Dave's Travel Tips

An extraordinary story from the cruise industry broke in the news a few days ago, and it's one that does not surprise me at all.  The Goddess of the Night , the lone ship in the fleet of industry newcomer NeoNyx Cruises, was impounded by Italian authorities after reports and images of shocking health and safety concerns onboard the ship emerged.  I first heard about this new cruise line about a month ago, and while I thought the ship's paint job looked cool, I definitely had some concerns that have now been proven correct.  I think it is safe to say that this ship will not be sailing anytime soon, and it will certainly not be embarking on its maiden voyage with paying passengers that was scheduled to take place in less than a month's time on July 14, 2024.  This incident provides a cautionary tale about certain niche-interest cruise lines that have been popping up in recent years, and it serves as a reminder as to why travelers should stick to the large, established ...

A few months ago, I came across a recommended video from Joe Rogan's podcast on YouTube.  Rogan's guest, a comedian named Tom Dillon, unleashes a humorous but totally incorrect and petulant tirade about his hatred of cruise ships and people who like cruising, which is odd considering that his "evidence" for why cruising is so awful is based on his experiences of being a cruise ship performer himself.  Sure, he's just a comedian saying some stupid and occasionally funny things, but this video has 2.2 Million views and has surely influenced many people's perception of cruise vacations and the people who enjoy them.  I'll admit that I was a bit self-conscious of my own interest in cruising when I first listened to Dillon's rant, but many of his claims are just too stupid to take seriously.  I can't possibly get into every claim he makes, and so many of them overlap, but let's debunk some of them one at a time. Myth 1: Cruise ships are unsanitary ...

As a travel agent myself, it is in my best interest to tell you that you should absolutely book your vacations with an agent.  The truth is that you certainly don’t need to and that it’s a personal choice, but there are some benefits that you might want to consider, and travel agents are not going to disappear anytime soon.  In this article, I will share three reasons you might want to consider partnering with an agent instead of planning and booking everything by yourself. I understand that people are nervous about dealing with salespeople.  I never would have expected that I would become a salesman myself, but here I am.  The truth is that the vast majority of travel agents and other salespeople are regular and honest people who are just trying to make a living like everyone else. Reason 1: It does not cost anything extra to book with an agent People often wrongly assume that dealing with a travel agent is a needlessly more expensive way of booking travel.  Pe...

Monetary transactions on cruise ships function differently than what you are likely used to on land, but the good news is that making purchases and monitoring your spending while cruising is very simple and straightforward.  There are a few important things you need to know. Cruise ships are mostly cashless Cash is not accepted on cruise ships to make purchases, and carrying cash is also not necessary for tipping service staff.  All purchases and charges are facilitated through an onboard account that essentially functions like a credit card.  Charges are posted to the account, and you are obligated to pay off the balance later.  When checking in for your cruise, it is essential to register a credit card that will be directly linked to your onboard account.  At the end of your cruise, your credit card will be charged for the amounts owing in your onboard account. When making purchases on the ship, all transactions are processed by using your key card, or in the ...

If you are interested in trying a cruise, then you will have to make the tough decision about which cruise line to sail with.  There are a few major players in the cruise industry that you should know about.  In this article, I will discuss the largest cruise lines in the “contemporary” and “deluxe/premium” segments of the cruising industry.  Other segments including luxury, river, and expedition cruises also exist, but these are more niche and they are too different from contemporary and premium ocean cruises to be discussed together.  These are also not suitable options for most first-time cruisers. Contemporary Cruise Lines There are four major cruise lines in the “contemporary” segment: Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC.  These cruise lines all offer a modern, mainstream cruising experience that appeals to a wide demographic and have a wide range of price categories.  Ships operated by these brands are among the lar...