IS IT TRUE? CONSUMER REPORTS NAMES THE THREE BEST CRUISE LINES
Q – 4.23.26 – I must confess that I have been a subscriber to Consumer Reports magazine for more than three decades. I believe strongly in their consumer stance and I have demonstrated that belief with occasional donations. Our washer/dryer, bedding, and the two automobiles in our garage are all purchases based on their favorable…
NEVER MIND THE AIRLINES, CRUISE LINES, AND HOTELS: WHERE IS THE NEW SEASON OF WHITE LOTUS BEING FILMED?
Q – 1.29.26 – Let’s just say we like to be ahead of the crowd when it comes to staying in really chic places in Europe. This gets complicated because my partner and I have developed “Mike White Syndrome” which takes the form of a need to experience the hotel stars of the very next…
IS CASKET RESTING REALLY A THING IN JAPAN?
Q – 3.28.26 – Don’t judge me harshly but I was on Tik-Tok the other evening and a dimpled, freckled, exquisitely-smiling influencer was explaining that lying in caskets is “sweeping” Japan and that all visitors to the country who want to be cool and up with the times should try it out. We are leaving…
GIVEN WORLDWIDE INSTABILITY – WHERE ARE EUROPEANS GOING ON VACATION THIS SEASON?
Q – 3.27.26 – One has to imagine that travel to the US is way down from Canada and similarly down from our “former” allies in Europe. My husband and I were wondering what the Europeans are now viewing as prime destinations for Holidays abroad? A – The numbers show that travel to the…
I AM 81 – I AM BEING QUOTED TRAVEL INSURANCE RATES THAT COULD PAY FOR MY CLUB MEMBERSHIP ANNUALLY? HOW DO I GET THE BEST RATES?
Q – (3.7.26) – I have two trips planned this year – one a land tour to the Canadian Rockies and the other a cruise to ports in Asia operating out of Bangkok. I am 81, my wife is a bit younger, and we are in relatively good health following my bypass surgery two years…
IS THIS A GOOD USE OF POINTS IN COPENHAGEN?
Q – It looks like I finally have enough Bonvoy Marriott points to get a two-or three night stay at one of their overseas properties. We are sailing out of Copenhagen in September and we were wondering if you feel that using our points at the Copenhagen Marriott is a good idea? Or, should we…
CONSIDERING CANCELLATION OF OUR SCHEDULED EGYPT TRIP – WHAT TO DO?
Q – We have a rather special privately planned trip to Egypt scheduled to depart in the next 45 days. With war in the region we have to face the necessity of canceling our long-awaited trip to Egypt. Do we cancel now or let the tour company in Egypt cancel? . The government is telling…
WILL MY TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY COVER MY CANCELLATION OF AN UPCOMING EGYPT CRUISE AND TOUR GIVEN EVENTS IN IRAN?
Q – (3.3.26) – We have been planning a Viking River Cruise along the Nile along with several days of land touring for almost a year. We obviously will not be going. Our insurance is through Travelex and we are wondering if they will cover the entire cost of the trip. We are scheduled to…
WHEN WILL A CRUISE LINE TRY TO BUY OFF BOOKED GUESTS?
Q – (2.23.26) While I am thinking about it, maybe sometime you could explain when and why a cruise line will offer to buy a confirmed cruise passenger out of their booking. A person sailing with us told us Regent offered a full refund if they would cancel their cruise. A – It would almost…
WE ARE MAKING THE CONVERSION FROM OCEAN TO RIVER CRUISING: HELP!
Q – We have been traveling on luxury programs abroad for the past twelve years including four of the cruise ranked “Best in The World” on your sister site, “Cruisetruth”. Recently, at the urging of close friends, we are planning on doing both the Danube and the Rhine next year on the best rated riverboat…
A SIMPLE QUESTION: HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT WE MAY BE CONFRONTED ABROAD ABOUT TRUMP-ERA POLICIES OR U.S. IMMIGRATION ACTIONS?
Q – We have been on four separate trips to Europe since we were married. We are now planning a trip that will include time in Italy and Spain. Both my husband and I are having some qualms about the way we may be greeted given the news about Trump’s disengagement from NATO and the…
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR “INTELLIGENT’ TRAVELERS TO PLAN A RATHER COMPLEX PERSONAL ITINERARY ABROAD?
Q – We are interested in planning a rather complex itinerary that will likely include time in New Zealand and Australia. This will involve meeting beer distributors (my field) meeting local artists (a passion of my wife and while also watching the All Blacks play, enjoying a private yacht for a few days including a…
WHY ARE SO MANY FOLKS STILL GETTING SICK ON EVEN THE BEST CRUISE LINES?
Q – We were watching a feed on Tik-Tok that showed that one of Regent’s ships, the Mariner, had an outbreak on a sailing between Miami and Honolulu this January with many of the older guests aboard this longer itinerary getting sick. The video was not pleasant to look at and we are wondering if…
IS IT POSSIBLE/ADVISABLE TO WORK ONLINE WITH A DISCOUNT TOUR BROKER TO SAVE MONEY ON A GUIDED TOUR IN EUROPE?
