Tagged: cruising

Carnival's New "Ocean Medallions" Track Every Move—And Make Spending Thoughtless

Revealed this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: Carnival's new proprietary guest-tracking system. Code-named "Trident," the multi million-dollar initiative, which…

Will He or Won't He? Trump Has Not Withdrawn His Threat to Forbid Travel to Cuba

December 14, 2016In perhaps the biggest current travel news, Cuba has authorized six large and medium-sized American cruise ships to operate multiple cruises to Havana, Cienfuegos,…

How to Pick the Best Cruise for You

With cruises, your choice of a ship can make or break the vacation. But many times that decision has as much to do with who you are as a person—and who you will be traveling with—as it…

The Strange Case of the Expired Passport....

There was once a time when Americans traveling to and from Canada could do so with little advance preparation other than a hotel reservation. Almost any form of identification would…

10 Best Mediterranean Cruise Ports

Thoug this list is not meant to be in any particular order, it's hard to top the cradle of Western civilization, our first pick. Athens, Greece was a destination for cultured tourists…

9 Top Cruise Ports for Getting in the Mood

Cruises by nature can be super romantic: the undulating sea surrounding you, the windswept hair, the endless food and drinks, and of course, all those sexy ports. Sure, not every…

Still Hoping to Get Away for Spring Break? There Are Some Deals Out There

Good things probably came....to those who booked early this year for spring break. Alas, airfares are only down 4% from last, despite much lower fuel costs for the airlines. And…

Tickets to Be Required To Enter Cinque Terre, Italy's Most Overloved Region

From a distance the sight is idyllic: five cliff-hanging fishing villages, their buildings painted colors usually reserved for blush and lemonade, the dazzling blue Mediterranean…

A Primer for European River Cruising

If you watched Downton Abbey, you likely were tempted to try river cruising. The scintillating ads for Viking River Cruises, which ran before each show, effectively put this type of…

Are Cruise Ships Easy Targets for Terrorists?

There's no need to be complicated about this answer.Yes.This week, Disney Cruise Line announced that it will no longer stop in Greece, Turkey, or Malta on its upcoming…

Counting Down the Top 6 Travel Stories of 2015—And Looking Ahead to 2016

(Photo by Zach Dischner/Flickr)Unusually dramatic events and trends shaped the way we traveled in 2015 and should continue to impact our wanderings in 2016. Counting them down,…

'70s Heartthrob is Now Upscale Cruise Director

If you were a North American teenager in the 1970s, you certainly remember Willie Aames. He became a teen magazine cover boy and Battle of the Network Stars fixture by appearing on…

There is Increasing Evidence that the River Cruise Industry has been Over-Built, and that Discounts are Now Widely Available from all the Usual Sources

Two years ago, the sudden popularity of European river cruises seemed to catch the entire travel industry by surprise.  River boats, and their itineraries, became totally sold…

French Polynesia's Fun New "Passenger Freighter" Tours the Spectacular South Pacific Islands

There was a time when it was relatively easy to take an around-the-world trip using nothing but freighter ships. Accommodations were never plush, but at least they took…

A La Carte Cruise Pricing To Become Even More A La Carte, At Least on Norwegian Cruise Lines

Start boning up on your math. You're going to need those calculating skills to determine which cruise vacation will now have the overall highest costs.I reported last week that…

Are Cruises Becoming All-Inclusive? Kinda. Sorta. Maybe.

While those who head to sea are no longer afflicted by rickets (too many citrus fruits on the buffet for that), they do sometimes have to handle noroviruses, seasickness, and that…

Forget Bringing Your Own Bottles on Carnival

In a move touted as a measure to control contraband alcohol, Carnival Cruise Lines is banning bottled beverages of all kinds at the pier.Bringing your own alcohol aboard a major…

How to Avoid Getting Seasick on a Cruise

DestinationRouteIssuesAvoidAfrica South African cruises depart from Durban or Cape Town, traveling as far north as Madagascar. Western Africa cruises depart from Spain and cruise…

A Modest Proposal: Why Not Simply Dock Those Giant New Cruise Ships to a Fixed Position in Their Port City, Never to Go to Sea?

The publicity machine of Royal Caribbean Cruises is currently churning out all sorts of exciting press releases about their brand-new, 5,500-passenger, mega-ship called…

A 5-Night Vacation Next Month for $159! Plus a Bunch of Other Cruise Deals for National Cruise Vacation Week

Coral Princess at night. Photo credit: Princess CruisesWe periodically ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment.…

Would You Believe $60 a Night for a 9-Night Trip on a Princess Ship? Plus Bargains Over the Holidays

We periodically ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what they suggested, where to book them, and what, in…

Royal Caribbean's Newest Twist: RFID Bracelets Tracking Every Guest and Making Arrangements Quicker

RFID bracelets are officially the mark of a mass-market vacation. Walt Disney World was the biggest player to introduce its MagicBands earlier this year. MagicBands help guests…

It's Deal Season! These Cruises Are Less than $100 a night—Plus Some Summer Booking Promotions

The Grand Princess. Credit: Princess CruisesEvery month, we ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what…

Explore the Allure of the Seas On Your Computer

The Ice Rink as seen by Street View, complete with creepy blurred facesToday's latest gimmick: Royal Caribbean has invited Google Street View onto its (current) biggest…

Nickel and Diming at Sea: Extra Charges for On-Board Entertainment

There have been times I've felt that someone should be paying me for sitting through the shows that pass for entertainment onboard some cruise lines. That being said, cruise ship…