One day into a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise, an engine room fire on Nov. 8 left Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor dead in the water. 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew were left without electricity and, hence, no air-conditioning, hot water or hot food. Toilets backed up. While food was airlifted in, tugboats towed the ship 200 miles to San Diego within three days.

Passengers were offered a full refund and a free future cruise. Anyone booked on any of the nine additional Splendor...

Malta’s “In Guardia” parade reenacts the historical inspection of Valletta’s fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John. During the 40-minute show, the fort’s garrison, some 70 participants in full regalia, demonstrate a range of military drills from the era.

The event takes place at 11 a.m. on most Sundays during the year (except in August). For the schedule, contact Valletta’s tourist information office (Auberge d’Italie, Merchants St.; phone +356...

“Dwelling in the Fu-ch’un Mountains,” a 14th-century, 22½-foot-long and one-foot-tall Chinese scroll painting, was the magnum opus of Yuan Dynasty painter Huang Gongwang.

Almost 200 years after the artist’s death, the scroll’s owner, feeling his death imminent, decided he would “take it with him” and began to burn the scroll. The man’s nephew saved it, but it was torn in two. The two pieces have been exhibited separately, the left side in Taiwan’s National Palace Museum and the...