Ship Happens Raw

Kat and Matt
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The cruise industry has a lot of opinions. So do we. Ship Happens Raw is where Kat and Matt take the cruise topics everybody's talking about and throw them right in the middle of the table. We work in the travel industry. We cruise a lot. And we've learned that the loudest opinion in the room usually isn't the right one. No scripts. No corporate talking points. No pretending every cruise line is perfect. Just real conversations, strong opinions, and absolutely no guarantee we're going to agree with each other.

  1. 6h ago

    Can You REALLY Trust Cruise Reviews Anymore

    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 travel agent, or asked other cruisers for advice.But what happens when they all tell you something different?One cruiser says it was the BEST cruise they've ever taken.Another says the same cruise ship was terrible and they'll never sail that cruise line again.Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, we're getting into a question that affects every cruiser:CAN YOU REALLY TRUST CRUISE REVIEWS ANYMORE?We're joined by a special guest who brings a very different perspective to this conversation, and that's exactly what we want. This isn't about calling out individual cruise creators or deciding that one source is always right. We're looking at how cruise reviews, recommendations and travel advice actually work—and how cruisers can separate useful information from somebody else's opinion.Can one sailing really tell you whether a cruise ship is good?Does someone who's taken 50 cruises automatically have a more valuable opinion than someone who's taken five?Are YouTube cruise reviews more trustworthy because you can actually see the experience?Are Facebook cruise groups an incredible source of firsthand information—or a breeding ground for confidently wrong cruise advice?Does anonymity make Reddit more honest or less accountable?Has Cruise Critic become underrated?Should a travel agent recommend a cruise line or ship they've never personally sailed?And then we're going somewhere that might make all of us a little uncomfortable:What happens when MONEY enters the conversation?Hosted cruises. Sponsored content. Complimentary cabins. Media sailings. Affiliate relationships. Travel agent commissions.Does receiving something for free automatically make a cruise review less trustworthy?Does disclosure fix the problem?And are NEGATIVE cruise reviews really more honest—or have we simply learned to trust negativity because controversy gets clicks?We're also turning the camera around on ourselves and asking what viewers should expect from cruise creators, travel agents and experienced cruisers when we give advice.Then we're putting everything to the $5,000 TEST:You've never cruised before. You have $5,000 to spend on your first cruise and you're allowed ONE source of information.YouTube?Facebook?Reddit?Cruise Critic?Travel Agent?Friends & Family?Cruise Line Website?AI?WHO DO YOU TRUST?Tell us in the comments BEFORE watching, then come back after the show and tell us whether your answer changed.CHAPTERS00:00 Can You REALLY Trust Cruise Reviews?03:00 Who Do We Trust?08:00 The Cruise Research Rabbit Hole15:00 What Makes a Cruise Review Credible?23:00 Can One Sailing Really Review a Cruise Ship?30:00 YouTube vs Facebook vs Reddit vs Cruise Critic39:00 Can You Trust a Travel Agent?46:00 Sponsored, Hosted & Free Cruises54:00 Are Negative Cruise Reviews More Trustworthy?59:00 Is the Algorithm Influencing Cruise Reviews?64:00 The $5,000 Cruise Test69:00 Trust It or Trash It73:00 Who Do You Trust?---Looking for your next cruise?Cruise Search: https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMattFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetaways/Website: https://katandmattgetaways.comAmazon Storefront: https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbCruise Smarter. Not Harder.---

