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Professor Melissa's Cruise Pod

Professor Melissa's Cruise Pod

Hosted by: Professor Melissa

Welcome to Professor Melissa's Cruise Pod, your go-to guide for everything cruising! Tune in for top tips, savvy hacks, advice, and stories from a cruise enthusiast who’s been there and done it all (well, not "all",...

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Episodes

First-Time Mediterranean Cruise? What to Know About Itineraries, Ships & Shore Days

In this episode, we'll unpack the most important decisions you'll make when planning your Med sailing, from choosing between the culturally rich East or the classic West, to understanding why a closed-loop itinerary...
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Roatan’s Little French Key: Real Review, Booking Tips & Big Red Flags

Planning a cruise to Roatan, Honduras and thinking about booking a day at Little French Key? Before you do, watch this! From fake booking websites and legal drama to what’s actually included in your day pass, this is...
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The Weirdest Things Banned on Cruise Ships in 2025

Ever gotten your bag flagged at cruise embarkation and thought, “Wait, what did I even pack?” Let’s talk about the ever-growing list of banned cruise items, and some of them will absolutely surprise you.
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Massive Cruise Controversies: Tragedies, Fights & Royal Caribbean's $600M Problem

What do cruise controversies, a glacier flood, and a 2 a.m. chicken tender brawl have in common? This week’s cruise news, that’s what. Plus, Royal Caribbean’s $600M Mexico project sparks outrage with over 200,000...
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Surprising MSC World America Cruise Review You Need to Hear

Can a cruise line win you back after your worst experience ever? Here's my honest take on MSC and comprehensive review of MSC World America My top recommendation for casino comp matching programs is URComped, sign up...
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Massive Cruise Updates: Fights, Failures & Future Ships

Another wild week at sea, my favorite cruiseline is back in the headlines with a viral dockside brawl, Royal Caribbean’s record-breaking slide cracks mid-ride, and a musical legend backs out as godmother of Star of...
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Celebration Key Truth: What Carnival WON’T Tell You

Celebration Key or Celebration Fee? Here's my honest take on Carnival’s brand-new $600 million Celebration Key. In this video, we'll explore the great things about this new island paradise, but also the things to be...
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Wild Weeks at Sea: Cruise Fights, New Rules & a Hawaii Tsunami Alert

What happens when a dream vacation turns into chaos? In this episode, we’ll fall ship about the cruise news that’s been making waves. From a massive 30-person brawl at Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay to a dangerous pool...
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Is Your Cruise Really All-Inclusive? The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About

You step onto the ship ready to relax, but by the end of the cruise, your onboard bill is screaming louder than the sail-away party. Sound familiar? Let’s pull back the curtain on all the sneaky ways cruises drain...
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Are Cruise Line Drink Packages Actually Worth It?

Are cruise drink packages worth it, or are you just sipping your way into a spending spree? In this episode, I break down everything you need to know before saying “yes” to that unlimited drink deal. I'll discuss the...
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Cruise News SHOCKER: Drink Package Hikes, Bed Bugs & Port Changes

From surprise drink package changes and ships moving ports, to drug arrests, stomach bugs, and even BED bugs, we break it all down in this week’s cruise update. I share honest thoughts, helpful tips, and talk ship...
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Paradise Beach Cozumel: Still Worth It?

Paradise Beach has long been a favorite Cozumel all-inclusive beach club for cruisers, but is it still worth the hype in 2025? I've been many, many times and I'll share my honest take bout why this became my favorite...
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