Sue Nelson

Sue Nelson

Hi, I'm Sue. I plan cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and slow multi-country trips through Europe. I'm a certified Hawaii travel specialist, and I book through host agency Outside Agents as a member of the Travel Leaders Network. Twenty years in senior HR leadership before this, which mostly taught me how to read what people actually want. I live in Grain Valley, Missouri with my husband and business partner Mike.

How Much Is a Cruise Deposit? Every Major Line Compared

Traveler booking a cruise on a laptop with a cruise ship deposit payment screen showing

You pick the ship, you find the cabin, and then the screen asks for a thousand dollars. Here is what every major cruise line actually charges to hold a cabin, from MSC's $99 to Princess's newly raised $500, plus the two lines that publish no deposit schedule at all and what to use instead. Verified from each line's own policy on September 2, 2026.

Best Portugal Tours for 2027: What a Travel Advisor Recommends

Terraced vineyards on the steep hillsides of the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, a highlight of the best Portugal tours for 2027

Portugal has gone from underrated to overbooked, and the tour you pick matters more than the brand on the brochure. Here are the five types of Portugal tour for 2027, the specific operators worth your money, what each one actually costs, and how far ahead you need to book before the good departures disappear.

Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Cruise Deposits: Which Is Actually Worth It?

Cruise ship docked at sunrise with a booking confirmation screen showing refundable and non-refundable deposit options

Two prices, same cabin, and almost no explanation. Here is what a non-refundable cruise deposit actually costs you, what happens to the money when plans change, and the one piece of arithmetic that tells you which fare to pick. Deposit rules for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess and Celebrity, verified from each line's own published policy.