Some weeks ago we unearthed a trend among cruise lines for offering sanctuary to retired politicians willing to spill the beans on their many years in office. We uncovered the likes of Bob and Blanche Hawke, who cruised with Orion, Robert “Piggy” Muldoon, who cruised with Royal Viking and the late Don Chipp (an ardent cruise fan) who sailed aboard The World. The recently retired, Nobel Laureate and near-octogenarian, Archbishop Desmond Tutu announced he would join a cruise with Semester at Sea aboard their lavish 180m vessel, MV Explorer. “The Arch” (as he is fondly known at home) gained a taste for cruising as part of Cunard’s Insight program earlier this year.

Committed adventure cruiser, Roderick Eime, shares some insight on one of the fastest growing travel sectors.

Flick through the pages of any magazine or newspaper and you’re confronted with an overflowing smorgasbord of cruise travel possibilities. If this explosion of romantic ocean-going itineraries leads you to think cruise travel is on the up, then you are right. Cruising is on a rocket. But look closer and you’ll find, sometimes tacked on the end of a larger ad, adventure possibilities you may never have dreamed of.

source: The Independent Traveller

Tipping requires more than cash and generosity; a modicum of research is essential for travelers to know exactly who deserves a tip and how much to give. Generous travelers shouldn't hand out gratuities like Halloween candy to cover their bases. In some countries -- like Japan, where giving someone a wad of cash is often considered rude -- tipping can be an insult. On the other side of the coin, traveling tightwads shouldn't try to save money by stiffing their service person, because millions of waiters, bellmen, tour guides and other workers in the tourist trade rely on tips to feed their families and pay the rent.

Buyer beware ... change and cancellation fees have become big business for airlines. Photo: Rob Homer

A cheap fare can be pricey to change or cancel, writes Jane E. Fraser.

Change might be part of the tapestry of life but when the subject is flying, it can be a painful process. Change and cancellation fees have become big business for airlines as travellers gravitate towards cheap, inflexible air fares. The US Government recently changed the reporting requirements for US airlines and, as a consequence, found travellers were paying $US2 billion ($2.4 billion) a year in change and cancellation fees – representing more than three per cent of the airlines' revenue.