Travel Blog

When you start to see Easter candy on the shelves, you know it’s time for… Carnival! It’s one of the biggest celebrations – that looks wildly different! - in countries around the world. While always colorful, Carnival is celebrated with such intensely localized traditions that it’s easy to forget that all the Carnivals have the same medieval roots. Christians prepared themselves for the most solemn holy day of Easter by spending the preceding 40 days – called “Lent” – fasting, praying,...

The romance of sailing cruise ships is back, and the new generation of sailing cruise ships has a modern and eco-friendly twist. The latest cruise line to announce it’s building a sailing yacht is Atlas Ocean Voyages, whose new ship – a luxury, expedition sailing yacht – is set to embark on the seas in late 2028. If you’re imagining historic-looking tall ships, think again. The line’s new Atlas-class vessel is an eco-friendly exploration yacht with hybrid propulsion, including wind power...

Inky, luminous, and subtly sophisticated. There’s a reason Tahitian “black pearls” are among the most sought-after additions to a jewelry box and a coveted memento of what may be the most exotic and romantic escape. Entire honeymoons are designed around visiting exotic lagoons, choosing an heirloom piece of jewelry and returning home with an iridescent miracle of nature in a velvet box. A Pearl of a GemUnlike mineral gems, pearls are organic, marine miracles, created individually inside oysters. If an irritant,...

The next 2030 Winter Olympics will be the only Games where you can watch skiing in the morning and sip local Provencal rosé by the Mediterranean in the afternoon. Inspired by the images coming from the Winter Games, and wondering why you aren’t in Europe in the stands? It’s not too early to plan ahead for the next Games – especially with the charm and the contrast of peak winter sports and the French Riviera lifestyle. The French Alps, including the...

France’s legendary Côte d’Azur has long been a fabled coastline of sunshine, glamour, and the good life in true French and Mediterranean style. It’s irresistible! And of course, you’re going to want to bring some of it home as gifts or ways to re-live your vacation in one of the original chic holiday destinations. From pastel fishing villages to seaside promenades, Roman roads to Provencal markets, yacht harbors to turreted castles and maritime forts, the French Riviera landscapes blend sea, sun,...

Small-ship cruise line Windstar has christened the first newbuild ship to join its fleet. Star Seeker represents a new class of ships and a new era for the small-ship cruise line, which is already looking forward to the ship’s twin, Star Explorer, to expand its fleet even more. Star Seeker’s Debut in 2026Star Seeker is home to just 224 guests and crafted to reflect Windstar’s hallmark style—intimate, immersive, and effortlessly elegant. It features 112 beautifully appointed accommodations—most featuring private verandas or...

If you love the sounds of sails snapping in the tropical breeze, St. Maarten stands out with two iconic ways to discover your inner sailor: the largest regatta in the Caribbean, and the year-round, hands-on 12-Metre Challenge racing experience even landlubbers can win – and which has been voted the #1 shore excursion in the Caribbean for 15 years! At just 37 square miles, St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations – The...

Technology is “no longer a luxury, but the very pulse of global aviation.” Many lists have ranked airports by wait times, missing luggage, and even wellness experiences. Still, a new one evaluates the world’s airports by how they incorporate artificial intelligence, biometrics, digitalization, automation, sustainability-driven smart systems and more as core operational infrastructure – transforming and improving your journeys. The 50 Best Airports in the World for 2026 from travel trade publication Travel and Tour World traces how aviation hubs are...

Sun and sand are relaxing, but if you love the outdoors and getting active among scenery that takes your breath away… these natural wonders in Caribbean islands should inspire your next tropical vacation. Twin Pitons, Saint Lucia The two volcanic spires, dramatically piercing the sky and surrounded by brilliant waters, make the sail-in to Saint Lucia one of the most magnificent in the world. It’s all thanks to the twin natural wonders of Saint Lucia’s Gros Piton and Petit Piton (2530 feet...

Oceania Cruises has joined an exclusive cruising club, announcing that it’s joining the ranks of cruise lines banning kids. You may be surprised which – and how few - cruise lines are truly adults only. If you’ve done any luxury, especially small-ship cruising, you’re likely used to NOT seeing many children. That’s certainly about to be true on Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises has announced that, effective January 7, 2026, new bookings will “welcome guests aged 18 and older.” Bookings made before that...

