bones make the final of Britain's Got Talent with his audition logging over 10 million online views and the judges describing his act as the ‘best-presented magic act I've ever seen!' Among his other TV credits are the BAFTA awards (BBC1), Penn & Teller Fool Us (The CW), Around the World in 80 Tricks (Amazon), Pure Magic (BBC) and This Morning (ITV). In 2022 Bones was the 2nd placed winner for ITV's Christmas special The Ultimate Magician. On the live stage, Bones was selected as the headline magician for the hit West End magic show, IMPOSSIBLE, which played for two seasons at the Noel Coward Theatre before moving on to a hugely successful world tour in 2017. Bones' debut solo show Black Magic sold-out residencies at both London's Southbank Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and played to packed houses across UK. His second show Soulful Magic premiered at Fringe 2022 and went on to be a sell-out nationwide tour in the spring of 2023.Relying on ship wifi is slow, unsecure, sometimes not available & at foreign ports travelers don't want to pay their carriers' high fees. Save $ with GigSky! Get a data package usable on the ship & in ports. Link to GigSky: https://gigsky.pxf.io/nloxor. For a 10% discount use code: joyofcruisingSupport 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 https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingPodcast-BookACruiseUS 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

Send us a textHello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul. I am delighted to welcome this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, a special guest, Patrice Covington. We were introduced to Patrice on our recent anniversary cruise to the A, B, and C Islands in the Southern Caribbean on Celebrity Ascent. Patrice put on a show, I'm Your Whitney Tonight, a Whitney Houston Tribute.Patrice Covington is an Emmy award winning Broadway, television and film actress. She is an accomplished singer, actor, voice over artist, media personality and educator of the arts. As a broadway veteran, Patrice has graced the world's renowned, Broadway and toured the globe with all-star Broadway casts in several shows including The Book of Mormon, Motown The Musical, Ain't Misbehaving, Dreamgirls, and the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award Winning revival of The Color Purple. As a vocalist, she has traveled the world providing background vocals for top billed performers including Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, and Stevie Wonder. Patrice has performed on stages nationwide with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, the American Pops Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She also dazzles vacationers aboard cruises lines with her perfectly curated shows featuring music of the women she was influenced and inspired by. On television, Patrice is best known for her role as Erma Franklin in Natural Geographic anthology series, “Genius: Aretha,” a biopic about the legendary Aretha Franklin and Gracie in Amazon's TV series “A League of Their Own,” a reimagining of the hit 1992 film. She can also be seen in guest star roles on All Rise, Chicago PD, and new series Sincerely Love. Patrice acts opposite Nicole Kidman in the upcoming murder mystery series “The Perfect Couple” on Netflix and as the lead in the new made for TV movie, “For What It's Worth” on BET.Patrice is the owner and operator of The Galaxy Space, a Performing Arts Studio by Patrice Covington, offering private training and a part of faculty at The Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA. Patrice is a is a proud member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. inspired by Matthew 5:14-16, her trademarked motto is "Don't be a star...be a galaxy.” A phrase meant to inspire and motivate humansRelying on ship wifi is slow, unsecure, sometimes not available & at foreign ports travelers don't want to pay their carriers' high fees. Save $ with GigSky! Get a data package usable on the ship & in ports. Link to GigSky: https://gigsky.pxf.io/nloxor. For a 10% discount use code: joyofcruisingSupport 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 https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingPodcast-BookACruiseUS 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

Send us a textThis week on The Joy Of Cruising Podcast we want to revisit a show from earlier in the year February 12, Episode 79 The Joy of Cruising Podcast, Bucket List Cruises 2024-2025 where we discussed our plans to check some milestone cruises off our overflowing bucket list over the course of this year and next. This is a mini episode as we are on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean. It may be mini in length but this The Joy Of Cruising Podcast episode packs a major punch in terms of a couple of substantial updates that directly impact the bucket list cruise journey that we are still. 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 https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingPodcast-BookACruiseUS 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

Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP is a published researcher, Relational Healing Facilitator, couples therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has been in clinical practice for sixteen years and has experience working with couples and persons practicing consensual non monogamy, both in the Caribbean and internationally. She has been a Social Work Educator at the University of the Southern Caribbean since 2012.  Akilah also specializes in work with sexual and racial minorities. She is the founder of the BIPOC Relational Healing Institute and creator of the P.R.I.D.E model, and she strives for Authenticity, Alignment, Attunement and Abundance. As an educator and facilitator, she has provided consultancy services to organizations such as NASTAD (National Alliance for State and Territorial AIDS directors), the Relational Life Institute, I-TECH (International Training and Education Center for Health)  and CVC (Caribbean Vulnerable Communities). She has presented in various spaces including the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium and the Black Mental health Symposium. In This EpisodeAkilah's website---If you'd like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Join host Nancy Kahn and guest Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP for a conversation on the impact of homophobia and racism on couples.  Akilah brings a trauma-informed approach to this important conversation about how systemic and racialized trauma affect intimate partnerships. About Akilah Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP is a published researcher, Relational Healing Facilitator, couples therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has been a helping professional for seventeen years and has experience working with couples and persons practicing consensual non monogamy, both in the Caribbean and internationally. Akilah also specializes in work with sexual minorities and racial minorities. As an educator and facilitator, she has provided consultancy services to organizations such as NASTAD (National Alliance for State and Territorial AIDS directors), I-TECH (International Training and Education Center for Health) and CVC (Caribbean Vulnerable Communities). She has presented in various spaces including the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium, the Academy of Therapy Wisdom and the Black Mental health Symposium. She has been a Social Work Educator at the University of the Southern Caribbean since 2012. She is the founder of the Relational Healing Institute and creator of the P.R.I.D.E model.   The post Examining the Impact of Homophobia and Racism on Couples appeared first on KPFA.

Zach joins us this week to discuss his family's 7-night southern Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Magic! After a long…

