Category: Lifestyle

Carscoops 

Sales of new electric vehicles have been growing in recent years, which means that more and more become available on the secondhand market. Used car retail giant CarMax reports that searches for EVs on its website grew by 177 percent between 2021 and 2024.

In terms of what shoppers are actually buying, it won’t surprise you to learn that Tesla is well represented at the top of the used EV sales charts. The Tesla Model 3 is CarMax’s most popular secondhand EV in 2024, and the Model Y was the second-most popular.

Read: Global EV Sales Will Break Records In 2024 Despite Sluggish Demand, Say Energy Experts

It wasn’t all good news for the American automaker, though. The Model X fell out of the top 10, and the Model S is just hanging on in ninth position, according to CarMax’s used EV sales data.

Reflecting the greater variety of EVs entering the market, the Nissan Leaf was the third-most popular used EV for the retailer, the VW ID.4 was the fourth-best selling model, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E rounded out the top five.

Top 10 Best-Selling Used EVs, 2024

The average sales prices for used EVs are falling, suggesting that consumers are looking for a good deal. In 2023, the average price range for battery-powered vehicles at CarMax was $22,000 to $72,000. In 2024, the average price is $22,000 to $46,000.

What’s fascinating about the retailer’s data is that it also included information about what vehicles are being traded in for EVs. The Ford F-150 and the Honda Accord share the top spot as the most traded in vehicle for a second-hand EV.

By vehicle type, most shoppers are getting rid of SUVs (39 percent) or sedans (31 percent) when they buy an EV. By brand, Toyota, Ford, and Honda drivers are the ones giving up their vehicles the most frequently.

By state, California leads the way in the secondhand market. It’s followed by its West Coast neighbors, Oregon and Washington. Nevadans are the fourth-most eager to buy a used EV, and buyers in Idaho are the fifth most EV hungry.

Photos CarMax

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The Points Guy 

With ever-growing cruise ship capacity, car traffic, hotel development, jet fuel, food waste and suitcases full of fast fashion, it’s safe to say that travel and tourism take a significant toll on the environment. And the numbers don’t lie: 8% to 10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions were a direct result of the travel industry in 2021, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Some studies put it closer to 12%, now.

Given that the positive effects travel has on society are well demonstrated, too — and given that we, here at TPG, love travel — we’re not suggesting skipping out on well-earned vacations. Rather, we’re advocating traveling smarter, starting with booking more sustainable hotels. These days, accommodations of all types, from off-grid glamping spots to luxury resorts with spas, pickleball courts and infinity pools, are making it easy to make your getaway a bit more earth-friendly.

Related: 11 sustainable travel accessories to buy in honor of Earth Day

Here are 14 hotels that go so much further than in-room recycling bins. Think on-site composting, solar energy, turtle releases, apiaries, monthly beach clean-ups, zero-waste menus, invasive species removal, biophilic design, coral nurseries and shower timers.

Coulibri Ridge: Soufriere, Dominica

COULIBRI RIDGE

A masterclass in maximizing surroundings to minimize the impact on the environment — without sacrificing luxury — seemingly every inch of the 285-acre Coulibri Ridge, the brainchild of late founders Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand, has a sustainable origin or purpose, down to the stone quarried from within the compound and hand-chiseled by only local laborers, the recycled wood and aluminum, the slants of the rooftops and the angle at which the buildings were placed on a lush hillside of the Caribbean isle. The latter was chosen to soak up the most hours of sunlight with solar panels as well as optimize rainfall capture to power the Beyond Green member’s 14 suites, two restaurants, a spa, conference rooms, an office and heated pools. And speaking of pools, minimal chlorine is used because the water is purified using copper ionization.

Two wind turbines, in a shape believed to reduce the impact on birds and bats, also power this off-grid nirvana. The walkways, terraces and stairs collect rainwater, which is used for landscaping and Coulibri’s farm, which provides 20% of the produce used on the property for nice touches, including daily fresh-squeezed juice, in-room fruit baskets and regional treats like guava cheese. Another 60% is sourced on the island. The dining rooms refrain from serving red meat or non-locally caught fish, and everything is composted. Guests are even invited to get in on that action with countertop collection bins in the ensuite kitchen and reusable Keurig K-cups.

Rates at Coulibri Ridge start at $700 and include breakfast. I Prefer Hotel Rewards members receive a discounted rate and other benefits, including free Wi-Fi and complimentary room upgrades.

1 Hotel San Francisco: San Francisco

1 HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO/FACEBOOK

Even city hotels are leveling up their pro-planet game. Take this newish 200-room San Francisco treat on the Embarcadero waterfront. Driftwood sculptures, handwoven rugs, a lobby floor made from 7,000 square feet of reclaimed barn wood, elevator landings built out of salvaged Bay Bridge redwood, “do not disturb” stones and a ceiling composed of preserved plants are easy on both the eyes and the environment.

Rooms are full of sustainable details, from the wooden keycards and drinkware made from recycled wine bottles to five-minute shower timers to keep bathers mindful of the Golden State’s recurrent drought. Low-flow plumbing and infrared HVAC systems that shut off when occupants aren’t present don’t add to the aesthetic but are still important. The 1 Less Thing initiative motivates guests to leave behind gently used clothing for donation to a regional charity.

The same goes for the farm-to-table restaurant Terrene, where the chef prioritizes organic and seasonal goods from purveyors within 100 miles of Highway 1. He even grows his own greens in a rooftop garden with beehives. Not to be outdone, the beverage director narrows the ingredient field to within 50 miles and uses citrus scraps and spent coffee grounds to infuse spirits and garnish glasses.

The starting room rate at 1 Hotel San Francisco is $325 a night.

Fairmont Mayakoba: Playa del Carmen, Mexico

FAIRMONT MAYAKOBA, RIVIERA MAYA/FACEBOOK

Margaritas, mariachis, Mexican food, massages, Mayan ruins, mysterious cenotes! You can have all the usual (and beloved) trappings of a Riviera Maya vacation while simultaneously making a difference by staying at the sprawling Fairmont Mayakoba, a 594-acre, 401-key community plopped in the middle of a mangrove jungle and on the sandy shores of the aquamarine Caribbean.

At the corporate level, both Fairmont and parent company Accor were early adopters of sustainable building and operations and have committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The success of sustainability initiatives, such as installing air conditioning that cuts off when doors aren’t closed properly or providing reusable water bottles and filtered water, is vouched for by the numerous certifications they’ve earned from organizations like Preferred by Nature, PROFEPA (Mexico’s version of the Environmental Protection Agency) and Spain’s Green Building Council.

