"I never realized it before," says Matt, watching the Statue of Liberty drift out of sight, "but I've always wanted to go on a cruise."

And really, that's the meat of it. You've got a rum punch sweating on the balcony, a blissfully open itinerary, and zero pressure to do anything except enjoy yourself--an easy task when you're on a ship as well-equipped as the Norwegian Epic.

Just look at this thing!

Dear Editors,

I am looking for a cruise line with Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Ron

Hi Ron,

Great question! Many travelers (including me!) are surprised to discover that cruise lines do indeed hold AA meetings on their ships. In fact, almost every major cruise line hosts these meetings, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. Once you're on board, just look on the daily schedule for an activity called Friends of Bill W. - named after the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Before you book your cruise, Travelocity agents would be happy to confirm that the cruise line will be holding the meetings during your sailing. You can call them at 1-877-815-5446.

Happy Travels,

Jennifer

If you read this blog, you're probably a lot like us, constantly planning your next trip, collecting passport stamps like medals of honor, and always looking for that next peak to climb. The older I get the more keenly I feel that if I love travel this much, I also have a responsibility to preserve beloved destinations for my children and my children's children.

Responsible or green travel is at heart a conservation movement, a desire to keep pristine places around the world as they are--or even restore them to how they were. Here are 10 green travel resolutions you can make for Mother Earth. I've listed them from simplest to most ambitious so you can choose where you'd like to start. If we all make a pact to do just one of these resolutions, I think you'd be surprised at the huge impact it would have over time.

Even if budgets are a little snug this year, travel hopes remain high. Here's a list of affordable travel gifts for the globetrotter on your list. The best part? All of the items are $60 or less (and in many cases, much, much less). Happy holiday shopping!

For the Green Globetrotter

VeloPouch $45

(Source)

I'm all about getting sporty on my trips. When I was training for the NYC marathon, I had to visit Washington, D.C. at a crucial point of my training. Instead of halting training or spending hours running on the hotel treadmill, I hired a running guide through City Running Tours who took me on a sightseeing run through our nation's capital.

So when I heard about a physical fitness event  -- again, in Washington, DC -- coming up on October 11, I thought I would share it with you. Bike for the Heart is a day-long event put on by the Sister to Sister organization, a group dedicated to educating women about heart health and risk prevention and providing free heart health checkups.

The day consists of four events:

 - a family-friendly five-mile bike ride around our nation's capital (this would be my choice)

Deal Alert: If you're looking for fall or winter getaways, check out these killer cruise deals...and I'm not just saying that because I work at Travelocity! Rates start at $149. Seriously.

I am going to scream if I talk about the silver lining in this economic crisis one more time. Well, cover your ears, people, because I'm belting it out...again. NOW IS THE TIME TO TRAVEL. When I say travel, I'm not talking cheap airfare and low hotel rates. This time, I'm talking about the tempting cruise deals that travelers can snag right now.

Photo of Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas

Last week in an unprecedented move, the House narrowly approved an energy bill that would limit harmful greenhouse gases--the first time any chamber of Congress has ever approved limits of this kind. Now the energy bill faces a tough battle in the Senate and already there is vocal opposition from many different camps.

Without access to Capitol Hill, I settled for the next best thing: taking straw polls at happy hour. I asked one simple question: If the climate bill passes, would you be more likely to offset your travels?

I've been talking about getting your passport for a few years now, but this time I really mean it.  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has had a rolling ID ramp-up requiring passports for people who are entering the United States from Mexico, the Caribbean, or Canada.  Up until now it only mattered for people who were traveling by air.  But as of June 1st passports, NOT JUST A DRIVERS LICENCSE, will be required for entry back into the US.

The last time I went on a cruise, I was sporting alternating pink- and purple-colored braces on my teeth and spent most of my time in the teen club sipping virgin strawberry daiquiris. So when Carnival Cruise Lines invited a group of travel agents to try out their brand-new ship, the Carnival Splendor, I couldn't help but say, "Anchors aweigh!"

The Carnival Splendor is the newest, largest, and most innovative ship to date for the cruise line and boasts state-of-the-art onboard amenities like a top-deck mini golf course, a luxurious spa with a Thalassotherapy pool, a big-screen, open-air theater, a Twister waterslide, and the Serenity adults-only lounging area. I was treated to a balcony cabin for my two-night cruise out of San Francisco, and most of the wining, dining, and amenities were included so we could really enjoy the ship.