Travel and Lodging

Sometimes travel isn't to a single destination. Increasingly, travelers are hitting the road to explore America and are taking their accommodations with them.

Recreational vehicles (RV), an industry that took a severe hit when gasoline prices skyrocketed a dozen years ago, has come roaring back. Sales have surged, prompting business network CNBC to declare that the "RV space is on fire!"

It reports two of the major companies that make and sell RVs, Winnebago Industries and Thor Industries, both reported a huge leap in sales in their most recent earnings periods. Winnebago sales were up 75% to $476.4 million.

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) reports shipments will hit 472,200 units this year, with nearly 121,000 RVs shipping in the first quarter alone.

Unprecedented growth

“Our industry is in an era of unprecedented growth,” said association president Frank Hugelmeyer. “We are poised to record an eighth consecutive year of shipment gains, mainly due to product innovations that appeal to retiring Baby Boomers as well as younger buyers. The recession is in the rearview mirror. This is a new era for the RV industry.”

Boomers and Millennials just happen to be the nation's two largest demographic groups, and both have gone all-in for RVs. But not just any RVs.

CNBC notes that tow-behind trailers are outselling traditional RVs nearly four to one. The trailers are smaller, more compact, extremely well-designed, and give travelers added flexibility, since they can be unhitched at a campground, allowing the travelers to explore the area in an easier-to-maneuver SUV or truck, used for towing.

Neighbors in their early 70s recently invited me to tour their new Airstream trailer that features plush, leather sofas, climate control, an enclosed bedroom, and fairly roomy shower. They've sold their home and plan to travel the country for a couple of years.

They'll have plenty of company on the road. RVIA doesn't expect RV sales to peak until sometime next year.

Millennials embracing the RV life

Age-wise, Ambreen and Nader Brown are at the other end of the demographic spectrum from my neighbors. They're Millennials who purchased an Airstream and set out to explore America, starting off in the Pacific Northwest.

Writing on the Airstream Blog, they say they had no experience pulling a trailer until they arrived at the Airstream dealership near Seattle, where they got a crash course in trailering. They say backing the trailer into a camp spot was their biggest challenge.

According to CostHelper.com, the cost of a towable RV can range from $8,000 to $65,000, but the average price is $15,000 to $30,000. The traditional motor home is quite a bit more expensive, usually over $100,000.

RV rentals

But if you think a motor home journey might only be a one-time thing, you can rent your traveling home. Towable trailers go for as little as $50 to $75 a day, but may have no smoking or no pet policies, so you have to read the fine print. Besides the cost of the trailer, you have to pay a campground to let you park.

According to RVAdventuring.com, RV parks and resorts charge the most, but also provide the most in the way of services and amenities. It might be as little as $20 a day in the middle of nowhere and around $75 close to urban areas and popular attractions. They may provide things like cable TV, WiFi, laundry facilities, and restrooms with showers.

Finding your next campground while underway is not difficult. There are a number of smartphone apps, like this one, that can help you plan ahead.

Every once in a while nature puts on a free show and the world goes nuts for it.

Yet another will come up August 21 when the moon will pass between the sun and the earth, presenting a total solar eclipse, visible this time in the United States.

But not all of the U.S. Only an approximately 70 mile-wide area, stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, will get the full effects, with broad daylight turning to evening twilight in a matter of minutes.

People who don't happen to live inside this narrow band can still experience the eclipse if they can get there, and Hotels.com reports lodging establishments located inside the eclipse path are booking reservations at a record rate.

According to a report by the booking site, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho and Kentucky -- all of which lie in the eclipse zone -- have seen the biggest increase in hotel searches when compared year over year.

Nebraska may be a prime spot

Nebraska has actually seen the largest increase; searches are up 325%. Kansas is next at over 200%, followed by Missouri at nearly 160%, Idaho at 135%, and Kentucky with a 130% increase.

"Total solar eclipses are special events in the Universe," said Thomas Hettinger, Ph.D. and a member of the Hotels.com team. "In addition to requiring a moon at just the right distance with just the right size, a planet must also have a star at just the right distance with just the right size."

Because these events are rare and because they are best seen in a limited area, regions not known as tourist destinations tend to be crowded with tourists, at least for one day.