More interesting are the moves being made at the local level. The resort, which features multiple pools, crystal-themed cocktails at a rooftop bar, outdoor yoga classes and boat tours along its meandering wildlife-filled waterways, began collaborating with Oceanus in 2015 on a coral reef restoration. Snorkeling excursions take guests to see the three nurseries. The annual Reef Week kicks the education element up a notch with daily talks with biologists working on resuscitating reefs. Following the ideals of the Slow Food and KM 0 movements, the restaurants source as much as they can from ecological producers within a 100-mile radius.

Keeping bees is also a Fairmont brand standard, and Mayakoba has three hives in its care, including one at the recently revamped spa. But they aren’t just any ol’ bees. Melipona bees are minuscule, stingless and endangered vital pollinators believed to be sacred by the Mayans. Visit them between munching on vegan bites, a copal cleanse and a sweat session in the temazcal.

Rates at the Fairmont Mayakoba, which belongs to the ALL — Accor Live Limitless loyalty program, start at $499 per night.

Vermejo: Colfax County, New Mexico

Ted’s Suite. JEN JUDGE/VERMEJO, A TED TURNER RESERVE

Vermejo — a 550,000-acre collection of pinon pine forests, snowcapped mountains, streams, picturesque meadows (inhabited by 1,200 of the most genetically pure bison in the world) and 19 fishable lakes — is one of three Ted Turner Reserves with lodging in the Land of Enchantment on a mission to “save everything,” as the ubiquitous branded merchandise in the gift shop will remind you. In almost three decades under the former media mogul’s stewardship and that of his charitable foundations, the rugged retreat (which is 45 minutes away from the closest town) is off to a good start with too many pro-environment programs to name here (including ecological preservation, habitat restoration, native species reintroduction and wildlife protection). Many pertain to returning the former cattle ranch to its natural bucolic splendor via sustainable methods like designing water-smart roadways, removing fencing to promote animal migration, stopping river bank erosion, building riparian enclosures to aid vegetation recovery, and managing the number of large ungulates and grazers to align with the landscape carrying capacity.

To achieve its biggest goal — encouraging guests to care deeply about nature by immersing them in it — Vermejo offers wildlife safaris, horseback riding, bike and UTV adventures, fishing, and hunting. There’s a scenic conservation-themed tour that gives you a closer look at the scientific studies and restorations and the opportunity to build the aforementioned enclosures. Once back at the main hub of hospitality, kids make crafts with found objects or ice cream using only hand power. Foodies tour the greenhouse to learn about growing techniques like using old beer and potatoes as pest control and get a sneak peek at what might appear on that night’s menu alongside the freshly caught Rio Grande cutthroat trout or bison fillet. To go farther into the wild, bunk at the more remote LEED Silver certified Costilla Fishing Lodge or the new hike-in Bernal Lake cabin with a gas fireplace and outdoor cedar soaking tub.

Rates at Vermejo start at $1,650 per night with a two-night minimum and include accommodations, meals and all activities.

Hotel Marcel: New Haven, Connecticut

HOTEL MARCEL/FACEBOOK

The former Armstrong Rubber Company headquarters, a 1970s masterpiece by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, has been reimagined as a climate-crusading member of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Creatively reusing an existing office building means less need for new materials and less construction impact on the land and air. The 165-room concrete giant has racked up a number of accreditations in its first two years of operation, including being the nation’s first Passive House-approved hotel (PH rates air tightness and energy consumption) and one of only 10 U.S. hotels to score LEED Platinum certification. The all-electric, fossil fuel-free spot is awaiting a net zero recognition as well.

Hotel Marcel’s solar panel array and microgrid power the efficient electric internal systems (i.e., heat and air conditioning, water heating, and laundry) as well as 24 electric vehicle-charging stations and the all-electric induction kitchen for its all-day eatery, BLDG, and event catering. No single-use plastics are used in either food-and-beverage output (or the caramel-and-sky-blue midcentury modern rooms, for that matter). To make her Latin, Italian and steakhouse specialties, the chef sources ingredients from within 250 miles, changes the menu seasonally and composts the leftovers. When it’s time for goodbyes, an electric shuttle will zip you back to the airport.

Hotel Marcel‘s starting rate is $135 a night. Hilton Honors members can book with 44,000 points per night.

Vida Cayman: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

VIDA CAYMAN/FACEBOOK

Just opened in March, this property in West Bay has already proven that getting some R&R in paradise can be both planet-positive and exceptional. Eco-friendliness was built into the blueprints of the 12-suite beachside boutique, which resulted in only acquiring materials from ethical vendors and making architectural and design choices to minimize pollutants and reduce energy expenditures. Even interior temperatures are controlled with sustainable methods including shaded balconies, breezy walkways and sun-shunning insulation. To encourage biodiversity and preserve habitats for area critters, the landscaping team saved existing endemic flora and installed turtle-friendly lighting.

The local products and green choices continue when it comes to room details, bathroom amenities and the reusable water bottles handed out at check-in. Dishes at the in-house restaurant Nourish — several of which are vegetarian, vegan or dairy-free — are spiced from the living herb wall and filled with produce grown on the island. Food waste, including that collected in room garbage cans, is sent back to the farmers to compost.

In between sunrise kiteboarding, reading in the hot tub, cooking classes and sound bowl meditations, guests can help release turtles with the Cayman Turtle Centre or tour the mangroves. (To offset its carbon footprint, Vida donates to a national fund that protects the critical ecosystem.)

Room rates at Vida Cayman, which include breakfast, start at $550 per night.

Saffire Freycinet: Coles Bay, Australia

SAFFIRE FREYCINET

You wouldn’t know by looking at this peaceful plot of east coast peninsula on Tasmania’s Great Oyster Bay, but it was in dire straits in the fairly recent past. The previous tenant, a caravan park and backpackers’ accommodation, caused erosion, degradation and a whole lotta plant murder. Today, however, it’s home to a 20-suite seaside sanctuary and pampering spa where yoga on the beach, courtyard hammocks and hyperlocal cuisine are commonplace.

Before building this undulating outpost that brings the outside in through the extensive use of stone and timber and floor-to-ceiling windows that gaze out on the pink granite Hazards mountains, they rehabbed the grounds with 30,000 native plants. Then came a green design plan with double glazing, energy-efficient lighting and insulation, and water collection.