Summary Curtis De Silva, a professional fisherman, shares his experience fishing in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean. He recently caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira and discusses the fishing techniques and spread used. Curtis also talks about his father, Captain Frothy, and their fishing background. He compares the fishing conditions and challenges in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean, including dealing with seaweed in the Caribbean and paperwork in Madeira. Curtis also mentions the differences in migratory patterns and water temperatures that contribute to the size of fish in each region. The conversation with Curtis De Silva focuses on his experiences fishing in Madeira and the Azores. The marine life in these areas is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures. The conversation covers topics such as the underwater banks and seamounts in the Azores, the impact of sea surface temperatures on fishing, the decision to pull boats out of the water during the off-season, the challenges of fishing in rough swells, the boatyard in Madeira, and the international fleet in Madeira. Curtis also shares his favorite fishing memories with his father and his passion for billfish. Fish with Curtis: search @madierasportfishing on facebook or instagram   Takeaways Curtis De Silva caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira, weighing 1048 pounds. Fishing in Madeira is characterized by calm waters and a close proximity to the shore. The fishing season in Madeira is from June to September/October. The Southern Caribbean has tournaments for sailfish and smaller blue marlin. Challenges in the Southern Caribbean include dealing with seaweed and rough weather. Fishing in Madeira is relatively easy, with the main challenge being locating blue marlin. Madeira has a large average size of blue marlin compared to other fishing locations. Paperwork and documentation are meticulous in Madeira. The migratory patterns and water temperatures contribute to the size of fish in each region. The marine life in Madeira and the Azores is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures. The Azores have underwater banks and seamounts that attract fish, including blue marlin. Sea surface temperatures can impact fishing, with extreme high temperatures affecting the Azores and Madeira. Boats are pulled out of the water during the off-season in Madeira and the Azores due to the slowing down of the marlin migration and the risk of damage from rough swells. The boatyard in Madeira is situated under the airport runway and provides services for boats. Madeira has an international fleet with charter boats operated by local and foreign captains. Curtis De Silva has a passion for billfish and targets big blue marlin in Madeira. Fishing with his father and catching his first blue marlin are some of Curtis' most cherished fishing memories. Releasing fish is a common practice in billfishing, and recreational fishermen play a role in understanding fish migration patterns. Curtis De Silva also runs charters in the Southern Caribbean, specifically in Grenada. Keywords: fishing, Madeira, Southern Caribbean, blue marlin, grander, Captain Frothy, techniques, spread, challenges, seaweed, paperwork, migratory patterns, water temperature, fishing, Madeira, Azores, marine life, sea surface temperatures, underwater banks, seamounts, boatyard, fleet, billfish Transcript: Katie (00:00.43) Today's guest is my friend Curtis De Silva from Trinidad and Tobago. Curtis has spent his entire professional career fishing between the Southern Caribbean and the island of Madeira. In fact, he has fished the last 15 seasons on the island of Madeira and a few weeks ago, weighed the first and as of July 2nd only grander of the 2024 Blue Marlin season. In this episode, we're gonna dive into the story about that fish, as well as what it takes to fish the Eastern Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, how they compare to the fishery of the Southern Caribbean, and looking into a little bit on the relationship between Curtis and his father, legendary Captain Frothy from the Pesca Grossa, as well as why fishing is so important to him. It's always a pleasure to sit down and talk to Curtis and it's another great episode in the books. You're not going to want to miss it. Katie (01:06.734) Welcome to the Katie C. Sawyer podcast. Today I'm sitting with my good friend, Curtis De Silva. Curtis, where are you tuning in from? Hello. How are you going, Katie? Good. I'm tuning in from sunny Calheta, Madeira. That's right. Madeira. You guys, Madeira is an autonomous island owned by Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Curtis and I met a couple of years ago while we were fishing there with the On Location. Now, Curtis, you I want to get into your background. I want to get into your story. But first, I can't skip these important details. You had a really good fishing day just recently, just a few days ago. You want to tell us about it? Yeah. Yeah. Well, you could jump right into that story if you'd like. Yeah, it's a pretty good one. So I think it was Monday this week. We went out on My dad's fishing boat is called the Pesca Grossa. And we had some clients that flew in from the States. They were on their honeymoon. They were keen to go one day blue marlin fishing. So we were fishing on board, you know, the 30 foot, just a little 30 foot sport fishing boat out here in Madeira And yeah, maybe about four o 'clock or so we hooked up onto a good fish, you know. it was actually a really interesting play. One of the better ones I've seen in my life. so one, one fish came up on the teaser on our right teaser, really short to the boat, maybe 10 or 15 feet from the back of the, the, the boat. And I threw the pitch out and it did not switch on to the pitch, you know, so it faded off onto our left long. What were you pitching? Just a mackerel, about a two pound Spanish mackerel, chin weighted, with a 10 o' circle hook. Yeah, so that fish faded off, you know, and hit the left lure and left long. Missed it completely. And about maybe a moment later, maybe five or 10 seconds, another fish came up and just crashed, but the short, the right short, you know? Katie (03:33.326) Teal off a bunch of line. We got the lady angler in the chair, you know, it may be about a 40 minute fight or so. We had the fish, three sides of the boat. When it was there, we just, we decided to take it. We decided to take it on board. Cause it was, it was a pretty big fish. When I larger ones we've seen both side in a long time. So we decided to take him. Yeah. Pretty big fish. A grander. How much did that fish weigh? Yes, it was 1048, 170 some kilos. I can't remember exactly in kilos, but it was 1048 pounds. It was really amazing to see that there was actually two of them. The first fish that showed up, how big was that one? Average Madeira size when I was there for the one season was somewhere between five and 700 pounds. A good size fish is 800. We were looking for the grander ourselves. We never found it. We never, well, Drake saw it. We've talked about that before, but we never found it. So how big was that first fish that showed up? So the first fish was probably very similar in size, you know? Stop. Yeah. So two big girls crashing on your baits. So what is your spread like? I mean, you have short teasers. You said you you're doing a like a macro pitch with teasers close to the boat. So those don't have hooks in them. And then you have or I don't know what you call them because then you called it the short lure. The right short is where you caught that second fish on. So you have a J hook in that one, right? That's right. So we fish a pretty simple spread over here. You know, we fish one 30s and we would have four four four lures with hooks in them. Any water at all times, you know? So left short, left, left and right short and left and right long would all have, you know, 10 OJ hooks in them. That's how we target them with 550 pound mono leader. And then you're also pulling teasers? Yeah. So we pull two teasers right up close to the boat. Yeah, that's basically all Madeira spread. That's awesome. What lures did these fish show up on? Katie (05:55.134) well, they actually showed up on my dad's lure. My dad makes these lovely lures. Now, I'm not sure what the name of this particular one was, but it was one of the Captain Frothy series lures. That's so special. That is so special. Okay, so Curtis, congratulations on your grander. Was that your first grander? I mean... Thank you. That was the first one I weighed on a scale. I believe I caught a couple before. But we released them, but this is the first one that we scale, Peroni scale and wait. That's amazing. Congratulations. And for your group to be on their honeymoon, like, my gosh, you said they had one day of fishing and it was at 4 PM. I'm assuming that you go into the dock at five. Like that is some good luck for those anglers and to have such a good crew. Now you said you were fishing aboard Pesca Grossa. You guys might've heard of this boat because of The legendary captain Frothy. Now Frothy is Curtis's dad. Curtis, you want to give us a little bit of background on Frothy as well as yourself, where you guys come from, what your history is, your professional history in the sport of billfishing? Sure, absolutely. I could give you a little background. I'm starting with my dad. So my dad has been a Harvard fisherman since he was a young, since he was a boy. He always was very passionate about it. He ran a very successful charter operation in Trinidad and Tobago for most of the 80s and 90s and early 2000s having about three or so boats going out quite regularly on a daily basis. He came here, he was fortunate, he came here in the 90s, he fished here in the 90s a bit and he caught, he was well caught on his first day here fishing. thousand pound blue marlin and brought it to the scale and weighted as well in the 90s. Yeah on his first trip here. So he got he fell in love with Madeira and I think it was somewhere in the early 2000s or so he bought pescagrossa and he started a charter operation out of here in Madeira and we've been coming here since. As you know I work on I captain a boat called the Luna right now here in Madeira. Katie (08:20.27) and she's just undergoing maintenance in the yard right now. So we just held up on that waiting for that boat to come back and I'll be running that boat this season. You're from Trinidad, Tobago. Do you, what, like what, growing up, what was your seasons like? Cause you've been going to Madeira for a while, but have you been living full time in Madeira for all these years or were you traveling back and forth? How did that look? So yeah, I spent about four months out of the year here. in Madeira for the Blue Marlin season from about June to September, October. As well as, yeah, I spend the other six months in the Caribbean where I do commercial fishing as well as we do family fishing with my cousin. My cousin has a 46 hat to us in Trinidad and we go to a bunch of the tournaments in the Southern Caribbean, such as Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia. and a couple of tournaments in Tobago as well, where I live for the other part of the year. Yeah, that's about my fishing background. I fish the Southern Caribbean a bunch as well as Hey Medaro. What are the seasons for the Southern Caribbean? What are the months and what is the tournament season specifically? And what are you targeting in those various locations? What size fish? What kind of tackle are you fishing? What does that look like? So we have a few tournaments in the Southern Caribbean. One of them is the Grenada International Bill Fishing Tournament. They have the Barbados International Game Fishing Tournament as well as the Tobago International. We fish for, you know, mainly sailfish and smaller size blue marlin. So we do do the dredge, teaser, circle hook fishing. for the smaller bellfish in the southern Caribbean. It's been very productive for the last couple of seasons. The fishing has been really well. Right before I came here, we did a three -day tournament. I think it had 30 or so boats, and they had over 130 releases, I believe it was, over three days of fishing. So the fishing back home is pretty good right now in terms of sailfish and smaller blue marlin. Katie (10:44.91) how we target them, that's the tournaments that I'm accustomed attending. Yeah, that's awesome. So what months of the year are the tournaments? Do they start in February and go through May? How does that work? So they have Grenada in January, which is the first tournament for the Southern Caribbean for the year. My dad actually fished this year and won it. He came first place fishing in... with the 46 after us, the hopscotch, my cousin, Peter and Grenada. So, that was the first tournament they have, Barbados, I believe is in March. Yes, they have the Barbados international tournament in March and the Tobago tournament is in April. Yep. That's awesome. And the Caribbean has been insane on fire this year like you touched on. I mean, it's just been really, really good fishing, which is cool because the last few years have they been a little slower than usual or to par like what what has the have the seasons been like over the last few years and have you seen them changing at all? I think the fishing has been more or less productive in the last. You know two or three years. You know it's been really hot. You know before that it's always been fairly good. It's always been decent, you know. But yeah, it's really been picking up in the last year or two. Been having a lot of, a lot more releases per average, per tournament. So. That's awesome. What are your biggest challenges when fishing the Southern Caribbean? Like, I mean, the waters are so different from what you see in Madeira, like so different already, the tackle spread, the fish you're seeing, it's all very different from each other. What are your biggest challenges in the Southern Caribbean specifically when fishing? A couple issues we deal with is one mainly seaweed, you know, the seaweed problems getting worse, especially our region. We're learning to work with that, work, you know, a couple of techniques to work with fishing in the seaweed, especially if you find pods of fish that are tangled up in there. So, you know, working on new techniques to actually be able to fish through the seaweed and work with it as opposed to just have to fish somewhere that does not have seaweed. You know, we often find Katie (13:04.142) large pods of blue marlin and sailfish right wrapped up with that sagasum seaweed, especially where it's stuck. So just working on some techniques on how to effectively fish through seaweed through the tournaments could give us a keen advantage, you know? So we, we're working on that's probably one of the most difficult. I would say that's the most difficult obstacle with fishing in Southern Caribbean right now, as well as, you know, we might get rough weather here and there, but. Part of Caribbean life for sure. So what are some of these techniques you're talking about? How do you, I love that you talk about how a lot of the fish are under that sargassum because it's an entire ecosystem. And that sargassum, you guys, it's a problem because the grass is getting tangled in the line. It's getting in front of the baits and then the fish aren't going to eat if there's a chunk of grass in front of the bait or it's all up in the dredge. So these mates are having to constantly get the grass off the line. It can be a real nuisance. But Curtis, tell me, how are you involved? What kind of techniques are you talking about? Because I'm super curious on how you fish around grass. I mean, I'll share as much as I can with you about that topic. But some of our techniques is we have really long outriggers. We have the triple spread of outriggers. and we have them mounted in a high position on the boat where we could actually run the lines a bit shorter than we normally would as in really short and really high up in the outrigger as to get that barlet who to skip a bit more over the seaweed with the circle hook more or less out the water you know using the correct line and leader material and hooks and whatever to allow for that you know but more or less so it could skip over the seaweed without actually getting tangled in it. One of the techniques, how we set up our dredges, how we run our dredges and how we set up our leaders on our teasers as well too. Would all play a good role in how much seaweed actually is able to get tangled onto your lures that you're running. Are you... Katie (15:25.838) Are you allowed to divulge a little bit more on how you set up your dredges to avoid grass? I mean, we can't do. Yeah, we can't do. Or is it top secret? Yeah. I mean, I really would. I don't want to get you in trouble. Yeah. I mean, we do set up our dredges a bit differently. You know, we don't use the spreadable dredges, you know. We set them up a bit differently. I don't think I could explain it too easily, but I could send some photos of our dredge setups when we run it through sexy weed. I would love that. Yeah, they're a little bit different from conventional dredges. Yeah, but I mean, like trying to, you know, every fishery is different, as you well know, and there's different challenges per fishery and trying to adapt your technique so that you will find success in that fishery is always so vital to your success. So what kind of like, what size weight are you putting in these balihoo that you're trolling? Like what size weight to allow them to be skipping on the surface? Right. So that's a key part as well too. So you'd be using a half ounce lead, half ounce egg shaped lead as to not have the balihoo weighted much. So it tends to skip out any water. Of course, when you're fishing balihoo, ideally you would want it to be head down. Tail Flop, Tail Wagon, ideally. But you know, when you're working with pods of sailfish and marlin right under the seaweed, they don't seem to mind if it's skipping a bit on the surface in that motion as opposed to giving you a more real feel. So we'd use the half ounce lead, we'd use maybe up to 50 pound fluorocarbon leader, even 40 pound fluorocarbon leader. Very light swivels, lightweight swivels. You know, 25 pound test line, 30 pound test line. could even drop a little bit down from that as well to us. They're just all of that helps in keeping the, the angle of the hook and the head just a bit out the water. What size hook are you fishing? I six O VMC circle hook. Yeah. Good hook. I like those. I like those. That's cool. Awesome. I love it. So, Katie (17:51.15) How many years have you been fishing the tournament season in the Southern Caribbean? maybe 15 years now with my father since I was a young boy. Many, many years. I think the first tournament I did, I'm 25. So I think I did my first tournament when I was probably, it's been more, probably when I was like eight years old, seven years old, I think I did my first fishing tournament with my dad. That's so cool. That is so cool. And, all right. So how many years have you been fishing the season in Madeira? I've been trying to count that. I believe this is my 14th season or so coming here to Madeira fishing the blue marlin season. So since you were 11. Yeah. Yeah. That's so cool. Yeah. Okay. So let's dive into Madeira a little bit. So what are, you know, we talked about in the Southern Caribbean, we're seeing a lot of grass. The weather can be pretty challenging. in Madeira, there's a very specific season for the fishing primarily because of the winter swell that will hit the island in the winter. But so you're there from June to August, I believe is what you said. And what are, like, what are your biggest challenges in Madeira for the fishing and how does it vary from the Caribbean? So fishing in Madeira. It's quite an easy fishery I would say here. Mostly we'll be fishing two or three miles from the coast in flat calm waters, very pristine, so not a lot of trash in the water, not a lot of interference. Challenges of fishing here in Madeira is more in terms of trying to locate the blue marlin as opposed to any of the conditions that are naturally occurring. It's a very safe place to fish and it's very easy to fish. We fish in very close to the shore and the weather conditions are just right for most of the four months that I'm here. So as challenges as fishing in Madeira, I don't think there are that many. The marina facilities are very nice. They have water and fuel, electric, all at the dock. They make it very straightforward and easy for you as well as... Katie (20:17.006) Living on the island is lovely. Beautiful here. Weather's right. The climate's really nice. So I don't think there's much challenges in terms of fishing. One issue we do have is being very vigorous with our paperwork here. They're very meticulous with all their policies of making sure that you have all the correct documentation to go fishing. Like what kind of documentation? What are some of the policies out there? How does that look? Is it something you have to submit? Is there a form you have to submit after every trip? How is that? Tell us a little bit more about the documentation. So we would need to just... Everything here is paperwork. So nothing is computerized, only computerized system. So it takes a few days after you submit forms or whatever to receive replies and returns in terms of that. That's a challenge on its own. As well as, you know, there are a lot of papers you need to get, you know, you need to get a lighthouse license, a fishing license. We would have out of the water inspections, as well as in the water inspections annually on the boats, as well as inspections of all, you know, the safety gear on body boat, which is pretty standard, I think, globally. But we managed to... We work around that and make sure that we have everything in compliance with it. But sometimes it takes a few days just to get a response from these guys. And that's about it. Yeah, it's hard. It's island time. Like you said, nothing's on the computer. It's all hand form, handwriting. I know that I was I was texting you earlier and you said, yeah, I'm just doing some boat paperwork. Like, let's get on a call. So I'm super into that. That's cool. But what about You know, we touched on how you're doing light tackle in the Caribbean and heavy tackle 130s. You just got a grander like over in Madeira. I'm just I'm so excited for you because the fact that two fish showed up behind the spread and you got one of them. It's just the coolest story to me. I was so stoked to see that it was the Pescadrosa and that you were on board. Why do you think like why? Katie (22:33.518) Is Madeira a spot for big fish? And why is the Caribbean a spot for smaller fish? Does it have to do with the sea floor, the bottom, the currents? What's your insight on that? Interesting. So my insight on why the larger fish tend to show up to Madeira as opposed to the Caribbean. It's a lot to do with just their general migratory patterns, as well as, you know, So the bigger ones would have a different migrational pattern. I believe the smaller fish in the Caribbean. So I think it's a lot to do with that. And in terms of why Madeira might have the biggest size average, the biggest average size blue marlin, I think out of anywhere in the world, you know? I can't tell you specifically that I know for sure, you know? But I do know that they have a... very large average size blue marlin over here. And I don't see that, you know, very often other places that I fish. But as to why they, why they do come here, not very sure, not very sure entirely. What is the water temp you're fishing there in Madeira? Right now, right now it's about 21, 22 degrees Celsius in between that range. shoot. What is that? That's like, a 7980 to in Fahrenheit. I could be wrong. It's been a while since I've Celsiused up, but that's probably that's that's pretty. How hot does it get? How hot does the water get? So last year we had a record record breaking sea surface temperatures in Portugal and here Madeira as well. The hottest I saw last year was 26, 27 degrees Celsius. I don't know what that is in Fahrenheit, but that's very hot. Okay, so I had to Google it and I looked it up and 21, 22 degrees Celsius is between 70, 72 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not very warm, especially when you're used to Gulf of Mexico waters. But 26 degrees Celsius is closer to 78, 80 degrees Fahrenheit. And when you're looking at the Eastern Atlantic, as Curtis said, record breaking temperatures, it's very warm, especially for those bigger fish. Katie (24:55.438) So how was the fishing when it was that warm? The fishing generally, it was slow. It was slow here in Madeira last season, with not too many fish being caught here by the fleet. But right next door, about 550 miles away, they had phenomenal blue marlin fishery in the Azores, you know, with very similar water temperature. Yeah. But I think it's largely to do with How the bait forms up down there, they have a lot of banks over there and that bait is able to stick to a lot of structure. Whereas opposed to Madeira, just a big shelf, you know, not too many banks fish offshore here. Madeira just drops off. So Madeira is like a really steep island. It's where I learned how to drive stick shift and it was extremely challenging, but it's a very steep island and it continues in its steepness past the water. Right. So, you know, Curtis talked about how we're fishing anywhere from one to three miles off of out of the Marina. It's because that water just it just the seafloor just drops off. So in the Azores, Curtis, have you have you spent any time fishing the Azores? So last year in October, I did a 10 day trip to the Azores to blue marlin fish and it was very good. It was probably at the peak of the peak of when the bite was red hot and Yes, I did spend 10 days there last year. So what island were you fishing on? And tell me a little bit about like the banks that you're talking about. Like, does it is it like a gradual does the seafloor decline gradually there for a little while? And the like, what was the depth that the bait was pushing up on? What was the fishing like? Give me a little bit of insight in that. We were fishing, so I was fishing off of Horta. the Azores which is just a very small island I think the population is 6 ,000 so only 6 ,000 people live on that little island and it was very remote you know they had the bar company operation was there the uno mass port fishing operation was there as well as the charter fleet we did four days fishing raised a couple couple nice Katie (27:19.022) Blue Marla, I think we caught four from six over that time, as well as hooked onto a really, really big bluefin tuna. I estimated that one to be around 1200 pounds. Yes. Yeah. It looked like somebody dropped a mid -sized bus on top of the lure. And we fought that thing for four hours. my gosh, and the water was that warm? my gosh. Yeah. That's crazy. Yeah. Interesting. Did y 'all see more than one bluefin or was that just the one bluefin you saw? No, there was a school of them feeding and we drove into the school. Yeah. But it was, it was very large sized bluefin tuna. It was not, it was very, very large. my gosh. That's amazing. That is amazing. Sorry. You threw me for, I was not expecting you to tell me that you caught a bluefin, in October and the Azores. Yeah. As well as some Mako sharks. Yeah, the marine life out there was spectacular. It was really something special. The water was very alive, you know, baits, birds, just lots of different sea creatures. You could tell that it was coming to life and everything was very alive out there. That's amazing. And was that when the water temp was pretty high or had it already started cooling down a little bit? So I can't recall the exact water temp. you know, on the days that I fished, but I think Azores was as well affected by similar extreme high sea surface temps as well as Madeira, you know, it was record breaking high for all of Portugal last year. That's amazing. That's crazy. So tell me about these banks you mentioned and that the baits baits pushing up there. So how does that work? OK, so they have they have these banks that are off the so they have the island structure of Porta. very similar to Madeira they have the shelf shortly after but further offshore that is essentially underwater volcanoes or you know that form the banks that rise up pretty shallow that are far off the island structure you know a bit further off the island structure like the Condor Bank I believe the Princess Alice Bank three banks Katie (29:47.534) that, pretty close to each other on, on, on in Horta. You know, I can't remember the name of the other one right now, but I definitely remember the Abicondo Bank, Princess Alice Bank. And, How far from Horta and how shallow does it get on those banks or the seamounts? How shallow does it get on the seamounts? Hmm. I think it comes all the way up to. I'm not sure exactly, you know, I'm not sure exactly, but I think it comes up to about 300, 300 meters deep. So it would come up. Yeah. That is very, yeah, that is nice. And they're close to each other. And how far from Horta are they? So I believe one, one starts at about, I think 12 kilometers and the furthest one is. Forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm just roughly remembering from my 10 day trip here, so I don't know specifically exactly, but I think it's somewhere around. Right, you're doing so good. You're doing so good. I think it's about 14 kilometers, 20 kilometers, and something like that. They have some more offshore ones as well too that I did not fish while I was there. They have great structure all over the Azores. Yeah, that sounds like, and again, kilometers and miles, I'm not doing so good with my conversions, but that sounds like they're all like within 15 miles of the island. I believe something like that, right? So that's pretty amazing. Like it's close. It's close. You're not burning a lot of fuel to get out there. I mean, not a terrible amount, but it is rough, especially during October, September, October. It's rough out there. We are most boats wouldn't be able to fully power up and those kinds of swells, but yeah, there's a fairly, you know, not, not terribly far run. That's cool. Okay. Yeah. Let's talk about how the swell changes in that part of the world during that season, because when we were in Madeira, I know I was told that a lot of the boats, like the Luna, you guys go onto the hard in the off season. Can you tell me why? And. Katie (32:08.782) And and how and that's I'm assuming that those swells affect the Azores as well So I think one of the bigger reasons that we pull the boats out usually in October is because The marlin season tends to slow down. We wouldn't find that the marlin migrate through this area much after that time You know, they they've had years and they've had periods of time where it would be calm here through december january, you know as as yet a year would change, you know, some years it could be very rough here in October or even May and June could be very rough here, depending on what the global atmosphere is like, you know. Yeah. So I think that's a big reason we pull the boats out here in October is just because the maling migration starts to slow down. But why wouldn't you leave it in the slip? Why? Why do you take the boat out of the water? You don't see that in a lot of other parts of the world. Like you when when it's the off season, the boat just sits in the slip. You know, like it's not, we're not going to take the boat out of the water in the off season unless it's an outboard. Right. So, why, why do you guys do that? And you see that throughout the entire fleet for the most part, correct? Yeah. Yep. So, a lot of the boats, a lot of the sport fishing boats here would, the captains, the crews would leave. It would leave, you know, go to Latin America, the United States, different parts of Europe and. You know, it's a risk. It's always a risk because we do have forecasts of what it should be like, you know, maybe two weeks in advance, but it's never, you're never, you're never going to know if it's going to be one of those years where you're going to have a lot of swells coming through and it might, it might damage, the boat might be damaged in the marina with no captain and crew here to check out for these boats and look after these boats. The owners find it's a lot more safe. to have them out in the water where they can't sink. Truth, truth. I know that when we got to Madeira in 2021, the wall, the bulkhead along the outside of the marina had just recently been redone. You could see where a big wave came in and just tore the seawall of the marina down. Am I right? Like, or did I make that up? Yeah, no, yes. Katie (34:31.406) So yeah, they do have big swells that come on to the sea wall and definitely knock bits of concrete off of that retaining wall that's protecting the marina. I mean, we lost a cleat. We lost a cleat when we were there from one wave just coming in and just ripping the boat. And that was in the middle of the calm season. And we're fishing in Madeira, you're fishing the lee of the island. So it is like a swimming pool out there. It's really nice. It's really close to shore. And every now and then you see two granders behind your spread. So, that's so cool. And the hard, so tell us about the boatyard in Madeira because my mind was kind of blown by that as well. We talked about how the Island is super steep. So there's not a lot of places to have a boatyard. Can you get, can you give us a little details on it? Okay, so the boatyard in Madeira is situated actually under the airport runway. And the airport runway, it's built on stilts. So it's a huge concrete structure. And yeah, they have the lovely company Technovia that has the boatyard service there. And they're always very responsive and helping us out, giving us a hand with whatever we need down there at the outhaul spot. It's pretty cool. It's an interesting place. That's so cool. Yeah, it's crazy. It's so crazy, you guys. I've never seen an airport runway that is superimposed over the ground. To have a bunch of yachts sitting under it in the boatyard is just like a Twilight Zone type experience. But Madeira is known, the airport's known for its... lack of a better word, but it's sketchiness. It's a crazy plane landing to get into Madeira. It's like a one -shot, one -shot. You can't miss, you can't miss. Those pilots. Have you flown in and out of Madeira a lot, Curtis? I'm assuming so. You get there by plane. Yes, absolutely. I've been in and out here a bunch of times now. The airport, I feel like it's fairly safe. Katie (36:51.502) like it's pretty safe you know it does feel sketchy sometimes they do close off the flights quite often they do close off the flights and they reroute them to the smaller island Porto Santo which is a few minutes flight time from here. No it's here in Madeira, it's part of Madeira. Porto Santo yeah okay yes that makes sense yeah south southeast of Madeira right? I believe so yes. Yeah. Cool. yeah, I never made it over there. Yeah. Yeah. Lovely little Island. Sometimes they do reroute the flights to Azores as well too, just depending on what the local weather conditions are like. Yeah, that's awesome. Tell us a little bit about the fleet in Madeira. You have a super international fleet there. You've got some local teams, but also teams from all sorts of different countries. Can you tell us a little bit about the size of the fleet and where people come from? So there's a, I consider it to be a small charter fleet, maybe five to eight boats or so that operate out of the, out of Madeira. And yeah, like you said, most of them, I mean, my dad runs the Pesca Grossa, I run the Luna. They have a couple of the boats with Madeira on teams, but not too many foreign people. I think they have a couple of guys from England as well too. But not that many people actually run charter boats down here. They got a small group of English guys, me and my dad and a couple local guys as well that run charter boats. That's cool. It's a great little marina, you guys. If you have a chance to fish out there, definitely take it. And I'll link Curtis's information in the description below so you can... Schedule a charter with him because he's a heck of a fisherman as you as you know from this episode He's had all sorts of experience now Curtis Tell me like your favorite day on the water in Madeira My favorite day on the water. I think it was probably this week Monday. It was a pretty good one. I really enjoyed that Yeah, maybe I didn't know going to full detail exactly as to how everything played out, but Katie (39:11.182) It was, I think that was probably one of my best moments, you know, fishing wise. It's been great. If you want to go into detail now, like let's hear it again. I mean, I'm down to sit through, I want to hear it again. Yeah. I mean, no, just in terms of not what happened, just other terms of the day, you know, like, like you said, it was their honeymoon and there were two fish, you know, so that was quite amazing. That was mind boggling for me, you know. I've seen big ones here traveling in twos before, as well as schools and pods. But just having two of them and spread like that, very similar size and actually being able to catch one and weigh one, I think, it's definitely one of my favorite experiences. That's so special. That's so special. I had a podcast with a captain, Chris Donato in Kona, and he was telling me that when he sees a big fish, a lot of times he'll see smaller fish around it. So like a female and most likely males around it. So I find it really interesting that you had two big fish in your spread at the same time. And I just like, I mean, I'm blown away by it, honestly. And y 'all hadn't seen anything the entire day, right? Like that was, those were the first fish you saw. Yeah. The first blue mollins that we saw. Yeah. We were having quite a day, you know, in terms of mark and bait, you know, and we were checking our satellite imagery, trying to locate where we might find a little bit of warmer water. And yeah, it was, it was, it was really something, you know, I mean. Do you see it in your dreams when you close your eyes at night? I mean, sometimes, yeah, I think back in the memory quite often, especially this week, you know. Definitely. Of course. It's my memory, memory, know? Yeah, I really enjoyed that. It was pretty good. Would you say that you've been fishing your whole life for that experience? I wouldn't say for that experience, but yeah, that's definitely one of the what you would target to hunt the type of fish that I would be targeting, especially when I come here to Madera, Madeira, know, I tried to target blue mullet over 500 pounds. That being well over that. Katie (41:37.102) is definitely the size fish that came at the target. Definitely. What does it mean to you to have finally weighed a grander? And Madeira, I mean, you've been fishing there for 14 years. You said you've caught a handful that you think are over the mark, but to have it, to bring it back to the dock, to catch it within 40 minutes, that's amazing. And to bring it back to the dock and weigh it and it's over the mark, it's got to be just a really proud moment for you. Can you tell me a little bit about what that experience is like? Cause I don't know what it feels like and I want to know what it's like and what it means to you specifically. Interesting. So coming back to the doc we did, we went and we were unsure if it would weigh a thousand pounds, you know, we knew it was big. We did not know it was that big, you know, so there was some speculation as to what the weight actually might be on the boat still. So we would anticipating it to be in the region of 900 to a thousand pounds you know with with our we just had a little a little measuring tape on the boat a little small one 120 inches i believe and we measured the fish the length of the fish and it took up the whole tape you know we weren't able to measure the whole fish because the tail was in the water still as well too so we're actually able to get a proper measurement on the fish until got it on the crane and off the boat. So it had a pretty big half girth at 39 inches. So we did realize that it was a very girthy fish, very fat fish. So we didn't know it had the girth of a grander, but we weren't sure about the length because the scale, the measuring tape we had didn't let us, but we pulled it off the boat and got it on the scale. found out it was 1 ,048. So it was in that moment, it was pretty cool to know that it was over ground because you know, those type of fish, like you say, blue marlin fishermen hunt for a lifetime. Yes, I think it is a fish of a lifetime. It is so cool. Now, what made y 'all decide, did the fish come up dead or did you decide to swing the gaff? So it came up tail wrapped on the leader, came up tail wrapped. Katie (43:59.31) it was pretty docile, but, we saw that the fish was pretty huge, you know, thought it was over the mark. So we decided to on both it. Yeah. It was, you know, it was a, it wasn't a very lively fish because it's been tail wrapped, you know, we were pulling it backwards for I think probably 20 minutes or 30 minutes of the 20 minute fight, but, which you guys. When that happens, that means that the fish is, it can't breathe. So it's kind of unfortunate. It's super unfortunate when a fish gets tail wrapped. But if it's a fish of that size and you're going to weigh it, it's safer for the team, you know, in these situations for this fish to be docile. They can really, you know, cause some, some havoc and it, it's a precious memory for everyone. The see, killing a fish is never like that fun. but also these fishermen, we pursue this experience our entire lives. And Curtis, do you think that now that you've achieved this, is it gonna affect the way you hit the water every day? Or do you see any differences in your mindset or your experience? No, not in particular. I don't think I see, I view fishing much differently. I always knew, you know, situations and they have fish out here that do exist like that. And I don't think it's mentally going to change the way that I approach fishing or I attach myself to fishing. You know, I'm a second generation fisherman, so I always knew fishing is a big part of my life. And I always plan to do fishing trips for the rest of my life. So, you know, I mean, I really do love fishing and I'm passionate about it, but I don't think it's changed the way I view fishing. What do you think you love so much about fishing? What do you think keeps calling you back to the ocean? Okay. I mean, obviously it's in your blood. Yeah. That's a good question. I'm very passionate about it, marine ecosystems. I love seeing fish in the natural environments. Being out there in the ocean, in Madeira, the ocean's very beautiful, fresh air, very peaceful. All great things I love about my job. Katie (46:22.158) It beats working in an office or something like this. So I think that's why I'm very passionate about it. You know, just it's a lovely environment out there and a very enjoyable, enjoyable job. I couldn't agree more. I love being on the ocean. It's just the way it makes you feel is so peaceful. And you guys, so you have Big Blue Marlin and Madeira. We've talked about that. What other fish are you catching out? there? Like, is there another fish that you target when you're fishing those waters? So, we do target big eye tuna when they are around, some large sized big eye tuna. Some of them exceeding 300 pounds, you know, other than that, we try deep dropping some, for different species of group of shark that they have here. you know, we catch all sorts of crazy creatures from the deep without deep drop in equipment. So We've been trying that as well as the wahoo fish in here is good as well too. They do have decent wahoo fish in here. But while I'm here in Madeira, I try to target my focus around fishing for big blue mollusk. It's definitely where I try to focus most of my thought. Now, why do you think like I find that interesting? Because me too, like I love tuna. I love wahoo. You know, I love eating fish. But my passion is with chasing the billfish. Like I want the billfish, you want the billfish, even though most of the time it's catch and release. Like why do you think that is? Like what is it about bill fishing? That's a good question. Well, it's visually, visually it's very, it's phenomenal. You know, when you see a mile enabled to trace one of these lures and you know, take multiple hits at it or even just one single hit go airborne or, whatever they do, you know, it's visually spectacular. So it's breathtaking in that sense. Katie (48:31.214) I mean, in terms of, you know, I just grew up blue marlin fishing. You know, my dad was always a very avid blue marlin fisherman, you know. And I guess that always seemed to be the targeted species that he would try to catch as well too, you know. So for me, it's also just following along those lines and just being very passionate about that, you know. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And those big guy, you know, you mentioned that they get really big. We, I mean, we caught a handful of really big, big, big guy when we were in Madeira in the sunset hours. in the summertime, the sunsets really late. I mean, am I right? I feel like 9 PM was when the sun was setting. So those are some really full days on the water. If you're going the whole, the whole sunlight hours, which we did, but I think most people don't. but, What is, okay, we're gonna wrap it up here pretty soon, but I wanna dive into a little bit with your relationship with Frothy, you know, your dad, who's been passionate about bill fishing his whole life. You have both been fishing the Caribbean and Madeira fisheries for a long time. And what, like as a kid, what is your best memory of fishing with your dad? Whether it be like on the boat with him or when he came back to the dock, like what's your most impressive, like impressionable is what I meant to say, impressionable memory of your dad at your like early ages of life? Like it could, I could even ask like, what's your first fishing memory? That's a good one. Yeah. So I think a lot of my most prized memories with my dad are some of the earlier fishing experiences, some of the first fishing trips we ever been on, you know, my first blue marlin. my first fish, you know. In terms of details of exactly what happened on those days and where we were fishing, you know, I can't really remember, but I definitely do remember, you know, fishing with him, you know, in lakes and stuff when I was a young child and, you know, catching different species of lake fish and as well as going offshore and catching blue marlin and tuna. I think I got my first one when I was nine years old or so. And Katie (50:49.83) That was truly a very good memory with my dad. Fishing here in Madeira, I had some amazing experiences. I think it was in 2015. I was fishing here with my dad on the Pesca Grossa as well too. We had a really amazing day as well too. We were fishing, I think it was similar, it was around four o 'clock in the evening and we were coming in from a long day, no fish. We were just coming in and it was four o 'clock and... We had a big one take on the left, on the right long I believe it was. Take the lure and dump out a bunch of line. Nobody saw the bite. And I was clearing the spread, I cleared in the spread and I pulled in the left short and about a 700 pound fish or so came and ate that lure as well too. So we had two on at the same time. And we caught the 700 pounder and then we got to the other one and. We brought it to the boat and we thought that that one was 1 ,100 pounds. You know, so that was probably the best experience I had with my dad in terms of a good fishing day as well too. So it's interesting to know that the bigger ones do travel in twos and multiple. That is so incredible. That's so cool. And I love, my gosh, I loved it. Like one hit. and then you're clearing the spread. So the speed of the lure changed. There's stuff going on and it enticed another bite from another fish, you know, like already in like going back to your story just a few days ago where you had one hit the short and then go into the long, like it's already aggressively feeding, which might be why a second fish was enticed to come up and hit that right short again. And it's just like, that's so cool. Like it just goes to show that like making changes in the spread can really play a key role in getting these fish to bite. But the fact that you had that memory, like what were you like 14, 15 years old and you have that memory with your dad on a double big fish double. So did you all release that 1100 pounder? Yes, we did. Yeah. Or that big girl. Yeah, we did. Yeah. Yes, we did. That's amazing. That's so cool. That's so cool, Curtis. Katie (53:09.606) Yeah, I love it. And like even, you know, and in a lot of places in the world, especially in the summertime, we have a lot of tournaments going on, especially in the Gulf and Eastern Atlantic. And killing this fish, it's part of it, but it's not always part of it. You know, like releasing fish in the bill fishing world is more often than not what happens. And as fishermen, we're so passionate about the conservation. And I think it's interesting, you know, having this conversation with you, Curtis, you're talking about the seasons, what you're seeing, there's two big fish at the same time. A lot of what we know about these fish, we know from recreational fishermen, charter fishermen that are out there on the water every day. We know their migration patterns a little bit more than we would if we weren't out there on the water every day and every season. I think that's so cool. So Curtis. Congratulations so much on your grander. I'm so proud of you. I'm so excited for you. Can you tell our listeners where they can find you and where they can book a charter with Luna? Absolutely. Thank you very much. I mean, for having me as well. You could find a Madeira Sportfishing or my Facebook, Curtis De Silva on Facebook or Instagram. And yeah, more than happy to. to pick you guys especially if you have anybody that is interested. Are you also running charters in Southern Caribbean? Yeah. So my brother owns and operates 43 Beatrum in Grenada. And I work on him as a mate with him during the season over there. Perfect. So I'll make sure to tag those operations in the description below. So you guys Check those out if you want to book with Curtis. I highly recommend. He's a great time. And Curtis, you know, do you have any last words for the listeners or anything you want to say to close out? No, thank you very much. I appreciate the podcast. It's been great. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. And it's been great. You're so awesome, Curtis. I really appreciate the chat and we'll talk soon. And that's a wrap. If you like this episode, please feel free to share. If you're watching on YouTube, Katie (55:27.59) feel free to like, share, and subscribe. And if you listen to it, do check out the YouTube video because Curtis has shared some good photo and video content to support our conversation. Y 'all don't stop chasing your wild and we'll be seeing you out there.

