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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am delighted to welcome Rose Perry, SipWatchTravel. Just being a cruise enthusiast and world traveler means she has the kind of stories that I would like to bring to my listeners, but there is so much more to Rose.

Rose is a certified sommelier and lifestyle creator behind SipWatchTravel, a platform centered on elevated food, wine, and travel experiences with a strong focus on coastal living and day-drinking culture. She has a particular love for cruising and the unique blend of relaxation, exploration, and indulgence it offers, which has become a recurring theme in her content. She is excited to be featured on The Joy of Cruising Podcast and will also be appearing on another podcast later this year, continuing to share her perspective on travel, lifestyle and curated experiences.

Rose Reyna Perry, JD, is an attorney and Director of Contracts & Grants Administration, where she oversees contract negotiations, licensing, and grant strategy across a growing multi-state footprint. She specializes in aligning compliance, reimbursement, and operational goals to support sustainable growth, including work in Medicaid strategy, acquisitions, and justice-involved healthcare programs.

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul, and let me introduce my co-host for today’s episode, Cheryl.

Welcome to this episode featuring our reflections on Virgin Voyages newest lady ship, Brilliant Lady which we had the pleasure to sail March 12-21 on a special sailing known as a Red Hot Sailing Club Voyage, special voyages—I think there’s a couple per year—that feature a special guest performance, in our case legendary performer and song writer, Nile Rodgers, and Chic, guest speakers like the Virgin Voyages CEO, Nirmal Saverimuttu, and other special events. In some past Red Hot Sailing Club Voyages, Virgin Group Chairman, Richard Branson made an appearance. He was not billed to appear on ours, but on the last seaday, which was supposed to include a stop at Bimini, Virgin Voyages private island in the Bahamas, Branson appeared onboard.

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am delighted to welcome back Billy D. Washington. Billy D. was one of my first guests three years ago way back on Episode 8. He also was the first stand-up comedian I have hosted on the podcast, and regular listeners know I have since had several comedians and other cruise ship performers given my love of comedy and music. Now 230 episodes later it is my pleasure to welcome Billy D.back.

I first met Billy D. three-and-a-half years ago when we took my granddaughter LaKi on Carnival Mardi Gras for her 13th birthday. On the first day aboard, we watched Billy D at the family-friendly comedy show and laughed raucously, and then watched every version of Billy D’s uncensored sets in the PunchLiner Comedy Club. He was hilarious, and what set him apart besides his unique delivery, timing, and total unpredictability—was his incorporation of a keyboard in his act. He also had a non-traditional perspective of having had a career in law enforcement.

Our first conversation was funny and thought-provoking. With Billy D., I fully expect that to be the case again.

Welcome back Billy D. to The Joy of Cruising Podcast.

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Hello, passionate travelers! This is Paul, welcome to this special episode pertaining solely to our 14-Day Kenya & Egypt—Safaris, Great Pyramids & Nile River Cruise bucket list trip. An unforgettable journey through the wilds of Kenya and the treasures of Egypt! Discover the legendary Maasai Mara Natural Reserve, the scene of the annual Great Migration. At Lake Nakuru, contemplate the amazing landscapes and spot diverse birdlife before heading to Egypt to marvel at the Great Pyramids and experience the wonders of the Nile on a 4-night full-board river cruise!

Joining me today is a special guest, world traveler, the star associate in The Joy of Vacation by Dream Vacations travel agency, and I call her Ms. TikTok, my daughter Shornay. Besides keeping me straight in summarizing this amazing trip, she can provide her perspective. I am both jealous of, and proud of her, for having beat me to some bucket list locations—including the continent of Africa, even though I have been traveling for over 40 years.

A couple of years ago Cheryl, my wife, and I, along with Shornay, pursued a brand extension and started The Joy of Vacation travel agency. In our announcement to friends, we stated a vision of someday leading a group to the Motherland, and we are proud to see this come to fruition.

Questions or to book: pthornton@dreamvacations.com

Online brochure: https://v2.app.moguplatform.com/trips/46015-paul

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul. I am delighted to welcome back this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, Dixie Krystals, of Virgin Voyages. I met Dixie on my first cruise on Virgin Voyages, a transatlantic cruise from Miami to Barcelona, Spain aboard Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady a couple of years ago. Dixie was “The Diva,” on Scarlet Lady. I experienced Dixie in several settings and always enjoyed her. She was funny and can she ever sing! I was delighted when Dixie agreed to be on The Joy of Cruising Podcast shortly after that sailing. Ep 104 I was very pleasantly surprised when her episode became a runaway hit—the fifth most popular episode of my 230+ episodes!

Dixie has a website, is on all major social media platforms, and has a podcast, Spill’n The Tea with Dixie where she chats about her work in the Colorado LGBTQ+ community, her work in theater, reading and baking.

