Tagged: cruise

Turkey Just Banned a Gay Cruise. Read Arthur Frommer's Inspiring Words About a Similar Situation

Last week, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady was refused entry to Turkey by local authorities. The offense? It had gay people on it.The cruise was carrying 2,000 passengers as well as…

Cruisers, How Much More $$ Should You Budget for Added Fuel Charges?

You knew it would happen. Travel industry experts have warned that extra charges for fuel are coming. Cruises are not immune from the political mess that's strangling oil shipping in…

What I Wish I Knew Before Taking My First Cruise

As a long-time travel journalist, I didn’t expect much to surprise me about my first cruise.I’d spent years learning about the industry: touring ships in port, sleeping on a few…

How to Save Hundreds on Royal Caribbean's Packages and Excursions

In the 1970s and '80s, cruises became a booming vacation option by offering a more-or-less all-inclusive pricing structure. One fare covers room, board, and access to a roster of…

The True Cost of a “Cheap” Cruise: What Each Major Cruise Line Actually Includes

The cruise deal looks unbeatable: seven nights for $499. Accommodations, meals, entertainment—all set, right? For most travelers, though, that bargain fare is only the opening bid. By…

The Simple Thing You Can Do to Prevent the Upsell at a Spa

It's one of the most vexing aspects of going for a massage or facial at a spa. Just when you've sunk into the treatment bed, zoned out to the zen, and managed to let go of months of…

Combine a Nile River Cruise with Biking on This Novel Egypt Tour

A trip billed as the first-ever "organized boat and bike journey along the Nile" is launching in Egypt in 2026. Boat Bike Tours, which specializes in mostly European…

When Should You Tip? 11 Tipping Rules for 11 Types of Travel Services

Tips on safaris Tips can quickly add up when it comes to safaris, but there’s a silver lining: It’s highly likely that, compared to the large amount you spent securing your spot at…

American Cruise Lines’ Florida Gulf Coast & Keys Cruise: Our Review

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising.In the midst of a multiyear building spree, American Cruise Lines has gotten really good at building…

Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Has Problems: Prepare for Your Visit with Our Review

As of March 2026, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) will have eight ships in operation, five of them with a capacity to carry 4,000 passengers each. That's a huge jump from the smaller,…

Small Ship Cruising in the Thousand Islands with St. Lawrence Cruise Lines: Our Review

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising.The autumn scenery dazzles in the Thousand Islands archipelago, a stretch of the St. Lawrence River…

What Happens When Your European River Cruise Can’t Sail Due to Low Water Levels?

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising.It’s no secret water levels fluctuate on European rivers, including the Danube and Rhine, causing…

An Expedition Cruise to Northeast Greenland: 6 Things to Know Before You Book

Situated well above the Arctic Circle, Northeast Greenland is one of the most extreme and remote regions in the world. The area’s superlatives give you an idea of just how vast,…

New Pacific Northwest Cruise Combines Coastal Trip with Tours of Washington State National Parks

Travelers hoping to see as much of the Pacific Northwest's natural splendor as possible on one trip have an intriguing new option from American Cruise Lines. The company's latest…

The Unexpected Travel Effects of the Federal Shutdown

No matter how common they have become, U.S. Government shutdowns can be painful, especially for travelers.Already, the action that began on October 1 is affecting everything from…

CroisiEurope Is Bringing This Type of River Cruise to the Seine in France for the First Time

A popular European cruise line says it will soon operate the first-ever paddle-wheel river cruises on the Seine in France. CroisiEurope, a French company specializing in river and…

There's Another New Fee on Cruises: Penalties for Missing Dining Reservations

The big cruise lines, which are in constant pursuit of fatter profits to please shareholders, are busy finding new ways to tighten the screws on guests.Last week, word came that…

Tulip Season in the Netherlands: Experience it Yourself with Boating and Biking Tours

Tulip season in the Netherlands typically runs from the middle of March to the middle of May, but travelers are advised to make plans far in advance. Tour slots can fill up quickly—and…

Norwegian Cruise Line Throttles Wi-Fi —Now Instagram Reels Cost Another $10/Day

Most of us know that because of the equipment and services involved, Wi-Fi access on cruise ships isn't cheap. The basic package on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), called Voyage Wi-Fi…

10 Ways to Cut the Cost of an Expedition Cruise

Fancy taking Viking’s 13-day Antarctic Explorer on the line’s newest ship, Octanis? That will be $15,000, please. Even sailings to more “affordable” expedition cruise destinations…

Men Accused of Surveilling Cruise Ships in Mediterranean for Suspicious Reasons

On June 22, a 26-year-old man was arrested near a NATO base in Souda Bay on the popular vacation island of Crete, Greece. He had booked a hotel room overlooking the port and paid in…

First Look at Oceania Allura: A Fresh Spin on Familiar Flavors

In mid-July, Oceania Cruises’ Allura said arrivederci for the first time to its birthplace in Genoa, Italy, and sailed around the coast of the boot-shaped peninsula to get to…

Rise in Measles Prompts Popular Caribbean Destination to Require Vaccination to Visit

There has been an update to this story. See the bottom of this post. The United States has logged at least 1,200 measles cases so far in 2025. Although the U.S. had declared the…

Mexico's Tax on Cruisers, Soon to Be $21, Has Taken Effect: Is It Really a Big Deal?

Late last year, incoming U.S. President Donald Trump wasn't even in the White House yet when he threatened Mexico with a new 25% tariff. When he did that, Mexico slapped back fast. The…

What to Expect on a River Thames Barge Cruise in England’s Countryside: Our Review

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising.The narrow River Thames unfolds like a ribbon dropped onto an old map. Flowing for more than 200 miles…