Liz joins us for this week's episode to discuss her family's 7-night southern Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Magic. Liz…

This week, we sit down with my sister Amanda and her boyfriend Cam to discuss their recent 8-day sailing on the Carnival Vista. They cruised down to the Southern Caribbean and visited Aruba, Bonaire, and Grand Turk. Ready to book a cruise with Cruise Conversations? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out our form or send us a text at (704) 313-8556 for latest pricing!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have a question or topic suggestions for a future episode? DM us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CruiseConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or send us an email at cruiseconversations@gmail.com. Follow along on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cruiseconversations/support

This week we have an exciting episode for you. We recently visited two islands in the Southern Caribbean and wanted to do a comparison of the two. If you're planning a trip and would like to weigh the pros and cons of each island, this episode is perfect for you. Join us as we debate the merits of Curacao versus Aruba, this or that style? Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Listen to our Aruba Episodes How to Visit Aruba Both On & Off The Beaten Path What You Need to Know About Aruba Listen to our Curaçao Episode here Discovering Curaçao Find your Perfect Stay at sunshinetravelers.com/booking Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Sign up for free travel deals and exclusive content here. Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Music Credit Music by OYStudio from Pixabay ;

Send us a Text Message and let us know how you enjoyed the show.Ep#196: Join hosts, Helen Edwards and January Liddell for Part 2: Seas of Celebration: A Family and Friends Cruise Adventure. In this episode we share our epic experience on what it was like to sail aboard Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas on an 8-day Southern Caribbean cruise with 55 of our friends and family. We discuss our memorable experience cruising and running into friends and family all over the ship, and share some fun tips we want to pass along for future cruisers. Please leave us a review, subscribe, and share. Thank you!Disclaimer:  The hosts of this show are not doctors, therapists, psychologists, lawyers, or medical professionals of any kind. Although some of our guests are professionals in these areas, be advised if you have any life-threatening medical conditions or mental health, please see your doctor. National Suicide Hotline: 988    Helen Edwards is a Financial Strategist, Host to the Sexy Freedom Media Podcast, and International Author of Nothing Sexier Than Freedom & Your Inner Evolution. More information on events, services, products, and to get your book, click here: https://linktr.ee/sexyfreedommedia January Liddell is a Financial Expert, author, and military wife. Click our Link below to find more information on us and our offers today! More info here: https://januaryliddell.com/   Support the show "Buy us a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Helofajourney https://www.buymeacoffee.com/januarylidl Support the Show.

In this episode, we are heading to the stunning island of Aruba, located just 20 miles north of Venezuela in the Southern Caribbean. It's a popular destination for North American travelers who want to soak up the sun and enjoy the sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. While many visitors prefer to stay at the luxurious resorts, we are more interested in exploring the local culture and cuisine. So, pack your bags and join us as we embark on our journey to Aruba. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Link to the EZ Raider Tour we loved! Ask for Carlos as your guide! Other Off road and 4 Wheel Drive Tours on Aruba After our visit we would say to choose the Aruba Ocean Club over the Aruba Surf Club where we had our room. You can Visit Flamingo Beach by staying at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Find your Perfect Stay at sunshinetravelers.com/booking Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Sign up for free travel deals and exclusive content here. Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Music Credit Music by OYStudio from Pixabay

Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism & Marketing, Inc., and Ian Gooding-Edghill, minister of tourism and international transport for Barbados, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at Seatrade Global in Miami about the growth of the island's cruise industry, highlighting increased passenger numbers and calls, and plans to become a southern Caribbean hub. They also discuss efforts to boost airlift from the U.S. and U.K., new hotels and attractions, and programs like Elite Travel Training and fam trips to support travel advisors. A travel advisor portal will be available soon. For more information, visit www.visitbarbados.org. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Saint Lucia is benefiting from a US-AID project aimed at addressing the high rates of crime and violence in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean region. For details on these government developments and more, visit www.govt.lc

A Southern Caribbean review of Carnival Vista after its dry dock. Dan Skilken, President of TripInsurance.com stops by to answer some listener questions on the Norwegian Cruise Line guests being stranded in Africa and medical conditions on a cruise ship. Staff writer Richard Simms drops by with cruise news. 

A review of a nine-night Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam that included a stop at the ABC islands, and Carnival Corporation's private island Half Moon Cay. 

Celebrity Cruises Panama Canal & Ship Classes REVIEW. Larry Jackson of Cruise Holidays of Viera joins Ken live from the Celebrity Beyond for a mini review of Larry's favorite Celebrity Cruise itinerary, an 11 night Southern Caribbean and Partial Panama Canal cruise. Larry details what make this cruise so popular from experiencing a partial transit of the Panama Canal, dipping ones toes in both the Atlantic and Pacific on one cruise and then finding time for a visit to South America and the ABC Islands. All in one cruise. From there Ken and Larry discuss the differences in the two most popular classes of ships Celebrity Cruises have in their fleet. The Solstice Class including Celebrity Solstice, Eclipse, Equinox, Silhouette, and Reflection. And the Edge Class including; Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent and coming in 2025 the Xcel. Larry highlights some of the new features on the Beyond and the Edge Class with a focus on the dining options and how they differ plus a few of his favorite places on board such as the pool and resort deck. Of particular interest are the classes of suites on board and the Retreat which is Celebrity's ships with in ships concept. Ken asks Larry if it is fair to compare the Retreat to the luxury cruise lines such as Silversea and Regent. Larry gives a brief history lesson on the evolution of suites and suite classes on Celebrity, while also offering his thoughts and those of his guests about Celebrity's balcony innovation the "Infinite Veranda" Larry and Ken wrap up with a look at the available internet on board todays ships and reminisce about the bad old days of cruise ship internet connectivity . And finally Larry concludes with his praise of Celebrity Cruises being the best value at sea based on his personal experience and the feedback from the thousands of guests he has put on board Celebrity Cruises of the years .

A Southern Caribbean review of Norwegian Viva from San Juan, Puero Rico. 

Frank joins us again this week to discuss his sailing aboard the Disney Fantasy through the Southern Caribbean. This is…

MSC Seaside Diverts To Evacuate Passenger is the top story on this Thanksgiving Day on the Travel and Cruise Industry News Podcast, November 23, 2023 with Chillie Falls. A medical emergency caused MSC Cruises' MSC Seaside to deviate from her planned route, a 6-night Southern Caribbean cruise, so a guest requiring critical medical attention could be evacuated from the ship via helicopter. Also today, Former Royal Caribbean Ship To Be Retired and Scrapped; Two Ships Meet In Antarctica; Mansion For Former CEO For Sale; Malaga Supplies LNG; Silver Explorer Final Voyage For Silversea; Celebrity Ascent Welcomes First Guests; and Lots More at 11 AM EST. To access video feed, CLICK HERE Thanks for visiting my channel. Travel Hacker's Toolkit https://bit.ly/travelhackertools NYTimes The Daily, the flagship NYT podcast with a massive audience. "Vacationing In The Time Of Covid" https://nyti.ms/3QuRwOS To access the Travel and Cruise Industry News podcast; https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/trav... or go to https://accessadventure.net/ To subscribe: http://bit.ly/chi-fal As always, I appreciate super chats or any other donation to support my channel. For your convenience, please visit: https://paypal.me/chillie9264?locale.... Chillie's Cruise Schedule: https://accessadventure.net/chillies-... For your special needs, contact me, or Whill.inc/US, at (844) 699-4455 .or Scootaround, For information on cruises, or special needs travel, contact me or Incredible Memories Travel Check out my streaming partner: https://streamyard.com?pal=4889083533852672 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChilliesCruises Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chillie.falls Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChillieFalls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chilliefalls/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chilliescruises Business Email: chillie@chilliefalls.com Accessible Travel Blog: https://accessadventure.net/ Chillie Chats With Sue Bryant, London Times Cruise Editor About Emerald Azzurra https://youtu.be/_bnrkqPf2gE Chillie Chats With Disability Advocate Kristy Durso https://youtube.com/live/YNyiUDyW82o Chillie Chats with Sylvia Longmire, Ambassador for Scootaround and WHILL Powerchairs https://youtu.be/VovRJ5Fh1I8 Chillie Chats With Ali Ingersoll, disability advocate and 2023 Ms Wheelchair America https://youtu.be/o31zOMYYqiw Chillie Chats With Special Guest Kevin Martin, 30 And A Wake Up https://youtube.com/live/7Q5AFPDD0YY Chillie Chats with Mark Chilutti on Accessibility of Oasis of the Seas https://youtu.be/ibuJe7sfvrA Chillie Chats With Kelly Narowski, Disability Rights Advocate and Avid Traveler https://youtube.com/live/YKzSpi8jdB0 Casino Loyalty Programs with Sue Sherer https://youtu.be/p0SsewJC_cE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 28, our host, Captain Ricky Wheeler, talks with his good friend Matthew Milne. Matthew has spent the first decade of his adult life as a professional mate  fishing in some great locations throughout the world such as Cape Verdes, Madeira, Dominican Republic, Southern Caribbean, and also New Jersey with Ricky. These days he spends half of his time in Cape Verde Islands chasing Blue Marlin, and the other half of his year as home in Trinidad running tarpon charters on his 31' center console. Lots of blue marlin fishing excitement and experiences along with some tarpon talk as well. To fish with our guest, Matthew Milne, in Trinidad for tarpon or one of his other locations he is a mate at, contact Matthew via email matthewmilne94@gmail.comTo fish with our host, Captain Ricky Wheeler, aboard his beautiful 60' Custom Sportfishing Boat, go to EuphoriaSportfishing.comIf you would like our host, Ricky Wheeler, to help you sell your boat/yacht or help you with searching for and buying a boat/yacht, please email:RickyWheeler@UnitedYacht.comFor online fishing courses, go to our website Courses.SaltwaterEuphoria.comCLICK HERE to see the Saltwater Euphoria Job BoardIf you are a Sportfishing Mate, Sportfishing Captain, or an aspiring mate or captain looking for an opportunity, please email us at info@saltwatereuphoria.com and we will get you on our SE Job Board. Send your up-to-date resume, a picture or two of yourself, and a short cover letter stating who you are and the type of work/sportfishing program you are looking to work with.  Saltwater Euphoria Podcast Sponsors:+Tackle Direct - click the link to go to the page with Ricky Wheeler's Tuna Essentials - tdhook.co/WHEELER+Strike Point Tackle - http://www.strikepointtackle.com/shopUse discount code RICKY10 at Checkout on Strike Point Tackle's Website for 10% off anything on their website.+Saltwater Euphoria - https://www.saltwatereuphoria.com/+Euphoria Sportfishing - https://www.euphoriasportfishing.com/You can follow the following on Instagram:CaptainRickyWheeler: @CaptainRickyWheelerSaltwater Euphoria: @SaltwaterEuphoriaEuphoria Sportfishing: @EuphoriaSportfishingMatthew Milne: @milfroyIf you like this podcast please be sure to click that FOLLOW button and also spread the word by sharing this episode with your friends or whatever social channels you are on.  We appreciate your support.

