Travel Blog

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas has launched in a glittering ceremony. The line’s latest Icon-class ship’s christening event lit up Port Canaveral, Florida. You might say it was ‘written in the stars,’ as the mega-ship’s godmother, research astronaut Kellie Gerardi, named the ship and set it on its inaugural voyage. The ages-old tradition of bestowing safekeeping on a ship, its crew and guests “is close to my heart and a spirit that spans both sea and space,” says Kellie Gerardi,...

The hotels for the hip are joining the all-inclusive trend. W Hotels, known for avant-garde design, luxurious amenities, music, fashion, and art scenes that create buzzy social hubs for creatives and stylish professionals, is bringing its "Whatever/Whenever" service, distinctive local programming and iconic bars and restaurants to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in its first all-inclusive location. W Hotels is just the latest hotel chain capitalizing on travelers’ desire to both extend their urban hotel experience to the beach – and simplify...

They say ’50 is the new 30!’ And now there’s a new brand of travel experiences - designed just for this new generation of travelers - with maturity, busy lives, high expectations, established tastes and as active as ever. Upscale guided travel company Tauck is tapping into the energy of travelers in their 40s and 50s looking for flexibility, soft adventure and one-of-a-kind experiences. “Roam by Tauck” launches in 2026 with a dozen itineraries across 6 continents by 2027. The high-end, small-group...

Private, after-hours Scenic Enrich cultural events, just for guests of Scenic ocean and river cruises, take a luxury voyage to next-level privilege. Here are my experiences of three Scenic Enrich events from recent ocean and river journeys. By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert. Travel in any way makes us feel special and takes us out of our ordinary lives. A Scenic voyage makes you feel transported to a better world: your butler, onboard team, cruise director, restaurant servers, bar tenders...

Train travel within Europe – and to Europe from London via the Chunnel – just keeps getting easier and better. Eurostar, which operates the largest international high-speed rail network in Western Europe, has recently announced new routes that will tickle your itch to ride the rails. Its just-announced new destinations will be served by new trains, and highlight just how connected Britain still is to the continent, especially via the high-speed trains that whisk passengers through the tunnel under the...

A 46-foot hummingbird sculpture has taken flight in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It’s the world’s largest – and celebrates the Caribbean country’s one-of-a-kind national bird, the streamer-tail hummingbird, found only in Jamaica.  While hummingbirds are found in many countries in North and South America, the streamer-tail, which is also affectionately known as the Doctor Bird for the resemblance of its long tail to the coattails of a 19th-century doctor’s frock coat, is found only in Jamaica. In local folklore, the Doctor Bird...

There’s more than sushi and Mount Fuji in Japan! Travel to the poetically-nicknamed Land of the Rising Sun has never been more popular, but too many visitors never get beyond the country’s big three destinations of Tokyo, Osaka and ancient Kyoto. Of course, you’ll want to savor the skyscrapers, cutting-edge technology, anime, gaming, neon nightlife and street foods of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan’s two biggest cities. Not to mention the ancient temples, tea ceremonies and cultural heart of Japan in Kyoto. Japan...

National Dog Day is August 26 – during peak summer travel. Nearly three-quarters of pet parents travel with their furry friends every year on domestic and international trips, and there’s still time to plan your next getaway this season.  No matter how you’re traveling, bringing along Fido means extra steps to make sure your dog – and you – enjoy a relaxed, healthy vacation. And for many of us, those extra efforts to travel with our pet are worth it rather...

Gin is hot – resurging in popularity as one of the spirits most identified with cocktails that harness ice and botanical flavors in cool, stylish cocktails. So what better place to make this cooling spirit than inside the world’s largest ice tunnel, in a country famous for its glaciers and wild nature? Into the Glacier offers visitors expert-led access to the world’s largest man-made ice tunnel. After a thrilling drive in special, giant-wheeled glacier vehicles over the extraordinary terrains of a...

Foodies take note! The Riverside Mozart has broken the mould when it comes to river cruise dining! It has more restaurants than I've ever seen on a river cruise ship. And that's a game changer for the gastronomically minded, who believe that when it comes to cruise ship dining, variety truly is the spice of life. I'm often asked about dining by food-loving ocean cruise fans thinking about expanding their cruising repertoire into river cruising. They wonder if they'll have enough...

