A review of Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas in 2026.
Earlier this year, Matt took a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas from Port Miami. Matt shares his experience navigating flight cancellations due to a Georgia storm and the Miami Marathon's i…A review of Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas in 2026.
Earlier this year, Matt took a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas from Port Miami. Matt shares his experience navigating flight cancellations due to a Georgia storm and the Miami Marathon's impact on transportation. He praises the ship's cleanliness, exceptional dining in both the main dining room and specialty restaurants, and highlights Perfect Day at CocoCay, Puerto Rico, and Saint Thomas as memorable ports. Despite limited grab-and-go food options and slightly longer disembarkation, Matt considers the cruise excellent value, recommending it for families and couples alike.Hear his complete thoughts in this week's inerview.
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise. Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.more
We head south of Miami to hear the story of a family that took a gamble on a humble roadside stand that blossomed into a fruit emporium and community staple.
This episode is part of our ongoing coverage of the soccer world championship. In each episode, we take you beyond the stadium, and to a near…We head south of Miami to hear the story of a family that took a gamble on a humble roadside stand that blossomed into a fruit emporium and community staple.
This episode is part of our ongoing coverage of the soccer world championship. In each episode, we take you beyond the stadium, and to a nearby wonder that’s off the beaten track.more
Doug Parker interviews Jan, who recently completed a 16-night repositioning cruise aboard Explorer Journeys' Explorer One, sailing from Barcelona to Miami. Jan shares his enthusiasm for the cruise line, highlighting the exceptional food, spacious suites, inclusive amenities, and intimate atmosphere.…Doug Parker interviews Jan, who recently completed a 16-night repositioning cruise aboard Explorer Journeys' Explorer One, sailing from Barcelona to Miami. Jan shares his enthusiasm for the cruise line, highlighting the exceptional food, spacious suites, inclusive amenities, and intimate atmosphere. He describes memorable ports including Cadiz, Madeira, Antigua, Tortola, and San Juan, along with standout onboard experiences like enrichment lectures and a culinary cooking class. Jan recommends Explorer Journeys as outstanding value for travelers seeking a luxury experience without ultra-luxury pricing.
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise. Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.more
Corey joins Doug to share his review of a five-night cruise aboard Carnival Sunrise from Miami, featuring visits to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
Taking advantage of a casino offer, Corey and his girlfriend booked an interior stateroom for her first cruise and explored everything fr…Corey joins Doug to share his review of a five-night cruise aboard Carnival Sunrise from Miami, featuring visits to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
Taking advantage of a casino offer, Corey and his girlfriend booked an interior stateroom for her first cruise and explored everything from Carnival's newest private destinations to the ship's specialty dining venues. They discuss Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, Cucina del Capitano, the Chef's Table experience, Carnival's new Bagels at Sea concept, and the overall food quality onboard.
The conversation also covers entertainment, casino offers, crowd levels on a smaller Carnival ship, and how Carnival Sunrise compares to newer ships sailing today. Corey shares his thoughts on the grand reopening of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, his experience at Pearl Cove Beach Club at Celebration Key, and why he believes the combination of Carnival's two private destinations creates one of the strongest beach-focused itineraries in the Caribbean.
In This Episode:
• Carnival Sunrise interior stateroom review
• Bagels at Sea and onboard dining
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
• Chef's Table experience
• Nassau shore excursion
• RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay reopening
• Celebration Key and Pearl Cove Beach Club
• Carnival casino offers
• Tips for first-time Carnival Sunrise cruisers Share your thoughts: [email protected]
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise. Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.
South Florida's dining landscape is the product of decades of immigration. Cuban, Haitian, Colombian, Venezuelan, and dozens of other communities have each added a layer to a food culture that is continuously evolving—and few people are better equipped to make sense of it than someone who grew up ea…South Florida's dining landscape is the product of decades of immigration. Cuban, Haitian, Colombian, Venezuelan, and dozens of other communities have each added a layer to a food culture that is continuously evolving—and few people are better equipped to make sense of it than someone who grew up eating his way through it.
In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with Fort Lauderdale native Ryan Pfeffer, Senior Editor at The Infatuation, where he oversees restaurant coverage across South Florida. With years of on-the-ground reporting from the ventanitas of Little Havana to the pop-up scene in Wynwood, Ryan brings local fluency and a journalist's instinct to the table.
You'll learn how decades of immigration shaped one of the most diverse dining cultures in the country, what dishes are truly native to this region, and how to build a realistic eating itinerary without burning away half your trip in traffic. Ryan breaks down the rituals every first-time visitor should know and explains why the best meal in South Florida is rarely the most obvious one.