An eight-night Southern Caribbean review of Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Celebration. 

I am delighted to welcome this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, Laura Pedlar, creator of Cruise Lifestyle Blog. I got to know Laura a few years ago when I featured Cruise Lifestyle in my second cruising book, Cruising Interrupted amzn.to/3seFU8y, in a section called “Bloggers: Cruise Community Champions.When I started writing Laura's story she was coming off a great 2019–a year of firsts. Laura had experienced her first river cruise, which was on AmaWaterways AmaMagna on the Danube; her first time on an inaugural cruise, the launch of Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas with an amazing itinerary leaving from Barcelona, through the Suez Canal, to Dubai; and, she attended her first UK Cruise Lines International Association Conference, an indication that you have arrived as a UK cruise influencer. Perhaps most importantly it was Laura's first year hosting Cruise Hour, as that is how I met her. Cruise Hour is a weekly online gathering of cruise enthusiasts who discuss fun topics about cruising including cuisine, fun things to do, excursions, destinations, etc. I happened upon Cruise Hour on Twitter and started posting responses to the fun questions posed by Laura, often proudly accompanying my responses with cruise photos, typically of my cruising partner granddaughter. I kind of thought Cruise Hour was a catchy Twitter name—and didn't realize it referred to an actual hour! I was fairly new to social media, so I didn't “get” live events early on. Despite being named Cruise Hour, I thought it was just an ongoing thread about various cruise topics. It took me a while to notice that my responses tended to be many hours, even days, after the Cruise Hour discussion ended and the participants had long moved on to other parts of social media, or were asleep—Laura was hosting the discussion group UK, a six-hour time difference from me in Florida! I told Laura that story when I was interviewing her for Cruising Interrupted, and she laughed, assuring me that others would respond even later than I used to. (I think she was trying to make me feel not so “duh.”)Laura continued that torrid pace of cruise highlights into 2020 with a January two-week Southern Caribbean cruise on P&O Britannia to Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica, Saint Vincent and Bonaire. Then the pandemic happened.Support the show

A review of Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam to the Southern Caribbean. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.

We are back for episode two of our series in commemoration of the United Nations International Day for People of African Descent! Listen in as Ikram, Brenda, and I talk with Dr. Barbara G. Reynolds, Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on the importance of the International Day for People of African Descent, the International Decade for People of African Descent, the role of Member States in promoting the Decade, and addressing racial inequality through an intersectional lens. Ms. Reynolds is the Vice-President for Administration, Advancement and Planning at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. She served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Guyana from August 2014 to September 2019. Prior to this, Ms Reynolds was Head of Education for Save the Children UK, after having spent the previous two decades with UNICEF in programme, management and representational roles at Headquarters and country offices. Ms. Reynolds began her professional career as a teacher and continues to be involved in education. She Co-Chairs the CARICOM Digital Skills Task Force and is a Member of the Independent Technical Advisor Panel for the Global Partnership for Education. She is an active human rights professional, and an experienced human rights and gender mainstreaming facilitator. She holds a BA Education (Caribbean Union College), MA in Curriculum and Teaching (Howard University), the Post-Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (University of London) EdD in International Education Development/Curriculum and Instruction (Columbia University) and the MSt in International Human Rights Law (University of Oxford). Ms Reynolds' second working language is Portuguese. Mandate of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

We are back for episode two of our series in commemoration of the United Nations International Day for People of African Descent! Listen in as Ikram, Brenda, and I talk with Dr. Barbara G. Reynolds, Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on the importance of the International Day for People of African Descent, the International Decade for People of African Descent, the role of Member States in promoting the Decade, and addressing racial inequality through an intersectional lens. Ms. Reynolds is the Vice-President for Administration, Advancement and Planning at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. She served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Guyana from August 2014 to September 2019. Prior to this, Ms Reynolds was Head of Education for Save the Children UK, after having spent the previous two decades with UNICEF in programme, management and representational roles at Headquarters and country offices. Ms. Reynolds began her professional career as a teacher and continues to be involved in education. She Co-Chairs the CARICOM Digital Skills Task Force and is a Member of the Independent Technical Advisor Panel for the Global Partnership for Education. She is an active human rights professional, and an experienced human rights and gender mainstreaming facilitator. She holds a BA Education (Caribbean Union College), MA in Curriculum and Teaching (Howard University), the Post-Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (University of London) EdD in International Education Development/Curriculum and Instruction (Columbia University) and the MSt in International Human Rights Law (University of Oxford). Ms Reynolds' second working language is Portuguese. Mandate of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

Jenni joins us this week to discuss her family's first time sailing the Disney Magic to the Southern Caribbean. This…

Kathleen from Plenty of Sunshine Travel met with Lori from Holland America for this week's cruise chat. . Lori did a quick brand overview. Lori mentioned all of the great music venues around the ships. Holland America is a great choice for people who enjoy music! Holland America has 11 perfectly sized ships in four categories. Pinnacle Class has three ships which hosts 2,650 guests. Signature Class has two ships which hosts 2,104 guests. Vista Class has four ships which hosts 1.964 guests. Rotterdam Class has two ships which hosts 1,432 guests. Holland America started doing Alaska Itineraries in 1947. They were the first cruise line in Alaska. When you are going to Alaska, you should extend your stay and do a cruise tour. You can visit Denali or do a mix of both the Yukon and Denali. Then we dove into some really great itineraries. Alaska Cruise Itineraries Round Trip Alaska Cruise Itineraries Round-Trip Seattle, which departs on Saturdays. Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Straight Point, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Alaska Explora via Glacier Bay Roundtrip Seattle. Juneau, Stevens Passage, Ketchikan, Puget Sound, Victoria, BC. Weekly departures from May through late September . 14-Day Great Alaska Explorer. To and From Vancouver. Vancouver, Inside Passage, Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Kodiak, Anchorage, Valdez. On Nieuw Amsterdam - May 2023On Noordam - September 2023 Adding the cruise tour lets you visit Denali National Park and the Yukon via the domed deluxe train! This is the best way to see Alaska! . Next, we moved on to the 7-day Viking Sagas on Amsterdam. You will visit Sognefjord, Flam, Stavanger, Oslo, Oslofjord, Kristiansand., The Netherlands Day At Sea, Scenic Cruising Oslofiord, Oslo. Norway, Kristiansand Norway, Stavanger. Norway, Scenic Cruising Sognefiord, Flam. Norway, Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Collectors Voyages allow guests to combine 2 shorter itineraries into an in-depth exploration of the Mediterranean. 12-day Greek Odyssey + 12-day Mediterranean Tapestry = 24-day Magic of the Mediterranean In the Caribbean, Holland America has a variety of Itineraries. Eastern Caribbean, 7-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale Western Caribbean 7-day roundtrip Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. Southern Caribbean 7-Day Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Southern Caribbean Wayfarer 11-day Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Southern Wayfarer 14-day roundtrip Fort Lauderdale. Panama Canal Sunfarer Southern Caribbean 11-day Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale & 21-day Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale. Or a 51 or 56-day Tales of the South Pacific Roundtrip from Vancouver. Holland also has a 34-day South Pacific Crossing from San Deigo. We also looked at the 35-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas from San Deigo on February 27, 2024, & February 15, 2025. 25 or 29-day South Pacific Crossing on April 6, 2024, & March 30, 2025. Lastly, we looked at my favourite itinerary on Westerdam Roundtrip Seattle on June 9, 2024. This is the 28-day Arctic Circle Solstice. Visit: Little Diomede Island, Nome, College Fjord, Prince William Sound, Seward, Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Homer, Sitka, Glacier Bay, National Park, Haines (Skagway) Tracy Arm, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert. Seattle. . If you want to learn more about Holland America or any other cruise lines I have met with. Please get in touch with me at info@PlentyofSunshineTravel.com. You can also fill out this simple form https://bit.ly/3mxFUNd, and I will get back to you. . Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to ensure you catch all upcoming cruise videos. . If you want to see the images on this weeks episode, click HERE to go to our YouTube Channel . Search #PlentyofSunshineTravel on Facebook or Instagram to see our posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cruisingthewavespodcast/message

Kathleen from Plenty of Sunshine Travel met with Laura from Celebrity Cruise Line for this week's cruise chat. . The 2023 Winter schedule is as follows: Celebrity Apex will be doing 7 nights Eastern/Western out of Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity Beyond will be doing 7 nights Eastern/Western out of Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity Reflection will be doing 7 nights Eastern/Western out of Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity Millennium will be doing 7 nights Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. Celebrity also has Longer Caribbean cruises: Celebrity Constellation out of Tampa does 10/11N Southern & Panama Canal Celebrity Edge out of Fort Lauderdale does 10/11N Southern & Panama Canal Celebrity Equinox out of Fort Lauderdale does 9, 10, & 11N Ultimate Caribbean Celebrity Silhouette out of Miami does 10 night Eastern Caribbean. For shorter Caribbean cruises: Celebrity Summit out of Miami does 4 & 5 night cruises to the Bahamas Celebrity Summit out of Miami does 4 & 5 night cruises to the Bahamas & Mexico. Celebrity Ascent is coming in December 2023, BUT I can book you now for her sailings. 2023 Europe Season Highlights New Destinations & Overnights New Ports! Kotka, Finland Returning with Overnights in Alexandria, Egypt Returning Ports Flam, Norway Nearly 50 Overnight stays in 13 cities. CELEBRITY EDGE. WESTERN MED. FULL SEASON 7-Night Spain, France & Italy 7-Night Italy, France & Spain Ports of call: Ajaccio, Cannes, Florence, Ibiza. Palma de Mallorca, Portofino, Valencia. Rome & Barcelona All 7-Night itineraries on Edge stop in Florence Portofino & Ajaccio CELEBRITY INFINITY EASTERN MED. SUMMER PROGRAM 7N Greek Islands 7N Greece, Turkey & Croatia 7N Greece & Croatia PORTS OF CALLS Athens, Dubrovnik, Ephesus, Hydra, Kolor, Mykonos, Nafolio, Rhodes, Santorini, Split, Thessaloniki, Venice (Ravenna), Zakynthos CELEBRITY APEX, CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE, NORWEGIAN FJORDS ALL SEASON 7N Norwegian Fjords - Alesund, Bergen, Flam, Geiranger Haugesund, Olden 7N Norwegian Fjords - Alesund, Bergen, Kristiansand, Geirganger Molde, Olden & Stavanger 7N Spain & Portugal RT Southampton One sailing only with stops in Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & La Coruna CELEBRITY SOLSTICE 7-NT Alaska Dawes Glacier 9-NT Ultimate Alaska PORTS Seattle, Washington Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Victoria, British Columbia, Inside Passage (Cruising), Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier (Cruising) Icy Strait Point (9-NT sailing) Hubbard Glacier (9-NT sailing) Seattle, Washington ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Only ship to visit Victoria. BC - Only ship to visit Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. CELEBRITY ECLIPSE 7-NT Hubbard Glacier PORTS Vancouver, British Columbia Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, (Select Sailings), Sitka, (Select Sailings), Hubbard Glacier (Cruising), Inside Passage (Cruising), Vancouver. British Columbia ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Hubbard Glacier Only ship to visit Sitka. Sails Inside Passage twice in sailing CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM 7-NT Northbound/Southbound Glacier PORTS Vancouver BC or Seward, Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier (Cruising), Inside Passage (Cruising), Vancouver, BC or Seward. ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Hubbard Glacier . If you want to learn more about Celebrity Cruises or any other cruise lines I have met with. Please get in touch with me at info@PlentyofSunshineTravel.com. You can also fill out this simple form https://bit.ly/3mxFUNd, and I will get back to you. . If you want to see the images on this week's podcast, click HERE to see our YouTube Channel. . Search #PlentyofSunshineTravel on Facebook or Instagram to see our posts. . . . #Celebrity #CelebrityCruiseLine #exploretheocean #CelebrityTravelAgent #travelagent #CruiseSpecialist #Cruise #CruiseGuru #TravelAgent #CanadianTravelAgent

Sarah Firisen first came to our attention at International Living when she got in touch about her very enviable life on the southern Caribbean island of Grenada. Soft-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters for snorkeling, and curry goat-filled rotis…we had to know more! When she wrote a two-page article for the March 2022 issue of International Living magazine, we were simply smitten with her descriptions of an island which combines all the palm-fringed, turquoise water fantasies of the region…with a traditional and community-focused way of life that is a million miles from the generic, touristy version of the Caribbean found in the more northerly islands.Sensitive and insightful, evocative and inspiring, Sarah's article portrays an island nation that may not enjoy the same wealth or development as some of its neighbors, but which makes up for all that with benefits—friendliness, acceptance, wonderful weather, a distinctive culture—that are more valuable than any GDP score. We had to invite her onto the podcast for a more detailed look into life on Grenada. Can it truly be that perfect?Settle in and listen to Sarah's inspiring story, as Jim Santos hosts the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Read Sarah's story in the March 2022 issue of International Living magazine: Living Off the Radar in the Southern Caribbean. If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Set in 1940s rural Trinidad, Kevin Jared Hosein's debut novel Hungry Ghosts reflects on the fractures left for the Southern Caribbean island by a complex colonial legacy.

Matt is back from an 8-night Odyssey of the Seas cruise to the Southern Caribbean and shares what he liked and didn't like about this cruise. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: @therclblog Facebook: /royalcaribbeanblog YouTube: royalcaribbeanblog Email: matt@royalcaribbeanblog.com Leave a voicemail: (408) 6ROYAL6 You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS.

To book YOUR own Virgin Voyages Cruise and get extra On Board Credit, click here -- https://bit.ly/BookMyVirginCruise . Kathleen from Plenty of Sunshine Travel met with Danielle from Virgin Voyages for this week's cruise chat. This is a very special episode! This is our 100th episode! . Danielle chatted about some new promos ~ when you sail in the month of November. You will get a $300 bar tab, which is for you to spend as you see fit on whatever bar items you prefer. . There are over 20 locations to eat. Virgin is exclusively for Adults. The ships are designed to allow more space per person with so many sitting areas and spots to sit and relax and enjoy the "Vitamin Sea" . With Virgin Voyages, you will always get $600 in value, included! All of your basic beverages are included, free unlimited Wifi, group workouts and yoga, tips are included, and all of the restaurants are included in your voyage price. There are no restaurants that you need to pay extra for. On each menu, there are one or two items that are an upcharge. But all of the restaurants are included with no upcharge! . Virgin Voyages has four ships. Two have been launched, and two more will be sailing soon. Scarlet Lady ~ Year round 4 and 5 nights in the Caribbean Costa Maya, Riveria Maya, Mexico, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Key West, and each sailing stops in Bimini, Bahamas. . Valiant Lady ~ Summer Three 7 nights itinerary from Barcelona, with overnights in Ibiza & Cannes. . Resilient Lady ~ (May 2023) Summer Two 7 nights from Pireus (Athens) with overnights in Mykonos & Dubrovnik. Fall - 14 nights Ancient Athens to Modern Dubai, 15 nights Dubai Delights to Singapore Sights. 15 nights Singapore, Bali & Sydney. Winter 2023 Two 14 nights Australia, New Zealand & Tasmania. . Brillant Lady ~ Winter 2023 Two 7-night Southern Caribbean from San Juan PR to Aruba, Curacao, St. Lucia, St Kitts, Martinique & more. Now for the SPECIAL!! If you book with me, Kathleen, from Plenty of Sunshine Travel, within SEVEN days, you will get $100 Onboard Credit when you stay in an inside cabin, $200 for Balcony & $400 when you book a suite! I will ALSO gift you up to $600 more! you will get $100 for each friend that you bring along with you! So, that's an extra $100 for each and every cabin ~ up to SIX cabins!! . Bring your friends, and YOU get the credit!!! . . If you are interested in learning more about Virgin Voyages or any other cruise lines I have met with, please contact me at info@PlentyofSunshineTravel.com. . You can also fill out this simple form https://bit.ly/3mxFUNd, and I will get back to you. . . If you want to see the images in this video visit our youtube channel HERE . . . . Search #PlentyofSunshineTravel on Facebook or Instagram to see our posts. . . . #VirginVoyages #VirginCruises #giveaways #Giveaway #ExtraOBC #travelagent #Virgin #cruisespecialist #CruiseGuru #TravelAgent #CanadianTravelAgent

Colin's journey from the big cities and gay communities of Vancouver and Toronto started when he attended a gay group adventure tour in Hawaii.  The experience was life-changing and he knew that he wanted his current path of a career in advertising and marketing to take a drastic change. This quest led him to discover the remote area of the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica, where he bought a piece of beachfront land and opened a B&B starting with 1 room in 2006.  Today, they have 25 rooms, with a restaurant, tour company, hair salon, and supermarket all combined with over 50 employees.  This all started when he was in his early 40s and now at 61, he wants to retire.  He will sell his hotel, and it is his plan to stay in Costa Rica and focus on a new concept geared to retiring gay men 50 plus.    He feels, that while places like Costa Rica are not for everyone, they have a large appeal for those still looking for a sense of adventure and community in their life.  Stay tuned for CR's first residential country club, “Club HEASA”Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds. Capital: San JoséCurrency: Costa Rican colónPopulation: 5.139 million (2021) World BankPresident: Support the showIf you enjoy these podcasts, please make a donation by clicking the coffee cup on any page of our website www.wheredogaysretire.com. Each cup of coffee costs $5 and goes towards bringing you these podcasts in the future.