The hotel, a Luxury Lodges of Australia member, has an on-site apiary, partners with the Raptor Refuge bird rescue and maintains a 2 1/2-acre free-range Tasmanian devil enclosure and breeding program in an attempt to keep the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial from going extinct. Stuffed devils made in a nearby knitting mill that employs people with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disorders are sold to raise money for Wildcare Tasmania’s Nature and World Heritage fund.

All-inclusive (lodging, meals, select beverages, daily experiences and complimentary minibar) stays for two people at Saffire Freycinet start at $1,735 a night with a two-night minimum.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua: Maui, Hawaii

THE RITZ-CARLTON MAUI, KAPALUA/FACEBOOK

If you’ve spent even a single hour in Hawaii, you’ve become very familiar with the term “aloha.” If you’ve paid attention, you’ve probably picked up “mahalo,” too. The Ritz-Carlton on Maui’s northwest coast wants you to add another important Indigenous word — “malama,” which means “to care for” — to your vocabulary to honor the long legacy of land and sea stewardship among Native Hawaiians.

As showing is better than telling, the posh 468-room playground has instituted several sustainable initiatives, ranging from a solar canopy that generates 60% of the resort’s needed power to complimentary reef-safe sunscreen at the pool and beach. The seven on-site dining outposts cull ingredients from the organic garden. (Don’t sleep on the Sissy, Sassy and Richie salsa trio in the club lounge.) And water-filling stations can be used in conjunction with sleek aluminum Path bottles guests are invited to use while swinging through the two golf courses, walking the clifftop labyrinth, attending the luau, playing tennis or listening to the shockingly talented employee band while sipping a mai tai in the lobby bar.

For those who prefer to learn by doing, edutainment experiences abound. The property is one of only six Ritz-Carlton hotels with a chapter of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment. Well-educated guides take groups on snorkeling trips, bicycle tours and coast trail walks, and chat about everything from invasive species to how ancient Hawaiians used various flora and fauna while you explore the local area. They also host weekly volunteer efforts (beach cleanups, invasive plant removal and native seed planting). During the annual Celebration of the Arts, groups can join the effort to reforest the Puu Kukui Watershed, which was severely damaged under Dole’s ownership.

The starting rate at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is $900 a night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book from 65,000 points per night.

Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel: Rome

ROME CAVALIERI, A WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL/FACEBOOK

Perched in a park high above the Eternal City, the 345-room, 25-suite Rome Cavalieri walks the sustainable walk (probably in a leather Gucci loafer, given its well-heeled style) and has five coveted Green Key certifications to prove it.

In conjunction with the usual suspects — like eliminating single-use items, planting 74,000 trees, recycling half-used soap, and installing systems and fixtures that save water and reduce fossil fuel consumption — the elegant property has set its sights on reducing food waste, which is responsible for 8% of all global carbon emissions. Considering the hotel has multiple restaurants, including Rome’s first and only three-Michelin-star restaurant, La Pergola, and the farm-to-table concept Uliveto, it’s a serious undertaking. Through a partnership with Equoevento, wedding and banquet leftovers have been repurposed as more than 18,000 hot meals for those in need. Surplus bread is donated to Birrificio Vale la Pena, a brewery that uses the carbs for beer fermentation. And cooking classes start with a foraging adventure in the Umbrian countryside.

Re(F)use is another outing that gives discarded items a second lease on life. Guests hop in an electric Fiat Spiaggina and visit Carmina Campus, a design workshop that creates pieces from materials that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill, including the pouch each guest takes home as a souvenir.

The starting rate at Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel is $373 or 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Six Senses Crans-Montana: Valais, Switzerland

IHG

Sustainability has been a Six Senses brand standard since this premium provider of wellness-forward hospitality was founded in the mid-1990s. So some green measures — organic bedding on handmade mattresses, bottling its own water in glass, biodegradable cleaning products, composting to make natural fertilizer for gardens and passive cooling — are found across all of its 23 properties in 18 countries. But individual properties, like this high-altitude hideaway, put their own spin on saving the planet as well.

Crans-Montana’s first line of eco-defense is the one-two punch of mindful architecture and efficient engineering. Heating is powered by recovered carbon-neutral wood pellets. Things such as double-glazed windows, waste heat recapture and LEDs probably go unnoticed but definitely enhance the experience when you’re taking a dip at the indoor and outdoor UV-filtered pools, biohacking at the spa, or checking out the apres-ski DJ set.

The Earth Lab hosts zero-waste workshops where participants learn actionable skills to take home, such as upcycling used kitchen oil into candles or making flying seed bombs. The hotel partnered with a horticulturist to create a fruit tree seed bank that identifies and stores heritage varieties from the fertile Alps valley it calls home. Through OPPAL (Organization Pour la Protection des Alpages), the hotel also helps train volunteers who tend the sheep flocks being shepherded on the mountainsides at night to prevent wolf attacks.

The Six Senses Crans-Montana‘s starting double rate, which includes breakfast, is $745; IHG One Rewards members can stay for 180,000 to 361,000 points per night.

Tides Inn: Irvington, Virginia

KATE THOMPSON/TIDES INN

“Sustainability, but make it preppy,” could be this 70-room refuge’s motto, given its propensity to decorate with nautical blues, brass and wood buoys, and dedication to shoreline restoration to the tune of $3.6 million. The boat-shoe crews can even sail the Chesapeake Bay, park at the 27-slip marina and sign up for a day of volunteerism planting trees or wetland grasses with Friends of the Rappahannock to stop erosion and increase wildlife and aquatic habitat.

Guests can also help out on-site, planting oysters on the inn’s reef while learning about the keystone species and their water-filtering skills from the resident ecologist. He also runs similar excursions about area birds and the world-famous blue crabs. The staff horticulturalist, who oversees the pollinator gardens, vegetable garden and bee meadow, gives tours of those areas and leads a foraging journey on the mushroom trails while the beekeeper lets guests in on the secret life of bees at the apiary — kooky costume and tasting included.

The starting rate at The Tides Inn is $289 a night.

Phaea Blue Palace: Crete, Greece

CHRISTOS DRAZOS/BLUE PALACE/SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD

Quiet luxury meets conscious hospitality at the female-led, family-owned boutique on the jagged shores of sunny Crete. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, bijou private beach (which is Blue Flag certified), alfresco dining, calm azure waters, and 47 airy bungalows and villas fresh off a refresh and stacked across three floors like a Cubist masterpiece, the whole resort has a romantic honeymoon vibe.

