Traveling by cruise ship can be a wonderful experience, especially if you take the time to learn some important safety tips before your trip.

After arriving aboard your ship, you will be required to take part in a muster drill, also commonly referred to as a lifeboat drill. These important exercises given by the ship’s crew will teach you proper safety procedures for an emergency evacuation, help you become familiar with escape routes and emergency exits, and show you where life jackets are located and how to secure them properly. A muster drill must take place within 24 hours of departure, but typically takes place 30 minutes before the ship is scheduled to depart. It is extremely important to pay attention to all safety information, ensuring you are properly prepared for an emergency. You will also learn the ship’s evacuation signal which is seven short horn blasts followed with one long horn blast.

The WWII Victory Garden is making a comeback! Everywhere, in big cities and small towns, people are talking about planting their own gardens. The reason, of course, is natural: escalating food prices, produce recalls, and the primeval need to dig in the dirt when faced with overwhelming threats all around.  So, where does this subject fit into travel?

This summer and fall, as you travel about the US, include a visit to a city market, community garden, greenmarket, farmers’ markets, tailgate market, and seek out restaurants whose menus feature fresh, regionally grown vegetables and sustainable cuisine.  You’ll love this new tourism twist!

Many of us are looking for ways to stretch our travel budgets this year. This doesn’t mean staying at home and never taking a trip. Here are 5 ways to save serious money when you travel on your next vacation.

 When I travel to a new city or place I haven’t been in awhile, I prefer to take a City Tour for an overview of the sites, layout and flavor of the area. It’s a great way to get your bearings, do some sightseeing and see what’s what. Here are 18 City Tours, including our own Old Town Trolley Tours, guaranteed to help you navigate better.

Earth Day reminds us to be better Citizens of the Planet. After all, it’s the only one we’ve got! Here are some easy vacation ideas from Trusted Tours and Attractions to travel greener this year.

Intelligent Travel reminds us that the deadline for submitting sites to the National Geographic sponsored GeoTourism Challenge is April 16th.

They have quite a list so far and the goal is to identify sites that “sustain, enhance, and preserve a sense of culture and place.”

If you are interested in Green Travel this is a great place to start.

Seth Godin has another great post about customer service.

I visit many tourist sites and it’s not uncommon for the front line staff, the people closest to the guests, having the least ability to please them. Too often we hear a scripted response to an important question. I cringe when I hear someone say,”I’m just doing my job.”

Seth’s point is clear. Your ambassadors, the folks talking and interacting the most with the customer, must have the power to delight.

It’s simple, but it’s not easy.

Punxsutawney Phil is a legend. They claim he is over 120 years old and predicts the weather with 100% accuracy. According to legend, if Groundhog Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887 although the celebration itself is much older. Since then, the official spectacle of all spectacles takes place each February 2^nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Here are 5 reasons I love Groundhog Day.