Colin's journey from the big cities and gay communities of Vancouver and Toronto started when he attended a gay group adventure tour in Hawaii.  The experience was life-changing and he knew that he wanted his current path of a career in advertising and marketing to take a drastic change. This quest led him to discover the remote area of the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica, where he bought a piece of beachfront land and opened a B&B starting with 1 room in 2006.  Today, they have 25 rooms, with a restaurant, tour company, hair salon, and supermarket all combined with over 50 employees.  This all started when he was in his early 40s and now at 61, he wants to retire.  He will sell his hotel, and it is his plan to stay in Costa Rica and focus on a new concept geared to retiring gay men 50 plus.    He feels, that while places like Costa Rica are not for everyone, they have a large appeal for those still looking for a sense of adventure and community in their life.  Stay tuned for CR's first residential country club, “Club HEASA”Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds. Capital: San JoséCurrency: Costa Rican colónPopulation: 5.139 million (2021) World BankSupport the showIf you enjoy these podcasts, please make a donation by clicking the coffee cup on any page of our website www.wheredogaysretire.com. Each cup of coffee costs $5 and goes towards bringing you these podcasts in the future.If you or you know someone who is interested in being a guest on the podcast, please contact me at mark@wheredogaysretire.com. Please join our Where Do Gays Retire Facebook group at Where Do Gays...

Welcome to our Podcast #1,614! We appreciate your listening and hope you find the time to go through the 100's of episodes that we have recorded already. They're short, so listen to a few every day! I promise you will learn all you need to know about one of the happiest countries on the planet! Here's some links that will get you started in learning more about Costa Rica! Check out our NEW COSTA RICA LOVE STORIES! There's ONE THING BETTER than falling in love. . falling in love in COSTA RICA! Here's the link: https://www.costaricagoodnewsreport.com/lovestories.html So many GOOD-NEWS stories coming out of Costa Rica. We'd love to share them with all of you! Way over 100 stories ready right now. Learn all about one if the Happiest Countries on the Planet. . Costa Rica! Here's a link: https://vocal.media/authors/skip-licht Become a "COSTA RICA PURA VIDA" Brand Ambassador & Share the LIFESTYLE with EVERYONE! Here's the link: https://www.costaricagoodnewsreport.com/brandambassador.html Here's a link to the US Embassy here in Costa Rica: https://cr.usembassy.gov/ For more information on acquiring your legal status here in Costa Rica, visit our website at: https://www.costaricaimmigrationandmovingexperts.com Apostilling Your Documents is a Very Integral Part of the Residency Process. Click through on this link for more information: https://www.apostillewilliamedwardlicht.com Our email address is costaricagoodnews@gmail.com We'd love to hear from you! Our short stories / blog postings are located at our Costa Rica Good News Report website. Lots of stories about the life here in paradise! We think you'll really enjoy these: https://www.costaricagoodnewsreport.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/costa-rica-pura-vida/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/costa-rica-pura-vida/support

Larry are just back from a 10 day Southern Caribbean cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises Millennium.  Larry details the cruise and visit to several islands that they have not been there before. Speaking of Celebrity Cruises Larry explains the differences between Celebrity's three classes of ships, Millennium, Solstice and Edge classes.  In cruise news: CDC drops it tiered travel warnings for cruise ships, Larry updates on the Norwegian Escape grounding, Norwegian announces an increase in gratuities. Larry explains river cruising trends its just not Europe anymore.

In the early 2000's, a concerned government official approached Dave Martins. Dave was an iconic musician from the Caribbean, who was the lead vocalist of the band Tradewinds. Someone who had his finger on the pulse of the Southern Caribbean islands. The government official asked him to write a song to quell the ethnic violence in Guyana. In another time, at the turn of the 20th century, Tamilians from Madurai and Dindigul were flocking the ports of Pondicherry, Karikal and Madras waiting to board ships for a better future. What could possibly connect the ethnic violence in Guyana to the ports of Tamil Nadu? This week, in the eight episodes of the series, The Great Migration, we trace the history, mythology and stories of indentured migrants. We discover what connects West Indies Cricket, Jackals, the Mariamman Temples of Tamil Nadu and the Sheetla Devi temples of North India, and what they teach us about the human race. Thanks to Shubham Sharma (https://twitter.com/thatsharmaboy) who graciously aided the research for this episode. Books: 1. Beyond a Boundary by CLR James: - https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00L28MXLS/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1646233334&ref_=tmm_kin_swatch_0&sr=8-1 2. Connie: The Marvellous Life of Learie Constantine (Learie Constantine was a hero of CLR James. Cricketer, political activist, lawyer, T&T's high commissioner to the UK. His Biography: https://www.amazon.in/Connie-Marvellous-Life-Learie-Constantine/dp/0349140391 Songs 3. Hooper and Chanderpaul by Dave Martins: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QrYDNQlBGg 4. Music by Sundar Popo and Ramdew Chaitoe 5. Calypsos by Lord Relator Till then Check out the other episodes of "The Great Migration" Bhojpur, Sexuality and Migration Songs: - https://ivm.today/3LQvFQC Money Orders, Dehradun and Transatlantic Slave Trade: - https://ivm.today/34UHdln Chettiars, Burma and Fiery Dragons: - https://ivm.today/3JOMfyA Gujaratis, Uganda and The Last King of Scotland: - https://ivm.today/33Herns The Malayalis of Pakistan: - https://ivm.today/3Hk67YQ Sindhis, Crocodiles and Abida Parveen: - https://ivm.today/3BRlRRW You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42)a You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

This week I'm peeling back the curtain and giving you a few ideas of where you can sail on your next retreat, as well as what types of itineraries are best depending on the goals of your retreat.   Schedule your Cruise Retreat Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/ritaventures/retreatbrainstorm   Looking for an Innovative Retreat Location? Listen to my Free Audio Series:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/614105998a9a21678c2d48e9   Get in touch: Visit: http://www.ritaventures.net Email: rita@ritaventures.net   Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/ritaventures/ https://www.linkedin.com/ritaperez19/ https://www.youtube.com/ritaventuresllc

Chris joins the show today to talk about the historical significance of the naming of the Cunard Queens, ahead of the announcements next week about Cunard's newest ship naming. And of course, we have the latest cruise news from around the world. Support the showListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXSustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7RdhSupport Chris in his walk from Cape to Cape: All donations support zero2hero empowering young people to deal with mental health.  https://donate.mycause.com.au/cause/263123?donateToMember=156839Cruise NewsCarnival Australia ships re-deployed back to North America Both Australian ships will now be based in the United States, with Spirit to depart until late next year.Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled all Australian cruises until Oct, with the brand to also temporarily reposition Carnival Splendor to North America, joining fellow former Australian-based fleet-mate Carnival Spirit.Splendor's Australian sailings from 10 Jun to 26 Sep 2022 have been cancelled, while Carnival also announced Spirit's sailings from 05 Jun 2022 all the way through to 05 Oct 2023 have been cancelled.Guests impacted by these changes will receive an e-mail with further details, along with specific offers available to their bookingAnd more from Carnival Carnival had previously shared that Carnival Sensation's restart was delayed, and that Carnival Ecstasy would move from Jacksonville, Fla. to Mobile, Ala. to operate what were previously planned as the Carnival Sensation itineraries, effective with the Mar. 5, 2022 restart.  In addition, Carnival said that Carnival Spirit would go to Jacksonville to take over the Mar. 7, 2022 restart in Jacksonville, operating the previously scheduled Carnival Ecstasy itineraries.Carnival is now announcing the following updates:Jacksonville: As previously announced, Carnival Spirit will replace Carnival Ecstasy in Jacksonville. While that will happen for departures from Mar. 7 through Apr. 9, 2022, the next two cruises are being cancelled, and then a new ship will be assigned from the Carnival fleet to Jacksonville for the Ecstasy itineraries, effective Apr. 23, 2022. That announcement will be made shortly.Mobile: Carnival Ecstasy will reposition to Mobile for departures from Mar. 5 through Oct. 10, 2022. Cruises from Mobile that were planned for Carnival Sensation from Oct. 15, 2022 through Sep. 30, 2023 have been cancelled. At a later date, Carnival will be announcing a new operating plan for Mobile cruises.Australia: Carnival is cancelling planned operations of Carnival Splendor from Jun. 10, 2022 through Sep. 26, 2022, and of Carnival Spirit from Jun. 5, 2022 to Oct. 5, 2023. Details for a two-ship return to Australia will be announced when they are confirmed.As part of this deployment plan, Carnival Sensation will not restart guest operations and Carnival Ecstasy's last cruise in guest operations will be the Oct. 10, 2022 departure from Mobile and both ships will leave the Carnival fleet. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' Flagship PortMiami Terminal Awarded Prestigious LEED® Gold CertificationNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced that its brand new state-of-the-art Norwegian Cruise Line flagship terminal at PortMiami received an honorary recognition as the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold New Construction v4.0 cruise ship terminal in Florida, the United States and the world.  Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and LEED certification is a globally recognised symbol of sustainability achievement. LEED for Building Design and Construction, specifically New Construction, provides a framework for building a holistic green building while addressing both design and construction activities.The state-of-the-art terminal often dubbed as the “Pearl of Miami” welcomed guests for the first time in August 2021 upon the Company's return to service in the U.S. with Norwegian Gem.The 17,500 square metre terminal, which can accommodate cruise vessels carrying up to 5,000 cruise guests, was designed with innovation and sustainability at the forefront. The team created a platform that optimises the terminal's energy performance, indoor air quality, water efficiencies, utilisation of local materials and resources and much more. With high levels of energy performance in mind, the project was designed to perform at least 38% better than the average building. In addition to significant water quality permits and protections, the terminal includes manatee protections and pollution discharge protections, and plans to have shore power capabilities by the Northern Hemisphere Autumn of 2023.Norwegian Cruise Line introduces Norwegian VivaNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has unveiled Norwegian Viva, the next ship in its brand-new Prima Class.Providing guests with elevated experiences including more wide-open spaces, thoughtful and stunning design and exceptional service, Norwegian Viva will begin sailing remarkable Mediterranean itineraries in June 2023, homeporting in key Southern European port cities including Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece. She will then sail the Southern Caribbean for her 2023-2024 northern hemisphere winter season offering warm-weather getaways from San Juan, Puerto Rico.Mirroring the upscale design and structure of her record-breaking sister ship Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, also built by renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy, will debut at 294 metres long, 142,500 gross tonnes and accommodate 3,219 guests at double occupancy. Travellers will live up every second of their journey in the most spacious accommodation including NCL's largest inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms.This world-class vessel offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories, as well as the largest variety of suite categories available at sea. Luxury-loving guests will enjoy a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL's ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. The Haven's public areas and 107 suites have been designed by Piero Lissoni, one of Italy's most renowned designers, with features including an expansive sundeck, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the ship's wake and an outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.The Prima Class' variety of recreational activities also make their elevated comeback on Norwegian Viva with only-available-on-Prima-Class experiences including The Rush and The Drop, the fastest freefall drop dry slides at sea, and the Viva Speedway, the largest three-level racetrack at sea.Norwegian Viva will feature Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walkway which wraps around the entire ship; 11 diverse eateries at Indulge Food Hall; The Concourse boasting an outdoor sculpture garden; Oceanwalk's glass bridges over water; and expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach.Norwegian Viva will boast eye-catching hull art designed by Italian graffiti and sculpture artist Manuel Di Rita, commonly known as “Peeta,” who also illustrated the exceptional hull design on Norwegian Prima. World-class architects who helped design Norwegian Prima including Rockwell Group, SMC Design and Miami-based Studio Dado, have also returned to influence the aesthetic of various restaurants, staterooms and public areas.The first two Prima Class vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, will feature cutting-edge alternative technologies, such as a NOx reduction system (SCR), that reduce the ship's overall environmental impact.  SCR catalysts filter out sulfur oxides up to 98% and nitrogen oxides up to 90%, ensuring the vessels meet Tier III NOx compliance. Further, they will be equipped with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS), an Advanced Wastewater Treatment System to treat and clean all wastewater to meet stringent international standards, as well as Cold Ironing functionality to connect to onshore power grids to further reduce emissions while in port. For more information about the Company's environmental, social and governance efforts, please click here.LIVELY ITINERARIES ON NCL'S NEWEST SHIPNorthern Hemisphere Summer 2023: Mediterranean from Rome, Athens and LisbonFollowing a string of inaugural cruises and beginning June 2023, Norwegian Viva will become the newest ship embarking in the Mediterranean. Between 15 June and 6 November 2023, she will sail a series eight, nine and ten-day voyages from Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece, offering guests the opportunity to explore the Mediterranean's Spanish, Italian and Greek regions.Northern Hemisphere Winter 2023-2024: Southern Caribbean from San JuanNorwegian Viva will become the largest new ship to ever homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On 15 December 2023 she will depart San Juan on a seven-day Caribbean voyage with her first stop in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. She will then make her way to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. John's, Antigua; and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands before returning to San Juan on 22 December. Future sailings will also include notable ports in the Caribbean for seven- and nine-day sailings.Cunard takes Shakespeare to the high seas with the Royal Shakespeare CompanyCunard will be taking Shakespeare and new work to the high seas in 2022, as it joins forces in a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to bring world class theatre to its transatlantic stage.Available exclusively on-board flagship Queen Mary 2, guests will enjoy tailored theatrical performances by the RSC, which creates captivating theatre by Shakespeare, his contemporaries and other literary legends past and present. The performances will be available for all guests on board, including a unique blend of Shakespeare's iconic love scenes in a brand new piece called Boundless as the Sea, created by Owen Horsley.Guests will also have the opportunity to see critically acclaimed new work from the RSC with Miss Littlewood: a musical by Sam Kenyon exploring the life of one of theatre's most playful and radical figures, making its transatlantic debut.For those interested in learning what it takes to be an RSC actor, the on board cast will be leading a series of workshops that explore their craft. Guests will also be able to access “Shakespeare Tales,” intimate, informal events where the actors will perform their personal favourite sonnets and speeches, and answer questions from the audience.n addition, Queen Mary 2 will host a touring exhibition, “Digital Diorama: An Augmented Journey Through Shakespeare's Stratford.” Guests will use devices to experience scenes from his plays come to life before their eyes. Some of the RSC's most popular productions in recent years including Hamlet, Henry V, The Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like it will also be screened in Cunard's on board cinema, Illuminations.The three year partnership will begin on May 29 until August 12, 2022 and then again from September 15 to November 13, 2022, and will offer this bespoke programme exclusively to Cunard guests on Queen Mary 2 throughout these two periods. Guests will experience either Boundless as the Sea or Miss Littlewood on each featured voyage. Dates for future years to be announced at a later date.Literature Festival at Sea with Cheltenham Literature Festival returns in 2022 with stellar line-upThe extraordinary Literature Festival at Sea, curated by the programming team of the Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, will return once again in 2022 with a line-up of some of the world's finest talent, including Bernardine Evaristo, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, Mary Beard and Richard Osman.The seven-night crossing, which departs New York for Southampton on 3 December 2022 will include a plethora of workshops, talks and readings as Queen Mary 2 sails across the Atlantic.Guests will hear from award-winning authors about their life and work, go behind the headlines with The Times journalists and get to improve their writing skills in workshops led by literary experts.Princess Cruises Expands Contactless MedallionPay Payment into DestinationsGuests sailing on Princess MedallionClass™ ships now have a contactless purchasing option that eliminates the need for them to carry cash or credit cards into destinations on their cruise vacation. The premium cruise brand today announced the expansion of MedallionPay™, the frictionless payment experience that lets guests use their Princess Medallion® wearable device to shop, play, eat and drink, with a number of merchants in ports of call in the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera and all Alaska ports of call, and also to now include 7% back on shoreside purchases as an onboard ship credit for the inaugural year.MedallionPay currently is available in St. Thomas, Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, and Puerta Vallarta, with more destinations and merchants being added in the near future, including extensions into all Alaska ports Princess ships call on.  Among prominent merchants now accepting MedallionPay are Diamonds International and Cariloha, as well as more than 65 other retailers from restaurants, bars, souvenir stores, and jewelers to museums and excursion operators. MedallionPay is available to all retailers large and small with no setup or monthly fees to register as a MedallionPay merchant, no required long-term contracts and the software is free to use. Merchants simply pay a transaction fee that includes all credit card processing fees and can cancel service at their discretion.Guests who make purchases with participating merchants enjoy the convenience, security and a 7% shipboard credit on purchases when they associate a credit card with a MedallionPay account. And it equates to even bigger rewards when guests associate their MedallionPay account with a cash back credit card.No credit card or personal information is stored on the Medallion. And the MedallionPay ecosystem exceeds the security levels used in financial institutions and passports by using the latest methods of tokenization, abstraction and encryption.When making a purchase with participating retail locations in select ports of call, merchants securely confirm the transaction with two-factor authentication that exceeds typical credit card transaction.Discovery Princess Officially Delivered to Princess CruisesThe newest cruise ship in the Princess Cruises fleet – Discovery Princess – was delivered on January 28 during an official handover at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Discovery Princess expands the Princess Cruises fleet to 15 MedallionClass vessels and features an evolution of the design platform used for the cruise line's previous Royal-Class ships. The 3,660-guest Discovery Princess is the sixth and final Royal-Class newbuild and shares all of the spectacular style and luxury of her sister ships – Enchanted Princess℠, Sky Princess®, Majestic Princess℠, Regal Princess℠ and Royal Princess℠. With an array of innovative new experiences, guests will enjoy 270-degree sweeping views from the largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites, unwind in ultimate comfort at The Sanctuary and indulge the senses with world-class dining options. Plus, Princess live entertainment presents mesmerising new Broadway-style production shows that can only be seen in the state-of-the-art Princess Theatre.  Discovery Princess uses the latest technologies to reduce fuel consumption, treat wastewater, and support our environmental compliance effortsDiscovery Princess will depart Italy and make her way to the Port of Los Angeles to sail on a series of Mexican Riviera and California Coast voyages from March 27 – April 24, 2022, before heading up the Pacific coast to begin a season of seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle.  Costa Toscana tasked the Sanremo Festival to the seaThe 72nd edition of the Sanremo Festival, the most popular Italian song contest, will be hosted at sea for the first time, thanks to the collaboration between Costa Cruises and Rai Pubblicità.Costa Toscana, the new “green” ship of the Italian company's fleet, will be the floating stage for the live shows of two stars of the past editions of the Festival: Orietta Berti and Fabio Rovazzi. They will be joint by exceptional Italian artists, who will perform every evening on the stage of one of the ship's theatres.Costa Toscana will be a constant and regular presence at the Sanremo Festival not only on television, on Rai Uno, but also on the radio. Indeed, the program “Tre per due” of Rai Radio Due, with the “Gemelli di Guidonia” singers, together with the band “Stefano Signoroni & the MC”, will be on board for the entire duration of the Festival.Costa Toscana is moored at anchor about one kilometre from the port of Sanremo, where she arrived on January 30 and will stay until February 6. On board, there will be no public presence, except for who will contribute to the events planned on board, in addition to the ship's crew members. For the occasion, a special health protocol has also been developed and shared with the relevant health authorities.Costa Toscana is the new Italian-flagged ship in the Costa Cruises fleet. Built at the Meyer shipyard in Turku (Finland), she will leave for her first Mediterranean cruise on March 5, 2022, from Savona.  Designed as a true traveling “smart city,” the ship is powered by liquefied natural gas, the most advanced technology currently available in the maritime sector to cut emissions, which Costa was the first to introduce on cruise ships. On board, 100% separate waste collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminium is carried out. The entire daily water requirement is met by transforming sea water through the use of desalinators. Energy consumption is reduced to a minimum thanks to an intelligent energy efficiency system.The interiors of Costa Toscana are the result of an extraordinary creative project, curated by Adam D. Tihany, created to enhance and bring to life the best of this wonderful region in a single location. Furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories are all “Made in Italy“, created by 15 partners highly representative of Italian excellence. The on-board offer is perfectly integrated into this extraordinary context: from the Solemio Spa, to the areas dedicated to entertainment; from the themed bars, in collaboration with major Italian and international brands, to the 21 restaurants and areas dedicated to the “food experience”, including the new Archipelago restaurant, which offers menus created by the three star chefs Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León, as well as raising awareness and funds for sea conservation projects carried out by the Costa Crociere Foundation.Spectrum of the Seas to arrive early in Singapore International Guests can Sail on Royal Caribbean International's Popular Ocean Getaways as soon as April 2022Holidaymakers can now pack their bags from  11 April 2022 for the ultimate adventure on board Royal Caribbean International's Spectrum of the Seas, Asia's largest, newest and most innovative ship, for spectacular 3- to 4-night Ocean Getaways. Six months sooner than anticipated, guests will enjoy world-class dining, showstopping entertainment, a private enclave for suite guests and state-of-the-art amenities exclusively designed for the Asian market. Sailings are now open for bookings.Guests on board Spectrum can savour an array of Asian-inspired cuisine, such as teppanyaki and hot pot-style dining, a showcase of unparalleled entertainment that touches on the cultures, colour, music and dance styles of Asia; high-tech experiences; and more. Highlights include:Sky Pad – Asia's first, this virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure is where guests can strap in, don a headset and transport themselves to another time and planet.Suite Enclave – Royal Caribbean's first and exclusive space for the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area, featuring exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants and a dedicated lounge area. Two70 – Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theatre by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals.SeaPlex – The largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, laser tag, fencing, archery and more.Star Moment – A lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends come together to belt out and sing like stars.Family Friendly Accommodations – From exterior balcony staterooms to interconnected rooms, to the signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own slide and cinema that also doubles as a karaoke stage, there's an array of staterooms designed for the whole family.Signature Experiences – A bold lineup of guest favourites are on deck, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass observation capsule which ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.A World of Flavours – There are 19 dining options that serve up a variety of cuisines, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of Far East flavours cooked in Japan's traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, American steakhouse Chops Grille and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie's Italian.In line with its Royal Promise and regulations stipulated by the Singapore government, Royal Caribbean continues to implement health and safety measures for the well-being of its guests and crew members, and the destinations it visits. The comprehensive, multilayered set of measures include pre-departure wellness screenings and testing, contactless embarkation and debarkation, enhanced ventilation and sanitization on board, as well as sailing with fully vaccinated crew members and guests. The cruise line will continue to evaluate and update its measures as circumstances evolve with various government and health authorities.Guests who book their vacation on Spectrum on or before 31 March 2022, can be assured of flexibility in their plans with Royal Caribbean's Cruise with Confidence program, which allows for changes and cancellations up to 48 hours before their cruise sets sail. As long as holidaymakers cancel at least 48 hours before their sail date, they will receive a Future Cruise Credit. The credit is valid for future bookings on or before 30 Sept 2022, for sailings departing before 31 Dec 2022, or one year from the original sailing date, whichever is later.Viking celebrates float out of Newest Egypt Ship Viking® today announced its newest ship for the Nile River—the 82-guest Viking Osiris—was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in August 2022, Viking Osiris will sail Viking's bestselling 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. The arrival of Viking's new ship later this year coincides with several key events in Egypt in 2022, including the highly anticipated opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo on the Giza Plateau—as well as the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb by Howard Carter and his benefactor, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Building on Viking's longstanding relationship with the Carnarvon family, guests who sail on board Viking Osiris will experience Privileged Access® to memories from 1922 and the events surrounding the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb.Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Osiris is inspired by Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The vessel features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Viking Osiris will join the company's other ship on the Nile, Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. Additionally, in response to strong demand, Viking Aton, an identical sister ship to Viking Osiris, will join the fleet in 2023.AIDA Cruises Announces the Expansion of its Selection ProgramThe cruise company AIDA Cruises will further expand its Selection program. The AIDAselection voyages, which are very popular with guests, will be offered and further developed in the future regardless of ship class. Guests can expect a wide selection of special itineraries with authentic travel experiences.In October 2022, AIDAsol will be the first Sphinx-class ship to embark on a world cruise. Highlights of this 117-day XXL adventure include the circumnavigation of Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, destinations such as the Avenue of Glaciers, Tierra del Fuego, Mauritius, Cape Town and New Year's Eve in Sydney.Guests will travel to the Lofoten Islands with AIDAbella, the highlights of the Arctic Circle with AIDAluna, and AIDAblu will offer extraordinary experiences on voyages to Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. The new offer will be complemented by the voyages of AIDAvita and AIDAaura, which will provide unforgettable Selection moments in the summer of 2022 with their routes to the Scottish Islands or to the archipelago off the Swedish coast, among others.Each AIDAselection voyage will feature unique highlights. Thanks to exclusive excursions and longer shore stays, guests get to know the country and its people intensively. Experienced guides surprise with real insider tips. Depending on the route, renowned lecturers come on board.Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep to set sail with P&O Cruises on IonaP&O Cruises is partnering with Aardman, the creators of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, to bring a range of character-based activities for all generations to newest ship Iona.Children in The Reef clubs will be able to participate in themed dance classes and craft workshops where they can make Gromit ears or Shaun the Sheep masks. All the family can then come together for quality time to enjoy special screenings of the Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep films in the cinema, or have photos taken with the eccentric inventor Wallace and his loyal friend Gromit at special character appearanceHolland America Line Celebrates Naming of Rotterdam with Ceremony in Namesake City and Special Seven-Day Voyage Holland America Line‘s newest ship Rotterdam is set to get the royal treatment at a naming ceremony in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 30, 2022. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship's godmother, carrying on a Dutch royal tradition that began in the 1920s.Rotterdam‘s special seven-day “Rotterdam Naming Celebration” cruise sails roundtrip from Amsterdam, Netherlands, departing 29 May 22 and also visits Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flåm, Norway, with scenic cruising in SognefjordAnd moreJoin the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/  Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg    Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home  Listen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF  Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI  Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u  I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8  Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz  Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M  Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs  Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. 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Episode Overview Episode 84 is the last of 2021. In this show, Chris answers a number of listener questions. Baz and Chris review the year and discuss the latest cruise newsSupport The ShowListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXSustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7RdhSupport Chris in his walk from Cape to Cape: All donations support zero2hero empowering young people to deal with mental health.  https://donate.mycause.com.au/cause/263123?donateToMember=156839Cruise NewsEnchanted Princess Officially Named in Original Production “Our World, Enchanted”Enchanted Princess, the 5th royal-class ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, was officially named today in a ceremony titled “Our World, Enchanted.”  Hosted by Princess Cruises Celebrations Ambassador Jill Whelan and Enchanted Princess Cruise Director Dan Falconer, the original production introduced viewers to the ship's innovative features of the MedallionClass ship and shared some of Princess' history as a cruise industry leader.The ceremony honoured three members of The Explorers Club – Captain Lynn Danaher, Dr. Vicki Ferrini and Jenifer Austin – who served as the godmothers of Enchanted Princess. The notable godmothers have been recognised for their achievements in expeditions, oceanography and mapping the world's oceans.The 145,000-tonne, 3,660-guest ship represents an evolution of the design platform used for her sister ships – Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017) and Sky Princess (2019) – offering an elevation of spectacular style and elegance distinguished by Princess. The ship's inaugural cruise season began November 10, with various 10-day Southern Caribbean itineraries, sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.  