Travel Blog

The hotly anticipated new river cruise line has shared how it’s planning to offer its guests a new way to experience the river communities of Europe when it debuts in 2027. Four curated categories of exclusive and included shore excursions reveal how guests will river cruise, Celebrity-style. Local insiders lead the Storyteller Series and Skillmaster Series, while the Keys to the City Series gives guests the tech-driven power to explore on their own with insights curated to their own interests and passions. Available once per sailing, the Celebrity Takeover Series delivers...

You likely already know that’s a trick question.  This tiny dot in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, but technically a territory of Chile, is actually properly called Rapa Nui. The world over, Easter Island has been synonymous with exotic mysteries of an impossibly distant, long-lost civilization and mind-boggling human endeavor. It may be the most remote inhabited island on the planet.  Only a few thousand people live on this remnant of oceanic volcanoes sticking out of the sea, and that's the first...

World travel is easier than ever. But it seems world geography is not! Some destinations remain stubbornly — and even hilariously — confused by travelers, media, and even governments. The result is a mix of comedy, branding opportunity, and unsuspecting travelers finding themselves in the wrong place. In some cases, people simply don’t know the difference, and it’s a case of mistaken identity and some embarrassing social media posts. Others are tiny spelling errors that have landed travelers on the opposite...

Recently in Sweden, I experienced ancient wellness practices intertwined with new science and artistic sensibilities. In many ways, Sweden wrote the book on wellness as a way of life and a travel destination. And my stays at two sister hotels in Stockholm proved the country is in the vanguard of redefining wellness travel again. In case you missed it, in 2025, Sweden became the first country where doctors can prescribe travel for wellness. The global leader in quality of life, renowned...

On St. Patrick’s Day, the saying goes, there’s a ‘little bit of Irish’ in us all. For some of us, it’s true all year round. Today, Ireland has about 5 million people. But there are over 30 million Americans (10% of the entire population, the second-highest European ancestry in the USA!) and an even higher percentage of Canadians – nearly 15% of the population – who claim Irish roots. No wonder so many North Americans feel drawn to visit the Emerald...

You never forget the moment you come face-to-face with one of the thousands of Terracotta Warriors underground in Xi’an, China. As ancient wonders of the world go, these may make the strongest impression even on an experienced traveler like me. I think it’s because, unlike the vast, mystical monuments like Egypt’s pyramids or Machu Picchu, the warriors are so… personal. On a human scale, individually, even if the archaeological site is breathtakingly vast. And you also feel like you are looking...

2026 marks a century after the passing of beloved Impressionist artist, Claude Monet. The museum devoted to his work in Giverny, the community north of Paris that has become synonymous with Monet and the water lilies and gardens he immortalized on canvas, presents a retrospective exhibition. From March 27 to July 5, 2026, the Musée des Impression Giverny hosts "Monet in Giverny. Before the Water Lilies 1883- 1890.” The new exhibition explores the life and work of Monet before the works...

Whether you are a devotee of the Chinese/ Lunar calendar, for many of us, horses are our spirit animals, and the Year of the Horse reminds us why. Since the earliest civilizations – is any other creature so well-represented on the world’s cave walls, ancient scripts, wall carvings? - Humans around the world have fallen in love with the majesty, power, elegance, intelligence and awe-inspiring beauty of horses. Not to mention utility. Horses became invaluable companions in agriculture, early industry, war...

Cruise lines love to break records – competing for the biggest ships, introducing firsts-at-sea, and of course, creating record-breaking events that give thousands of guests the chance to make history… well, until the record is broken again! Princess Cruises is no stranger to world records. In 2024, the cruise line set a record for the largest pizza party at sea, with guests consuming over 60,000 slices across 16 ships. The event marked a partnership with 13-time World Pizza Champion chef Tony...

Break the boredom of March Break getaways. There’s still time to make March Break about more than the beach. This time of the year presents a whole planet of excitement – and it’s not too late to plan the family break that will create memories of a lifetime. If swapping flip-flops by the pool, with the wonder and exploration that bind families together, appeals to you, here are some inspiring alternatives to all-inclusives. Viking History Immersion in Norway For families with budding...

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...

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...

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

'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...