We’re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we’re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it’s Wave season. 

In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships evolved to cater to customer demand?

This is part 1 of a two-part series. Next week: Early signs of Wave season. 

This episode was recorded Feb. 5 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises

https://www.riverside-cruises.com

Related links

Cruising’s new-ship class of 2025, parts 1 and 2 

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1 

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2

Many pluses on the upcoming Norwegian Aqua https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua

Cruise Planners: https://www.cruiseplaners.com

Norwegian Cruise Line: https://www.ncl.com

We&rsquo;re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we&rsquo;re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it&rsquo;s Wave season.&nbsp;
In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships evolved to cater to customer demand?
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Next week: Early signs of Wave season.&nbsp;
This episode was recorded Feb. 5 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises
<a href="https://www.riverside-cruises.com">https://www.riverside-cruises.com</a>
Related links
Cruising&rsquo;s new-ship class of 2025, parts 1 and 2&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2</a>
Many pluses on the upcoming Norwegian Aqua&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua</a>
Cruise Planners: <a href="https://www.cruiseplaners.com">https://www.cruiseplaners.com</a>
Norwegian Cruise Line:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncl.com">https://www.ncl.com</a>

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.

The big deal about the new cruise ships of 2025

On this episode we’re going to tuck in to a portion of the flying experience that you might be surprised to hear about: food.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Joe Leader, the CEO of the International Flight Services Association, talk about the growth of good eating in all cabins, tech developments that make food service more efficient and more interesting, and why food tastes different at cruising altitude. Plus: Pre-ordering and new complimentary meal service on transcontinental routes.

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Sept. 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links:

Airline food innovators have high aspirations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-food-innovators-have-high-aspirations

International Flight Services Association: https://ifsa.aero/

On this episode we&rsquo;re going to tuck in to a portion of the flying experience that you might be surprised to hear about: food.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Joe Leader, the CEO of the International Flight Services Association, talk about the growth of good eating in all cabins, tech developments that make food service more efficient and more interesting, and why food tastes different at cruising altitude. Plus: Pre-ordering and new complimentary meal service on transcontinental routes.
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Sept. 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links:
Airline food innovators have high aspirations: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-food-innovators-have-high-aspirations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-food-innovators-have-high-aspirations</a>
International Flight Services Association: <a href="https://ifsa.aero/">https://ifsa.aero/</a>

The thinking behind airplane meals -- a Winter Series episode

We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?

On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links

Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales

Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode

We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI &ndash; that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler&rsquo;s behalf. It acts like an agent &ndash; but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?
On this episode, McKinsey and Co.&rsquo;s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways <a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links
Agentic AI turns searches into sales <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales</a>
Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode</a>

How agentic AI could change travel. Is it a threat? -- a Winter Series episode

This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra-big, ultra-luxurious cruise ship suites.

With luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 3 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever

Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige

From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations

Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/

CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com

This week we&rsquo;re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises&rsquo; upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra-big, ultra-luxurious cruise ship suites.
With luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways <a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 3 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever</a>
Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige</a>
From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations</a>
Luxury Cruise Connections <a href="https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/">https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/</a>
CruiseWorld: <a href="https://www.cruiseworldevent.com">https://www.cruiseworldshow.com</a>

The big deal about the new cruise ships of 2025

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