  2. Oct 8

    Are Cruise Lines Making Included Food Worse to Sell Specialty Dining

    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, lunch and dinner. So why are passengers spending hundreds more on specialty restaurants?Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, we’re debating:• Whether specialty dining should exist• If included cruise food is getting worse• Main Dining Room food versus specialty dining• Chops Grille versus Izumi• Whether burgers, wings, pizza and room service should cost extra• Johnny Rockets and the price of casual cruise food• Whether Playmakers charges for food or atmosphere• Specialty-dining packages: great value or psychological trap• The best way to spend an additional $300 onboard• How much is too much for a specialty restaurant• Whether we would purchase specialty dining againMariner of the Seas provides the evidence, but this debate goes far beyond one Royal Caribbean ship.Are specialty restaurants improving cruising by providing more choices—or are cruise lines slowly conditioning us to pay extra for the food quality that should already be included?Join the live chat and tell us:Are you paying for a genuine upgrade—or paying twice for dinner?ESTIMATED CHAPTERS00:00 Are Cruise Lines Making Included Food Worse?05:00 Is Cruise Specialty Dining Worth It?13:00 Should Specialty Restaurants Even Exist?22:00 What Cruise Food Should Never Cost Extra?31:00 Chops Grille vs Izumi40:00 Is Playmakers Worth the Extra Cost?48:00 Specialty Dining Packages: Value or Trap?57:00 Dining, Excursion, Drinks or Cabin Upgrade?65:00 How Much Is Too Much for Specialty Dining?72:00 Are We Paying Extra for the Good Food?Looking for your next cruise?Cruise Search:https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMattFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetaways/Website:https://katandmattgetaways.comAmazon Storefront:https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbIf you enjoy honest cruise debates, practical cruise advice and live conversations where agreeing with us is never required, subscribe and join us for Ship Happens Raw.Cruise Smarter. Not Harder.#CruiseSpecialtyDining #RoyalCaribbean #ShipHappensRaw

  3. Oct 1

    Margaritaville at Sea Is Betting Big on Galveston Will It Work

    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 will become the largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. Islander remains the cruise line’s current newest ship and flagship until Beachcomber officially joins the brand.From Galveston, Beachcomber is scheduled to offer four-to-seven-night cruises with itineraries including familiar Western Caribbean destinations and less-common options for Texas cruisers. Depending on the sailing, announced destinations include Cozumel, Progreso, Roatán, Belize, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Key West, Veracruz, Aruba and Curaçao.The ship will also introduce Same Boat, a live-music venue developed with Zac Brown, along with entertainment and programming created specifically for the Texas market.On paper, Margaritaville and Galveston should be a natural fit. Texas has an enormous drive-to-cruise market, Galveston continues to grow, and the Margaritaville combination of music, drinks and casual fun fits the Gulf Coast.But Margaritaville isn’t entering an empty market.Beachcomber will face established competition from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and MSC. Those cruise lines already offer Texas passengers established loyalty programs, newer ships and products cruisers recognize.Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, we’re debating:• Why Margaritaville at Sea chose Galveston• What the former Costa Fortuna will become as Beachcomber• Whether a refurbished 2003-built ship can compete in Texas• Beachcomber versus Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and MSC• Four-to-seven-night Margaritaville cruises from Galveston• Whether the announced itineraries provide enough variety• Same Boat, the live-music venue developed with Zac Brown• Whether Texas-focused entertainment is smart or painfully forced• How Margaritaville must price Beachcomber• Who should—and should not—book this ship• Whether we would personally sail Beachcomber from GalvestonThis isn’t simply another cruise line adding another ship. Margaritaville at Sea is taking an existing vessel, rebuilding it around its brand and placing it in one of the most competitive cruise markets in America.Can Margaritaville offer Texas cruisers something genuinely different—or are they expecting a famous name, Texas-themed entertainment and frozen drinks to carry an older ship?Join the live debate and tell us:Is Margaritaville at Sea making a brilliant move by coming to Galveston—or are they completely out of their minds?ESTIMATED CHAPTERS00:00 Margaritaville at Sea Is Coming to Galveston05:00 Costa Fortuna Becomes Margaritaville Beachcomber12:00 Beachcomber’s January 2027 Miami Debut18:00 Beachcomber’s October 2027 Galveston Arrival25:00 Can Margaritaville Compete in the Texas Cruise Market?34:00 Is a Refurbished 2003 Cruise Ship Good Enough?43:00 Zac Brown and Texas Entertainment on Beachcomber51:00 Margaritaville at Sea Galveston Itineraries60:00 How Much Should a Beachcomber Cruise Cost?68:00 Who Should Book Margaritaville Beachcomber?74:00 Brilliant Galveston Move or Massive Mistake?Looking for your next cruise?Cruise Search:https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMattFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetaways/Website:https://katandmattgetaways.comAmazon Storefront:https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbIf you enjoy honest cruise debates, practical cruise advice and live conversations where agreeing with us is never required, subscribe and join us for Ship Happens Raw.Cruise Smarter. Not Harder.