Early reservations advised

The experts at Hotels.com advise making reservations as soon as possible, especially since there are still some deals available.

In Nebraska, Omaha's Magnolia Hotel earns 4.3 out of 5.0 stars on Hotels.com and rooms start at $169 a night. In Manhattan, Kan., the Anderson Bed & Breakfast is $141 a night with 4.9 out of 5.0 stars.

In Meridian, Idaho, the My Place Hotel's rate is $198 and has a 4.6 star rating.

Those who have seen a total eclipse call it a spectacular experience, but health officials caution that no one should look directly at the sun during an eclipse without special precautions.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses.” The American Astronomical Society cautions that ordinary sunglasses or homemade filters aren't safe.

Hotels and commercial transportation companies are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and have to make accommodation for consumers with physical limitations.

But Rutgers University researchers say it isn't clear whether that law covers sharing economy businesses like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb. Because of that, they report people with disabilities may find themselves increasingly excluded.

To investigate, the research team made nearly 4,000 Airbnb lodging requests between June and November 2016. For a portion of the requests, they created profiles for potential lodgers who had four types of disabilities -- blindness, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, and spinal cord injury.

Compared to travelers with no disabilities, the study showed hosts were less likely to pre-approve, and more likely to reject, requests from the disabled travelers.

The pre-approval rate was 75% for travelers without disabilities, compared to 61% for travelers with dwarfism, 50% for travelers with blindness, 43% for travelers with cerebral palsy, and 25% for travelers with spinal cord injury.

Policy change

While the study was being conducted, Airbnb instituted a new policy, requiring all hosts to agree to a new non-discrimination policy. The researchers said they perceived no difference in how hosts responded to their lodging requests before or after the policy change.

The researchers also say their findings raise questions about the reach of ADA. The law applies to commercial establishments like hotels, and to some Airbnb listings. However, the law does not apply to owner-occupied dwellings with fewer than six units for rent.

The researchers say many individuals are benefiting from the disruptive nature of the internet, allowing them to leverage private assets to produce income.

Unintentional discrimination

"This more decentralized model of mediated exchange has potential benefits for participants, but it may also create opportunities for both intentional and unintentional discrimination," the authors write. "Although the organizations operating the peer-to-peer platforms through which exchanges take place may not be engaging in discrimination, the participants may be doing so, thereby undermining anti-discrimination laws and the principle of equal access to goods and services."

The researchers said they do not think the discrimination they perceive is based on personal prejudice. Rather, their study found that many of the Airbnb units were simply not very accessible to people with physical limitations.

Savvy travelers know they can save money by booking air travel at just the right time. Ticket prices fluctuate significantly between the time the flight is posted and when it takes off.

The editors at TripAdvisor say the same is true when it comes to booking a hotel room for summer vacation travel, and the timing may be different from other seasonal travel periods.

Their research shows the best times to book will depend on the region or city where you are going during the usually busy the summer vacation season. The price changes may not be as dramatic as for airfare, but there are savings to be had.

Here's an example: the least expensive time to book a hotel room in the U.S. is within three months of a summer trip. If you time it right, you can pocket up to 9% in savings.

Big savings in Paris

Traveling to Europe? Book your Paris hotel room two months in advance and you might save 23% off peak summer rates.

"Bargain hunters know that timing is crucial when it comes to booking the lowest hotel prices," said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. "TripAdvisor data shows that travelers can often find the best prices on summer hotels months in advance, with a booking sweet spot typically within three months of their trip.”

But if you are traveling to Africa, TripAdvisor recommends booking four months out to save the most. Three months in advance is ideal for Asia and Central America, while four months is recommended for the Caribbean. For the South Pacific, you can wait until two months before check-in.

Coordinating airfare

It's a little different for airfare, which might make travel planning tricky. Last year Cheapair reported the best time book a flight to Central and South America is 70 days from departure. It's about the same if you're flying to Canada or Mexico.

You need to give yourself a lot more time when traveling to Europe or Asia. The best fares to European destinations are available about 120 days in advance. Booking flights to Asia requires even more advance time – 160 days.

As for booking a hotel room in specific U.S. cities, the TripAdvisor editors suggest two months for both New York and Chicago, but give yourself six months when booking in Orlando.

