Ship Happens Raw

Can you trust cruise reviews on YouTube, Facebook, Reddit and Cruise Critic? We debate cruise advice, travel agents, sponsored cruise reviews, influencers and who cruisers should trust before booking. Before you spend thousands of dollars on your next cruise, chances are you've watched cruise reviews on YouTube, searched Facebook cruise groups, checked Reddit or Cruise Critic, talked with a tr...

Are cruise lines making included cruise food worse to sell specialty dining? We recently sailed Mariner of the Seas and compared Royal Caribbean’s included dining with Chops Grille, Izumi, Johnny Rockets and Playmakers. Now we’re debating whether cruise specialty dining provides genuinely better choices—or puts the good food behind another paywall. Your cruise fare already includes breakfast, lunc...

Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber is coming to Galveston in October 2027—but it isn’t a brand-new cruise ship. The ship currently operates as Costa Fortuna, which originally entered service in 2003. After being converted and rebranded for Margaritaville at Sea, Beachcomber is scheduled to begin sailing from Miami on January 9, 2027, before repositioning to Galveston in October 2027.Beachcomber wil...

Is Mariner of the Seas still worth booking in 2026? We recently spent five nights onboard Mariner of the Seas, and now we’re giving our honest Royal Caribbean cruise review while the experience is still fresh. Mariner is one of Royal Caribbean’s older Voyager-class ships. She doesn’t have the size, restaurants, or headline attractions of the newest ships—but does she still deliver a cruise worth b...

Are we packing too much for our cruise? Cruise packing lists are packed with “must-have” essentials: magnetic hooks, packing cubes, towel clips, portable fans, over-the-door organizers, power strips, wrinkle-release spray—and enough backup clothes to survive a maritime apocalypse. But do cruisers really need all this stuff? Welcome to Ship Happens Raw, where we skip the polished travel-brochure an...

We paid nearly $400 for two people to combine an RZR tour in Cozumel with a day at Kuza Beach. Was this one of the best Cozumel excursions we’ve booked—or an overpriced beach day with a side of dust? During our recent Mariner of the Seas cruise, we traded the usual Cozumel beach day for an excursion that promised two experiences: an off-road RZR adventure followed by time at Kuza Beach. At roughly...

What's the best meal you've ever had on a cruise? Was it a perfectly cooked steak in a specialty restaurant? A lobster dinner in the Main Dining Room? A Guy's Burger that somehow lived up to the hype? Or maybe it wasn't the food at all—it was who you were sharing it with. Welcome to Ship Happens Raw, where we skip the polished travel brochure and have the conversations cruisers are...

Most cruise podcasts tell you what happened. Ship Happens Raw asks whether it actually matters. Hosted by Kat and Matt, this is the show where cruise news, industry changes, passenger behavior, loyalty programs, drink packages, and the latest cruise drama get pulled apart from every angle. Sometimes we'll agree. Most of the time we don't. That's kind of the point. If you're looking...

*Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Alaska cruises, Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises, Greek Isles cruises... if you could only sail ONE cruise ship and itinerary again, which would you choose?** Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, Matt and Kat tackle one of the toughest cruise questions we've ever asked. If someone handed you a boarding pass today with one catch—you had to repeat a cruise you'...

Cruise drink packages. Specialty dining. Spa treatments. WiFi. Priority boarding. Candy stores. We asked cruisers one simple question:What's the ONE thing you'll never pay for on a cruise again? What happened next caught us completely off guard. More than 79,000 people saw the post, over 10,000 reacted, and more than 1,000 comments poured in. We thought we knew exactly what the number one...

Luxury cruise vs mainstream cruise: Is Royal Caribbean really the best cruise value? We're comparing luxury cruise prices, cruise vacation budgets, and whether Silversea, Viking, Seabourn, and Azamara are worth the money. This week on Ship Happens RAW, we thought we were having a simple debate about luxury cruises versus mainstream cruises. Then we started looking at what people actually spend...

We'll break down Royal Caribbean's newest Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, and whether bigger really is better. We'll talk about Carnival Cruise Line's "Next Course" dining initiative and what it means for Main Dining Room fans and specialty dining lovers alike. And yes, we'll cover the unbelievable story of passengers aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander experie...

Cruise passenger meltdowns are one of the biggest complaints in cruising. From chair hogs reserving pool chairs all day to line cutters, balcony smokers, elevator etiquette disasters, and rude cruise passengers, we're debating the worst cruise ship behavior LIVE.Which cruise passenger deserves Cruise Jail? This week on Ship Happens RAW, Kat and Matt break down the most annoying cruise passenge...

Remember when cruising felt all-inclusive? Now, cruise travel often means a shopping cart for amenities like cruise internet. We're discussing how to save money on a cruise when everything from Wi-Fi to prime beach spots comes with an extra charge. It seems even good shade has a price now! Cruising used to feel simple. You booked the cruise… got on the ship… and most of the vacation was INCLUDED....

Join us for a "full episode" of Ship Happens Raw with Kat and Matt, as we compare "Classic Cruiser" versus "Team Mega Ship" experiences. This engaging discussion dives into the world of "cruise ships", offering insights into the "biggest ships" and a captivating "cruise ship tour" that will appeal to all "royal caribbean" fans. We're here to help you navigate your next adventure at sea! Mega Cruis...

Norwegian Luna is almost here for Kat, I and a whole bunch of rowdy family — we’re 11 days out. So… is this ship actually worth the hype? We’re going LIVE with Cruise Tubers to break down what we expect, what we’re excited for, and what could go wrong before sailing. Wednesday 8pm CST April 1st - Nope it aint a jokeIf you’re thinking about booking Norwegian Luna — or already have — this is the con...

Tonight on Ship Happens: RAW we’re debating one of the biggest cruise gambling games out there… cabin upgrade bidding. RoyalUp. MoveUp. Upgrade Advantage. Whatever the cruise line calls it — people are throwing money at “better” rooms hoping to score the deal of the century. But are upgrade bids actually worth it… or are cruise lines just monetizing leftover cabins and playing passengers emotional...

Join us as we dive into a lively debate about various cruise topics, from the biggest cruise passenger pet peeves to the unspoken rules of the high seas. This discussion provides essential cruise tips for both new and seasoned cruisers looking to navigate the complexities of cruise culture. We tackle everything from Royal Caribbean etiquette to common issues on Carnival Cruise Line and other major...

Join us as we dive into a lively discussion comparing the classic cruise experience with the modern mega cruise ship. We'll share our cruise tips and explore the nuances of various cruises, from royal caribbean to norwegian cruise line and carnival cruise line. Get ready for an insightful debate on what makes each type of cruise unique! We’re settling a real cruise debate tonight… Interior cab...

Most cruise podcasts tell you what happened. Ship Happens Raw asks whether it actually matters. Hosted by Kat and Matt, this is the show where cruise news, industry changes, passenger behavior, loyalty programs, drink packages, and the latest cruise drama get pulled apart from every angle. Sometimes we'll agree. Most of the time we don't. That's kind of the point. If you're looking...