The Small Luxury Hotels of the World member derives 91% of its power from renewable solar and geothermal energy, using green-as-can-be detergents and disinfectants concocted from sugar beets and bran, practicing worm- and micro-composting, and installing four-seasons glass, LEDs, sustainable flooring and even a minilodge for cats whose neutering they fund.

The hotel is particularly proud of its agricultural and dining measures. Phaea funds a progressive program to supply resources and training to resort staff members to encourage them to stay on the island and work the offseason as environment-friendly farmers. Then, it buys the bounty to serve at the hotel along with the honey harvested from Blue Palace hives and the house-made and -bottled olive oil. All that is combined with items from the property’s edible landscaping and organic gardens to create a mostly vegetarian menu — seafood is procured from the fishing village down the road — to lessen tourist impact. Guests can book an opportunity to harvest veggies from the garden with the farmers, cook them with the chef, feast alfresco at a communal table and wash it down with organic Greek wines.

The starting rate at Phaea Blue Palace is $309 a night.

Hotel Three Sixty: Ojochal, Costa Rica

HOTEL THREE SIXTY/FACEBOOK

Off-grid and eco-conscious resorts are par for the course in Costa Rica. One of the newer adults-only options that cares for the earth almost as much as it cares for the guests is this 12-villa property set atop a 58-acre rainforest reserve. It’s bursting with biophilic design elements like living walls, open architecture to better see the surrounding emerald canopy and, the piece de resistance, the lobby’s rain-fed water feature made of local stones.

The living areas take up less than 8% of the acreage, and guests are encouraged to wander the jungle trails to commune with nature and see some of the types of trees planted through a partnership with One Tree Planted. If you’re truly lucky, you might even see some of the creatures that benefit from the reforestation, including white-faced Capuchin monkeys, yellow-throated toucans, glass frogs and giant anteaters. For every night of your stay, the hotel will plant one tree somewhere in the country’s highlands, lowlands or mangroves.

Also in practice here: grey water reuse, irrigating with collected rain, green cleaning products, biodegradable bath products by Costa Rican company Raw Botanicals, a no-pesticide policy, and a food-and-beverage program that is locally sourced, organic and sustainable.

The starting rate at Hotel Three Sixty is $436 a night.

The Broadmoor: Colorado Springs, Colorado

THE BROADMOOR/FACEBOOK

Turns out you can teach an old lodge new tricks. The 5,000-acre, 784-key grande dame of the Rockies opened in 1918, obviously long before anyone built hotels to combat carbon footprints, deforestation or melting polar ice caps. Or even worried about them, for that matter.

The Broadmoor, to its credit, has built a fairly robust sustainability plan to see it through its second century despite retaining its stained-glass ceilings and towering stone fireplaces. It started by upgrading existing details, including its 30,000 light fixtures. Now, it features natural gas boilers, low-flow commodes, minifridges that use nearly 80% less energy, full-size bathroom toiletry dispensers, and shopping bags and boxes made from recycled materials in the shops.

With 20 restaurants, cafes and lounges, dining is a giant part of the Broadmoor business, and many of its sustainable practices involve growing produce in the property’s gardens and greenhouses, harvesting honey from its hives, and raising wagyu beef at the owner’s ranch. It also leads Food Rescue, which sends untouched, uneaten food from buffets and banquets to Springs Rescue Mission.

Another big draw is the tennis and pickleball center, and The Broadmoor has come up with a clever way to extend the life of tennis balls — donating them to senior living facilities for walkers and chairs, and local humane societies and dog parks for pet play. Not only that, but the two golf courses are certified Audubon sanctuaries. How’s that for green?

The starting rate at The Broadmoor is $336 or 75,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night.

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Carscoops 

A tragic car crash in China that claimed three lives has sparked concerns about potential gaps in accountability within the domestic auto industry. These concerns stem from the influx of tech giants collaborating with established car manufacturers.

The accident occurred on Friday, April 26, when an Aito M7 Plus ran into the back of a slower-moving water truck on a highway in Yungcheng, a city in the north of China. The SUV in question is produced by Aito, a subsidiary of the Seres Group, with technology and marketing help from smartphone giant Huawei, and more traditional suppliers, like Bosch.

Read: 5 Injured After EV Goes AWOL At Chinese Auto Show

In the moments leading up to the accident, the M7 Plus was traveling at 71 mph (115 km/h), and in the aftermath, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, resulting in the deaths of three people, including a two-year-old child, reports Caixin. Unfortunately, many of the details surrounding the crash itself remain unknown, and getting answers has been difficult.

For instance, a family member of the M7 Plus occupants killed in the crash asked why the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system did not work in this instance. In a since-deleted post, Huawei claimed that the car had been fitted with a system developed by Bosch and the SUV was traveling faster than it was designed to work. However, the German supplier denies that it provided the safety system in the M7 Plus.

Aito

Some have also alleged that the vehicle’s airbags failed to deploy correctly, a claim that the Aito brand refutes. Meanwhile, the family asserts that the doors did not unlock following the crash, impeding efforts to extricate occupants from the vehicle.

“On April 26, 2024, at approximately 4:34 PM, an Aito M7 Plus was involved in a serious traffic accident in Yuncheng, Shanxi,” Aito said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the casualties in the accident and extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. According to national platform data access management regulations, the vehicle was traveling at a speed of 115 km/h at the time of the accident. The airbags deployed normally, and the power battery pack functioned as expected”.

The incident remains under investigation, and Aito has committed to cooperating with police. “We are actively collaborating with the local traffic police department to investigate the accident, providing all necessary data to determine the cause and offering full support to the families of those involved.” the company stated.

Nevertheless, an unnamed auto industry veteran told Caixin that the Chinese industry needs more transparency about which brands are providing what when collaborations happen. Without it, it could become unclear who to look toward for answers when faults occur, and could allow guilty parties to avoid accountability.

Aito

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The Points Guy 

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.  

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card overview

The new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees) comes with valuable earnings rates and a handful of transfer partners — a first for the issuer — along with several perks that make the card worth a look if you believe in the potential of the Wells Fargo travel program. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The newly launched Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is the mid-tier version of the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card (see rates and fees), coming with additional perks like a $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases (with $50 minimum airline purchase) and more valuable earnings rates on travel and restaurant purchases.