  4. Sep 17

    Is Mariner of the Seas Still Worth It in 2026? #015 Ship Happens Raw

    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 booking? Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, we’re debating: • Our Mariner of the Seas cabin • The ship’s overall condition • Main Dining Room versus specialty dining • Entertainment and onboard activities • Service throughout the ship • The Mariner crew • Our best and worst experiences • Whether the cruise was worth the price • Who should—and should not—book Mariner This isn’t a polished Royal Caribbean brochure or a review based on a quick ship tour. We lived onboard for five nights, celebrated a birthday, and experienced what Mariner actually offers in 2026. By the end, we’ll answer the questions that matter: Is Mariner of the Seas worth the price—and would we book her again? Join the live debate and tell us: Would you book Mariner of the Seas in 2026, or are you sticking with Royal Caribbean’s newer ships? CHAPTERS 00:00 Is Mariner of the Seas Worth It in 2026? 05:00 Our Five-Night Mariner of the Seas Cruise 10:00 Mariner of the Seas Cabin Review 18:00 Mariner of the Seas Ship Condition 27:00 Main Dining Room vs Specialty Dining 38:00 Mariner of the Seas Entertainment 47:00 Royal Caribbean Service Onboard 54:00 The Mariner of the Seas Crew 60:00 Best and Worst Parts of Mariner 68:00 Was Mariner Worth the Price? 74:00 Who Should Book Mariner of the Seas? 78:00 Would We Sail Mariner Again? Plan Your Next Cruise Cruise Search: https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/ Website: https://katandmattgetaways.com Email: matt.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com kat.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMatt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetaways Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katandmattgetaways/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katandmatt1 Amazon Storefront: https://a.co/d/08Y8M6Tb](https://a.co/d/08Y8M6Tb As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases made through our storefront at no additional cost to you. If you enjoy honest cruise reviews, practical cruise advice, and live conversations where agreeing with us is never required, subscribe and join us for Ship Happens Raw. Cruise Smarter. Not Harder. #MarinerOfTheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #ShipHappensRaw

  5. Sep 10

    Ship Happens Raw #014 Are We Packing Too Much for Cruises?

    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 answers and have the honest cruise conversations people are already having.We sail this Saturday, the suitcases are open, and Kat and Matt are facing the same debate that happens before nearly every cruise: Are we packing useful cruise essentials—or hauling around a pile of stuff because Facebook groups, packing videos, and Amazon lists told us we needed it?Tonight, we’re putting popular cruise gadgets, packing hacks, and so-called essentials on trial. Which items genuinely make a cruise easier? Which ones never leave the cabin? And when does being prepared turn into packing for a three-month expedition?We’ll also share answers from our Facebook community, take your live votes, and reveal the things we continue packing even though we know damn well we probably won’t use them.Now it’s your turn:What’s ONE thing cruisers pack—but really don’t need?Tell us in the comments and be ready to defend your answer. Someone in the chat probably considers it essential.Plan Your Next CruiseCruise Search:https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Website:https://katandmattgetaways.comEmail:[matt.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com](mailto:matt.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com)[kat.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com](mailto:kat.lajoie@katandmattgetaways.com)Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMattFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetawaysInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/katandmattgetaways/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@katandmatt1Amazon Storefront:https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbAs an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases made through our storefront at no additional cost to you.If our channel helps you Cruise Smarter. Not Harder., subscribe and join us for honest cruise advice, destination guides, travel tips, live conversations, and new episodes of Ship Happens Raw—where the opinions are honest, the audience gets a vote, and agreeing with us is never required.#CruisePacking #CruiseTips #ShipHappensRaw

  6. Sep 3

    Ship Happens Raw #013 - We Spent $400 on This Cozumel Excursion—Here Is What Actually Happened

