http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/to-tip-or-not-to-tip-in-europehttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/to-tip-or-not-to-tip-in-europeIt's confusing. What's the difference between a tip and "service?" When, where and how much do you tip? Or is Europe getting away from tipping altogether?I am a bartender here in the uk. I get really peeved when I am not tipped. We are paid £0.20 over minimum wage per hour and are expected to make the rest up in tips. We only work 20 hours a week, when the club is open and we have to work for p...Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:05:41 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/onboard-activities-for-kids-parentshttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/onboard-activities-for-kids-parents Onboard Activities for Kids & Parents Last Updated: 04/02/07 Here's one conception of families on cruises: Parents doze in poolside loungers while their belligerent kids scare the bejeezus out of other passengers by doing cannonballs off the side of the pool. Here's another: Kids are checked into designated age-based activities. Parents go do their poolside dozing with the kids out of sight, o...Mon, 26 May 2008 09:07:02 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/the-predictions-are-in-atlantic-hurricane-season-2008http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/the-predictions-are-in-atlantic-hurricane-season-2008   The Predictions Are In: Atlantic Hurricane Season 2008 Hurricane season begins June 1 -- how bad will it be? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released today its official outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, and the forecast is pretty much in line with predictions issued last month. According to the NOAA, there is a 90 percent chance of a near or above normal season. ...Mon, 26 May 2008 09:01:24 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/genesis-class-ships-named-oasis-and-allurehttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/genesis-class-ships-named-oasis-and-allure   Genesis Class Ships: Named Oasis and Allure The world's newest contenders for biggest-ship-ever, until now known as Royal Caribbean's "Genesis" class, have been awarded their official monikers. Get used to it: The 220,000- ton, 5,400-passenger ships will be called Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. The names were chosen by travelers as a result of Royal Caribbean's innovative "Name Th...Mon, 26 May 2008 08:59:15 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/norwegian-spirit-smashes-into-pierhttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/norwegian-spirit-smashes-into-pier Norwegian Spirit Smashes into Pier Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Spirit smashed into a Manhattan pier this morning. No one was hurt in the accident. Support beams for a parking lot were damaged when the ship hit Pier 90 on the Hudson River while attempting to dock at the adjacent Pier 88. According to the New York Buildings Department, the Pier is not at risk to collapse. Norwegian Spirit ...Mon, 26 May 2008 08:57:52 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/travel-woes-could-grow-by-bagfulhttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/travel-woes-could-grow-by-bagfulTravel woes could grow by bagful'Nightmare' is foreseen if luggage charges spreadAmerican Airlines worker Marge Barden places a claim tag on checked luggage as it sits on the scales at the American ticket counter at BWI Marshall Airport.    By Laura McCandlish | Sun reporter May 24, 2008     Passengers will jockey for storage space in cramped overhead bins. Flight attendants will have to step i...Sun, 25 May 2008 08:08:38 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/marking-memorial-day-liner-notes-takes-a-poignant-and-provocative-look-at-34-war-and-place-34http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/marking-memorial-day-liner-notes-takes-a-poignant-and-provocative-look-at-34-war-and-place-34N E W SMarking Memorial Day, Liner Notes Takes a Poignant and Provocative Look at "War and Place"Distinguished authors, photographers and commentators including Tom Brokaw, Robert Stone and Steve McCurry share personal reflectionsMay 22, 2008 - Liner Notes, the new literary travel series hosted by Paul Holdengräber, continues to redefine great radio. The newest installment, entitled "War and Pl...Thu, 22 May 2008 13:02:08 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/princess-cruises-showcases-34-the-heart-of-alaska-34-with-unique-video-productionhttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/princess-cruises-showcases-34-the-heart-of-alaska-34-with-unique-video-production    This view from Denali National Park Ranger Patrick Gamman is one of 12 Alaska voices featured in "The Heart of Alaska," a dramatic new video produced by Princess Cruises. This production has already received widespread praise from the film and travel communities, and has been honored with acceptance into two film festivals.   Filmed over nine days last summer in Alaska, the production was c...Thu, 22 May 2008 12:18:31 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/do-you-need-travel-insurancehttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/do-you-need-travel-insuranceFor years, it was the great unmentionable in the travel transaction: insurance. Travel agents were afraid to bring up the subject of travel insurance for fear of losing the overall deal. It was considered a negative.Not anymore. Whether it's your trip, your possessions, your luggage, or your health, travel insurance — and most important, the right kind of travel insurance — has become an essent...Thu, 22 May 2008 10:19:36 -0400http://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/celebrity-cruises-to-offer-first-antarctica-sailingshttp://www.newyorkcruiseplanner.com/blogPosts/view/celebrity-cruises-to-offer-first-antarctica-sailings Celebrity Cruises to Offer First Antarctica Sailings When Celebrity Cruises sails its tenth consecutive season in South America next year, the line will celebrate by offering its first-ever Antarctica sailings. The 2,050-guest Celebrity Infinity will sail a total of eight South America sailings in late 2009 and early 2010, calling at 26 ports in 13 countries. Sales for these cruises opened tod...Thu, 22 May 2008 10:13:57 -0400