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

Today we hit the big headlines:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They also cover:

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

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

• Build-A-Bear regret at sea

• Party cruises gone very wrong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎧 Listen now and cruise smarter.

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Speakpipe.com/CarnivalCruisingPodcastaways