The card works well for those who want a more straightforward travel rewards redemption process while still seeking to enjoy the upside of a handful of select travel partners.

It has a $95 annual fee and a recommended credit score of 670.

Here’s a closer look at the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey pros and cons

Pros
Cons

$50 airline credit (with $50 minimum airline purchase)
Valuable earnings rates
Handful of transfer partners

$95 annual fee
Transfer partners still limited
No lounge access

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey welcome offer

The Autograph Journey comes with an initial welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. TPG values Wells Fargo Rewards points at 1.6 cents apiece, making this bonus worth about $960.

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

Wells Fargo credit card applications come with the following terms:

You may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the last 6 months. We may also limit the total number of open Wells Fargo credit card accounts you have.

Thus, Wells Fargo will consider whether you opened other cards in the past six months and how many credit cards you have with this bank before deciding whether to approve your application or issue the welcome bonus.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey benefits

First, the Autograph Journey is a Visa Signature card, which means you’ll enjoy a few built-in benefits immediately.

The Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection provides elitelike benefits on hotel bookings made through its program. Some benefits you can enjoy include room upgrades on arrival (when available), a $25 food and beverage credit at the property, VIP guest status and complimentary breakfast for two each day.

Additionally, there’s the Visa Signature Concierge Service, which can help you with travel bookings, restaurant recommendations and reservations or booking tickets to an event.

Cardholders will also get a $50 annual statement credit for airline purchases after making a minimum of $50 in purchases with airlines.

D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES

The Autograph Journey offers some standard purchase protections as well, such as a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver on rentals when you pay for the entire transaction with your card, cellphone protection (subject to a $25 deductible per claim), 24-hour roadside dispatch, travel and emergency services assistance, and free access to your FICO credit score.

Wells Fargo cardholders can also access My Wells Fargo Deals for cash-back offers from various merchants. You can get an emergency cash advance or emergency card replacement (within 24 hours or up to three days, depending on where you are), too, if necessary.

Related: Everything you need to know about Visa Signature card benefits

Earning rewards with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

With the Autograph Journey, you’ll earn:

5 points per dollar spent at hotels
4 points per dollar spent on airlines
3 points per dollar spent on other travel and restaurants purchases
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

Those are solid earnings rates that can become even more valuable as Wells Fargo Rewards becomes more flexible. If the issuer continues to add transfer partners, look to maximize those earnings rates to save on your next trip.

Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming rewards with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

There are a handful of ways to use your points at wellsfargo.com/rewards. You can redeem them at a value of 1 cent apiece as a statement credit, for gift cards (in $25 increments) or to book travel, such as flights, rental cars or hotel stays.

You also can redeem points as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage. Plus, you can pay with points at participating merchants, including PayPal.

FILADENDRON/GETTY IMAGES

It’s also worth noting that you can get a value of 1.5 cents per point when redeeming points for airfare if you have a Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Credit Card (no longer available to new applicants).

The information for the Wells Fargo Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Transferring rewards with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

With the Wells Fargo Rewards program, you’re able to transfer your points to five airline programs — Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub and Iberia Plus (the latter three all earning Avios) — plus one hotel program, Choice Privileges.

Wells Fargo’s first-ever transfer partners have pegged the value of its points to 1.6 cents apiece — exactly how much more valuable they might become remains to be seen. I hope the list of transfer partners continues to grow, though, and can see an application in my future if so.

Which cards compete with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

Here are a few cards that match up well with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey:

If you want a Wells Fargo cash rewards card: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns cash rewards in the form of Wells Fargo Rewards points, meaning you have access to the same points as the Autograph Journey card but without needing to pay attention to bonus categories or worry about an annual fee (see rates and fees). For more information, read our full review of the Active Cash.
If you want fixed-value points with more benefits: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns a minimum of 2 miles per dollar spent on each purchase, and you can redeem Capital One miles for travel, against travel purchases or by transferring to 15-plus travel partners. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards.
If you want a similar earning structure with more valuable points: The Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 points per dollar spent in the following categories: air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout). For more information, read our full review of the Citi Premier.

For additional options, check out our list of the best credit cards with an annual fee under $100.

Related: The complete guide to credit card annual fees

Should I get the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

This card is a solid choice for those wanting a low annual fee but also some quality earning potential and travel and shopping protections. There’s also lots of potential in the growing Wells Fargo travel program thanks to its handful of new transfer partners, making it a potentially smart investment if you rack up rewards now.

That said, serious points and miles enthusiasts might be better off with a more established travel rewards credit card.

Bottom line

The Autograph Journey card is a new, promising offering from Wells Fargo, one that figures to become more valuable if its list of transfer partners continues to grow. Those looking for a simple card with a reasonable annual fee might be able to take advantage. However, points and miles veterans who love extracting maximum value from their cards may not get much out of the Autograph Journey — yet.

Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Autograph, click here.

For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, click here.

For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Active Cash, click here.

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Carscoops 

The Rivian R1T is a rugged truck with some wild capabilities. Equally wild though can be the repair bill that results from body damage. When a semi-trailer collided with an R1T, the owner sought repair at a certified shop. The resulting bill totaled $21,149.16, exceeding the cost of an entirely new Kia Soul ($20,190)!

It’s unclear exactly how or where the accident happened, but the damage to the rear quarter is significant. It includes a broken light housing, a large dent in the side of the bed, a gash in the corner of the body, and what appears to be a buckled tailgate. No doubt, a repair of this nature would probably cost thousands on just about any vehicle.

More: Fisker Ocean Totaled After Tiny Door Ding Souring EV Dream

At the same time, it’s hard to fathom how it could end up costing $21,149.16 in this case. The final bill shared on Reddit shows 94.1 hours of labor time at various rates anywhere from $120 to $195 per hour. The parts alone were $4,580.95. Before tax, the repair was $19,209.05. The owner believes that part of the high price had to do with where the Rivian was hit.

Source Tortito/Reddit

The rear sides of the R1T are physically the same piece that ultimately sits above the front doors. In this case, the repair shop confirmed to the owner that they cut that panel and then reworked it with a new rear half. Finishing such a big job clearly isn’t easy and doesn’t come cheap. Evidently, the shop sent its techs to Rivian’s plant in Normal, Illinois for a week of training.