Consumers who want to travel to a particular destination for a visit usually have a finite amount of money they can, or will, spend on the trip. But depending on when they go, and where they go, the cost can vary quite a bit.

As we have reported, air fares go through significant fluctuation depending on when you book and when you schedule your travel. It turns out hotels are much the same way.

An airline flight has a certain number of seats and a hotel has a certain number of rooms. Once the departure or check-in date comes and goes, unsold seats and unbooked rooms yield nothing for the airlines and hotels.

Most bang for the travel buck

TripAdvisor has conducted an analysis of hotel rates, by date, in a wide range of international destinations. The information it has developed may be helpful to consumers trying to get the most bang for their travel buck.

"TripAdvisor hotel shopping data reveals that some destinations offer significant hotel value this year compared to last, including the Caribbean where hotel prices are down 8%, making it a perfect time for Americans to book a dream trip there." said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.

The Average Nightly Rate (ANR) for Caribbean destinations is $442. While it's a savings, there are destinations where the ANR isn't nearly as high. The analysis shows the ANR in Turkey is $109, down 14% from last year.

In Belize, you can stay for an average of $269 a night, 9% less than last year. In Asia, Taiwan's ANR is $138, a 12% discount from 2016. In Vietnam, it's $118, down 4% year-over-year.

'When' is also important

When you go is also important, price-wise. Combining ANR and average temperature for the destination, TripAdvisor says travelers within the U.S. will get the most out of their hotel budget by traveling in May, June, and September.

For travel to the UK, the best hotel values will be found in May, August, and October. For travel to Italy, going in April, October, and November provide the best value.

The study is based on TripAdvisor pricing data, looking at hotel check-ins from January to June 2017, then comparing it to the same period of 2016.

Where will 2017 take you? Have you booked a vacation or are you still exploring? Will you return to a favorite destination or try something new? A new year offers the opportunity for fresh experiences. Here are six vacation ideas to consider:

Airbnb
Why stay in a hotel when you can rent a room, an apartment, a villa, or even a castle? Airbnb offers accommodations in more than 34,000 cities and 191 countries. You can stay for a night, a few days, a week, or a month in the center of the city or out in country. Check out their guidebooks to see the range of locations and rentals here.

Visit a national park
Our National Park Service has some of the most gorgeous sites in the world. Find them in every state, including monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers, and trails. Choose a park nearby or faraway or plan to see several within traveling distance. Check out the range of accommodations both inside and outside the parks from lodges to campgrounds, RV rentals, nearby hotel/motels, or condos. Find a park using the National Park’s website.

Book a cruise
If you have never taken a cruise, this could be the year to try one. You can visit multiple destinations in one to two weeks, unpacking your bags just once. Cruises are all-inclusive with your lodging, entertainment, and meals fully covered. If you are concerned whether a cruise is for you, try a short two- or three-night trip. Check out our cruise guide.

Switch cruise lines
If you are loyal and stick to the same cruise line, try a different one. Usually book large cruise ships? Then try a smaller ship that can navigate different ports. Or book one of the mega ships with neighborhoods, multiple shows and activities, and a wide range of restaurants; these cruise ships are essentially your destination. Each cruise line has something unique and it’s fun to sample different ones.

Take a train
Trains offer an array of options and are an efficient and fun way to travel. Use a train as your primary mode of transportation, day or night. Amtrak offers sleeping accommodations on most long-distance routes and Eurail has an extensive network of night trains. Or take a train to visit a specific tourist site or experience nature on a domed coach with oversized windows. 

Go solo
If you usually travel in a group, try planning your own trip and going by yourself or with a travel partner. Part of the fun of travel is the planning phase; if it intimidates you, use a preplanned itinerary from a travel book or website, experiment with a short trip, or use a travel agent. If you’re uncertain, test the waters with a weekend or choose one city and explore it thoroughly.

Whatever you choose to do, travel will enrich your life. Make 2017 your year of exploration.

Cruising is ranked as one of the best overall vacation options. How else can you can travel to multiple countries or cities and unpack just once? A vacation bargain, it’s all-inclusive, offering a variety of food, lodging, and entertainment.

If you have yet to cruise, join the over 24 million passengers planning to set sail this year. While the Caribbean and Mediterranean are the two most popular destinations, unique travel experiences await you all over the world. If ports aren’t your thing and you just wish to relax, there are a myriad of larger-than-life ships that are the destination themselves.

