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Cruise Destinations for the Winter Holidays

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A beach in South Africa Celebrating a winter holiday (or two) while on a cruise is a fantastic idea. So, where should you sail? Many travelers looking for a winter holiday getaway choose to sail in The Bahamas or the Caribbean, and these are solid choices: they are close to home, with reliably warm, sunny weather, lovely scenery, abundant beaches, and many other attractions. However, other destinations may be right for you. Here are some to consider. European Christmas Markets. During December, Christmas markets pop up in cities and towns along the rivers of Europe, including the Rhine and the Danube. You can browse the locally made gifts and keepsakes, sip delicious hot drinks, sample traditional holiday dishes, and admire sparkling light displays. The Mediterranean. Winter is the quiet season for Mediterranean cruises, so your professional travel advisor may be able to find some exceptional fares. The weather will be cool and a bit rainier than in summer, but you won’t face sum...
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When Your Job Might Deliver a Cruise Discount

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  Everyone loves a discount on a fabulous cruise vacation. Your professional travel advisor is your best source of information about all kinds of cruise discounts and deals – many of them are not advertised or known to the traveling public. For example, did you know that people who do certain jobs may qualify for cruise fare discounts? Major cruise lines that offer these discounts include Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, Virgin Voyages, and more. Getting a deal on a cruise fare may not be a reason to change careers, but if you’re already doing one of the following jobs, talk with your travel advisor for more information. ·          Members of the military. If you’re currently serving or are a veteran of the armed forces, many cruise lines offer discounts to honor your service. ·          First responders. This group includes people who are often first on the sce...
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Cruising Europe

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While on a shore excursion in France, we visited Mont-Saint-Michel  The European continent offers an incredible variety of cruise experiences, from Scandinavia’s glacial north to the subtropical islands of the Mediterranean. On shore, there are historical and modern wonders to appreciate, along with incredible food, wine, and more. In addition, the continent is threaded with rivers that provide even more possibilities for cruise travel. How can you best discover Europe via cruise? Here’s a look at its major cruise regions. ·          The Mediterranean is a popular choice for cruisers, whether they are repeat passengers or sailing in Europe for the first time. Because a dozen European nations border this storied body of water, many cruises focus on either the Eastern or Western Med; both are bursting with historical interest and natural beauty. Western Med cruises feature ports in Spain, France, and western Italy; they may also visit isl...
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All About Automatic Gratuities

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A cruise passenger’s “last night on board” routine used to include stuffing small envelopes with cash tips to give to crew members who made the journey enjoyable. In our increasingly cashless society, many cruise lines – including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises – now automatically add a fee for crew gratuities to passengers’ bills. Some other popular cruise lines – such as Oceania, Azamara and Virgin Voyages – simply include gratuities for the crew in their cruise fares. Automatic fees for crew gratuities are convenient for passengers – you don’t have to bring a bunch of cash on board with you to tip the crew. And when gratuities are automatic, no further tipping is expected. Plus, prepaying for crew gratuities makes budgeting for your onboard expenses easier. If your next cruise doesn’t offer an automatic gratuities fee, you might still be able to take care of them in advance by purchasing a bundle of extras that includes crew gratuities. These bundles...
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When a Cruise is Cancelled

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  Why are cruises sometimes – but rarely – cancelled? When it happens, it’s usually for one of the following reasons: Weather. Stormy weather during a cruise may lead to itinerary changes; but if weather damages a ship’s embarkation port, it can result in cruises from that homeport being cancelled until repairs can be made. Dry dock delays. Cruise lines carefully plan and schedule “dry dock” stints to update and renovate their ships. But when a ship is in dry dock, there may be unexpected delays in the work. That, in turn, may delay the ship’s return to sailing. Unplanned repairs. If a ship’s structure or systems are damaged and need unexpected repairs, cruises may be cancelled until the repairs can be completed. War and other crises. When war, widespread unrest, or health emergencies affect a major port or a region of the world, they may cause cruises to be cancelled. Full-ship charters. There are times when an entire ship is chartered by a corporation, a theme crui...
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Gen Z at Sea

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The average age of cruise passengers is trending younger: a 2025 report from the Cruise Lines International Association says that people age 20 to 29 now make up 20% of cruise passengers (and growing). These cruise fans make up part of Gen Z, loosely defined as people born from 1997 to 2012. So, if you’re a member of Gen Z, where can you find your peers at sea? Or, if you’re in a different age group but want to cruise with your favorite Gen Zer, what type of cruise should you look for? We don’t mean to generalize about a group of individuals who certainly have their own personal tastes, but some travel industry research shows that members of Gen Z tend to appreciate certain qualities in a cruise. For example, as witnesses to the Great Recession of 2008 and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Gen Z are generally careful with money. They want good value for their vacation dollars – and that makes cruising a natural choice. Shorter cruise itineraries may best fit...
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The Small Check-In Mistake That Can Lose Your Luggage

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Airport Codes on Checked Bags  When you hand your luggage over at the airport counter, do you check the paper tag they attach to the handle? If not, you might be setting yourself up for a lost bag nightmare. When luggage is left unmarked or tagged with the wrong airport code, ground crews have no choice but to offload it at the intermediate stop. Consider this real-life scenario: A family flew from Tulsa to Vancouver with a layover in Denver. Because their baggage tags were only printed through to Denver, their bags were taken off the plane there while the family flew on to Vancouver for a cruise. The luggage sat on the Denver carousel until airline staff moved it to storage—where it stayed for ten days. How to Protect Your Bags: Verify the Final Code: Always look at the routing code printed on your tag before it heads down the conveyor belt. Match Your Itinerary:   The code printed on the tag should match your final destination airport code. Speak ...
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