To the shop’s credit, the repair looks great and the owner says they did a great job too. Frankly, they should for that kind of cash. Perhaps it’s repairs like these that are, in part, driving up the price of insurance for so many across the nation.

At the same time, the insurance company itself might be wondering if it needs to review every hour of labor time on this bill. 

Image Tortito/Reddit

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Carscoops 

The lack of engine and exhaust noise is one of the factors preventing many car enthusiasts from embracing EVs, no matter how fast they can accelerate. But have you ever wondered why some of us love loud pipes and others don’t? A new study says it’s all linked to personality types and that liking noisy cars could be an indicator of sadist or psychopathic tendencies.

Julie Aitken Schermer, a professor of psychology and management and organizational studies at Western University in London, Ontario, came up with the idea for the study while walking her dog close to the campus.

Related: How Do You Feel About Borla’s Fake Exhaust For EVs That Gives The Mach-E V8 Sounds?

“Every day we come across these loud cars and pickup trucks and motorcycles that are backfiring and I get startled,” she told CBC. “My dog was startled. I see the animals run away that are in the trees and squirrels on the ground.

“I thought, ‘Oh, who really wants to make this kind of noise?’ And so a typical academic, I went and did an extensive search and found nothing.”

So Aitken Schermer decided to carry out her own study, surveying 529 male, female and “other” undergrad business students. She asked the participants if loud cars appealed to them and if they would modify their own rides to make them noisier. And Schermer also gave each person a Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) personality test designed to sniff out four dark personality traits: narcissism, sadism, psychopathy and machiavellianism.

She’d expected to find a clear link between narcissism and a liking for loud cars, assuming that the head-turning potential of a noisy engine would appeal to people who like to draw attention to themselves. But instead she found a greater link to sadism and psychopathy.

“It seems to be this callous disregard for other people’s feelings and their reactions,” Aitken Schermer told CBC. “That’s the psychopathy coming out and it’s also they probably get a kick out of enjoying watching people get startled.”

The research was limited to studying young students on a business degree at the same university, and it didn’t ask about feelings towards other noisy vehicle, like motorcycles, so the results wouldn’t necessarily reflect those found in a larger sample group. But do you agree with these findings?

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Carscoops 

Across China, automakers currently have the production capacity to build around 40 million vehicles per year, but consumers in the country only buy around 22 million cars annually. Despite this disparity, the Chinese government continues to support growth in the industry.

China’s overcapacity issue throws a wrench into the plans of both established automakers and those pushing new technologies. Production lines built for internal combustion vehicles are churning out products that are increasingly falling out of favor with consumers.

Read: Chinese Automakers Rake In Profits, Charging Europeans More Than Double For Some Cars

Meanwhile, new-energy vehicles like EVs and PHEVs, which could potentially absorb this excess capacity, are facing their own headwinds due to broader economic concerns.

Last year, 123 brands offered at least one electric model in China, reports the Wall Street Journal. And even companies like Zhido, which went under in 2019, are being brought back from the dead by investors. That has pushed EV makers into a vicious price war, as they try to win over buyers who are spoiled for choice.

Unsurprisingly, automakers are eager to explore new markets, leading to a quintupling of China’s auto exports between 2020 and 2023. Many of these gains were achieved in Russia, where Chinese automakers stepped in following the Eurasian nation’s conflict with Ukraine, which resulted in trade embargoes from the U.S. and its allies.

Chinese automakers are also keen to sell their EVs abroad, prompting concerns among Western competitors and governments alike. In the U.S., the White House is contemplating expanding tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing, while the European Union is investigating China’s EV subsidies and may contemplate similar measures.

That leads to the inevitable question of why China is subsidizing an industry that already faces overcapacity. This has to do with the national government’s desire to bolster its automakers on the global stage, as well as its efforts to support economic growth and preserve jobs amid wider economic challenges.

The government’s support means that even unprofitable automakers can continue to produce more vehicles. In 2023, just four of the nation’s 123 EV-producing automakers sold more than 400,000 vehicles — widely viewed as the number that must be reached for an automaker to break even in China. These companies are BYD, Tesla, Aion, and Wuling.

That has led some Chinese officials to call for consolidation in the automotive industry. However, for now, the expansion mindset espoused by the national government still prevails.

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The Points Guy 

Quality time together is a hallmark of a great family vacation, but sometimes kids just want to play with their peers — and adults need a break. Cruise lines understand these dual needs deeply and have designed ships accordingly, with amazing, expansive cruise kids clubs.

Kids clubs give families more choices in daytime and evening activities because they have options to hang out together or spend time apart. The clubs take the pressure off parents to find fun, age-appropriate activities for their kids all day long while suppressing their own needs for R&R and couples time. Also, kids who need video game time or social interaction with new friends can escape their siblings and “boring” adults for an hour or two … or more.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Curious about kids clubs on cruise ships and how they work? I’ve sent my own kids to clubs across multiple lines and toured dozens more, so I have the answers to all your questions about these camps at sea.

What is a kids club on a cruise ship?

Carnival’s Camp Ocean kids club. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Cruise kids clubs are a combination of daycare, camp and a super-cool clubhouse. Families can drop off their kids and teens for as little as an hour to as long as nearly a full day for supervised play with other cruisers their age. The spaces for kids on a cruise ship are often clustered together, though tween and teen clubs might be separate.

Kids are not required to visit the kids clubs and can spend as much or as little time in the facilities as they and their families choose. Younger kids must be signed in and out by an adult caregiver; older children and teens can sign themselves in and out.

The kids clubs are run by the ship’s youth staff, who are trained and experienced in childcare. For example, Royal Caribbean requires a four-year university degree in education or a related field (or an international equivalent) and three to five years of work experience in childcare. Youth staff on all lines take more of an active role in activities with younger kids and serve more as cool facilitators with the teens.

Related: The 5 best cruise lines for families

What are the ages for kids clubs on cruise ships?

Each cruise line divides up its kids clubs differently, but you can expect that the littlest kids and oldest teens will not be together.

The main kids club typically accepts children as young as 3 (and toilet trained) and goes up to 10, 11 or 12, depending on whether the ship has a separate tween club. Tween clubs are often for kids ages 11 or 12 to 14, and teen clubs take 13- or 14-year-olds through 17-year-olds.

Your 18-year-old high schooler will not be able to visit the teen club, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to take a family cruise during spring break of your child’s senior year, for example.

