Andrew Sheivachman

Other airlines will feel more comfortable charging fees to encourage travelers to book directly if Lufthansa's plan works. Travel agents and other intermediaries will be in trouble if this becomes a trend.

Most people don't go on a luxury cruise to sit around refreshing Twitter. But cruisers shouldn't have to pay a fortune if they want to.

As luxury cruise brands become more tech-savvy, and consumers get access to new 3D technology, expect more apps to show off the experiential aspect of cruising through interactive media.

Reduced airfares are great for consumers, but it's still unclear how much travelers are seeing in the lower fares that the Bureau of Labor Statistics' data suggest are out there.

Lufthansa Group is standing pat as booking sites move in opposition to its planned surcharge. But consumers will be the ones hurt by the surcharge if booking sites end up passing the extra cost down to fliers.

Despite claims that new technology has decreased the pollution caused by cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line continue to get busted for violating the law. Will cruise ships really ever go green?

Singapore is already Asia's most popular cruise port. A three-way deal between Royal Caribbean, Singapore's Changi Airport and Singapore's tourism board is a smart move to attract the burgeoning Chinese middle-class to cruises departing from Singapore.

More government spending on the road is great news for hotel companies.

The river cruise experience is supposed to be all about personalized service. So why do river cruise lines bury information about itinerary and sailing changes where their future passengers can't find it?

It's no wonder mass-market cruise lines are trying to attract wealthy vacationers. But does someone looking for a luxury experience really want to spend a week with his family on a floating shopping mall?