What You’ll Learn:
3:08 How successive waves of South American and Caribbean immigration gave Miami a food identity unlike anywhere else in the country
8:17 What the cafecito ritual is, how to properly order it at a ventanita, and why it's a foundational piece of Miami culture
13:55 How to find the freshest local seafood in South Florida without falling into tourist traps
20:09 Why Palm Beach and the Florida Keys represent opposite ends of the South Florida food spectrum
25:24 The one thing Ryan says every visitor must do when eating their way through South Florida
Ok, no she wasn't ACTUALLY held hostage. But it sure felt like it. This week on Travel Chat with Ashley and Emily, Ashley shares the story of what may be the most spontaneous trip she has ever taken. After booking a cruise at the last minute, she packed her bags and headed to Miami the very same day…Ok, no she wasn't ACTUALLY held hostage. But it sure felt like it. This week on Travel Chat with Ashley and Emily, Ashley shares the story of what may be the most spontaneous trip she has ever taken. After booking a cruise at the last minute, she packed her bags and headed to Miami the very same day, spending the night at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables before setting sail. What followed was anything but smooth sailing. Ashley takes us through the series of events that left her desperate to le...more
A review of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas from Port Miami, Florida to the Eastern Caribbean.
Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on:
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise. Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip.…A review of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas from Port Miami, Florida to the Eastern Caribbean.
Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news on:
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise. Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
About Cruise Radio: Cruise Radio has been delivering cruise news, ship reviews, and money-saving tips weekly since 2009.more
We’re sharing how to spend four full days enjoying all the best Miami Beach has to offer. We share amazing beachfront properties to stay at, great places to eat, where to get Miami Beach drinks, beautiful rooftop bars, how to enjoy the beach beds and umbrellas, and where to go out dancing for some o…We’re sharing how to spend four full days enjoying all the best Miami Beach has to offer. We share amazing beachfront properties to stay at, great places to eat, where to get Miami Beach drinks, beautiful rooftop bars, how to enjoy the beach beds and umbrellas, and where to go out dancing for some of that iconic Miami nightlife!
We break down the differences between South Beach, Mid-Beach, and North Beach so you can choose the perfect area for your stay, plus hotel recommendations from mid-range gems to luxury oceanfront resorts.
Miami Beach hotels we recommend (and stayed at during this trip!) are the Eden Roc Hotel for a bougie oceanfront option and the conveniently located Albion South Beach Hotel for a mid-range option.
There is so much more to do in Miami, check out our Viator shop for other things to do in Miami we recommend for more inspo!
Find a great flight deal to nearby Miami with Thrifty Traveler Premium, sign up to get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription!
—---------------------------------------
Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront
Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.
Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!more
Episode 139 of the Award Travel 101 podcast featured Angie Sparks and Joseph Petrovic with a recap of the Miami meetup and the latest travel news. The highlight post centered on whether travelers still need local currency, with most members agreeing that while cards dominate, a small amount of cash …Episode 139 of the Award Travel 101 podcast featured Angie Sparks and Joseph Petrovic with a recap of the Miami meetup and the latest travel news. The highlight post centered on whether travelers still need local currency, with most members agreeing that while cards dominate, a small amount of cash is still useful in certain locations. Big news included the refreshed Amex Platinum card with an increased $895 annual fee but a slew of valuable new credits (Resy, Lululemon, FHR, Uber One, Oura, ...more
A six-night review of Carnival Magic from PortMiami that called to Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. Plus, staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.
Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during…A six-night review of Carnival Magic from PortMiami that called to Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. Plus, staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.
Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
A review of Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady sailing from Port Miami. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.
Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unex…A review of Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady sailing from Port Miami. Staff writer Richard Simms has cruise news.
Sponsor
Cruise line protection is designed to help if you can't take your cruise.
Third-party travel insurance helps protect you during the trip. Including medical care, delays, and unexpected issues.
Compare plans and save up to 30% at TripInsurance.com.
Travel Channel host Oneika Raymond recommends her favorite Miami neighborhoods to explore on a sunny getaway. Then friends from Scotland discuss the uniquely Scottish cultural icons that reinforce the small nation's strong sense of identity. And just in time for Burns Night, Perthshire-based troubad…Travel Channel host Oneika Raymond recommends her favorite Miami neighborhoods to explore on a sunny getaway. Then friends from Scotland discuss the uniquely Scottish cultural icons that reinforce the small nation's strong sense of identity. And just in time for Burns Night, Perthshire-based troubadour Jim Malcolm explains what Robert Burns' poetry means to his compatriots — and sings some favorite Burns tunes.more
Mike and Angie recap an exciting year in the world of award travel. This milestone episode kicks off with a look at the lively community debate over a 47-hour Amtrak ride from Chicago to Miami—a no-go for most but sparking dreams of scenic sleeper-car journeys through the mountains. The hosts also d…Mike and Angie recap an exciting year in the world of award travel. This milestone episode kicks off with a look at the lively community debate over a 47-hour Amtrak ride from Chicago to Miami—a no-go for most but sparking dreams of scenic sleeper-car journeys through the mountains. The hosts also dive into current travel deals, including Frontier's GoWild! Pass, IHG's double points promo, and Alaska Airlines' ski getaway perks. Don't forget to check out the latest transfer bonuses from Amex,...more