Some lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, will accept kids in the club as young as 2 years old. Other lines, like Disney Cruise Line, have nurseries for babies and toddlers younger than 3.

The younger kids club might also divide attendees into smaller age groups for certain activities. For example, MSC Cruises offers a Mini Club for kids ages 3 to 6 and a Junior Club for kids ages 7 to 11. Carnival divides its Camp Ocean into Penguins (2 to 5 years old), Stingrays (6 to 8 years old) and Sharks (9 to 11 years old).

Related: Best kid-friendly cruises: The 7 best cruise ships for kids

Are kids clubs on cruises free?

Yes! All kids club activities during the day and early evening for kids and teens are included in your cruise fare.

However, you might have to pay extra to drop off babies and toddlers at onboard nurseries. Also, late-night childcare for kids in the main club — usually starting at 10 or 11 p.m. — might cost extra on your ship. Both are often charged at an hourly rate for the time you use, with the occasional sibling discount.

What are the kids club spaces like?

Andy’s Room in Disney’s Oceaneer Club. KENT PHILLIPS/DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Kids clubs for 3- to 12-year-olds are often multipurpose spaces that the ship’s youth staff can set up with tables and chairs or clear out for group games. They all come equipped with video game areas, with stations set up with monitors and game consoles, and some might have other high-tech games on the walls, floors or tables, or other games like air hockey or foosball. The spaces often have colorful decor, perhaps themed to the ocean or nature.

On Royal Caribbean’s larger ships, you’ll find multiroom play areas with separate spaces for art workshops, science experiments, sports and active games, and theatrical productions. Disney’s kids clubs have rooms themed to different movies and characters, including a replica of the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars,” a play area done up like Andy’s room from “Toy Story” and Tinkerbell’s Pixie Hollow. MSC Cruises’ kids clubs have dedicated areas for building with Lego bricks.

Tween and teen lounges are cool hangouts with lots of comfy seating areas for chatting with newfound friends, checking social media accounts, playing games and watching movies. Some have dance floors with DJ booths and mocktail or soda bars. A few even have outdoor patio space for sunbathing, occasionally with a hot tub, splash pool or lawn games.

Related: The 5 best cruises for teens

Nurseries and play spaces for younger cruisers have age-appropriate toys and soft flooring, perhaps even a small climbing structure or slide. Nurseries will have a quiet area with cribs and cots in the back for naptime, as well as diaper changing stations.

Kids clubs all have bathrooms in them, often with kid-height facilities.

What activities can my child do in a cruise kids club?

Cruise ship kids clubs offer a mix of free play and guided group activities, so there’s something for every child to enjoy.

Kids can enjoy traditional camp activities like arts and crafts, silly group games and scavenger hunts around the ship. They can also get active with sports competitions in the club or up on the ship’s sports courts. When it’s screen time, kids can challenge each other to video games or gather together to watch a movie on a big screen. Science experiments and puppet shows are also popular activities.

Tween and teen activities lean more toward parties, foosball tournaments, sports and group games, with lots of unstructured time for hanging out. Events might take place around the ship, not just in the tween or teen club.

The youngest cruisers can enjoy story time, song sessions and other toddler games.

Are the kids clubs open all day?

The FireFly Park Kids Club on Sun Princess. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY

Open hours for cruise kids clubs will vary by ship and itinerary. On one sailing, you might find different opening times for sea days versus port days.

Generally, kids clubs are open from 9 or 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Some will be open until midnight or 1 a.m., and some will charge an hourly rate to watch your kids after 10 or 11 p.m. Some kids clubs might close for lunch or dinner, so be sure to check when you drop off your kids the time you need to pick them up.

On port days, cruise kids clubs often open an hour before disembarkation time, especially clubs that allow parents to drop off their kids and explore in port without them.

Tween and teen clubs might not open until the afternoon to accommodate late sleepers. On the flip side, these clubs will run programming later in the evening without additional fees.

Is there food at cruise kids clubs?

Cruise kids clubs don’t generally serve food due to the number and variety of food allergies found in the hundreds of kids who could be on board a ship at any time.

Some cruise ship kids clubs might offer special group lunches or dinners in the buffet or even offer a cooking class. Clubs that offer port day care while parents are ashore will, of course, make sure kids get lunch.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Can kids clubs accommodate children with disabilities?

Cruise lines try to be as accommodating as possible of travelers with disabilities, and the youth staff is happy to work with families to welcome kids with special needs into the kids clubs. However, do not expect one-on-one care or highly trained special needs professionals.

Several lines, such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, require youth staff members to undergo autism awareness training. Carnival has partnered with KultureCity to become “sensory inclusive” certified to work with guests with autism, ADHD and Down syndrome. Its kids clubs are stocked with helpful items, such as weighted vests, sensory games and conversation cards.

Families should notify a cruise line’s special needs department ahead of sailing to alert them to their child’s needs. Once on board, you might be able to move your child to a different age group to be with a sibling or to accommodate developmental differences. Most youth staff cannot help with toileting but might be willing to give caregivers a pager so they can come and help when required.

Alternatively, ship staff might allow a parent or caregiver to accompany a child with special needs to certain kids club activities.

How do cruise kids clubs handle safety?

The Mini Club on MSC World Europa. MSC CRUISES

Youth staff are all carefully vetted; they’re required to be first aid-certified and undergo reference and background checks.

Ships have protocols for what to do in case of an emergency if children are in the cruise kids clubs. Youth staff will either bring them to their muster stations or to a central pickup point, and at no time will leave children unattended.

Additionally, kids clubs have rules for fire safety, including a maximum occupancy. During peak family travel times, you might find that you can’t drop off your child at the kids club when you wish because it has reached full occupancy, and you’ll need to wait for someone to leave before your kid can enter.

Related: Are cruises safe? Here’s what you need to know about cruise ship security and safety

Which cruise lines have kids clubs?

All of the big-ship cruise lines have kids clubs. Cruise lines with a greater family focus will often devote more onboard space to youth facilities, though newer, bigger ships will typically have larger kids clubs. Lines like Holland America and Celebrity Cruises are more adult-focused and still have kids clubs, but they might not have the same wow factor.

Here’s an overview of the major cruise lines’ kids clubs:

Carnival Cruise Line

The Carnival cruise kids club is called Camp Ocean, and its tween and teen clubs are Circle C and Club O2. Camp Ocean takes kids as young as 2 and is divided into three age groups: Penguins (2 to 5 years old), Stingrays (6 to 8 years old) and Sharks (9 to 11 years old).