    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 $200 per person, this wasn’t a cheap day in port. Tonight on Ship Happens Raw, we’re breaking down the entire Kuza Beach and RZR experience to decide whether it delivered enough adventure, food, drinks, beach time, service, and overall value to justify that price.We’re debating:• What the Kuza Beach and RZR excursion actually included• Transportation, check-in and organization• How much time we really spent driving the RZR• Whether the RZR portion felt exciting or rushed• Kuza Beach, the facilities and overall atmosphere• Food, drinks and service• The best and worst parts of the experience• Additional costs beyond the excursion price• Whether $200 per person was reasonable• Who should book this Cozumel excursion—and who should skip it• Whether we would pay $400 to do it againThis isn’t a sponsored Kuza Beach review or a polished excursion advertisement. We paid for the experience, spent the day doing it, and now Kat and Matt are comparing what was promised with what we actually received.Join the live debate and tell us:Would you pay $200 per person for an RZR adventure and Kuza Beach—or is $400 too much for one day in Cozumel?CHAPTERS00:00 Was Our $400 Cozumel Excursion Worth It?05:00 Why We Booked Kuza Beach and the RZR Tour11:00 What the Cozumel Excursion Included18:00 Transportation, Check-In and Organization25:00 Our Cozumel RZR Tour Experience36:00 Kuza Beach Cozumel Review45:00 Food, Drinks, Facilities and Service53:00 Best and Worst Parts of the Excursion61:00 Was Kuza Beach and RZR Worth $200 Per Person?68:00 Who Should Book This Cozumel Excursion?73:00 Would We Pay $400 to Do It Again?Looking for your next cruise?Cruise Search:https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/KatandMattFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetaways/Website:https://katandmattgetaways.comAmazon Storefront:https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbAs an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases made through our storefront at no additional cost to you.If you enjoy honest cruise reviews, practical travel advice, and live conversations where agreeing with us is never required, subscribe and join us for Ship Happens Raw.Cruise Smarter. Not Harder.#CozumelExcursion #KuzaBeach #ShipHappensRaw

  7. Aug 7

    Ship Happens Raw #012 What's the BEST Meal You've Ever Had on a Cruise?

    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 already having.Tonight we're talking about the meals we still think about long after we've unpacked our suitcases. From included dining to specialty restaurants, hidden gems to overrated favorites, we're sharing our picks, reading your comments, and debating whether paying extra always means eating better.As always, the best part of the show is hearing from you. We'll be featuring answers from our Facebook community, taking your live votes, and seeing if your favorite cruise meal matches ours.So tell us in the comments...What's the BEST meal you've ever had on a cruise?Be sure to include:The shipThe restaurantWhat you orderedWhether you'd order it againPlan Your Next CruiseCruise Search:https://katandmattgetaways.cruisebrothers.com/cb/Website:https://katandmattgetaways.comEmail:kandmgetaways@gmail.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/katandmattgetawaysInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/katandmattgetaways/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@katandmatt1Amazon Storefront:https://a.co/d/08Y8M6TbIf our channel helps you Cruise Smarter. Not Harder., we'd love to have you join our community. Subscribe for honest cruise advice, destination guides, live shows, travel tips, and new episodes of Ship Happens Raw.Chapters00:00 Welcome & Intro02:15 What's the BEST Meal You've Ever Had on a Cruise?08:40 Matt's Favorite Cruise Meals17:55 Kat's Favorite Cruise Meals27:18 Included vs. Specialty Dining38:42 Your Favorite Cruise Meals49:31 Cruise Food Hot Takes58:16 The Lifeboat Round1:05:47 Final Thoughts & Community Wrap-Up#cruise #cruises #cruisefood #royalcaribbean #carnivalcruise #norwegiancruise #princesscruises #msccruises #celebritycruises #shiphappensraw

  8. Jul 26

    Ship Happens RAW #011 Are Cruise Gratuities a Scam

    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 for cruise conversations with strong opinions, real-world experience, and zero interest in corporate talking points, pull up a chair.Welcome to Ship Happens Raw.

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About

The cruise industry has a lot of opinions. So do we. Ship Happens Raw is where Kat and Matt take the cruise topics everybody's talking about and throw them right in the middle of the table. We work in the travel industry. We cruise a lot. And we've learned that the loudest opinion in the room usually isn't the right one. No scripts. No corporate talking points. No pretending every cruise line is perfect. Just real conversations, strong opinions, and absolutely no guarantee we're going to agree with each other.

Information

  • Creator
    Kat and Matt
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kat and Matt
  • Show Website
    Ship Happens Raw