From www.dixiekrystals.com:

Dixie Krystals has been dazzling audiences for 27 years. She grew up in the small town in Pennsylvania and always dreamed of having her name in lights. See where that got her?! You can catch Dixie on Discovery+ in Generation Drag(34TH Annual GLAAD Award Nominee, Outstanding Reality) as well as performing around Denver and beyond.

Her live vocals and tremendous comedic talents are undeniable! She was trained in Musical Theatre and has worked for Walt Disney World, Princess Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens, and various regional theatres.

Her passion for community is what drives her to excellence. She is an ordained minister, bingo queen, emcee, and fabulous hostess with the mostess. She’s won an award for her Podcast; Spill’n The Tea with Dixie where she spills the tea on her life and worldly events! Dixie is currently entertaining on the high seas as The Diva for Virgin Voyages!

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am delighted to welcome Sam Catling, Owner and Host of the unique YouTube podcast, Decktales, and Author, Seems Like Smooth Sailing.

Sam told me, “I've been chipping away at DeckTales since November 2023, have written a book or two myself. I live in London.” The mission statement for his podcast is as follows: Welcome aboard The DeckTales Podcast! The first port of call for anyone curious about the dynamic and adventurous world of working on ships! Whether you're dreaming of a career at sea, an experienced maritime professional, or simply fascinated by life on the water, this podcast offers an inside look at what it really means to work on a ship. Each episode features insightful interviews with seasoned seafarers, ship officers, and maritime experts who share their unique experiences, challenges, and stories from the deck. Discover the highs and lows of life at sea, from navigating international waters to handling tough weather, tight-knit crews, and the evolving technology on modern ships. We dive deep into topics such as: Shipboard jobs and career paths (deckhands, officers, engineers, chefs, and more) Maritime safety, ship maintenance, and the latest technologies. Tips for new recruits on how to prepare for a life at sea. The impact of international shipping, environmental concerns, and sustainability in the maritime industry. Personal stories from those who have spent years on the waves. Tune in every week to gain valuable insights into this exciting industry and join the conversation about life on the open ocean. DeckTales is your go-to resource for everything related to working on ships and the maritime world.

Seems Like Smooth Sailing https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seems-Like-Smooth-Sailing-Catling/dp/1912964244

The DeckTales Podcast: https://www.decktales.co.uk/

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul. This week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am delighted to welcome back Kathy Lu, Regional Director, Trade Sales, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. When Kathy was here over a year ago, she represented a different luxury brand. I am excited to hear from Kathy now about The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. I perused their website, linked below, and RCYC looks marvelous!

Kathy Lu previously worked for respectively, Explora Journeys and Crystal Cruises. From her beginnings as an administrative assistant, through promotions into a myriad of roles in strategic partnerships, international sales and marketing, and ultimately as Regional Director, Kathy has formed unique global perspectives and valuable insights into all facets of luxury tourism today. A playful and curious lover of travel who began cruising from a young age, Kathy has spent much of her life exploring the world. Her favorite destinations include Greece, Hungary, and Vietnam and her future-travels wish list includes iconic spots like South Africa, New Zealand, and especially Iceland; a broken ankle, occurring hours after stepping onto the land of fire and ice, cut her holiday short in 2021. Whether at home in Atlanta, in a fine restaurant, at a taco truck, or aboard a luxury ship, Kathy enjoys the foodie life and relishes opportunities to entertain. She loves contemporary art and Scotch whisky that is old enough to order its own drink. She’s a friend to all canines, and she loves people, particularly her supportive family in Los Angeles. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University in Geographical Information Systems with a minor in Business Entrepreneurship.

www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com

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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am delighted to welcome back Jason Venner. In a section called Specialty Cruising: Fun and Quirky, I wrote about Jason in my book Cruising Interrupted in a chapter titled, Cruise Entertainment Producer, Director, Creator, MC Extraordinaire! And Jason joined me for a podcast of that same name, way back on Episode 26.

I am really happy to have Jason back. I finally got to meet him in person, first last year on the Soul Train Cruise 2025 and then again just a few weeks ago on Soul Train Cruise 2026. Jason is really good at what he does, and I thought I would have him back to get some insight specific to the Soul Train Cruise, and hear Jason contrast it with theme cruises of other genres he has hosted.

Jason got his start in cruising in 2002 as a DJ with Holland America Line (HAL), a high-end cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation. At HAL, Jason progressed through the ranks from a DJ to over 10 years as a Cruise Director, to Corporate Trainer, to three years as Producer and Host of the joint ABC/BBC HAL production, Dancing with the Stars: At Sea. Since 2015, Jason has been self-employed as a Producer, Director, and Host of full-ship music charter cruises, primarily in partnership with StarVista LIVE, a leading theme cruise operator. For StarVista LIVE, Jason hosts Malt Shop Memories Cruise; Soul Train Cruise; The Country Music Cruise; Flower Power Cruise; Ultimate Disco Cruise, and more. Over the years Jason has introduced and interviewed hundreds of star performers. “It’s crazy to be on a first-name basis with the legends of the music industry.”

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