Get the curated cruise intel you need with Gene Sloan's biweekly newsletter
It may seem like a strange time to launch a cruise newsletter. Nearly every cruise line in the world has halted sailings due to the coronavirus pandemic, and many have no plans to restart anytime soon. Even if they do, they face a ban on cruise ships in some ports and, in the U.S. specifically, the possibility of an extended "no-sail" order from health officials.
Sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter written by Gene Sloan.
But even in this darkest of hours for the cruise industry, fans of cruising -- and there are many -- continue to plan and book trips for later this year and beyond. Shipyards continue to build notable new vessels, albeit with some delays. And cruise lines continue to announce new itineraries.
Plus, we may finally be seeing the first buds of a cruising comeback. Just in the last few weeks, a few small cruise vessels in Europe -- mostly river ships -- have quietly resumed operations with capacity-controlled sailings aimed at the local market.
In short, cruising may be down, but it's not out -- not by a long shot.
As we can see from the traffic to the cruise planning stories that we've been posting in recent weeks at TPG, there still are a lot of you eager to get back on the high seas.
It is for the many people like you who still are hungry for cruise planning advice and the latest news about lines, ships, itineraries and ports that I am launching TPG's first cruise newsletter.
Some of you may recognize my name or even have met me on a ship. I've written about cruising for more than two decades, and my stories have appeared in more than 100 publications including Afar Magazine, USA TODAY and more than 60 Gannett-owned newspapers. I've written cruise guides for Frommer's and served as a cruise expert for The Travel Channel.
It's been a life filled with countless days at sea -- well over 1,000, I think, though I've never kept track. Over the years, I've sailed on more than 150 different ships operated by 40 lines -- some multiple times. There are quite a few lines where I've sailed on every or nearly every vessel. Among Norwegian Cruise Line's 17 ships, for instance, I'm only missing two.
I mention all this not to be boastful but just to say that I've got an inordinate amount of information about cruising and cruise ships rattling around in my head (too much, really), and I would like nothing more than to be able to share as much of it as I can with you.
That's my goal for this newsletter: To pass on all that I have learned and all that I think is wonderful about cruising with you, the TPG reader. Sign up to receive my biweekly newsletter now.
A personal newsletter about cruising is something that I've wanted to start up for many years.
Note that the newsletter won't just be focused on big ocean ships such as the new Norwegian Encore (don't miss my first impressions) or Carnival Panorama (here's what I thought about that ship), though they draw the great bulk of cruisers. I'll be writing to you about small expedition ships, river ships and even sailing ships, too. I might even tell you about the time I rode an Alaska Marine Highway ferry all the way down the Alaska coast to Washington state.
My philosophy on covering cruising is that it's important to be broad. There is so much out there in the cruising world beyond the big players such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Many cruise sites only focus on the biggest brands because that's what gets the most search traffic. But that misses so much.
As I mentioned above, I've sailed with 40 different lines over the years and, for the most part, they all were wonderful in their own way. I want to tell you about all of them, so you can make the most informed decision about what kind of cruising is right for you.
The newsletter is set to launch in July. You can expect to read all the latest news about lines, ships, itineraries and ports. You'll also get my musings on cruising trends and insider tips gleaned from my many years at sea.
We're also planning to bring you actionable news of cruise deals.
It'll be just the beginning of what will be a significant expansion of cruise content here at TPG.
Related: TPG hires cruise expert Gene Sloan to expand cruise coverage
Whether you're a longtime cruising fan or a first-timer dipping a toe into this crazy world of lodging that floats, you're not going to want to miss this. Sign up to receive my new biweekly newsletter here, and you'll be getting yourself into prime position for the inevitable comeback of cruising.
Need a cruise content fix now? A few stories to tide you over:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees