Insider Traveler

This seems to be the wave of the future. I support redirecting the 4000+ passenger mega ships away from the world's classic cities.

1.7 million cruise passengers stopped over in Barcelona last year. The city's mayor just said he wants that number to reach zero.

The tax on stopover cruise visitors is doubling from €4 to €8 per person, and he's fast-tracking it to take effect this year instead of the four-year timeline the council originally agreed to. He's also asked the regional government to remove the €8 cap entirely so Barcelona can raise it further. The city is cutting cruise terminals from seven to five by 2030, and tourist apartments are being eliminated by 2028.

Here's the key distinction if you have a cruise booked that stops in Barcelona: this targets ships that dock for a few hours and leave. Cruises that start or end in Barcelona are not affected. The mayor specifically said home-port cruises are the model the city wants to keep.

If Barcelona is a port call on your itinerary, check with your cruise line on whether that stop is changing. If your cruise departs from Barcelona, you're fine.
📰 Sources: Fox News

Camera detectors are small and unexpensive.

How I found 11 hidden cameras in one Airbnb (and how to sweep your next room) I scrolled past the cable channels on the TV remote and saw live feeds of every room of the place I was staying in. The host’s excuse? “I forgot.” Here’s how to sweep your next rental in two minutes.

Atlanta airport expands facial recognition security gates Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is expanding its use of biometric technology to move passengers through security lines more quickly.

Want to experience a brand new ship? Check out these new ships being delivered in 2026 and beyond -

Upcoming Luxury Cruise Ship Introductions - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News The luxury cruise ship orderbook shows more than three dozen new vessel introductions coming from now through 2037. Highlights include the entries of Four Seasons and Orient Express, and Explora Journeys rounding out its fleet to six ships by 2028. For a complete overview of the market, see the new....

Jo,
We made it back from our awesome Norway cruise!
I wanted to share some of our pictures from our trip. We even got to experience Norway’s National Holiday- their Constitution Day (like America’s 4th of July). The weather was perfect the entire trip. THANK YOU!!

My clients having a blast on their Viking Nile Cruise!!

If cruising through the Italian Riviera is on your list- BOOK IT NOW. Cannes has become the latest port city in Europe to limit the size of cruise ships and number of tourists in their city each day. I totally understand their conservation concerns but it will be a big loss for cruisers.

Oversized Cruise Ships Continue to Fall Out of Favor in Europe as Another French City Votes to Ban Them The move is the latest among a growing wave of European cities that are restricting cruise ships to curb overtourism.

Here’s an important loophole that will help you get a refund for a canceled or delayed trip, no matter the reasons. You need to know these three words: “TRIP IN VAIN.”

If you can make a case that the delay or cancellation ended your trip, you have a good chance of getting all your money back. Invoking a trip in vain works for things like a missed weddings, funerals, or catching a tour or cruise. As long as you can prove you had to be somewhere at a certain time, you should be able to receive a full credit, if not a refund for the entire flight — not just the missed segments.