Celebrity Cruises

Camp at Sea is Celebrity’s cruise kids club. Younger cruisers are divided into Shipmates (3 to 5), Cadets (6 to 9) and Captains (10 to 12), and teens (13 to 17) get their own Teen Club. Some ships have a special STEM at Sea program in partnership with the Frost Science Museum.

Disney Cruise Line

The Disney cruise kids club is called the Oceaneer Club, sometimes with a second space called the Oceaneer Lab. Its tween and teen clubs are Edge and Vibe, and it offers the It’s a Small World Nursery for babies and tots under 3. The Oceaneer Club is open to kids ages 3 to 10; they can choose from a number of simultaneous activities in the Disney-themed spaces.

Holland America

Holland America’s aptly named Kids Club is divided into the Kids Program (ages 3 to 6), Tweens Program (ages 7 to 12) and Teens Program (ages 13 to 17). The kids club does not operate on 25-night or longer cruises, though the line will put on some activities for children sailing on these grand and world voyages.

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Cruise Line kids club is named Splash Academy (ages 3 to 12), and its teen club is Entourage (13 to 17). The line also has a Guppies open play program for kids ages 6 months to 3 years, but an adult is required to accompany each child; it’s not a drop-off service like the other kids clubs. Additionally, NCL does not offer kids programming when the ship is docked in port.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises’ kids club, Doremiland, is divided into five clubs based on age: Baby Club (up to 3 years old), Mini Club (ages 3 to 6), Junior Club (7 to 11), Young Club (12 to 14) and Teen Club (15 to 17). MSC Cruises is an outlier in that it offers free drop-off childcare for kids under 3, as well as spaces for parents and their babies and toddlers to play together.

Princess Cruises

The kids club on Princess Cruises is Camp Discovery. Kids ages 3 to 7 hang out in The Treehouse, kids ages 8 to 12 play in The Lodge and teens 13 to 17 hang out in the Beach House. Many activities are inspired by the cruise line’s partnership with media company Discovery.

Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean cruise kids club is Adventure Ocean. On newer ships, AO Juniors (kids ages 3 to 5) are separate from AO Kids (ages 6 to 12), while on older ships, they might be divided into separate spaces for Aquanauts (3 to 5 years old), Explorers (6 to 8 years old) and Voyagers (9 to 12 years old). Teens ages 13 to 17 are together in the teen club, and all but a few ships have nurseries for kids ages 6 to 36 months.

Do small ships or luxury lines offer kids clubs?

The Ritz Kids club on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima. JACK HARDY/RITZ-CARLTON

Some luxury lines embrace children, while others ban them from their decks. In general, most luxury lines will offer some kind of programming during school holidays when more kids than usual are on board.

Luxury cruise lines such as Crystal, Explora Journeys and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection actually have small kids clubs on board with programming either all the time or when enough kids are present. Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships do not have youth facilities, but the line runs its Club Mariner Youth Program with age-appropriate activities when enough children are on board.

Lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Oceania and Azamara allow children on board but do not run special programs for them, though you might find an exception during Christmas week or another cruise with a greater-than-usual number of kids on board.

Some lines have age minimums. You must be 18 years old to cruise with Viking and 8 years old on Windstar Cruises.

Related: 12 tips for surviving a luxury cruise with kids

Bottom line

Cruise ship kids clubs provide a safe space for young travelers to meet and hang out with peers and enjoy age-appropriate activities in inviting spaces. The drop-off programming allows parents and caregivers to get some alone time to enjoy the ship’s spa, upscale dining venue or adults-only spaces. Kids can join in the fun for as much of the day and evening as they want; many families will spend time on the ship together and only go their separate ways for a few hours per day.

Note that some young cruisers love the kids club and want to spend whole afternoons there, and others go once and refuse to go back. Your child’s love or dislike of the kids club might even change over time or with different ships.

My best advice is to send your kid on the first evening to meet the counselors and the other children and to check out the activities when there is no expectation that they stay a certain amount of time. The more they feel that they can control when they go (and not that you are ditching them to have fun without them), the more likely they are to have a good experience.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
Top ways cruisers waste money
The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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Carscoops 

This year is going to be a bumper year for new BMW M machinery. The crew at Garching is preparing to hit us with an M3 CS Touring, M4 CS, revised M2, and this, the all-new BMW M5.

The seventh-generation M5 isn’t expected to deviate too far from the familiar recipe of near-supercar speed wrapped up in a sensible premium-car body, but it will usher in some important powertrain upgrades that will have fans intrigued and outraged in equal measure.

Related: It’s Official, New BMW M5 Touring Confirmed For USA

Unlike its Mercedes-AMG E-Class rival, which will downsize from a V8 to an inline six, and more than make up the shortfall with hybrid assistance, the M5 will retain V8 power and throw in an electric boost for good measure.

Rumors suggest the M5 will inherit the XM Label Red SUV’s 4.4-liter plug-in hybrid V8, but detuned slightly to preserve the unloved SUV’s position as the flagship of the M fleet. The Label Red makes 738 hp (748 PS) but reports say BMW will wind that back to 718 hp (728 PS) for the M5, though the sedan allegedly gets the upper hand when it comes to torque, summoning 760 lb-ft (1,030 Nm) instead of 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm).

If those numbers are true, the 2025 M5 will be packing a whopping 101 hp (102 PS) more than the last M5 CS, but the downside is that the hybrid hardware making it possible will also add a stack of unwelcome pounds to the curb weight. The new sedan is reportedly going to tip the scales at a hefty 5,368 lbs (2,435 kg) – more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg) heavier than before – and the Touring wagon will be even fatter.

That’s right, after skipping two generations, the estate option is back on the M5 menu, and the really great news is that both versions will be coming to America, which never received an M5 wagon in the past and also missed out on the M3 Touring that’s been a smash hit in Europe.

We hear that the M5 launch is scheduled for July of this year, a timeline that makes sense of BMW’s decision to strip away most of the disguise on its latest prototypes. These spy shots show the front and rear LED lights in full, the shape of the lower bumper and the pair of horizontal grille bars located inside each kidney grille. They also show the charging port on the driver’s side fender just behind the front wheel.

Are you excited by the new M5 and would you go for the practical wagon or the slightly slimmer and more traditional sedan?

Images: Baldauf

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