How to Choose a Cruise Line

With so many different cruise lines, ship sizes, price points, and amenities, it is fair to wonder, is one cruise line better than another? The answer depends on what you are looking for. Most travelers choose their cruises and cruise line based on four criteria:

Loyalty - Sticking with the same cruise line is comfortable; you are familiar with the line, ships, and itineraries. Frequent cruisers get free and upgraded perks.

Port of embarkation - The cruise departs from a particular location that makes it more accessible or less expensive for travelers.

Itinerary – The cruise travels to a desired destination and stops in ports of particular interest.

Dates – Sometimes travelers have specific dates/weeks they either want or are limited to travel.

General Comments

For every cruise line there are passengers who love the line and/or the ship(s) and there are detractors who have either had a bad experience or are hard to please.

Read reviews of both the cruise line and the ship. Do an online search for cruise reviews or search with the cruise line name + “cruise reviews.” While reviews are helpful, be aware there will always be some reviews where passengers are picky and difficult to satisfy.

Besides published reviews, you should talk to experienced cruise-goers. I polled some of my fellow cruisers about each cruise line mentioned here and their collected comments appear after each section.

Decide what it is you want to do and make a plan. If you want to put your feet up and read, do just that and don’t feel guilty that you’re missing a lecture or dance lessons.

Realize that if your cruise goes to desirable destinations you will spend your days in port off the ship. Don’t be disappointed if your cruise experience is busy rather than relaxing.

Pool seats are at a premium on all cruise lines. If you want to sit by the pool, get there early.

Cruise Lines

There are many cruise lines but those listed here account for the vast majority of cruises each year. Each has its own personality. This listing should help you find the one that's best for you.

Carnival

Carnival Cruise Lines, calling its fleet of 24 ships the "Fun Ships,” offers three- to 16-day cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It attracts adults/couples, families, and multi-generational families.

What to know and tips:

• Offers The Carnival Great Vacation Guarantee. If you’re not happy with any three- to 14-day Carnival vacation you take to The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Bermuda, Canada/New England or Alaska, let Carnival know within 24 hours of your departure. They’ll refund 110% of your fare and their Guest Services will get you back to your home, free of charge. 
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Has two new Cruise ships in the works: Carnival Vista will debut in 2016, and a second ship will be unveiled in 2018.
• Is affordable, which is especially attractive when traveling with a large group.
• Offers “Chef’s Table,” a special culinary experience. Book early as reservations fill quickly.
• Provides foam egg crates for your bed. You can get them by asking your cabin attendant.
• Provides a “Fun Hub” app, a messaging system through smartphones so couples and families can stay in touch with one another for just $5 each for the full week. Also gives the events of the day so you don’t miss anything.
• When available, “Faster to the Fun” for $50 allows you to bypass the hours of lining up with thousands of others waiting to get onboard.
• Check out the online store; really cute gifts for adults, children, and teens, cabin decorations for a variety of celebrations, and “Seuss at Sea” with all kinds of Dr. Seuss products.

“While nowhere near as elegant as some of the other cruise lines, we had excellent food on Carnival, amazing service, and the kids all had a great, great time. The babysitting was wonderful and easy to use.  The rooms were nice.  Clean.

Seriously, nothing to complain about.  Easy on and off at each port of call.  Great ports of call that necessitated no additional excursions, which was nice for those on a budget. 

Loved the casino.  The younger people enjoyed the shows. It was the family trip of a lifetime and everyone still talks about it.”

Celebrity

Celebrity Cruises, with its beautiful contemporary spaces, describes its 10-ship fleet as “modern luxury.” It offers 2-3 to 20-night cruises to all continents. It attracts couples/adults, families, and multi-generational families.

