The World Travel Awards — the self-proclaimed "Oscars of the travel industry" — are given out every year….yes, just like the Oscars. They make for interesting reading, nodding or head-shaking and good advertising for the winners. Since cruising is travel, a few categories are devoted to this popular and expanding niche of the travel business.… Continue reading Travel Awards in Homestretch
Tag: Panama Canal
Catalina Island and Queen Mary
It happens that we have good friends who live in Rancho Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles. It also happens that many years ago we had close friends who lived in the same suburb, which is not far from Catalina Island and even closer to the Queen Mary, which you'd think would be… Continue reading Catalina Island and Queen Mary
Building in Bridgetown Getting It
Under the heading of "build it and they will come" there's another state-of-the-art terminal expansion soon to be underway, this one in Bridgetown, Barbados. In other words, they get it. As cruise ships have become not just larger but also more accommodating to their passengers, ports are constantly facing upgrading. Disembarking from a ship… Continue reading Building in Bridgetown Getting It
'Aye, Matey, that's the Aussie Spirit'
If you're a North American on the Carnival Spirit during the next year or two, be prepared to drink amber fluid (beer) from your schooner (large beer glass) after slipping out of your cozzie (swimming costume) and into your strides (trousers) until the snags are ready on the barbie. If you're an Australian, however,… Continue reading 'Aye, Matey, that's the Aussie Spirit'
Cruise Lines to Mirror Airlines?
Some call it a creative way to improve revenue for cruise lines. Some call it bean counters at work. Some call it a sign of the times. It's the dreaded extra charge. The question now is this: Do cruise lines use airlines as the model? Anybody remember flying when you could check pretty much all… Continue reading Cruise Lines to Mirror Airlines?