BIG GUY WANTS HONEST ANSWERS ON SEAT WIDTH

Q –  Given that I am a  multi-state franchise territory manager, I guess you could say I’m a very frequent flyer. As a large man, I’ve started noticing that sometimes my economy seat feels like I actually have a squoosh more room but for the most part, it seems like the seats are getting smaller….

MAUI-BOUND FAMILY WANTS TO HEAD INLAND

Q – Really cool site and we love the lack of ads, pop-ups, and other distractions. We’re headed to Maui with our 9 and 11 year-old boys and we want to spend a day or two inland. We’ll be based in a family-suite at Kea Lani but would love just a few specific suggestions. Yes,…

IT LIVES IN LISBON, IT’S # 28, AND IT’S YELLOW

Q – We will soon be visiting Portugal. We were in our doctor’s office on Saturday and he mentioned that there was a fantastic, curvy, atmospheric tram ride through some interesting neighborhoods in Lisbon. But he he didn’t remember the name of it. He couldn’t remember if it was orange or yellow. Actually, he’s not…

CAN I USE MY PHONE FOR AIRLINE TICKET PURCHASES?

Q – Although I appreciate that this site deals with upscale travelers, there are those of us in our thirties who can afford to travel well. But to do so, I would want to use my iPhone for payments. It’s just easier. How do I do this? A – Yes, we understand. Taking a credit…

ANY NEWS ON A NEW SHIP FOR SEABOURN?

Q – We are anxious for any news you might have about the new Seabourn ship. Will it mirror the Quest which we recently sailed in Europe?  We found the Seabourn product to be sufficiently upscale to fit out tastes. Elegance at sea is still possible,it would appear. Hoping the new ship is the same…

HOW DO I GET WHAT I WANT IN 2017

Q – We are looking for some priority access advice. We would never consider anything less than the best when it comes to our first river cruise. I just could not abide a 150 square foot cabin – I would need at least double that to feel any sense of comfort and luxury. Your excellent…

RUINED CRUISE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE FACTS

Q – Do you know anything about an accident that occurred to the Viking longship, Hermod, in the early morning hours of June 7, 2015 on the Rhone River? Can this accident be verified? The Viking cruise, “Portraits of Southern France”, scheduled to begin on June 7, 2015, was cancelled and all those who arrived…

SEEING SWITZERLAND ON A RIVER BOAT

Q – Retiring (I hope) in 2016 and will be traveling through Italy from Sept 15 to about Sept 30, 2016 with another couple. Flying out of Chicago (Oak Brook) My wife and I plan to take the train to Lucerne for a couple of days after leaving Rome (been there before and loved it)….

HAPPY 50TH ON THE RIVER

Q –  I am starting to plan my 50th birthday party on a river cruise in Europe. I will have approximately 6-8 persons traveling. We have 2 singles (issue). I am looking for the most economical cruise that can handle our couples and singles. I was thinking of Nuremberg to Budapest but with the influx…

ICE IS NICE BUT AT WHAT PRICE? CONSIDERING LAPLAND.

Q –  I thought I’d reach out to you for suggestions to extend a Scandinavian trip for next summer already booked. We are considering having our kids  fly to Stockholm to meet us and then spending a week in Sweden, just the four of us. We are active, nature loving, travel veterans and usually enjoy…

CRUISING VERSUS TOURING WHILE TASTING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Q – We’ve been looking at several ways to do  Australia and New Zealand including cruising on Seabourn or Crystal, or possibly doing a land tour like Tauck’s 20-Day Grand Australia and New Zealand. You seem high on Tauck as a company and wondering what you think of their A/NZ trip? By way of background,…

A SOLILOQUY ON SEASICKNESS

Q –  I enjoy your site and appreciate all of the valuable information I have encountered! I have not seen any questions on how to avoid motion sickness on a cruise. My husband and I will be first time cruisers celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. I have heard that motion sickness is not much of…

A SOLILOQUY ON SEASICKNESS

Q –  I enjoy your site and appreciate all of the valuable information I have encountered! I have not seen any questions on how to avoid motion sickness on a cruise. My husband and I will be first time cruisers celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. I have heard that motion sickness is not much of…

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN US ON OUR 2015/16 SIGNATURE CRUISES

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR EDITORS ON A PERSONALLY ESCORTED CRUISE? Our 2016 Signature Cruise will take place aboard the most luxurious ship ever built, the new Regent Seven Seas Explorer sailing from Venice to Rome on an Inaugural Voyage August 3 – 13. We will visit ports in Slovenia, Greece, Croatia,Montenegro, and Italy….

NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE HEARD OF THIS LINE?

Q – You have not mentioned Emerald Waterways in your reviews and some friends have asked us to join them next summer on a river cruise. They did volunteer that Emerald was a “great deal”. Any thought on the line would be appreciated as we don’t believe a word on the so-called “critic” sites. A…

ANY REASONS TO AVOID THE UNIWORLD GANGES VOYAGER 11?

Q – We’ve done Uniworld and loved it. Their Rhine program was really well planned and we love the beautiful decor and, what we felt, was excellent food. We’ve traveled throughout Europe since my retirement on cruises, river boats, and both Insight  and Collette Tours in Europe. Our son keeps telling us that we’re not…

IS RIVER CRUISING THE RIGHT OPTION FOR OUR FAMILY?

Q – Hoping you could help me with an initial question re; river boat feasibility before I explore this any further. My 85-year-old mother would like to participate in a river boat trip -Danube/Rhine, with her three able-bodies spouses children and their spouses. Mom is healthy except for her limited mobility. She can walk, but…

WHAT IS WRONG WITH JUST SAYING “DAM IT”

Q – Have read this information about water levels in Europe. Really wonder why yours is the only site to talk about this honestly? It sounds as though the Rhine has fewer problems because of the dams that have been built. So why don’t the folks along the way in Austria, Hungary, etc. just build…

HOW GENEROUS WILL AMA BE IF OUR RIVER CRUISE BOAT TURNS INTO A GREYHOUND BUS?

Q – This has really been eye-opening. We’ve been really excited about the AMA Waterways river cruise we booked for next August. We are doing their Legendary Danube itinerary, the one that gives you three nights in Prague. What happens if we arrive in Europe only to find that instead of a terrific time on…

WHERE CAN WE FIND ORGANIC FOOD ON THE OCEANS OR RIVERS?

Q – We are only eating organic food. No sugar, grains or butter. Beef must be 100% grass fed, chicken must be organic and pasture raised (not cage free) Salmon must be wild Alaskan (Frozen is ok). I have contacted Silverseas and Regent but find they really do not accommodate organic. Do you know of…

BEST RIVER CRUISE FROM BUCHAREST TO BUDAPEST

Q – My husband and I are looking for a mid-to-late August River Cruise. Preferably from Bucharest to Budapest. We’d like to spend some time in Prague pre or post cruise. Very confusing on best cruise that fits us. Can you assist? A – If you don;t mind, we are going to use your note…

SECURITY PROCEDURES ON RIVER BOATS

Q – What security measures are in effect on the river cruise ships in light of the terror attacks happening in Europe and elsewhere? A – Not sure which terrorist attacks you refer to. It is far more likely you will be killed by a television set falling from the sky (off an apartment building…

GOT A NOTICE ABOUT NEW SEABOURN SHIPS: SHOULD WE WAIT?

Q – We received a mailing form Seabourn saying they are going to be building two new ships. Meanwhile, we’ve been looking at a cruise we really like on the Quest for next summer in the Baltic. We can wait a year or two if the new ships will be really special. We’ve tried Regent…

LAST MINUTE RIVER CRUISE DEALS: HOW DO YOU SCORE THEM?

Q – I would enjoy a themed cruise around wine and/or food, but my wife doesn’t care. Is there a possibility of reduced pricing if we waited for a last minute booking? A – No. River boats offer their best rates to those who book earliest. They assume guests speak to one another about pricing matters…

THE CRYSTAL ESPRIT: YES, NO, WHEN?

Q – We are really excited about the changes at Crystal Cruises you describe. Our interest at the moment is centered around the new Crystal Yacht division and the Esprit. We want to know how to book the yacht and when the books will officially open? We are also wondering if you feel it is…