What to know and tips:

• On the newest ships, 90% of the staterooms have outside views and 85% of the staterooms have verandas.
• Its ships offer attractive and comfortable cabins.
• Solstice class ships offer a "Lawn Club" experience; a lawn of green grass on the uppermost level where passengers can play lawn games, practice their putts, or just relax.
• Interesting specialty restaurants, including the Lawn Club Grill, can be found on the Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Silhouette, where diners can make flat bread and cook their own dinner side-by-side with Celebrity chefs.   
• Provides kids and teens programs. Separate fees may apply.
• Save money by purchasing a specialty restaurant package for your cruise.
• Two new cruise ships are in the works as part of a new class of ships (EDGE), with delivery fall 2018 and early 2020.
• Avoid the crowds at the buffet in the Ocean View Café at embarkation; lunch is served in the Bistro on Five for $5.00 and check out the AquaSpa Café as well.
• Café Bacio charges for their specialty coffees and teas, but all the treats in the cases are at no charge.
• There is a self-serve full afternoon tea each day in the Ocean View Café; check your daily bulletin for times.

“Celebrity is our favorite, especially after cruising on other lines.  The ships are gorgeous with open spaces, good flow, and never seem crowded.  Cabins are comfortably designed with plenty of storage space. Attentive staff and interesting itineraries.

Especially love Cafe Bacio for coffee to go in the morning and for relaxing in the afternoon. The Aqua Spa Cafe is our favorite spot for lunch.”

Cunard

Cunard Line and its three-ship fleet are celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. It prides itself on delivering White Star Service, “Standards of service that go above and beyond, exceeding the expectations of our guests.” It offers two-night to multi-month world tour experiences to all continents as well as transatlantic crossings from New York City to Southampton and back. It attracts couples/adults and families who seek a more formal experience.

What to know and tips:

• Offers comfortable accommodations with attentive service. Excellent meal service in the dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Includes diverse shows, plenty of space around the ship, and more activities than you can possibly do.
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Has an extensive library, bookstore, and the Cunard Book Club.
• Traditional afternoon tea can be had each day in the Queens Room on all ships. It can be busy, so line up at least 15-20 minutes early for a good spot.
• Provides kennels for your dog and cat on the Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton in either direction.
• Cunard adheres to its formal evening policy; if you are not interested in dressing in formal attire on those evenings you will be restricted in where you can eat and spend the evening.
• If there is a Black and White Ball, they mean for you to wear black and white so bring appropriate attire.
• Actors from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) perform and offer classes.

“The Queen Mary 2 was gorgeous with well-maintained and elegant spaces. Loved the quantity and quality of 101 things to do; enjoyed the planetarium show, iStudy classes, classes and performances by the RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), traditional British afternoon tea, and some of the best shows I’ve seen on a cruise. Enjoyed all our meals in the dining room and cocktails accompanied by live music in a cozy lounge.”

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line describes its four-ship fleet experience as “Stunning vessels that pay homage to the grand era of the luxury ocean liner.” With Port Canaveral, Florida as the homeport, it offers three- to 12-night cruises to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe, among others. It attracts families, multi-generational families, and adults/couples who enjoy the Disney experience.  

What to know and tips:

• Has a wide-ranging variety of shipboard activities, including: cartooning classes, karaoke competitions, first run feature films, and a broad array of Disney character experiences.
• Disney has a private island, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.
• Offers unique and special Disney-inspired ship interiors, attentive staff, excellent meal service, and memorable theme nights like Pirate Night with fireworks.  
• Passengers rotate and eat in a different dining room each evening and your assigned waiter rotates with you.
• Provides nighttime dining experiences and separate areas of the ship just for adults.
• Check your “Personal Navigator” (the ship’s daily activity bulletin) carefully once you’ve embarked for limited-access activities that require a sign up.
• Use the “Disney Cruise Line” app to stay on top of activities and offerings.
• Many cruisers do not mind waiting in line for hours to get their photo taken with characters or autograph books signed. For those who do not want to spend valuable vacation time in lines, bring a blank 5x7 or 8x10 mat for a photo frame and leave it at the front desk for signatures. Pick it up on the last day before you disembark the ship for a stress-free memento.

“We enjoyed our Disney cruise a lot. We were amazed at how Disney crazy most people (parents and kids) were and we really felt like novices even though I had done some online research.

We saved a lot of money getting a cabin on a lower deck with no window. We hardly spent time in the cabin except to sleep so I would do that again. Would love to go on another cruise now that kids are older!”

Holland America

Holland America Line invites its passengers on its 15-ship fleet to “Savor the Journey.” It offers one-day to extended Grand Voyages to the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexico, South America, the Panama Canal, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Amazon, and Antarctica. It attracts couples/adults and families.

