I once asked a venerable cruise critic what constitutes a “luxury cruise,” since some of the most expensive (and expansive) windows at sea are on the big ships. You can plunk down $40,000 a week for Celebrity Edge’s Iconic Suite, or even $150,000 a week for the Ultimate Family Townhouse on Royal Caribbean’s vast Icon … Read more
Beach bummer. The US State Department has upgraded its travel warning for this popular Caribbean destination. On July 28, officials issued a Level 2 Advisory that urges Americans to “exercise increased caution” in the Bahamas due to crime. The agency warned, “violent crime, including armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults, can occur anywhere in The Bahamas.” The … Read more
A popular cruise line has extended its suspension of visits to a private resort for another year, prompting some passengers to question whether the destination will ever reopen. Royal Caribbean recently said it’s extending its pause on visits to Labadee, Haiti, through June 2027. Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on Haiti’s northern coast, is popular … Read more
Europe is boiling and so is the price of an international flight. No wonder many Americans are choosing to keep their summer holiday plans planted on US soil. Their timing couldn’t be better; in fact, it’s historic good luck. Every state is celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary this summer in its own way — from historic … Read more
Disneyland’s beloved Pirates of the Caribbean is officially back in action, but not everyone thinks the attraction’s new upgrades is a treasure. The ride reopened today after a nearly two-month refurbishment with new upgrades, including a high-tech audio-animatronic effect in the iconic grotto scene that transforms a cursed pirate from a living buccaneer into a … Read more
Americans are being urged to steer clear of jet ski rentals in the Bahamas as U.S. officials warn of sketchy operators linked to deaths, injuries and reported sexual assaults. In a Monday statement, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas said that “rogue operators” are soliciting tourists on Nassau’s most popular beaches, including Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo … Read more
Although St. Barth has been known as a tropical playground for the rich and famous for several decades, it’s not so long ago that the Caribbean island was a scruffy, even rough corner of paradise attracting hard-living ex-pat dropouts who fancied themselves as modern pirates. If that sounds like a Jimmy Buffett song, that’s because … Read more
Cruise control. A passenger is suing a major cruise line for damages after stumbling over a mobility scooter. The high-seas tumble resulted in injuries that required surgery. Florida woman Colleen Parson was traveling aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas last June when the fateful fall allegedly went down. Parson was walking through the onboard casino, … Read more
A long-standing cruise ship tradition has become the center of intense debate following stricter enforcement issued to passengers. For years, vacationers have used personalized signs, festive banners and colorful magnets to distinguish their rooms and celebrate milestones. Recent safety guidelines and stricter rules, however, are dividing the cruise-goer community. The latest debate started after passengers sailing on … Read more
Hate ’em or love ’em, Sandals resorts are to Caribbean tourism what bees are to Earth’s eco-system: Necessities of life. And signs of health. Of vim and vigor. Of zip and zing. Of rum and punch (perfect for buzz-seeking newlyweds honeying their moons). So, it was distressing when swarms of the mega-brand’s hives shuttered back in … Read more
Americans are being warned to rethink travel to a sunny Caribbean destination as crime and concerns about terrorism rise. The US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago announced Thursday that the US Department of State had updated its travel advisory regarding American tourists. The advisory cautions that Americans should “reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to crime,” citing … Read more
No matter how much dough you’ve got, everyone hates feeling like they’ve been nickel-and-dimed — the very rich, most of all. Maddeningly, most resorts haven’t noticed. A luxury stay should feel smooth as butter. Signing a chit every time you sneeze isn’t that. It makes you pause and reconsider that second bottle of Chablis by … Read more
Talk about a change in tide. MSC Cruises is scrapping its Arabian Gulf winter season, pulling the plug on sailings aboard its mega-ship MSC World Europa — and sending it thousands of miles in the opposite direction. The vessel, which can carry nearly 7,000 passengers, was originally set to cruise out of Dubai, Abu Dhabi … Read more
St. Maarten’s government is warning travelers about a scam that charges tourists to process an immigration form that should be free. The fake third-party website is charging a fee to help visitors complete the island’s embarkation/disembarkation form, a form that’s required for entry. However, there are no fees associated with the real form, the St. … Read more
Thousands of cruise lovers hoping to set sail next summer just had their plans sunk. Royal Caribbean has abruptly canceled more than 20 sailings aboard Freedom of the Seas, per multiple sources online, wiping out its entire Summer 2027 schedule out of Miami — and leaving travelers scrambling to salvage long-planned vacations. The scrapped trips, … Read more
From car trunk speakers thumping merengue, to marketeers hawking fresh mofongo, Dominicans have many talents — spoiler alert: quietude ain’t one of them. That is, however, until you ask about their secret beaches — then a silence washes across their vocal cords like so much seaweed upon their shores. Of course, quisqueyanos quickly find their words … Read more
You’re over the snow, the slush and this whole blizzard thing — it’s time to get out of here. Right now, the No. 1 destination for NYC-based escape artists is the Dominican Republic, said Sully Montero of New Jersey-based Teach Travel Discover. But along with the perennially popular DR, she’s seeing a boom in interest … Read more
Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has denied having abused two former domestic employees who have filed a criminal complaint against him, describing the accusations as false in a social media post late on Thursday. The prosecutor’s office of Spain’s High Court has said it has opened preliminary proceedings over the complaint, which a rights group said involved human … Read more
Royal Caribbean is under fire for its handling of passenger Michael Virgil, who died onboard after being served 33 drinks at one of the Navigator Of The Seas bars in December 2024, per a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family. Now, the family’s lawyer is accusing cruiseliner employees of stuffing the 35-year-old California father’s … Read more
The all-inclusive pendulum is starting to swing. For years, rum-soaked, buffet-laden resorts were rightfully associated with high volume and low quality. Fortunately, several hospitality brands are refining the model and upping their game without jacking up the price. So, how do you spot an all-inclusive that doesn’t suck? Frequent traveler, father of two and financial … Read more