Welcome to the first edition of UNPACKED. Travel deals and headlines arrive faster than anyone should have to sort through them, so each week I’ll pull out what’s actually worth knowing—with cruises at the center, plus all-inclusive resorts, tours, group trips, webinars, and useful travel news.
The deals worth a look
Three cruise offers with short booking windows
Holland America Explorer Sale — October 1–7
Eligible new bookings on select sailings of four nights or longer can receive up to $650 in onboard credit per stateroom, a reduced $99 per-person deposit for guests 1 and 2, and crew appreciation included. The exact value varies by cruise length, cabin category, and itinerary.
Norwegian: prepaid service charges included
Book through September 30 and guests 1 and 2 can receive complimentary prepaid service charges on eligible balcony-and-above cabins on select Norwegian sailings. Availability and sailing eligibility are limited and can change.
Riviera Travel river cruise flash sale
Save up to 50% on river cruises, plus an additional $500 per person on select 2026 departures, up to $750 per person on select 2027 departures, or up to $250 per person on select 2028 departures. Riviera also includes all-inclusive drinks, excursions, and Wi-Fi. Book by November 2.
Ask Jon to check your datesAll-inclusive
Passport to Paradise: save up to 25%
Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection offer includes savings of up to 25% at participating resorts, kids 12 and under staying and eating free at select family resorts, and up to $200 in resort credits. Book by September 30 for travel through April 30, 2027.
See the Hyatt offer
Hosted voyage
Sail with purpose: the Kindness Wins Content Voyage
Join creators, leaders, and changemakers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, sailing round trip from Los Angeles March 22–26, 2027. The four-night voyage visits Catalina Island and Ensenada and brings together people ready to create with purpose, connect deeply, and lead with kindness.
Cabins currently start at $365 per person for an interior or $550 per person for a balcony, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. Reserve with a $100 per-person deposit.
Explore the voyage
Upcoming UNPACKED webinar
Aloha: make sense of Hawaii
Hawaii looks simple on a map—but choosing the right islands, cruise, resort, and itinerary can get complicated fast. Our Aloha webinar will help you make sense of the options and start planning the trip that fits you.
Get details and registerTravel tip
Don’t sail too close to passport expiration
For many U.S. citizens on eligible closed-loop cruises—sailings that begin and end at the same U.S. port—a passport may not be required; a government-issued photo ID and certified birth certificate may be accepted. Even so, I always recommend traveling with a passport in case you must fly home unexpectedly from a foreign port. Check that it will remain valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, since some destinations require that cushion. Always verify the exact requirements for your itinerary and cruise line before departure.
What’s new in travel
Private-island thrills and shorter getaways
Great Stirrup Cay just got wetter
Norwegian’s Great Tides Waterpark opened at Great Stirrup Cay on September 4. For families and multigenerational groups, that turns an NCL private-island day into much more of a full waterpark destination.
Carnival Jubilee is getting shorter getaways
Carnival announced new short cruises for Jubilee from Galveston in 2028 and 2029. That will make the Excel-class experience easier to try without committing to a full week—especially useful for first-time cruisers and quick getaways.
What should I unpack next?
If you want a trip priced, send your dates, number of travelers, and cabin or room preference, and I’ll compare the real options for you.
Start a travel conversationTravel offers are capacity-controlled and subject to change. I’ll always confirm current pricing, availability, and complete terms before you book.