Rephonic
Artwork for The Daily Cruise and Travel News ”Podcast”

The Daily Cruise and Travel News ”Podcast” with Tom Drake

Tom Drake
Cruise Industry
Royal Caribbean
Oceania Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Norovirus
Crystal Cruises
Delta Airlines
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Spirit Airlines
American Airlines
Alaska
Celebrity Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Oceania Nautica
Royal Caribbean Group
Explora Journeys
Tourism
Las Vegas

After almost 30 years of performing stand-up comedy on cruise ships worldwide, Tom Drake has seen everything, done everything, and so now he knows everything! That is why he is called the "Guru of the Seas." His podcast, which delivers all of the day's cruise and travel news, can be heard every Monday through Friday, as Tom says, wherever people "pod their cast." Offering an "unfiltered view" of... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes917Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Leisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Daily Cruise and Travel News ”Podcast”

Latest Episodes

Will TSA Plus replace TSA Minus?

The CEO of the Hantavirus ship says, "Don't worry, we're financially resilient." Thanks for that.

The head of the US travel association, Geoff "with a G" Freeman, is still complaining about the US government!!

One ... more

Aurora Expeditions will now take only women to the coldest part of the world! Good idea?

The Mexican government says no to Royal Caribbean's expansion of Costa Maya. They prefer the ruins.

Airlines and hotels got together to gather enough signature... more

Princess decides to completely change a ship's itinerary in 2027. This is a new trend in the business.

The US government is considering not requiring five years of social media history to obtain a visa, even though employees enjoy reading other peop... more

YouTube

Has CLIA become the UN of the cruise industry?

A federal judge overturns some of the Bar Harbor cruise ship ban!

Well, the Caribbean is upsetting many of its guests because the waterpark is not available at all times.

Allegiant and Sun Country air... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Bud Dar
President of CLEAR (Cruise Line Industry Association)
CLEAR
Episode: May 14, 2026 Why doesn't CLIA ever fight back against the incorrect norovirus narrative?
Johnny Onorato
CEO of MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises
Episode: May 14, 2026 Why doesn't CLIA ever fight back against the incorrect norovirus narrative?
Reese Gerrity
Journalist formerly with AOL Travel discussions cited in the episode
Gerrity (journalist)
Episode: April 29, 2026. Why do travelers continue to go to unsafe cities?
Jason Libery
President & CEO of Royal Caribbean Group (as introduced)
Royal Caribbean Group
Episode: April 19, 2026 Jason Libery earned 24 million last year. Slightly more than the Guru!
Jason Montague
Chief Luxury Officer, discussed during Seatrade sessions
Seatrade/Seatrade Cruise News
Episode: April 14, 2024 The Guru at Seatrade Cruise Global. Worth it? Find out here.
John Heald
Carnival brand ambassador mentioned in discussion of policy clarifications
Carnival Cruise Line
Episode: April 12, 2026 Carnival bans fishing from your balcony! Hang your hook somewhere else!
James A. Rodriguez
CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Episode: March 31, 2026 Atlas Ocean renames their small staterooms suites. Why?
Sarah Baxter
Mayor of Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County government
Episode: March 23, 2026 The Guru spent the night at the President’s Florida Residence! Carnival getting sued again!
Jack Ezon
Luxury travel advisor, founder of Embark Beyond
Embark Beyond
Episode: March 19, 2026 Do people cruise and worry about their weight the whole time? No,they bring their jabber.

Host

Tom Drake
Host of daily cruise and travel news shows with decades of experience on cruise ships; known as the “Guru of the Seas.”

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • Cruise news and laughs

    Buried in the daily dose of humor and commentary, Tom actually keeps you informed about what is going on in the cruise and travel industry. No need to read long boring press releases; Tom reports on the relevant and ridiculous. The podcast keeps me connected somehow as I count down the days until I walk up the gangway on my next cruise.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wildwoodrver
    United Statesa year ago
  • Platform for his political agenda

    Could not get passed the first few minutes. He definitely has another intention for this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    fcoffey
    United States2 years ago
  • All politics

    I’ve been listening to this comedian’s cruise podcast for four months and I have yet to laugh once. He has four jokes that he repeats ad naseum. No creativity or fresh thoughts on anything. The worst part is the “cruise news” is just a reason to espouse his political beliefs. Quite often he’ll say something like, this isn’t political, this isn’t racist, this isn’t xenophobic, then proceeds to yammer on about politics, say something racist or xenophobic. The only reason I still listen is occ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CruisingFanForYou
    United States3 years ago
  • Cruise with Tom

    Tom does a great job keeping up with the latest travel news. Plus he adds a different twist and humor.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Houdini's
    United States3 years ago
  • New to cruising

    This has become my favorite cruise podcast. All the cruising news with a bit of commentary. Tom is funny and informative. Love the duck.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bobk388
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Seasoned travelers appreciate the concise daily updates and sponsor integrations.
Listener chatter suggests the host's opinions can be polarizing but informative for cruise planners.
Highlights practical industry insights with blunt humor favored by travel pros.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#156
Israel/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#231
United Arab Emirates/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

May 15, 2024 Carnival guests denied boarding in Portugal because they did not read their emails!
Q: How much does a solo cabin on a cruise cost?
The cost varies depending on the cruise line and the specific arrangements made for solo travelers, with some lines currently offering no single supplement.
April 18, 2025. Videotaping someone who had an accident is sick but allowed on Carnival!
Q: Is it OK for another guest to be filming the incident?
According to the host, while it's morally questionable, cruise lines cannot stop guests from filming accidents when they happen.
JUne 5, 2025 How can you tell if they are refugees in distress or pirates? You can't!
Q: What would the captain have done if someone had looked like the ship was disabled and they were stuck?
Drake discusses the ethical dilemma of whether to assist disabled boats in piracy-prone waters and emphasizes that maritime law requires assistance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers daily cruise and travel news with a candid, humorous slant. Episodes combine hard industry updates with personal anecdotes, frequent sponsor plugs, and bold opinions on cruise lines, travel policies, and industry trends. The host's unabashed commentary and long-running industry background give the show a distinctive voice that appeals to engaged cruise enthusiasts and travel fans who appreciate quick takes, sharp humor, and unfiltered perspectives on current events in the maritime world.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 917 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Bud Dar
2. Johnny Onorato
3. Reese Gerrity
4. Jason Libery
5. Jason Montague
6. John Heald
7. James A. Rodriguez
8. Sarah Baxter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days