Welcome back the all-new Folo by Travel Weekly podcast, where Travel Weekly's reporters and editors dive into the biggest travel story of the week. In this issue, we tackle an unprecedented milestone: an entire year without cruising from the U.S.

This episode features the insights of Vicki Freed, the senior vice president of sales and trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International, and Alex Sharpe, the president and CEO of the Signature Travel Network consortium, with hosts Johanna Jainchill, Travel Weekly's news editor and acting cruise editor, and managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Some of the topics we unpack: The shock of the Covid-19-related shutdown in March 2020. The highs and lows of the year. And the light at the end of the tunnel: vaccines, a boom in travel agent business, enthusiasm for trial cruises and "upsizing" upcoming cruise vacations.

Related reading:

Cruising's lost year https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruisings-lost-year 

As Covid vaccines roll out, enthusiasm for travel grows: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Sellers-celebrate-the-comeback-of-client-confidence 

Vaccine push and cruisers with cash give rise to the 'upsizing' trend:  https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Vaccine-push-and-cruisers-with-cash-give-rise-to-booking-upsizing-trend 

As consumers return to travel, they turn to advisors for help: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/As-consumers-return-to-travel-they-turn-to-advisors-for-help 

With Alaska season on the ropes, lines challenged on cabotage law: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/With-Alaska-season-on-the-ropes-lines-challenged-on-cabotage-law 

Cruise test sailing timeline? CDC's guidance could come 'any day' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-test-sailings-CDC-guidance-could-come-any-day 

Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed on connecting with travel advisors: https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Vicki-Freed-Royal-Caribbean-International 

Commissions lag bookings -- by a lot. Some want to change that. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Commissions-lag-booking-by-a-lot-Some-agreements-may-change-that

 

Welcome back the all-new Folo by Travel Weekly podcast, where Travel Weekly's reporters and editors dive into the biggest travel story of the week. In this issue, we tackle an unprecedented milestone: an entire year without cruising from the U.S. This episode features the insights of Vicki Freed, the senior vice president of sales and trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International, and Alex Sharpe, the president and CEO of the Signature Travel Network consortium, with hosts Johanna Jainchill, Travel Weekly's news editor and acting cruise editor, and managing editor Rebecca Tobin.
Some of the topics we unpack: The shock of the Covid-19-related shutdown in March 2020. The highs and lows of the year. And the light at the end of the tunnel: vaccines, a boom in travel agent business, enthusiasm for trial cruises and "upsizing" upcoming cruise vacations.
Related reading:
Cruising's lost year <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruisings-lost-year">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruisings-lost-year </a>
As Covid vaccines roll out, enthusiasm for travel grows: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Sellers-celebrate-the-comeback-of-client-confidence">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Sellers-celebrate-the-comeback-of-client-confidence </a>
Vaccine push and cruisers with cash give rise to the 'upsizing' trend:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Vaccine-push-and-cruisers-with-cash-give-rise-to-booking-upsizing-trend">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Vaccine-push-and-cruisers-with-cash-give-rise-to-booking-upsizing-trend </a>
As consumers return to travel, they turn to advisors for help: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/As-consumers-return-to-travel-they-turn-to-advisors-for-help">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/As-consumers-return-to-travel-they-turn-to-advisors-for-help </a>
With Alaska season on the ropes, lines challenged on cabotage law: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/With-Alaska-season-on-the-ropes-lines-challenged-on-cabotage-law">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/With-Alaska-season-on-the-ropes-lines-challenged-on-cabotage-law </a>
Cruise test sailing timeline? CDC's guidance could come 'any day' <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-test-sailings-CDC-guidance-could-come-any-day">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-test-sailings-CDC-guidance-could-come-any-day </a>
Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed on connecting with travel advisors: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Vicki-Freed-Royal-Caribbean-International">https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Vicki-Freed-Royal-Caribbean-International </a>
Commissions lag bookings -- by a lot. Some want to change that. <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Commissions-lag-booking-by-a-lot-Some-agreements-may-change-that">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Commissions-lag-booking-by-a-lot-Some-agreements-may-change-that</a>
&nbsp;

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.