The naming ceremony is available to watchhereCarnival Radiance Christened By Godmother Dr. Lucille O'NealIn a celebration of all things fun and family, Carnival Cruise Line christened its newest ship Carnival Radiance last night in a naming ceremony in Long Beach, Calif., with the ship's Godmother Dr. Lucille O'Neal and her son, Carnival Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O'Neal as featured guests of the event. Carnival Radiance underwent a $200 million bow-to-stern makeover and is Carnival's third ship sailing year-round from Long Beach, joining Carnival Panorama and Carnival Miracle.The heartfelt naming ceremony began with a “We Are Family” video of Carnival Radiance crew members preparing the ship for guests sailing four- and five-day Mexico voyagesIn addition to Big Chicken, new offerings added to Carnival Radiance include Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse created by Food Network star and longtime partner Guy Fieri; Heroes Tribute Bar saluting those that serve in the Armed Forces; Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant; Bonsai Sushi; and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. All of the ship's public spaces have been transformed as well – including the water park, youth facilities, retail shops, Cloud 9 Spa and a new Liquid Lounge home to Carnival's award-winning Playlist Productions shows. The exterior of the ship has also been adorned with the line's new red, white and blue hull livery fashioned after its flagship, Mardi Gras.Royal Caribbean Reveals Four World-Class Ships Head to Alaska in 2023Following a successful return to service in Alaska earlier this year, Royal Caribbean announces that they'll return in 2023 for their second consecutive year with four ships in the region.Three bold, returning favourites, Ovation, Quantum and Radiance of the Seas, will be joined by Enchantment of the Seas to offer families and all travellers a variety of ways to experience the Last Frontier and its majestic glaciers, breathtaking wildlife and charming towns.From Mendenhall Glacier to the Inside Passage, to onboard memory-making thanks to unique experiences such as simulated skydiving on RipCord by iFly and taking in awe-inspiring views through acres of glass, vacationers have in-store cool thrills from one day to the next.Ovation and Quantum of the Seas – Cruising from: SeattleOn Ovation's cruises, departing on Fridays, travellers can discover the best of Alaska from one charming town to the next. Extended stays also offer adventure seekers more time to explore in Skagway, Alaska, where one can retrace the steps of the historic Klondike Gold Rush and visit a restored 19th-century railroad depot; and state capital Juneau, Alaska, which offers dogsledding across Mendenhall Glacier and explorations of centuries-old mining trails. Plus, vacationers can head to the road less travelled at Ward Cove near Ketchikan where they can take in the unspoiled scenery along the Tongass Narrows and the wildlife that calls it home, like sea lions, bald eagles, and porpoises.Departing on Mondays, Quantum's stunning itineraries will bring travellers up close to the massive Dawes Glacier after sailing through the impressive Endicott Arm, alongside visits to four coastal communities, including Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. When heading ashore, travellers can look forward to immersing themselves in the local culture while at destinations like Sitka and Icy Strait Point, Alaska, home to the rich history of the Tlingit and activities ranging from kayak island-hopping to whale watching and fishing.Radiance and Enchantment of the Seas – Cruising from: Seward and VancouverRadiance will, once again, sail alternating southbound and northbound itineraries that depart from Seward and Vancouver. Travellers will have the opportunity to discover the region's magnificent landscapes firsthand when visiting Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Skagway, and as they sail the Inside Passage and by Hubbard Glacier.Enchantment makes its way to the Pacific coast for its debut Alaska season, sailing roundtrip from Vancouver. Vacationers have in store more glaciers than one, Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm fjord, and inspiring destinations like Haines, Ketchikan – the gateway to the wild landscapes and seascapes – Skagway and Juneau.Renascent Swan Hellenic's SH Minerva sets sail for Antarctica The new ship is on her way to Ushuaia ready for a New Year maiden Antarctic cruise departing 29th December.Wednesday the 8th of December 2021, Swan Hellenic announced that its new ship SH Minerva had left Helsinki for Argentina and her first cultural expedition cruise of the Antarctic, a 10-day New Year celebration of discovery departing Ushuaia on the 29th of December 2021.SH Minerva was delivered on the 3rd of December following her christening on the 23rd of November and 3 days of highly successful sea trials in which the next-generation polar expedition vessel performed beyond expectations in all respects, from manoeuvrability and stability to top speed and emissions. The elegant new purpose-designed ship sailed through the Kiel Canal on the 6th of December. She is the first in a series of three stunning high ice class cultural expedition cruise vessels made for premium cruise experiences worldwide, with a strong bias for extreme latitude areas. SH Minerva features a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a PC5 ice-strengthened hull with extra-large stabilisers for exceptional passenger comfort. At 113 m, the 10,500-ton vessel has been specially designed to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet.The vessels have been designed to meet the latest environmental regulations. SH Minerva is completely self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles. Preparations have been made to implement battery technology which would also make it possible to operate silently. The vessels are equipped with exhaust gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment systems and the waste storage facilities required for operating in sensitive polar areas.Providing spacious 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious cabins and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Minerva is operated by an onboard team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service.Plancius first back to the FalklandsWhen Oceanwide Expeditions vessel Plancius ports in Stanley this Friday, she will be the first cruise ship to visit the Falklands since the islands reopened its ports to tourism.Plancius will dock in Stanley on December 10th with its full occupancy of 108 passengers, after which guests will be free to explore the town and nearby areas before continuing on their voyage.This is a happy event long anticipated by all parties, though strict COVID-19 measures will remain intact both in the Falklands and on Plancius. All Oceanwide staff and passengers were vaccinated and required to take several tests both before and during their cruise, which will be 17 days into its 19-night total by the time Plancius reaches Stanley.Plancius also underwent extensive upgrades prior to the voyage: Pathogen-killing UV filtration for HVAC systems, fever-detecting thermal cameras for common areas, and dedicated quarantine cabins with independent air vents are just some of the many safety measures Oceanwide has taken.Stanley businesses have likewise developed additional protocols. These include but are not limited to enhanced cleaning routines, contactless payment, and self-declaration forms, efforts that have earned the islands the approval of the World Travel & Tourism Council.Margaritaville Sets Sail with Margaritaville at SeaMargaritaville announces Margaritaville at Sea, an offshore resort experience. The first cruise ship, Margaritaville Paradise, will offer the fun, escapism, and state of mind synonymous with the global lifestyle brand.Departing on her first passenger sailing on April 30 from the Port of Palm Beach Florida to Grand Bahama Island, Margaritaville Paradise will include 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins in various stateroom categories. Following a multi-million investment and refurbishment, the ship's cabins and common spaces will feature Margaritaville's signature casual-luxe design with subtle nautical details and colours influenced by the surrounding sea, sand, and sky.Margaritaville Paradise, formerly Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's flagship vessel, Grand Classica, will feature gourmet food and beverage options, including JWB Prime Steak & Seafood, Frank and Lola's Pizzeria, Port of Indecision Buffet, LandShark Sports Bar, and Margaritaville Coffee & Pastry Shop as well as the Euphoria Lounge, Sunset Bar, and 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar. Additionally, the ship will offer onboard leisure activities and entertainment, including the Par-A-Dice Casino, a Stars on the Water Theatre, St. Somewhere Spa, Fins Up! Fitness Centre, pools, a retail shop, and more. The ship was built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and entered service as a pioneer ship. She has opened many new markets and frontiers during her lifetime, so it is fitting that Margaritaville Paradise will again be a pioneer for Margaritaville at Sea.Crystal Cruises Launches First-Ever Zero Single Supplement; Promotion Offered on 15 Crystal Symphony Caribbean and Mediterranean Sailings in 2022Crystal is offering additional holiday cheer to solo travellers with its new Zero Single Supplement promotion, which is available for the first time on its ocean vessels applicable with 15 Crystal Symphony voyages to the Caribbean and Mediterranean in 2022. The Zero Single Supplement allows solo guests to enjoy all of Crystal Symphony's luxury six-star amenities at double occupancy rates without the supplemental fee typically charged to solo travellers.The Zero Single Supplement promotion is offered on the following Crystal Symphony sailings departing from six convenient homeports in North America and Europe:Caribbean: 7-night voyages from Miami and San Juan, (January through March 2022) – These tropical adventures travel deep into the into the Caribbean where pristine beaches rub shoulders with verdant hills while vibrant coral reefs invite exploration of an underwater world of spectacular beauty. Whether it's enjoying a champagne sailaway, exploring historic landmarks or biking through the lush countryside, these adventures are the perfect winter-time getaway.Mediterranean: 7-, 8- and 10-night voyages from Lisbon, Venice, London and Monte Carlo (April, June and August 2022) – Departing from some of Europe's iconic world-class cities that are destinations unto themselves, these immersive voyages take guests on a journey of discovery as they marvel at centuries-old architecture, including ancient ruins, savor locally produced wines and authentic cuisine, view famous artwork, and hike through rugged terrain dotted with cliffs and pine forests. Specific dates included in the promotion are available at crystalcruises.com. Guests must book by January 5, 2022 to take advantage of these special solo fares, with special reduced deposits of $100 on select sailings.Altitude on Arvia – sky high activities on Britain's newest cruise shipA high ropes experience, tropical themed mini-golf and water splash zone will all form part of a new top deck Altitude experience on Arvia, P&O Cruises newest ship to be launched in December 2022.Britain's most environmentally-friendly ship, powered by LNG, has been designed as the “sunshine ship” and will include a number of “adventure firsts” set high up on the top deck.Altitude Minigolf will include water hazards, tiki huts, “hippos” and night-time illuminations and the nine-hole course will be open throughout the day and evening.Altitude Splash Valley will be a cooling aquazone for all the family with water jets, shaded areas and ocean views.Altitude Skywalk is set 54 metres above the ocean and is the company's first ever high ropes experience with varying courses to suit all abilities.Sports Arena – an outdoor sports court for football, basketball, short tennis or cricket.P&O Cruises' second LNG-powered Excel class ship and sister ship to Iona is named Arvia, meaning from the seashore, and will join the fleet in December 2022. Arvia is the latest evolution in the P&O Cruises experience, embodying the newest trends in travel, dining and entertainment, and will be the epitome of a sunshine resort sailing year-round to the warmest climates.The 185,000 tons ship, 345m in length, with 16 guest decks will feature Altitude Skywalk a unique high ropes experience, a swim-up bar and stunning infinity pool, a new restaurant Green & Co featuring Mizuhana serving a plant and fish-led menu, Ocean Studios cinema, 1,300sqm of shopping and the Oasis Spa and Health Club.MSC entire fleet back at sea in 2022 MSC Cruises has confirmed that the Company's entire fleet of 19 ships will be sailing during the northern hemisphere summer 2022 offering an outstanding choice of cruises.With almost 500 departures to choose from, different length cruises, an incredible choice of convenient embarkation ports and a modern fleet of ships offering an unparalleled experience on board, there really is something for everyone. Enjoy round-the-clock onboard activities; award-winning entertainment; immersive kids and family programmes; refined, international dining; luxurious spas all whilst staying in stylish and comfortable accommodation. There's an itinerary and ship to suit every type of holidaymaker, from short cruises in the Mediterranean, longer scenic cruises in Northern Europe through to beach cruises in the Caribbean – guests can book their dream holiday now.Northern Europe highlights for summer 2022 include:MSC Virtuosa offers itineraries between from Southampton (UK) 7 to 14 nights to the Norwegian Fjords, St Petersburg (Russia) via Sweden and Denmark and longer cruises to the Canary Islands (Spain),the Mediterranean, and Norway's North Cape plus some mini-cruises of 3-4 nights.MSC Grandiosa, embarking in Kiel (Germany) will offer seven-night itineraries with highlights including a combination of itineraries taking in destinations including Copenhagen (Denmark), Helsinki (Finland), St Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia) and Flaam (Norway).MSC Preziosa, embarking in Kiel (Germany) will offer itineraries between seven and 11 nights, with highlights including two alternative itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords or to St Petersburg (Russia) via Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland) and Stockholm (Sweden).MSC Poesia, embarking in Warnemunde/Berlin (Germany) will offer itineraries between seven and 14 nights  including 11-night sailings visiting nine countries (an overnight in Russia, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark), and longer cruises to St Petersburg (Russia) via Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden) and Copenhagen (Denmark) and an epic 21 night cruise that includes calls to a number of destinations in Iceland and Greenland.MSC Magnifica, embarking in Hamburg (Germany) will offer itineraries between ten and 14 nights to Norway or Iceland. The Norway cruise includes call to Alesund, Honningsvag/North Cape, Tromso, Trondheim, , Bergen and Kristiansand Iceland cruises includes calls to Reykjavik (overnight), Isafjordur and Akureyri) and Orkney Islands and Invergordon (Scotland, United Kingdom). Whilst Spitsburgen cruises include, Kristiansand, Andalsnes, Narvik ,Longyearbyen, Honningsvag and Nordfjordeid.Western Mediterranean highlights for summer 2022 include:MSC Meravigliawill homeport in Barcelona, calling the perfect itinerary for any sun-seeker: Cannes (France), Genoa, La Spezia and Civitavecchia (Italy), plus Palma de Mallorca (Spain).MSC Opera will homeport from Genoa, and visit Palermo, other destinations include calls at Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), and the newly reinstated embarkation port of La Goulette (Tunisia) and Naples (Italy).MSC Splendida will offer cruises fromGenoa (Italy) to Marseille (France), one of Sicily's most sought-after destination Siracusa, Taranto and its awe-aspiring beaches, plus returning to Civitavecchia (Italy)MSC Seaview will offer yet the best part of Western Mediterranean, from Genoa (Italy), she will visit the historical ports of Naples and Messina (Italy), Valletta (Malta), Barcelona (Spain) and Marseille (France).MSC Seaside: departing from Genoa, she will offer itineraries to Civitavecchia and, Palermo (Italy) and Ibiza and Valencia (Spain) and Marseille (France).MSC Orchestra: the ship will perform cruises of 4-5 nights in Spring and from June will commence the new 10-night cruises callingGenoa (Italy) to Marseille/Provence (France), Malaga, Cadiz/Seville, Lisbon (Portugal) Alicante/Costa Blanca and Mahon/Menorca (Spain), and Olbia (Italy).In Autumn, MSC Magnifcia will offer cruises 11-night cruises to Canary islands, Morroco and Madeira, whilst MSC Poesia offer 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises rounding our the season in the West Mediterranean.     Eastern Mediterranean highlights for summer 2022 include:With Trieste (Italy) as homeport, MSC Fantasia will offer calls to Ancona (Italy), Kotor (Montenegro), Bari (Italy), Corfu (Greece) and the picturesque city of Dubrovnik (Croatia). From September the ship will perform 11-night cruises that include Pireaus/Athens (Greece), Izmir/Ephesus and an overnight in Istanbul (Turkey)MSC Musica will depart from Monfalcone (Italy),Katakolon/Olympia, Heraklion, Santorini (Greece) Bari (ItalyMSC Sinfoniaand MSC Armonia will both homeport from the heart of the Mediterranean, the Italian port of Venice from Marghera. Other exciting ports on MSC Sinfonia's itinerary include Kotor (Montenegro), the infamous Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini (Greece) and Bari (Italy).MSC Armonia is putting a focus on gorgeous views with calls to Brindisi (Italy), Greek island of Mykonos and Greek mainland destination of Piraeus for Athens as well as Split and Zadar (Croatia).A variety of spectacular destinations await guests aboardMSC Lirica departing from Piraeus/Athens (Greece), calling at Kusadasi (Turkey), Haifa (Israel), the islands of Limassol (Cyprus), plus Rhodes and Santorini (Greece) plus 11-nights add in itinerary.Caribbean highlights for summer 2022 include:MSC Seashore, embarking in Miami (USA) will offer alternating seven-night itineraries to the west and east Caribbean to destinations including Nassua (The Bahamas), Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), George Town (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico) with each cruise calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises' own private island in The Bahamas.MSC Divina, embarking in Port Canaveral/Orlando (USA), will offer cruises between three and seven nights to the Caribbean with destinations including Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), Nassau (The Bahamas) with each cruise calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine ReserveFar East highlights for summer 2022 include:MSC Bellissimawill sail a range of departures from China and JapanMSC celebrates two newbuild milestones of construction The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique has celebrated two significant newbuild milestones for the construction of the line's next generation of environmentally advanced vessels. MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will become the first LNG-powered vessels to join the MSC Cruises fleet next year representing an investment of €3 billion in Liquified Natutal Gas (LNG) ships with the construction on World Europa II due to commence in early 2023.These ships play an important role in the Company's commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. LNG is by far the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale and it virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions like sulphur oxides (99%), nitrogen oxides (85%) and particles (98%). In terms of emissions with a global impact, LNG plays a key role in climate change mitigation and the engines of these two ships have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to standard fuels. In addition, with the subsequent availability of Bio and Synthetic forms of LNG, this energy source will provide a pathway toward eventual decarbonized operations.It was also revealed that MSC Cruises and the Chantiers de l'Atlantique confirmed the installation of a fuel cell pilot plant on board MSC World Europa known as Blue Horizon. The technology will use LNG to convert fuel into electricity at one of the highest efficiencies of any power solution available today, producing electricity and heat on board. The fuel cell technology selected by Chantiers de l'Atlantique (CdA) and MSC Cruises is the SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) developed by Bloom Energy. The SOFC will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by about a further 30 percent compared with a conventional LNG engine without producing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides or fine particles.  It also offers the advantage of being compatible with LNG, as well as several low carbon fuels such as types of methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. This project will form the building block for future larger installations and the beginning of an even closer collaboration between MSC Cruises and Chantier de L'Atlantique on R&D of fuel cell technology.The traditional coin ceremony tradition took place as the keel was laid for MSC Cruises' second LNG-powered ship, MSC Euribia, which will be one of the most environmentally high performing contemporary vessels built in France. Anne Claire Juventin Responsible for Quality Control from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and Valentina Mancini, Brand Manager from MSC Cruises performed the traditional maritime ritual as godmothers representing the ship owner and the shipbuilder when they placed two coins under the keel as the historical sign of blessing and good fortune for the project, and the ship's operational life at sea.The float out of MSC World Europa, which will be the first LNG-powered vessel to join the MSC Cruises fleet took place at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire where she will now be moved to a wet dock for work to continue on the ship until her delivery in November 2022.NCL Homeports in Panama City Norwegian Cruise Line, will become the first cruise line to homeport in Panama City, Panama, offering roundtrip Panama Canal voyages beginning 20 March 2022 with Norwegian Jewel.NCLK (Parent company of NCL) signed a multi-year agreement with the Panama Tourism Authority which allows the Company to seasonally homeport at the Colon Cruise Terminal as well as at Fuerte Amador Cruise Terminal located on the Pacific Ocean side of the country and adjacent to Panama City.In 2022 and 2023 the Company will offer 12 homeport voyages starting with Norwegian Jewel on 20 March 2022 where she will sail a nine-day itinerary traversing the Panama Canal and visiting incredible destinations including Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curaçao; Kralendijk, Bonaire and Cartagena, Colombia before arriving to the Caribbean side of Panama in the city of Colon.Starting 14 January 2023, Norwegian Gem will also feature select Panama Canal voyages including an 11-day journey visiting seven ports of call, including Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curaçao; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands before ending in New York City. On 6 December 2023, Norwegian Joy will offer a 10-day voyage sailing from Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama and visiting notable destinations including Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatán, Bay Islands; Harvest Caye, NCL's private resort destination in Belize; Cozumel, Mexico and Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas before ending her journey in MiamiSeabourn announces Northeast & Northwest Passages in 2023 Seabourn, the ultra-luxury ocean and expedition cruise line, has announced an exciting line-up of adventurous voyages for the summer of 2023 on its two new purpose-built expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. The program includes the line's first-ever voyages to the Northeast and Northwest Passages in the Arctic, where guests will discover two of the world's most remote and fascinating regions filled with an abundance of history, wildlife, and unique landscapes.Seabourn Venture will depart July 29, 2023, for a 26-day journey across the Northeast Passage from Tromsø, Norway to Nome, Alaska. Its sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit, which is scheduled to launch in March 2023, will offer a 21-day adventure to the infamous Northwest Passage departing August 27, 2023, from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome. The expedition ships will be designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards, with advanced technology to maneuver in these regions. These voyages, as well as the entire summer 2023 season, are open for sale on December 15Virgin Voyages: A Gin-uine romanceRichard Branson and Ryan Reynolds are back at it, but this time they're taking their partnership from the air to the high seas. We've joined forces with Aviation Gin so Sailors can sip, sun, and sea thanks to the most charming duo around. And when they pre-purchase a Bar Tab, they'll be able to choose from a selection of deliciously curated Aviation Gin-based cocktails on board — from The Double Agent at SIP to Razzle Dazzle's Electric FizzLe Ponant's transformationLe Ponant, PONANT's iconic three-masted sailboat, is undergoing a transformation to offer guests an exclusive travel experience. Entirely refurbished with a sophisticated new design by Jean-Philippe Nuel studioBookings for summer 2022 departures now openFrom June 2022, this legendary sailing ship will set sail again, offering tailor-made itineraries off the beaten track in Greece and Croatia. Sales are now open for 20 departures and 3 new itineraries.On the programme, exclusive ports of call, sublime and wild landscapes, and a series of immersive activities including glass-bottomed kayaking, snorkelling, stand up paddleboarding, cycling and hiking, all in tune with nature.“Croatia, under the sails of Le Ponant”Pomalo – a word that means ‘living outside of time' in Croatian – sets the tone for this sailing which will reveal the riches and wonders of the Dalmatian coast, Croatia and Montenegro. Le Ponant will sail from Dubrovnik to the magnificent Bay of Kotor, before dropping anchor near Mljet, an island renowned for its national park, Korcula, Komiza and the island of Vis, Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, the delightful Pučišća, and finally the Elaphite archipelago.Dubrovnik, Croatia – Dubrovnik, Croatia – 8 days, 7 nights – 12 sailings from June to August 2022“Island hopping from Dubrovnik to Athens”On this unique cruise, Le Ponant will sail to the Peloponnese, to the island of Paxos, the port of Fiskardo on the island of Kefalonia, very close to Ithaca, the fortified peninsula of Monemvasia, the island of Kythnos and its scrubland landscapes, and finally Lavrio, a peaceful marina near Athens. Magnificent landscapes, full of emotion and history, between the Ionian and Aegean Seas.Dubrovnik, Croatia – Lavrio, Greece – 7 days, 6 nights – From 28 August to 3 September 2022“The Cyclades, in the wake of Le Ponant”This sailing is an invitation to rediscover the wonders of the Greek archipelago, its islands of white rock, their picturesque white houses and the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. From the port of Lavrio, a short distance from Athens, Le Ponant will set sail for the Cyclades and the Saronic Islands with exclusive ports of call in Tinos, Polyaigos, Folegandros, Monemvasia, Kythnos, and finally Spetses.Lavrio, Greece – Lavrio, Greece – 8 days, 7 nights – 7 sailings from September to October 2022And MoreJoin the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/  Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg    Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home  Listen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF  Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI  Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u  I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8  Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz  Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M  Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs  Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. 