Travel beyond ‘the boot’ to Italy’s inspiring islands. With thousands of miles of Mediterranean coastline, some of the best Italian destinations are floating dramatically offshore, from the world-famous to others that feel like secrets shared over a late-night glass of local wine. Travel like someone in the know, island-hopping in Italy with insider info and tips. Sicily Epic, cinematic, and deeply delicious. Famous for: Mount Etna’s volcanic drama, ancient Greek temples, glorious Baroque towns, Palermo’s markets, cannoli, granita, and that intense, layered history...

'Tis the season for cruise travelers to save! Wave Season is that time of year when cruise lines roll out wave after wave of promotions, perks, and irresistible offers. They’re all competing to capture your attention… which means you get the chance to save, spoil yourself a little, and maybe even try a whole new style of cruising. Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/travel expert and journalist, shares tips for navigating Wave Season. Tips for Charting the Course for Wave Season Timing is everything. Wave season...

It’s official: ‘FOMO’ is out. And ‘JOMO’ is in. After years of racing through “bucket lists,” something quieter is reshaping travel. We’re no longer chasing the Fear of Missing Out on travel experiences. Instead, we’re discovering the Joy of Missing Out — and we’re not alone. According to a recent survey for Norwegian Cruise Line, over 70% of travelers are moving away from fast-paced sightseeing and toward more restorative, meaningful escapes. Nearly half confessed they’ve come home from past trips feeling...

Every year, “travel more” is in the mix of resolutions. But what travel resolutions can get you from dreaming of a trip… into the beauty and benefits of real travel experiences? Surveys consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Americans leave a third of their vacation time unused, and a quarter of workers don’t take any time off at all! That’s despite mounting evidence that travel is a boon for our physical and mental health, relationships, and more. Here are some additional travel resolutions...

If you’re the kind of traveler who believes every destination (in fact, every good moment in life!) becomes even better with a glass of something effervescent (excellent life choice), this guide is for you. Sparkling wine isn’t just a drink; it’s a cultural passport. The wine of celebration and occasion is produced in vineyards around the world, and depending on where you land, the name for those bubbles changes just enough to make you want to fit in like a...

Wellness travel is being redefined for a new, more aware generation of travelers, and the destinations wellness travelers are seeking combine ancient practices, new approaches and focus on different outcomes. It’s not about counting calories or just getting a massage. Today, it’s about rediscovering your best self — through movement, nourishment, sleep, connection to people and nature, and mindfulness. All within the context of exhilarating travel experiences. If these goals are piquing your travel inspiration, here are some of the best...

Visitors are crucial to local communities as they recover following October’s Hurricane Melissa, the strongest ever recorded storm to hit the country, with devastating results. The focus now is rebuilding Jamaica’s tourism-based economy and getting people back to work. That’s where we come in. Jamaica is back open for business this winter. So you can plan a tropical, Caribbean escape to the island just when you need it most - and Jamaica needs us most.  Maybe even give the gift of travel this...

Christmas has traveled around the world – and along the way, it’s picked up local flavors, traditions and folklore. You may have traveled to sip gluhwein at Germany’s Christmas markets, attend midnight Mass at the Vatican, or even been to Bethlehem at Christmas, but you haven’t really experienced Christmas as a global phenomenon until you’ve explored some of the twists and turns the holiday has taken as it's traveled far and wide. There may be no place like home for the...

For the first time, a country’s entire cuisine has been recognized as part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” of humanity. It was an astonishing moment at the announcement of UNESCO’s 2025 listings that annually celebrate living cultural traditions – and highlight them for support to ensure they remain alive. You may be most familiar with UNESCO World Heritage sites: famous monuments or natural wonders. But intangible cultural heritage designations are different. From foodways to festivals, music to fashion, endangered crafts to...

The immersive, state-of-the-art culinary theaters feature the ‘Epicurean Passport Series,’ chef-hosted dining, and destination-inspired shore excursions. Epicurean Enrichment Studios debuts in spring 2026 exclusively on board 2 of the ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet of ships: Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.  The Epicurean Enrichment Studio was inspired by the phenomenal success of the Culinary Arts Kitchen on board Regent’s newer, Explorer-class ships: Seven Seas Explorer, Grandeur, and Splendor. The Epicurean Enrichment Studios are part of thoughtful and extensive, multi-million-dollar refurbishments...