We finally sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line, and what better way to experience NCL for the first time than aboard Norwegian Bliss in Alaska? This week on PKAT Chat, Ryan and Melinda are back to share their experiences from their seven-night Alaska cruise and first-ever travel-agent Seminar at Sea.

From the ship's restaurants and specialty dining to the service, entertainment, and beautiful spaces aboard Norwegian Bliss, we're talking about what impressed us, what surprised us, and a few things we learned along the way. We also revisit some incredible Alaska scenery, glacier viewing in Glacier Bay, wildlife encounters, and our excursions, including whale watching.

Plus, what exactly happens during a travel-agent Seminar at Sea? We're sharing a little about that experience and looking ahead to our next Norwegian adventure aboard Norwegian Viva.

Join us for another conversation about cruising, travel, and everything in between. And as always, we'll see you on the scenic route!

We’re heading back to Alaska, but this cruise is going to be very different. We’re sailing aboard Norwegian Bliss for our first-ever Norwegian Cruise Line cruise — and our first Travel Agent Seminar at Sea.

In this episode of PKAT Chat, we break down what a Seminar at Sea actually looks like, how much training is involved, and how we plan to balance the travel-agent side of the trip with actually experiencing the ship and Alaska. We also look ahead to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and Victoria, including whale watching, exploring on our own, our Ketchikan Duck Boat tour, and whether that short nighttime stop in Victoria is worth getting off the ship for.

We’re especially excited to finally experience Glacier Bay after weather kept us from getting the full glacier experience on our previous Alaska cruise. And because this is our first NCL sailing, we’ll also be checking out Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising, dining, Norwegian Bliss and what the cruise line offers from both a traveler and travel-agent perspective.

Follow PKAT Chat for the post-cruise episode when we’ll come back and tell you what the Seminar at Sea and our first Norwegian Cruise Line experience were actually like.

Cruising from Galveston for the first time? So are we! With Boo’s Cruise 4.0 getting closer, we brought in Jeremy and Sheryl to help us figure out everything we need to know before sailing from one of Texas' busiest cruise ports.

We get into the differences between flying into Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental, options for getting between Houston and Galveston, cruise shuttles, Uber, parking, hotels and what to expect when you arrive at the terminal. Then we get into the fun stuff — places to eat, things to do around Galveston and some local tips that could save you headaches on embarkation and debarkation day.

Plus, our particular sailing comes with an extra wrinkle: a huge motorcycle event will be happening in Galveston around the same time, making advance planning even more important. Whether you're joining us for Boo’s Cruise 4.0 or planning your own Galveston cruise, there are plenty of tips in this episode.

Follow PKAT Chat for more cruising, RV travel, trip planning and adventures with Ryan and Mel from PK Adventure Travels.

Cruising today looks a LOT different from when we took our first cruise back in 1999. Ships are enormous, phones and cruise apps have replaced paper planners, specialty restaurants are everywhere, dress codes are more relaxed, and getting on a ship is easier than ever. But did all those changes actually make cruising better?

On this episode of PKAT Chat, Ryan and Melinda go back to the early days of their cruising adventures and compare them with the modern cruise experience. We talk about formal nights when people really dressed up, assigned dining with strangers, live orchestras and production shows, terrible old-school cruise ship Internet, paper deck maps, walkie-talkies, muster drills and the rise of today's mega-ships packed with everything from water parks and ice skating to go-karts and Formula One simulators.

Some changes we absolutely love. Others have us wishing cruise lines would bring a little of the old-school experience back — especially those live orchestras and midnight buffets. Plus, we get into the explosion of cruise line private destinations and whether cruising is starting to become more about the ship than actually visiting somewhere new.

Follow PKAT Chat for more cruise, travel and RV conversations with Ryan and Melinda.

Cruise fares are only the beginning these days. Once you book, you're hit with drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, thermal suites, Wi-Fi, exclusive areas, priority access and a growing list of other extras. So which cruise add-ons are actually worth paying for?

On this episode of PKAT Chat, Ryan and Melinda break down the extras they've personally spent money on and where they draw the line. We talk about why a full drink package doesn't always make financial sense, why specialty dining is usually a different story for us, and why experiences like the Chef's Table can be worth the splurge. We also get into spa treatments versus thermal suites, paid adults-only areas, ship-within-a-ship concepts like the Haven and Yacht Club, and perks such as Royal Caribbean's The Key.

The answer isn't always simply “worth it” or “rip-off.” Sometimes the price, cruise line, loyalty perks, onboard credit and even who you're traveling with completely change the equation. So before you start adding hundreds — or thousands — to your next cruise, we're talking through what we'd buy again and what we'd leave behind.

Follow PKAT Chat for more real-world cruise and travel conversations with Ryan and Melinda.

What would make you actually ask to move from your cruise cabin or RV campsite?

This week on PKAT Chat, Ryan and Melinda are comparing the little annoyances we can live with to the problems that can become legitimate vacation deal breakers.

On the camping side, we talk about difficult RV sites, trees that make backing in nearly impossible, badly sloped campsites, hookups that are too far away, noisy neighbors, mosquitoes, dumpsters, dump stations and the one Florida camping necessity we absolutely don't want to lose — air conditioning.

Then we head onboard and talk cruise cabin locations. Cabins near kids' areas, nightclubs, elevators, theaters and the Lido Deck can all come with surprises. We also discuss forward cabins, aft balconies with little privacy, long walks across huge ships, uncomfortable cabin temperatures, plumbing problems and whether a bad cabin would actually make us ask Guest Services to move us.

Plus, we share some of our own experiences from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Margaritaville at Sea, including a few situations that definitely didn't go as planned.

Where is YOUR line between an inconvenience and a deal breaker?

Why does food just seem to taste better when you’re on vacation?

This week on PKAT Chat, Ryan and Melinda are talking about the foods and drinks that instantly put us into vacation mode. From steaks and specialty dining on a cruise to burgers, hot dogs, s’mores and campfire meals at the campground, we’re swapping favorites and getting plenty of suggestions from the live chat.

We also get into some of our favorite cruise foods from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Margaritaville at Sea. Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken, Mason Jar brunch, Cagney’s, cruise ship desserts, cocktails and plenty more make their way into the conversation.

Plus, what makes a great camping meal? We talk hobo packets, cast-iron cooking, hibachi at the campsite, French toast, campfire pizza and a few ideas we definitely need to try on future camping trips.

What food immediately makes you feel like you’re on vacation?

There’s a LOT happening at Norwegian Cruise Line, so we invited Seth Gruns from NCL to join us for a full PKAT Chat. We’re talking about the major changes happening at Great Stirrup Cay, including the new pier, Great Life Lagoon, adults-only Vibe Shore Club, Silver Cove and the new Great Tides Waterpark.

Then we get into the money side of cruising. Seth breaks down Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus, including drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, Starbucks and gratuities. We also clear up the difference between CruiseFirst and CruiseNext and how those certificates can help stretch your cruise budget.

And there’s more coming from NCL. We talk about Norwegian Luna, Norwegian Aura, future ships, The Haven, upcoming sailings from Florida and even why Tampa presents a unique challenge for today's increasingly large cruise ships. If Norwegian Cruise Line is on your radar, this episode has plenty to hear.

Follow PKAT Chat on your favorite podcast platform for more cruise conversations, travel tips and interviews from PK Adventure Travels.