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In Episode 83, we chat with Tamara about the life a guest lecturer onboard cruise ships, plus Chris answers listener questions about Maritime History and of course we have the latest cruise news from around the world. Support The ShowListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXSustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7RdhSupport Chris in his walk from Cape to Cape: All donations support zero2hero empowering young people to deal with mental health.  https://donate.mycause.com.au/cause/263123?donateToMember=156839Listener QuestionsGary in Sydney asks – Hi Baz and Chris – Many years ago I was on the QM2 as part of a world voyage, embarking in Hong Kong and sailing to Sydney, during the voyage I took part in the Crossing the Line ceremony, which involved kissing a fish and lots of gunky food stuffs. It was such a fun experience and since then I've seen it a number of times on various ships and each ship does it in a similar manner.I have noticed that crew members taking part seem to get special attentionWhat I'd like to know is;What is the tradition behind this nautical mayhem?Also if a ship is doing a world cruise does the crossing the line ceremony happen every time she passes the equator?Part of this question was answered in detail in Episode 68 – https://bit.ly/2UD2afjGill from SA asks Chris – what is the algorithm you talk about?Vilma from UK asks Baz – What makes TeeMill (your chosen supplier of podcast merchandise) so good.TeeMill: https://the-big-cruise-podcast.teemill.com/the-journey/ Example of “Buy a Tee, Plant a Tree” promotion:A holistic approach to reforestationThis weekend, we count your orders and fund the planting of trees in your brand's name. Our international tree planting partners work to address reforestation through a mixture of approaches. As well as directly seeding land with native seed species, they also employ methods like creating ‘seed bombs' which contain seeds mixed with clay, compost and soil, ready to plant when the rainy season arrives. After the trees are planted, protecting them is vital. Patrols and guard towers watch for fires and keep the forests from getting cut down illegally or destroyed by natural disasters.34 football pitches of forest plantedTogether, so far, across our tree planting weekends, we've planted enough trees to sequester over 1.7 million kilograms of CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees are the ultimate carbon storage system without requiring any expensive tech, helping to fight climate change. What's more, they also help to cool our air by releasing water through their leaves which then turns into water vapour. The larger the tree, the more carbon it can hold which is why our tree planting partners work hard to protect forests as well as plant them. You can find your own tree planting stats in Analytics and set a Green Friday target for customers to get behind. Posting live updates across the weekend is a great way to keep your community engaged as you move towards your reforestation goal.Guest Lecturer - Tamara Tamara is an 8th generation Australian. Her family were Navy officers at Rushcutters Bay and arrived with the first fleet. The family has continued to be maritime officers. Her grandfather was a Sydney Harbour pilot. Her father was appointed Capt of MV Gedera – Zim in 1963 and all her male cousins are Captains and/or pilots. She was always bound to love the ocean! Tamara on land is a celebrant, and when at sea has been offering guest enrichment onboard Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Her cruise history includes some impressive ships and ocean liners. Passenger:2014 Egypt – Nile “Star Goddess” Sonesta Cruises2017 Alaska – Inside Passage “Alaskan Dream” Alaskan Dream Cruises2018 Southbound repositioning – Amsterdam to Auckland via Panama Canal “Astor” CMV – I surprised my parents who were doing this voyage to celebrate their 55th wedding ann. The last time they went through the Panama Canal my mum was pregnant with me, so I figured I should be there this time too.Guest Lecturer:2019 British Isles – Portsmouth to Portsmouth “Marco Polo” CMV2019 British Isles – Tilbury -Tilbury “Vasco da Gama” CMV2019 Baltic cities & St Petersburg – Hull to Hull “Astoria” CMV2019 Southbound repositioning – Tilbury to Sydney via Panama Canal “Vasco da Gama” CMV2020 Amazon, West Indies & Azores – Tilbury-Tilbury “ Magellan” CMVFacebook: @tamara.spiritual.celebrantCruise NewsP&O Cruises Australia Now Paused Until 3 March Next YearDespite tentative signs of a restart to cruising in Australia, P&O Cruises Australia has had to make the difficult decision to further extend its pause in operations to 3 March, 2022 amid continued uncertainty over when governments will allow the cruise industry to resume.The extended pause applies to cruises scheduled to depart from 15 February, 2022 until 3 March, 2022 from Sydney and Brisbane.  Earlier this month, P&O Cruises Australia cancelled next year's scheduled seasons for Adelaide, Fremantle and Cairns.Carnival cancelsCarnival Cruise Line has extended its pause in operations for Australian sailings.The cruise line has cut voyages through to and including 08 April on board Carnival Splendor, as well as through to and including 10 April on board Carnival Spirit.Dream Cruises announces Singapore departures now open for bookings from international travellers, including AustraliansWorld Dream bookings that are available for Singapore residents only are also currently open to non-residents in Singapore, as well as international travellers, including Australians entering the country via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). This marks a new milestone for Dream Cruises that will help to fuel the recovery of the Fly-cruise industry for both Singapore and internationally.Travellers from abroad entering Singapore will have to fulfil the mandatory Border & Health Control Measures in Response to COVID-19 as implemented by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to be eligible to cruise. As part of Dream Cruises' ongoing commitment towards safety for its guests and crew, all embarking guests will also need to undergo a compulsory pre-boarding Antigen Rapid Test (ART) at the cruise terminal and present a negative test result for COVID-19.World Dream celebrated its first anniversary of cruise resumption in Singapore, earlier this month with over 200,000 guests since 6 November 2020.MSC Cruises, has hosted the naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates MSC Cruises, has hosted the naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa when Hollywood superstar Sophia Loren officially named the ship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the weekend.MSC Cruises chose Dubai to host the ceremony in recognition of its long-term commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East market where it is the brand leader.Equipped with some of the latest marine technologies available, MSC Virtuosa is one of the world's most environmentally advanced cruise ships. No effort has been spared to minimise her footprint. MSC Cruises shares the UAE's ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and MSC Virtuosa represents yet another milestone on the journey towards reaching this goal.MSC Virtuosa can carry up to 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew and is set to serve the Arabian Sea until March 2022 from her base in Dubai.Hosted by well-known UAE TV personality Omar Butti as Master of Ceremonies, Hollywood icon Sophia Loren took to the stage to officially name her 17th MSC Cruises' ship by cutting the ribbon that breaks the bottle on the ship's hull.The star-studded night culminated in a spectacular firework display against the stunning Dubai skyline, before a celebratory gourmet dinner in one of the ships' elegant restaurants. Event guests were also treated to a performance by internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Rag'n'Bone Man.Caribbean Princess Welcomes Guests Back Onboard for a Season of Cruises to the Tropical Caribbean from Ft. LauderdaleEnthusiastic cruisers set sail aboard Caribbean Princess from Ft. Lauderdale for a vacation to the Eastern Caribbean, marking the return to service of the next Princess Cruises ship.The cruise ship is sailing on roundtrip voyages from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale to the tropical Eastern and Western Caribbean, visiting popular destinations such as St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Princess Cays, the cruise line's private island resort in the Bahamas. Seven-day cruises are combinable for 14-day Eastern and Western Adventurer voyages.All guests sailing on Eastern Caribbean itineraries visit Princess Cays private island resort for a day of fun, sun, water activities and a beach BBQ, ranked among the “Top Cruise Line Private Island Destinations” by Cruise Critic. The island even offers cabanas with air conditioning and bar service. MedallionNet Wi-Fi featuring reliable and fast connectivity is also available on the island for cruisers who wish to take advantage of an oceanfront office for the day or to share photos and videos with friends and family back home.Recently modernized to appeal to families of all sizes and age groups, Caribbean Princess immerses guests in the destinations the ship visits offering unique themed food and drink offerings. Camp Discovery, the youth and teen centre, offers younger cruisers the opportunity to make new friends, hang out and engage in enriching activities.Favourite family features onboard include The Reef Outdoor Splash Zone with shade, sun and water activities for the kids; Movies Under the Stars showcasing first-fun movies, sports events and more; and fine and quick-service dining options appealing to all tastes and preferences.Princess Cruises Honours Women of The Explorers Club Serving as Godmothers of Enchanted PrincessCelebrating the inauguration of a new cruise ship is a time-honored, maritime tradition and Princess Cruises today announced details about the naming ceremony of Enchanted Princess, which is showcased in an original production entitled, “Our World, Enchanted,” scheduled to broadcast globally at 1:00 pm PST / 4:00 pm ET on Dec. 13, 2021, on Princess Cruises' YouTube channel and Facebook page.Since its inception in 1904, members of The Explorers Club have traversed the earth, the seas, the skies, and even the moon, on expeditions of exploration. This multidisciplinary, professional society is dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation. The three godmothers of Enchanted Princess have been recognized for their achievements in expeditions, oceanography and mapping the oceans and they include:Captain Lynn Danaher – Captain Danaher has been a United States Coast Guard Licensed Master and Dive Master since 1994. She is a founding member and president of the Pacific Islands Research Institute since 2008 and co-founder of the Friday Harbor Film Festival since 2013. She joined The Explorers Club in 2005 and has served as chair of the Pacific Northwest Chapter for two years and the Board of Directors for six years. She has completed eight Explorers Club Flag Expeditions. Captain Danaher is an officer of The Explorers Club, serving as Vice President: Mission Programming and Chair of the Headquarters Renovation Committee. She is also a licensed Contractor in the State of Hawaii.Dr. Vicki Ferrini – After completing her PhD in Coastal Oceanography, Dr. Ferrini extended her research interests from the coast to the hidden deep-sea world. The majority of the global ocean is unmapped, unexplored and uncharacterized, and her work aims to help solve that. A Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Dr. Ferrini leads several efforts focused on making sure data are preserved and can be accessed by scientists and the public alike. She is committed to building a vibrant international community of collaborators, and works with colleagues around the world to help build bridges between people and the ocean through data. Dr. Ferrini joined the Explorers Club in 2021 when she was selected as one of the Explorers Club 50 – fifty explorers changing the world.Jenifer Austin – Jenifer Austin spent nearly 14 years at Google, where she co-led the team that launched the first virtual map of the ocean in the company's consumer products Google Earth and Google Maps and also launched Underwater Streetview in Google Maps and Global Fishing Watch. She then started Oceanagenda.com to help bring together diverse groups to support holistic ocean conservation and stewardship. She is a scuba diver. A fellow of the Explorers Club (FN'14), she has served on the W40 Women's Committee, speaking as a part of the Women of the Deep and hosting a panel in its finale Pathfinders Symposium. Austin is a mother of two children.The 145,000-ton, 3,660-guest ship represents an evolution of the design platform used for her sister ships – Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017) and Sky Princess (2019) – offering an elevation of spectacular style and elegance that is distinguished by Princess. The ship's inaugural cruise season began Nov. 10, with various 10-day Southern Caribbean itineraries, sailing roundtrip from Ft. LauderdaleHurtigruten Expeditions Donates to Alaska Wilderness League and Galápagos Conservancy to Protect Local WildlifeNORTH AMERICA SPECIFICHurtigruten Expeditions, will donate 1% of all North American bookings made in November and December for Alaska and the Galápagos to Alaska Wilderness League and Galápagos Conservancy, respectively, through its Hurtigruten Foundation.Galápagos and Alaska are some of the latest additions to Hurtigruten Expeditions' growing global offering of unique experiences – with the first Galápagos expedition cruises starting from January 2022. The funds will be donated through the Hurtigruten Foundation.The Hurtigruten Foundation aims to create a lasting, positive impact in the remote places Hurtigruten Expeditions operates and actively seeks to support initiatives that support local communities, protect endangered species or lead to the reduction in plastics and marine litter.For summer 2022, Hurtigruten Expeditions will have its first full season in Alaska, offering two itineraries, one that's 14 days and one that's 18 days, either southbound or northbound. The 18-day cruise includes stops where hardly any other cruise line has ever visited, including the Alaskan Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, and the uninhabited St. Paul and St. Matthew Islands.All 2022 Alaskan itineraries are onboard the hybrid-battery-powered MS Roald Amundsen. By booking a Hurtigruten Expeditions voyage in November or December, North American travelers will contribute directly to preserving the Alaskan wilderness they explore.For the Galápagos, the new partnership with Galápagos Conservancy will see donations divided between three multi-year, multi-partner programs:Iniciativa Galápagos: Restoring Giant Tortoises. More than 10,000 Giant Tortoises have been reared in captivity and released to the wild to reverse the decimation of their numbers caused by centuries of over-exploitation, but populations are still 10% of original size, and available habitats are only 35% occupied. Hurtigruten's funding will go towards the organization's breeding, rearing, release, and research programs concerning these ecologically critical animals and their ecosystems;Strengthening the Galápagos Marine Reserve. The nutrient-rich waters of the newly-expanded Galápagos Marine Reserve are an oasis for one of the world's highest concentrations of ocean biodiversity, including nearly 3,000 species of marine wildlife. Galápagos Conservancy is on the leading edge of combatting climate change and incursions by invasive species, and Hurtigruten funding will go toward this and a wide array of marine protection and restoration programs; andSaving Pink Land Iguanas. On the remote slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, the endemic Pink Land Iguana — a key species in the development of evolutionary science — is teetering on the brink of extinction. With an estimated 211 individuals left in the world, Hurtigruten funding will go towards expeditions to collect additional information on breeding and nesting behavior, construction of a permanent hut to serve as a base of operations for future fieldwork on the volcano, and control of introduced predators.Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils 2024 Deployment, Releases the Most Itineraries for Sale in its HistoryNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has opened for sale the most itineraries at once in its history, unveiling sailings from 35 departure ports – including brand-new NCL homeports in Haifa, Israel and La Romana, Dominican Republic. The announcement includes Australia and New Zealand cruises, as well as cruises within Northern Europe, The Mediterranean, Alaska and the Caribbean through to October 2024, while Hawai'i inter-island 7-day voyages are now open up to Dec 2025.Australian travellers can look forward to Norwegian Spirit returning to Australian and New Zealand waters from December 2023, offering eight 12-day sailings between Sydney and Auckland. Following the most extensive and expensive makeover in NCL history – at a cost of USD$100m – Norwegian Spirit is designed to be different, appealing to the adult cruiser and epitomising laidback luxuryFIRSTSThe newly opened itineraries feature 35 departure ports across the globe, including two new-to-brand homeport destinations – Haifa, Israel and La Romana, Dominican Republic:Norwegian Epic will make her debut in Haifa, Israel's largest international seaport, in November 2022. The vessel will offer 11-and-12-day Mediterranean open-jaw sailings to and from Haifa, Israel and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy starting 8 November 2023 through 12 December The ship will call to beautiful destinations such as Livorno (Florence) and Naples, Italy; Kusadasi and Istanbul, Turkey; Piraeus (Athens), Patmos, and Rhodes, Greece; and Limassol, Cyprus. This itinerary will also feature 17-hours of port time in Ashdod, Israel giving guests sufficient time to tour the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv as well as one of the oldest cities in the world, Jerusalem.Norwegian Sky will be the first to sail a series of port-rich 7-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruises from La Romana, Dominican Republic with a port-of-call each day from 8 January 2024 through 22 April 2024, making NCL the only major cruise company sailing Southern Caribbean voyages with no sea days.AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALANDNorwegian Spirit will return to Australian and New Zealand waters, offering immersive 12-day itineraries that explore exquisite natural beauty and cosmopolitan cities. With departures from both Sydney and Auckland, these open-jaw voyages allow guests plenty of time in port to explore their own backyard in-depth. Highlights include the Art Deco capital of the world, Napier, as well as a scenic cruise through New Zealand's famous Sounds.HAWAIIPride of America's year-round 7-day inter-island Hawai'i voyages are now open for sale through to December 2025. NCL is the only cruise line to offer year-round, inter-island voyages that visit four islands over seven days with two overnights and no sea days, allowing guests more time to explore their stunning surrounds.ALASKAOn 22 April 2024 and 25 September 2024, Norwegian Spirit will once again offer her “Fire and Ice” voyages – an open-jaw itinerary sailing to and from Honolulu and Vancouver, visiting the tropical islands of Hawai'i and beautiful towns of Alaska. Guests will discover paradise as they overnight in Nawiliwili (Kauai), and island hop to Kahului (Maui), and Hilo, Hawai'i and then sail towards the Last Frontier where the vessel will cruise through striking glaciers towards the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site, followed by calls to Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska. For those looking to be the first to experience this once-in-a-lifetime itinerary, the debut “Fire and Ice” sailing will take place 12 June 2022, followed by a second sailing on 3 October 2022.GREEK ISLES AND MEDITERRANEANNorwegian Epic will make her debut in Trieste (Venice), Italy and Koper, Slovenia during her 14-day Grand Mediterranean holiday sailing on 22 December 2023 – inviting guests to experience Europe in a unique way, during the cooler festive season. The itinerary will offer zero sea days and overnight visits in Dubrovnik, Croatia on Christmas Eve, as well as Barcelona and Palma Mallorca, Spain to celebrate the new year.Norwegian Escape will offer five, 10-to-11-day Grand Mediterranean sailings between April 2024 and October 2024 where guests will spend over 105 hours exploring Mediterranean ports in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. During the 24 April 2024 sailing, the ship will call to Ibiza, Spain with a late midnight departure allowing guests to enjoy the late evening hours of the famed town. The ship will also make her debut call in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Norwegian Escape will also offer a series of 7-day roundtrip cruises from Barcelona starting on 26 May 2024, featuring zero sea days and visiting six ports-of-call including Cannes, France; Livorno (Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, and Cagliari, Italy; and Palma De Mallorca, Spain. Guests have the chance to spend more than 11 hours in Livorno (Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome), and Naples, three of the most historically and culturally rich cities in Italy.Norwegian Pearl will sail a series of 7-day roundtrip voyages from 26 May 2024 through 27 October 2024 from Trieste (Venice), Italy making calls in two medieval walled towns: Kotor, Montenegro and Dubrovnik, Croatia, and offering a late departure in Santorini for guests to take in their picturesque sunsets.NORTHERN EUROPENorwegian Getaway will offer one 9-day roundtrip sailing from Copenhagen on 13 May 2024 where guests have the chance to visit seven different countries in Northern Europe in nine days: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Travellers can fully immerse themselves in each city as the itinerary allows them to spend at least nine hours in every port.CANADA & NEW ENGLANDFrom 2 September through 25 September 2024 Norwegian Joy will offer 7-and-8-day open jaw sailings from New York City and Quebec City, one of the top-rated ports by our guests sailing Canada and New England itineraries. Travelers can plan an extended stay in each city pre-and-post cruise to further enjoy the destinations.PANAMA CANALNorwegian Joy will offer an 11-day open jaw sailing from Miami to Panama City on 25 November 2023 where guests will have over eight hours in all ports-of-call with a full 13 hours in Willemstad, Curaçao, ideal for a scuba diving adventure or a stroll down their picturesque pier featuring colorful colonial Dutch buildings. The vessel will also offer two 15-day Panama Canal open-jaw sailings from Miami on 6 January  2024 and from Los Angeles on 26 January 2024 where she will overnight in Panama City where guests can tour its old colonial center or enjoy the vibrant nightlife.CARIBBEANSeveral NCL ships will be sailing the Caribbean with three vessels making a first-time visit to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, plus additional ports-of-call.Norwegian Getaway will make her debut in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos during her 12-day holiday sailing on 21 December 2023 from New York City where guests will spend Christmas day in tropical San Juan, Puerto Rico; while Norwegian Joy will make her debut in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos during a summer voyage from New York City in August 2024.Norwegian Joy will make her debut call in Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Kralendijk, Bonaire during her 12-day Southern Caribbean cruise from New York City to Miami on 16 October 2023.Norwegian Jade will make her debut in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and St. George's, Grenada, during her 14-day Southern Caribbean voyage on 26 November 2023 from Tampa, Florida.BERMUDANorwegian Joy will offer four, five and 7-day roundtrip sailings from New York City to Bermuda from 9 April 2024 through 11 October 2024 with the 7-day sailings providing up to 55 hours in port at the Royal Naval Dockyard. Currently, NCL is the only cruise line to offer three days in Bermuda allowing guests to shop in the capital city of Hamilton or relax on the destination's famous pink sand beaches.Princes 2023/24 Australian Deployment now open for Sale PLUS Two Royal Class ships call Sydney Home with Majestic Princess and Royal Princess both homeported from the Harbour CityPrincess Cruises has unveiled a world of new travel opportunities for Australians in its latest program, including the longest-ever roundtrip cruise offered from Australia – a stunning 110-night global odyssey departing late April 2024.In a move that reflects strong demand for bucket list destinations, the cruise line today announced it will open bookings for its new 2023/24 Australian cruise program in early December- an unprecedented 11 months ahead of schedule for its world cruise.Featuring 113 departures between September 2023 and October 2024, the program is one of Princess' largest yet, with two Royal-class ships – Royal Princess and Majestic Princess – based in Sydney, while Grand Princess will cruise from Melbourne and Coral Princess will sail from Brisbane and Fremantle.Between them, the four ships will offer more than 40 Australian cruises and over 30 New Zealand cruises, as well as eight Asian itineraries and more than 10 Trans-Pacific sailing options.The 2000-guest Coral Princess features a large number of balcony staterooms, suites and mini-suites as well as a wide array of restaurants and lounges, and offers a superb level of comfort and space ideal for longer voyages. In addition to the world cruise, Coral Princess will sail on Princess' popular round-Australia itineraries, with two departures from both Sydney and Brisbane, as well as a 21-night voyage to see the sights of Asia from Sydney to Yokohama aboard Royal Princess departing 6 April 2024.With departures available from Adelaide, Fremantle and Auckland as well Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, the 2023/24 program offers a wide range of Australian itineraries including a new 12-night cruise to South Australia and Tasmania from Sydney on Majestic Princess and two cruises to Queensland from Melbourne.Highlights of the 2023/24 program include:Coral Princess' 110-night world cruise with roundtrip departures from Sydney on 30 April 2024 and Brisbane on 2 May 2024. Princess will offer 33 trans-Tasman cruises to New Zealand, ranging from 5 to 20 nights, with departures from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. An all new 12-night roundtrip cruise from Sydney on Majestic Princess visiting Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Arthur and Hobart. A 10-night exploration of Western Australia's stunning Coral Coast, sailing from Fremantle on Coral Princess and visiting Exmouth, Broome, Kuri Bay, and Geraldton. Round-Australia cruises on Coral Princess, with departures from Sydney and Brisbane. Cruises between Singapore and Fremantle on Coral Princess taking in the delights of South-east Asia. and more...Join the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/  Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg    Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home  Listen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF  Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI  Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u  I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8  Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz  Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M  Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs  Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. 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Mike Donnelly announces breaking news from the United Kingdom and interviews Fiona and Rodney Rajkumar from Trinidad and Tobago!  Fiona is an Associate Professor at the University of the Southern Caribbean and Rodney is President of the HomeSchool Association of Trinidad and Tobago.  Join Rodney and Fiona as they tell us what homeschooling is like in Trinidad and Tobago and what is next for the homeschool movement there!  

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