Q – We are starting a search for a good tour that will last about two weeks taking us through the highlights of Ireland. This is all a bit new for us and we should tell you that we are in our mid-sixties, recently retired, and you might say we are cautious about throwing away…
I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I LANDED IN FRANKFURT
Q – 12.19.25 – As we have not spoken for two or three weeks, I thought I would submit a question I would normally ask you on the phone in writing. Feel free to respond on the Traveltruth site. As you know, I am a bit of an aircraft nerd. I like to know what…
THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A STRANGE HOBBY BUT . . . . .
Q – Please be careful how you write this. I have a hobby – I travel a great deal for business, almost all of it international. As I do business on three Continents, I find myself flying many different airlines. About a year ago, I started taking quick photos of some of the better looking…
IS THERE REALLY A MEDICAL CONDITION FOR PEOPLE WHO HATE LARGE CRUISE SHIPS?
Q – (12.19.25) – My husband is a nurse practitioner who told me at dinner last night that my aversion to large cruise ships is a medical condition and that somewhere buried in the medical literature it has a name. I have no issues with yachts or smaller vessels that carry say, a few hundred…
WHEN CAN WE START BOOKING THE NEW CELEBRITY RIVER CRUISES – SHOULD WE?
Q – 11.29.25 – When will the new Celebrity Riverboat be sailing, and have the books been opened up yet? Is this a river cruise you will be recommending? We are past Celebrity guests in Europe (twice) and we were extremely satisfied. A – Celebrity River Cruises will launch their first sailings in 2027, featuring…
CAN YOU SIMPLIFY TRAVEL INSURANCE AS IN ‘WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE OUT”?
Q – Much of what you cover on your “Traveltruth Media” sites makes sense and we feel travel educated when we spend some time reading the postings. But there is an exception. Travel insurance just confuses the hell out of me. I am 71 years old, both my wife and I are cancer survivors, and…
IS THERE REALLY A SO-CALLED $2000 RULE AT RITZ-CARLTON HOTELS?
Q – In a previous post, you mentioned the $2000 Rule at the Ritz-Carlton. I am in HR at a Fortune 500 Bank Group, and I am really curious as to how this works. I understand it is a “Rule” at the hotels and not necessarily aboard the new Ritz-Carlton Cruise line. Can you explain…
ARE ALL THESE ‘BLACK FRIDAY’ OFFERS REALLY LEGIT?
Q –(11.21.25) – It seems as though our e-mail and our physical mailbox have been inundated with so-called “Black Friday” travel offers from hotels, cruise lines, tour operators – everyone! The offers sound good. In one specific case, the current offer and amenities seem better than what I had when I booked my Viking cruise…
JUST WHAT CAN WE DRINK ON AN AIRCRAFT THAT WON’T MAKE US SICK?
Q – We are not yet clients – but hopefully, we soon will be. So let me pose a serious question. You have been somewhat specific about some beverages you advise your clients to avoid when flying. These include coffee, Coca-Cola, Hot Tea, and that famous Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix, which tastes better at…
WHAT DO WE DO IF ONE OF OUR PLANNED EUROPE VACATIONS IS AFFECTED BY A FLIGHT CANCELLATION?
Q – This coming year, we have two trips planned to Europe: one for a Baltic Cruise on Seabourn and the other for a Douro River Cruise on Scenic. In each case, we are doing the air arrangements ourselves, taking your advice to work directly with the airlines. Given all the delays and cancellations we’ve…
FLYING TURKISH AIRLINES TO ISTANBUL TO CONNECT – KIND OF WORRIED – ANY ADVICE?
Q – We will be flying Turkish Airlines because it has the best connection to Italy, where we are headed. I am a rather Goth-looking fellow, as is my girlfriend, who will be joining me. We have a fair share of tattoos, and we are a bit concerned about being stopped and searched in the…
WHICH CARIBBEAN ISLANDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY HONEYMOONERS?
Q – 11.9.25 – We will be planning a honeymoon to the Caribbean in the next three months, and we have a rather specific question we hope you can answer without fear of backlash. Obviously, we will be choosing a five-star resort or as close as we can get to it. My bride and I…
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 20% ADD-ON FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Q – 11.9.25 – We are sailing to the Caribbean aboard one of the new Explora Cruise ships in a nice Suite. The Travelex insurance for this trip is a 20% premium. I believe this is really excessive. I am curious, what percentage of your customers actually purchase this high-cost insurance? A –The vast majority…
ANY STRATEGIC ADVICE IF MY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, OR EVEN CHRISTMAS, FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
Q – (11.8.25) – We are, I am certain, not alone when it comes to concern and more than a little anger that we are subjected to so much stress over our next two major holidays regarding the shutdown and its impact on flights within the United States. If our political parties actually speak to…
MY CHASE VISA GETS ME AIR MILES: HOW DOES THAT REALLY WORK?
Q – 11.1.25 – I have a high-level Chase Sapphire card and I earn miles which I use on American Airlines for free tickets to Europe and upgrades in the States. But no one ever really explains how the system works. Am I really earning something tangible? It seems as though I am. A –…
CAN YOU GIVE IT TO US STRAIGHT – AFTER ALL THE ADVERTISING BS WHAT ARE THE BEST THREE CRUISE LINES OVERALL?
Q – I don’t know if there is an answer to this question but your advice would be truly appreciated. We have traveled within the US and have always gone the deluxe route. We can, fortunately, afford the best accommodations, food, guides etc. when we are on vacation. We’ve traveled abroad seven times, staying at…
