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The band’s back together — Gary returns from the Spirit with a glowing review, a watermelon story that’ll make you tear up, and a brand-new segment where he drinks a two-year-old anniversary beer so you don’t have to. Warm, rambling, and packed with real service love for the crews that make a cruise.
What they covered
Topics on deck
Carnival Spirit review
“Beer with Garbear” debut
Norwegian Epic left-behind saga
John Heald name-badge request
Two Truths and a Lie
“State of the podcast” pitch
Ship power-rankings
Don’t miss
Moments worth the wait
- The Madison audio fallout — they “cut the cord” on the AI, and a sharp-eared listener diagnosed last week’s dead audio.
“was too hot for Spotify… It was called Tom’s mic.”
- The Norwegian Epic left-behind story — six passengers stranded at a tender port on a 21-day African cruise, and Tom’s blunt verdict on the excuse.
“time blindness is not a thing.”
- The name-badge roast — a 250-badge meet-and-mingle request gets no mercy.
“I’m not at a high school reunion… I don’t want to wear a name tag on a cruise. That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
- “Beer with Garbear” debuts — Gary cracks a two-year-old 50th-anniversary Birthday Beer golden ale.
“you should not drink a two-year-old beer. It should have stayed sealed… the tropical fruits have fermented.”
- The Spirit review — now Gary’s “top two favorite ships,” with only one knock — a single US outlet in the stateroom — plus raves for the deck-3 “Jungle” wraparound and the 10-story atrium.
“they believed in the atrium back then.”
- The Lucky Charms and watermelon story — the My Time dining team going above and beyond.
“comes back with six bowls of Lucky Charms.”
Golden nuggets
Running bits & lore born here
- “Beer with Garbear” — a brand-new segment born here — Gary reviewing a beer on air, starting with a very over-aged anniversary ale.
- Gary’s food redemption — the burrito / French-toast arc rolls on, plus adobo tricks Tom taught him.
- “Snooty snoots” — the season’s favorite target returns, alongside “double diamonds who can’t count.”
- Trevor goes platinum — his platinum status finally arriving, with his first platinum early check-in.
- Madison “fired” — the AI-producer bit continues after the dead-audio drama.
- Favorite-ship poll — the Facebook group and favorite-ship poll teed up around Gary’s Horizon/Sunshine/Spirit ranking and a fond pour-out for the Fantasy.