Carnival Glory Review 2024 + Cruise News [Podcast]

Doug Parker and staff writer Richard Simms cover a variety of cruise news, including incidents on Norwegian Encore and Celebrity Edge, a Norwegian Cruise Line program, and a peculiar event on MSC Bellissima in Japan.

They also respond to a listener’s query about Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady.

The episode features an interview with Brandon, a cruise passenger who shares his last-minute booking experience on Carnival Glory, his time in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and his thoughts on the ship’s layout, dining, and entertainment.

Despite some disappointments, Brandon offers tips for future cruisers and documented his experience on his YouTube channel, “Bubba’s Cruising Concerts.”

This episode is brought to you by TripInsurance.com, giving you three levels of travel protection — Good, Better, and Best — a travel insurance policy for every budget.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or where you listen to your favorite podcast.

Timestamps:

• Introduction (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast episode and the return of staff writer Richard Sims.
• Norwegian Encore Incident (00:00:34) Description of a scary incident involving a crew member on the Norwegian Encore attempting to deploy a lifeboat.
• Norwegian Teacher Appreciation Week (00:02:12) Discussion about Norwegian Cruise Line’s Teacher Appreciation Week and the Giving Joy contest for teachers.
• Missed Ship Incident (00:04:48) Cautionary tale about a couple who missed their ship while on an independent shore excursion in Spain.
• Celebrity Edge Incident (00:07:46) Discussion of the Celebrity Edge ship getting dangerously close to the Hawaiian coastline, leading to an investigation.
• MSC Bellissima Incident (00:10:38) A baffling incident involving a man falling into the water from the MSC Bellissima ship in Japan.
• Brilliant Lady Sailing (00:12:35) Explanation of the popularity of the Brilliant Lady sailing, which quickly sold out.
• Carnival Glory Review (00:16:00) Interview with Brandon about his recent eight-night cruise aboard Carnival Glory.
• Note: The timestamps are in the format of [speaker] [time] [text].
• Embarkation Process (00:18:09) Smooth parking process, lost passport solution, and odd calling of passengers.
• First impressions of the ship (00:20:22) Notable features of the ship and comparison to larger ships.
• Stateroom experience (00:20:58) Booking a guaranteed room, location, and noise issues.
• Condition of the ship (00:22:12) Cosmetic condition, upcoming dry dock, and personal improvements.
• Dining experience (00:22:52) Buffet options, old-fashioned barbecue, and additional dining choices.
• Main dining room experience (00:25:05) Menu highlights, wait times, and server introductions.
• Entertainment and cruise director (00:28:38) Mixed bag of entertainment, cruise director’s performance, and karaoke surprise.
• Crowds and congestion (00:30:33) Weather impact, indoor activities, and limited fun staff.
• Casino and entertainment design (00:32:07) Discussion about changes in smoking policy and the proximity of guest services to live music.
• Entertainment highlights (00:33:10) Description of the special entertainer, Marcus Anthony, and the Legend of Lido event on the ship.
• Ports of call (00:34:03) Overview of the experiences at Key West, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.
• Return to New Orleans (00:36:19) Weather conditions on the way back and the experience of reaching the Mississippi River.
• Disembarkation process (00:37:16) Description of the digital disembarkation process and the quickness of leaving the ship.
• Tips for future cruisers (00:37:57) Advice on researching the ship and being prepared for the entertainment options.
• Final thoughts on Carnival Glory (00:38:30) Brandon’s overall opinion of the ship and its layout.
• YouTube videos (00:39:14) Brandon’s YouTube channel and his approach to creating content.
• Conclusion of the interview (00:39:51) Brandon’s appreciation for the opportunity to share his review.