Towering 162m above the Rhine, castles don't come much more postcard-ready than the glorious Marksburg.

Kiwis are cruising more than ever - it's practically becoming a national holiday tradition.

Royal Caribbean's massive Harmony of the Seas vessel will soon be usurped as the world's largest cruise ship.

COMMENT: If you thought that travelling by ship might be better for the environment than flying or driving a car, you would be sadly mistaken.

Kiwis continue to take cruises in record numbers attracted by new ships and destinations in this region and around the world.

Gliding along the river with a cocktail in hand, as stars twinkle above me, I'm certain there is no better way to travel.

Greg Fleming cruises (and sometimes jogs) across the Tasman on Celebrity Solstice

With cruise ships carrying millions of holidaymakers every year, crew regularly come across items left behind by forgetful passengers - and some are stranger than others.

A 10-minute taxi ride, or 30 to 40-minute walk, will take you to the city's downtown area, where Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa are located.

Cruising the Mediterranean today gave us the entire day to explore the boat - which is quite spacious, with many nooks and crannies to discover.

More than 1200 holidaymakers have taken leading Australian travel company Scenic Tours to court.

Exploring Barcelona by bus today was a fantastic way to get a taste of the city.

The riverside town of Rudesheim, on the eastern banks of the Rhine, is one of Germany's biggest tourist drawcards.

I found that rarest of things: A hat big enough to fit my massive skull.

Three writers share their exciting cruise ship discoveries

This week, Travel Editor and river cruising novice Winston Aldworth is sailing down the Rhine on the maiden voyage of Avalon Imagery II.

PNG is a rare and exotic cruise destination of misty mountains, smoking volcanoes, jungle drums, bare-breasted dancers and shy excited smiles from locals.

The "Easy Pace American Contrasts" holiday is discounted 5per cent for bookings made by April 28.

Forget polar bears, all Jim Eagles wants is a walrus.

Time travel is difficult-but not impossible: witness the nostalgia-seeking horde that descends on Napier for the Art Deco Weekend each February.

I still remember his words. "Don't stop cruising," my husband told me the day before he died of cancer in 1997.

A megaliner faced delays after a passenger was injured during a extravagant on-board celebration, just as the vessel left port.

Cruises five nights or longer must be cancelled 90 days before departure to avoid a fee, while previously they could be cancelled between 75 and 90 days.

Britannia's celebrity chefs serve up tastes of India, England and France writes Michael McHugh.

Ever wondered how much food is carried on a cruise ship? Here's a hint - it's a lot.

The most well-known ferry ride in Asia, the Star Ferry connects Hong Kong Island with Kowloon Peninsula to the north.

Even though tens of thousands of cruise ship passengers visit ports they are not recorded in official tourism statistics.

Frankly, I think my husband got the better part of the deal.

"Tell me something interesting about your country. Something that people on the other side of the world who've maybe never heard of it would relate to."

The world's biggest cruise liner is nearly finished and another megaliner is heading our way this year.