The year is more than half over, which means we're more than halfway done with 2010 travel stories. Since things slow down over the summer, we figured this was a perfect time to pause and reflect on just how insane this year has been. And by insane, we mean stupid.

We wanted to avoid things that were stupid in the "that obviously won't work" kind of way and instead turn to the mind-boggling, inexplicable, "what could they have been thinking" sort of stupidity. And, thanks to the nature of the travel industry and airport security, there was more than enough to go around.]]> Omri 2010-07-29T09:36:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/7/12/6538/18490

Silversea wants all the single ladies to put their hands up on deck.

You've heard of flying solo, but now singles have the option to cruise solo. Not that they didn't have the opportunity to do so before, but single travelers typically have to pay 150 to 200 percent more than globetrotting duos. Luckily, cruise lines are stopping their discriminatory practice of singling out singles and making it much more affordable for someone to hit the seas all by him or herself.

Check out three cruise lines that are helping out all the single ladies and lads.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-07-12T12:31:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/6/17/125715/423

It's hard to tell what effect the oil spill is actually having on beach tourism. Part of the problem is that Florida tourism officials blow things out of proportion too soon. Another problem is that government officials are inclined to bluster in general, like the New Jersey politicians who demanded to know what their environmental chief was doing to prepare for the oil slick (answer: not much).

But the real issue is that nobody knows how the worst environmental disaster in the history of the United States is going to play out. One of the things about being the worst ever is that we don't really have any basis for comparison. The slick could very well reach the Bahamas in the near future. And when you're talking about the Bahamas and tourism, the immediate issue becomes the Caribbean's billion-dollar cruise industry.]]> Omri 2010-06-17T15:50:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/25/71632/5016

There’s plenty of potential aggravation and claustrophobia to be had with a trip around the world by plane or bus, but taking a ship around the globe should allow for a little more room to stretch out. People have been sailing to exotic locations for centuries, and even if you think you’re too cool to cruise—it’s still a solid option. It will take quite some time to complete your travel, which is a good thing, but just start saving those vacation days at the office. So if you’re looking for permission to come aboard, here are some of our ideas on how to do it.

Ideas on How to Cruise Around the World, after the jump!]]> kjb 2010-02-25T09:40:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/28/211850/261

Cruise ships are making it easier and cheaper for members of the lonely-hearts club to hit the seas.

The cruise industry is notorious for discriminating against single travelers, piling on surcharges for those cruising alone and giving better deals to duos. Margie Jordan of the American Society of Travel Agents told Reuters that solo globetrotters have to pay 150 to 200 percent more than those traveling in pairs.

But cruise ships are seeing an untapped market in solo cruisers and are jumping on it. In July, Norwegian Cruise Line will launch the Epic, a ship with studios designed for one occupant and there's no single supplement included. Stays in the specially designed staterooms are now for available for purchase.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-01-29T09:05:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/19/192939/404

It's probably that by now, in addition to all of the coverage of the horrible earthquake and its aftermath in Haiti, that you've also heard about how cruise ships are continuing to stop at their "private" beaches in Haiti, effectively swatting aside human suffering and need for the power of the almighty dollar and a shipload of vacationers demanding the destinations promised.

Years ago, we were on one of the ships that stops in Haiti and yet our boat suddenly skipped it on account of "political instabliity." We didn't get to party on the beach in Labadee, but we did have an extra day at sea. Why couldn't the cruise line do that in this case, with more than just political instability at hand, but an estimated 200,000 deaths and widespread human crisis?

Excuses, excuses...after the jump!]]> JetSetCD 2010-01-20T08:30:03-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/12/15559/008

In the latest tale of people jumping off cruise ships, an assistant purser on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas apparently hated his job so much that he couldn't wait until he was back on land to quit, hopping overboard as the ship steamed from Key West to Miami. Fortunately for everybody involved, he was rescued two hours later while treading water off Miami's Cutler Bay, but you've got to wonder what would bring somebody to do such a thing. ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-12-12T15:05:59-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/