You can’t actually celebrate Christmas in July in Europe… but it’s the perfect time to plan a Christmas market visit to celebrate the season. There really is no better way to get into the spirit of the holidays than to immerse yourself in the markets, traditions, food, beverages, arts and crafts of the lands and cultures that shaped our own holiday celebrations. But take these tips to make sure you get the best of the best holiday – and holiday experience! DO:...

Beginning in 2027, Viking will add another exotic river and destination to its global collection of cruises, which is good news for devoted Viking fans looking for new places to sail with the cruise line. Unlike a number of other cruise lines that offer cruises in India on the Ganges River, Viking’s new, purpose-built ship will sail on the Brahmaputra River. The aptly-named Viking Brahmaputra, with a modern design specifically built to navigate one of the largest rivers in the world...

If you’re thinking about an Arctic expedition cruise to experience extraordinary land and seascapes, iconic wildlife sightings, and Inuit cultural immersion… add to that list Quark Expedition's onboard Arctic fine dining experience -  a gastronomic tour de force that will open your eyes – and your palate – to an entirely new perspective on the flavors of the far north.  Quark Expeditions specializes in bucket list polar expedition cruising, and in the Arctic, it partners with Igapall, a Greenlandic collective...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed the Skyview Regent Suite on the upcoming Seven Seas Prestige… and it’s the biggest – and the priciest – suite in cruise ship history! Fares for the nearly 8,800-square-foot, 2-level suite start at (!) $25,000 – per night! Regent welcomes the 822-guest Seven Seas Prestige in late 2026. The new ship marks the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise line’s first new ship class in a decade, so it’s pulling out all the stops. The new class of...

Don’t fight the heat on holiday in Mexico this summer – escape it altogether! While Mexico’s coastal hotspots heat up for the summer, savvy travelers are moving up — literally — to uncover the breezy mountain escapes of the Pacific state of Nayarit. Away from the beach crowds and humid shorelines, these mountainous Magical Towns ("Pueblo Magico"), plus one volcanic lagoon, offer fresh air, cool climates, and immersive cultural experiences that make for the perfect summer hideout.With average temperatures in the comfortable low...

American Cruise Lines celebrated Independence Day 2025 – and started its countdown to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 – with the launch of its newest class of ships. Sticking with the theme, the small and river ship cruise line christened the American Patriot in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 4th. American Patriot is the first of the new Patriot Class fleet of 130-guest ships designed for discovering or re-discovering the country by cruising. Three sister ships in the new class are...

Helsinki is emphasizing its ‘warm’ welcome to visitors with the first-ever airport runway sauna. That’s likely the only Finnish word you know – and no surprise! Finland’s version of a steam bath is a cornerstone of the country’s identity and lifestyle – one that’s spread around the world. Saunas are even credited as one important reason Finland regularly ranks as the happiest country in the world. Saunas (pronounced ‘sow-nah’) originated in Finland and have existed there for at least 2,000 years. Originally...

At least not until you are home. According to one survey by a travel insurance company, nearly one-third of active social media users are at risk of a home break-in by alerting the bad guys through their posts. So, as high travel season approaches, social media experts are reminding travelers keen to share their vacation experiences to be aware of the risks of posting.  The survey by the Allstate Insurance Company reveals that: Over half of those planning to travel out...

Small ship cruising is bigger than ever, and one company specializes in yachts under two brands: Scenic and Emerald. But which is best for you? It is, you might say, like choosing between diamonds and, well, emeralds!  They’re both gems, but which jewel-box yacht suits your personal travel taste and style best? Here's my comparison to help you choose.  Quick sidebar: recently, we were filming aboard the Scenic Eclipse on the French Riviera and were thrilled when her sister, the Emerald...

Travel beyond Hong Kong’s dazzling skyscrapers, historic backstreets and a skyline that ranks among the most stunning in the world. Away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island, there are over 260 more islands, 450 miles of coastline, and a UNESCO Geopark that straddles land and sea. A new, island-hopping boat tour lets visitors get up close to the sea caves and volcanic wonders of urban Hong Kong’s flip side. The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark is a protected, ecologically rich...