What to know and tips:

• As You Wish Dining allows passengers to choose a restaurant and time, either for a specific time for the duration of the cruise or as you like it, any day.
• “The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine® magazine” offers a range of culinary programs featuring a variety of hands-on, participatory, and lecture-style experiences, both free and fee-based.
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Longer cruises tend to attract an older crowd; shorter cruises, holidays, and summers attract more of a mix of passengers.
• Offers free computer classes.
• A new cruise ship, the ms Koningsdam, will debut in April, 2016.
• If you sign up for mailings, you can snag some great prices and promotions.  
• The specialty restaurant The Pinnacle Grill serves lunch.
• On the longer voyages there is a reasonable laundry and pressing service available. Prices can change, but in 2015 it was $20 for a bag of laundry (a ship-provided laundry bag that can stuff in as much as it will hold) and an unlimited pressing service at $96 for a 32-day cruise to press any items in your clean laundry.
• Debuting Spring 2016, “Rijksmuseum at Sea, created by Rijksstudio, brings the beauty and wonder of Amsterdam's grand museum onboard.”

“I enjoy sailing Holland America. The cabins are very comfortable and they include a couch or love seat as well as a bath tub/shower combination. The food is better than other cruise lines I have sailed. They have free computer classes and I always take them to keep me up to date on the latest versions.

We particularly enjoy the live music in the Explorers Lounge, before and after dinner. One thing we especially like is they always have a Catholic Priest onboard every sailing. They also have an excellent library with lots of volumes, magazines, and comfortable chairs.

Norwegian

Norwegian Cruise Line describes its 14-ship fleet experience as “Freestyle Cruising,” allowing passengers to create their “ideal cruise vacation.” Offers three- to 42-night cruises to Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Florida, the Caribbean, Canada, New England, Europe, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal, and South America. It attracts adults/couples, families, and multi-generational families.

What to know and tips:

• Passengers have no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating, giving them a choice on how and where they want to eat.
• Norwegian has two private islands; Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and, opening November 2016, Harvest Caye in Belize.
• Breakaway Class ships offer Broadway shows, such as Rock of Ages and Legally Blonde.
• There is a service charge per guest; other cruise lines call this onboard gratuity.
• There is a convenience charge of $7.95 for room service. The continental breakfast menu that is a hang card in the cabin is available at no charge.
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Offers a special section in the buffet for children with smaller chairs and a buffet line especially for children.
• Nine ships are scheduled for renovation by 2018.
• The freestyle option includes dress; while you can dress cruise casual or dress up, the ship offers a Night Out dress up during the cruise.
• You might want to bring an all-white outfit for the “White Hot Party.”
• Avoid the crowds on embarkation day by eating in the main dining room or O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill.
• For extra storage, the couch in many of the cabins has drawers built underneath.

“I’m a frequent cruiser and love sailing Norwegian because with free-style cruising, I can do a lot or as little as I want. As big as the ships are, they never feel crowded and there are plenty of quiet places to relax.

I enjoy the variety of restaurants. The big ships have 14 or 15 dining choices! There’s a diverse selection of entertainment with lots of traditional venues but also night spots, pubs with music, comedy shows, and more."

Princess

Princess Cruises describes its 18-ship fleet experience as “when you step aboard, you are setting a course for a world of wonderful new discoveries.”

Offers three- to 94-day cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Europe, Mexico, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Tahiti/French Polynesia, Asia, India, Africa, Canada/New England, and world cruises. It attracts adults/couples. families, and multi-generational families

What to know and tips:

• The Princess Cruise ship, Pacific Princess, played a starring role in the 1970’s comedy “The Love Boat."
• Has a “Movies under the Stars” program with complimentary blankets and popcorn.
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Will unveil a new ship, a "Royal Princess" class vessel, with delivery expected in the Spring of 2017.
• Offers Military Cruise Benefits Program, with up to $250 free onboard spending money (depending on the length of your cruise) for veterans as well as active, retired, or disabled military personnel.
• If taking a honeymoon cruise, check out The Princess Cruises Honeymoon Wishes Registry; friends and family members can contribute to your cruise experience and it will be added to your onboard credit.
• If you’ll miss your book club or you just love to read, check out the Princess Cruises Book Club with a reading discussion list for the oncoming months.
• Princess can accommodate food allergies if you inquire. For example, you can get gluten-free bread at the buffet if you ask for it and you can order gluten-free pizza 24 hours in advance at the pizza stand.
• Some ships have an International Café that is open 24/7, offering snacks and small salads.

