An update on the power of cruising worldwide, news from Holland America. Scenic, Avalon and AmaWaterways, plus updates on Air Canada bag fees, cancelled vacation programs for Cuba and a California World Cup guide. All in today’s blog post. CRUISE NEWS AND VIEWS THE POWER OF CRUISING In a new report, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlights the positive impact that cruise tourism delivers for communities and destinations around the world. “Cruising for Impact” demonstrates how cruise tourism acts as a powerful driver of opportunity, supporting local livelihoods, strengthening communities, and creating long-term value in coastal and port Read more
cruise ships
USA Today has come out with its annual list of best coastal towns in the States. Once again, California and Florida dominate the top 10. Coming out in first place was Pismo Beach, California; a fabulous town on the Central Coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is my fave part of the California coastline, with smaller cities like Pismo Beach and nearby Avila Beach, as well as great towns such as Cambria and Morro Bay. Here’s what USA Today experts and readers had to say about Pismo Beach: “Located along California’s Central Coast, Pismo Beach draws in plenty Read more
MSN has posted a pretty good list of the world’s top cultural destinations for 2026. There’s always room to quibble with most “best of” lists, as they’re generally based on someone’s personal experience or preferences. I’m sure people look at some of mine and think, ‘Dude, WHAT are you thinking?” Anyhow, this latest MSN cultural list seems pretty good to me. Here are their top 10 choices for this year, with a short excerpt from their comments, And, for places I’ve visited, some of my own thoughts. SINGAPORE “Modern yet deeply rooted in tradition, Singapore offers a mix of cultures Read more
Great Caribbean hotels in Jamaica, Bahamas, Saint Lucia and more. A look at new Hilton hotels in Greece, London, California and more. And a look at new cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, Explora and Royal Caribbean. SIX GREAT CARIBBEAN HOTELS AND RESORTS I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple of dozen islands in the Caribbean. Here are some of my fave hotels in the region. THE CRANE, BARBADOS Established in 1887, this is considered the oldest, continuously run hotel in the entire Caribbean. It’s a posh but not over the top property on the quiet, southeast coast of Read more
It’s been a rough go for Hawaii of late. Visits from Canada are down, and they’ve struggled to regain their once super-strong Japanese market. There’s also, of course, the devastating fire that destroyed most of the lovely, funky town of Lahaina. Maui in 2023. On top of all that, the state suffered a series of devastating rainstorms over the past couple weeks when a Kona low, an unusual low-pressure weather system, parked itself over the island for days on end. There was some damage to roads and infrastructure, but I’m happy to report that the skies are sunny again and Read more
