Q: I'm looking into a cruise for March 2016 and saw some good deals on Carnival (Puerto Rico) and Norwegian (Honduras, Belize, Mexico). Is there a chance Carnival will redeem itself by then? Have you had any experience with the Norwegian Cruise Line? I also have no concept of what a good deal is for a cruise. We could get the Norwegian for about $800-$900 per person, with a cheaper room but with a free beverage package through a special.
A: Norwegian and Carnival are about the same level in the cruise world -- middle-of-the-road lines that appeal to a broad demographic. Much depends on the individual ship. Go to a site such as CruiseCritic.com to compare and contrast. As for deals, cruises in March are typically more expensive because of school breaks. Go to the cruise line's website to price out the value of the beverage package in order to come up with a real price so you can compare apples to apples. Cruise lines often offer cheap rates, but extra costs, such as shore excursions, premium dining, photos, drinks, etc., cause the cost to go way up.
Q: My husband and I will be road-tripping through Florida in late March. We love wildlife refuges and birding sites far more than the "amusement" scene. Of course, we'll see the Everglades, but where else should we aim to spend some time?
A: Florida is a perfect destination for nature lovers. The Everglades is probably the best known, but there are plenty of other state and federal protected lands, including Ocala National Forest, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Travel on 03/15/2015