“We actually liked everything about our Princess cruise.  The maître d willingly complied to our table requests.  The food was very good in the regular dining room and the upgrade restaurants were excellent, especially the seafood/Italian one.

Our room was amazing, and we booked on the “all suites” level, so we got great service.  We saw a few shows and thought they were fairly good.  In the evenings it felt like there was a lot of space to do what you wanted to do – noisy or quiet (we liked the Piano bar the best).”

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean describes its 25-ship fleet experience as “when you step aboard, you are setting a course for a world of wonderful new discoveries.”

Offers three- to 24-day cruises to Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, and South America. It attracts adults/couples. families, and multi-generational families.

What to know and tips:

• Offers ice skating shows, water shows, Broadway musicals, ice skating, rock climbing, sky simulator, bumper cars, roller-skating, circus school, miniature golf, a carousel, and more.
• Provides kids and teens programs.
• Will unveil two new ships: Harmony of the Seas, which will be the world’s largest cruise ship, and Ovation of the Seas, with delivery expected in 2016.
• Oasis Class ships have a “seven neighborhood concept, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center.”
• Use cruise planner to pre-book shows, dining, spa appointments, and more before you sail.
• Royal Caribbean Connect provides a wealth of online articles on technology, travel, food, family, lifestyle, and more.
• Exclusive destination, Labadee®, on the north coast of Hispaniola and private island CocoCay® in the Bahamas.
• Special rates for police/fire department and military on select cruises.
• Most Royal Caribbean ships will offer special prices for dinner in their specialty restaurants the evening of embarkation day.
• Book three or more specialty restaurants and you’ll get back 30% of the total cost of the specialty restaurants as an onboard credit.

“We sail Royal Caribbean a lot. We’ve sailed the Allure twice and love the ship. It’s beautiful with lots of fun places to explore. We loved the boardwalk and Central Park areas. The shows were very good; we especially enjoyed the diving and aerial shows. We did the zip line across the deck.

There is a really cute deli in the Central park area that has great sandwiches and salads made to order.  On the boardwalk there is a doughnut shop with yummy chocolate doughnuts. The ship is huge but it never felt crowded. There were never lines for anything! The ship really is a destination.  It's hard to see and do everything in one week.”

It's your choice

Remember, it's up to you to choose the experience and then pursue that experience. Don't complain if you choose a package that doesn't suit your tastes. If you look at cruisecritic and so forth you see a lot of negative comments but they're all unverified and I dont think that's fair. 

The cruise lines, ships, destinations, food, activities, and excursion choices are extraordinary. No matter what cruise or destination you choose, you have the opportunity to create a personalized and memorable travel experience. Don't pass it up.

Last week, we reported that the Hilton and Marriott hotel chains were beseeching the Federal Communications Commission to let them block their guests' wi-fi hotspots, forcing them to use the hotels' expensive and often balky networks.

This has not gone over well with the traveling public and there are signs the hoteliers may be backtracking.

Marriott, which was recently fined $600,000 for forcing convention attendees to pay up to $1,000 per device to use the hotel's wi-fi system, said today that all it wants to do is control the use of wi-fi in its conference and meeting spaces, not in guests' rooms. 

“It has never been nor will it ever be Marriott’s policy to limit our guests’ ability to access the Internet by all available means, including through the use of personal Mi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi devices,” Marriott said in a statement reported by Re/code. Instead, the hotel chain said it wants the leeway to block networks which might “pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network.”

Marriott says it has legtimate security reasons for controlling the use of wi-fi in spaces where large crowds gather. 

"The question at hand is what measures a network operator can take to detect and contain rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots used in our meeting and conference spaces that pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network," Marriott said.

Guest rooms?

Hilton, meanwhile, hasn't had much to say beyond what was in its original FCC filing. Unlike Marriott, it hasn't said flatly that it is not interested in blocking guests' wi-fi usage, as far as we know. Hilton did not respond today to a request for comment. Neither did the Federal Communications Commission. 

But surely the hotel chains would not take it upon themselves to interfere with guests' wi-fi while petitioning the FCC to change its regulations. Would they?

Well, maybe they would. We spent three nights over the Christmas holiday at the Hilton Doubletree in Jersey City, N.J. and discovered that the wi-fi hotspot on our AT&T Wireless smartphone didn't seem to be working, even though it works just about everywhere else.

We were able to see the hotspot on our phone but could not connect to it. Our only options were to pay $12 per day to use the hotel's system or go elsewhere. Which we did. The hotspot worked flawlessly elsewhere in Jersey City and the New York City area, as it usually does. (As an aside, we would have had enough points in our HHilton Honors account to qualify for free wi-fi had Hilton not been assigning our points for the last year or so to a certain Jim Hood who resides in the United Kingdom but that's another story).

Upon returning home to Northern Virginia, we tried the hotspot again, just to be sure. Sure enough, the same laptop we had been using in New Jersey connected instantly to the Blackberry phone we had been using. No settings had been changed. Everything was just as it had been at the Hilton -- except we weren't at the Hilton. 

Free for all?

The argument may soon be moot. There's a definite trend in the hotel industry towards free wi-fi, although most hotel chains will require you to be a member of their loyalty program to get it.

Holiday Inn already offers free Internet access to its loyality club members. And Marriott is saying all of its Honored Guests will get free w-fi early this year. Elite members? They'll get faster wi-fi, which may not be saying much.

Hilton is the only large chain that hasn't declared it will offer free wi-fi at all of its properties, according to recent press reports.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist today filed the first round of civil complaints over price gouging and deceptive and unfair trade practices of consumers as they fled the fury of Hurricane Charley.

In two separate civil complaints, the Attorney General's Office alleges that a Days Inn in West Palm Beach and the Crossroads Motor Lodge in Lakeland charged "unconscionable" rates, substantially higher than their regular rates, to consumers seeking shelter from the storm.

The civil complaints, filed in West Palm Beach and Lakeland, are the first to be filed as a result of Hurricane Charley under Florida's price gouging statute. Provisions of the statute took effect when Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency on August 10, 2004.

Investigators in the Attorney General's Office are looking into more than approximately 1,200 complaints already filed by consumers, and additional complaints are being received continuously at the Attorney General's price gouging hotline, 1-800-646-0444.

"Hurricane Charley is the worst natural disaster to befall our state in a dozen years, and it is unthinkable that anyone would try to take advantage of neighbors at a time like this. We are taking a two-pronged approach to fight this egregious behavior, " said Crist. "Families putting their lives back together should not have to worry about price gouging."

According to the West Palm Beach complaint, a billboard in close proximity to the Days Inn Airport at 2300 45th Street in West Palm Beach advertised rooms for less than $50 per night. Instead, the hotel charged more than double that amount to three consumers who filed affidavits.

Two of the consumers were forced to pay $109 per night, while the third was charged $119. Each of the consumers indicated that the hotel told them it had "only two rooms left," creating an increased sense urgency to pay the inflated price.

The Polk County complaint alleges that Crossroads Motor Lodge, at 3223 U.S. Highway 98 North in Lakeland, advertised rooms available for the night of August 13 at a rate of $44.79, including taxes and fees. According to three affidavits taken by Attorney General's investigators in support of the complaint, one consumer, who is 85 years old, made a reservation only to have it dishonored; she eventually was able to obtain a room for $61.27 37 percent more than the original rate.

A second consumer, a woman with five children, made reservations and paid cash but the hotel later told her all rooms were taken. Her request for a refund was then refused. The third consumer also made reservations, paid cash and was later told there were no available rooms. This consumer did receive a refund.

Crist on Saturday created the Attorney General's Hurricane Task Force, designed to stop the potential onslaught of price gougers emerging in the wake of Hurricane Charley. Criminal and civil investigators from the Attorney General's Office have been mobilized statewide for a crackdown on price gouging on items that are in high demand following a hurricane such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, generators and lumber.

Florida's price gouging statute requires that the cost of necessities like food and water must remain at the price that was average during the 30 days immediately preceding a major storm like Hurricane Charley. Otherwise, violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period.

Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act provides for civil penalties of $10,000 per violation or $15,000 for violations that victimize a senior citizen or handicapped person.