Travel Blog

One hundred years after his death, Antoni Gaudí remains impossible to separate from Barcelona. The Catalan architect died on June 10, 1926, one of the most defining architects of any era, tragically struck down by a tram. A century later, his extraordinary buildings are not only the city's most recognizable landmarks, but they have also become symbols of Barcelona itself. For most travelers, a first visit to the Catalan regional capital is as much about discovering Gaudí as it is about...

Every August, something remarkable happens on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The ancient fortress, perched atop the craggy remnants of a volcano in the center of Scotland’s capital city, becomes the backdrop for one of the world's most moving and evocative live performances: the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Not ‘That’ Kind of TattooDon’t let the name fool you. There’s no ink involved! The word "tattoo" comes from a 17th-century Dutch military phrase “doe den tap toe,” meaning "turn off the taps"—a...

If you want the focus of your vacation to be an authentic immersion into raw nature, put Costa Rica on your list of outdoor adventure destinations. This Central American country is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. In a territory roughly the size of the state of Vermont, it contains nearly 6% of the world’s known species! Even more amazing is that over 25% of Costa Rica – from its cloud forests and rainforests to volcanoes, mangroves, and coastlines...

The private island for Explora Journeys and MSC Cruises, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, is at the forefront of a cruise-industry-wide drive to support and sustain the world’s oceans. World Oceans Day is the perfect time to share some of those stories as we reflect that nearly three-quarters of our Earth is covered in oceans. Whether you live on one of the world’s coastlines or cruise, oceans affect us all. The water dominating the surface of our “Blue Planet,” helps regulate...

It’s a tropical vacation fantasy: staying in an overwater bungalow over breathtaking, warm, turquoise waters in the legendary and romantic South Pacific. But what if your overwater bungalow floats with you to a new, incredible destination every day? That’s one of the best reasons to experience the Islands of Tahiti and French Polynesia with Paul Gauguin Cruises. The Paul Gauguin IS your floating overwater bungalow in the fabled South Seas. With mesmerizing early morning sail-ins and romantic sunset sailaways from the emerald...

The seasons for cruise and travel are changing – even disappearing altogether! Holland America Line has become the latest cruise line to expand to year-round sailing in Europe, joining the likes of Viking and Windstar to make the coasts of the Mediterranean and beyond a destination for all seasons. From festive Scandinavian cities to European Christmas markets, Lapland and a more relaxed Mediterranean, new Holland America Line winter voyages bring the season to life with an extended 2027-2028 season sailing through...

For more than 400 years, Switzerland has been the world’s watchmaking and time-keeping capital. And unlike many luxury industries in other countries that outsourced production decades ago, the most respected Swiss watch brands are still made in Switzerland — often by hand, often in the same valleys and communities where the craft was born.  That makes a Swiss watch or clock not only an investment in precision timekeeping and prestigious personal style, but also a truly authentic and heirloom-quality memento...

When is the Med… not just the Med? The Mediterranean Sea and its iconic coastal towns, yacht harbors, fishing villages, beaches, cliffs, and cultural touchpoints are on nearly everyone’s list of favorite escapes. But – pop quiz - did you know that the Mediterranean isn’t just one sea? In reality, it’s a collection of smaller seas that developed independently and were named before the full region was charted by ancient navigators. Ultimately, they were stitched together by ancient trade routes, empire-building,...

For wine travelers, South Africa’s Old Vine Project has transformed a tasting trip through the Cape winelands into a journey through living wine history. Across the Western Cape, the tell-tale shapes of gnarled old bush vines — some planted decades ago — are now among the country’s most compelling travel experiences. Visitors in the know increasingly come not just to taste wine, but to stand among vineyards that survived turbulent decades of drought, shifting wine fashions, and the global race toward...

Tulip season in the Netherlands is a feast for the senses: ribbons of technicolor flowers beside canals, market squares bursting with spring blooms, and river cruise ships gliding through landscapes that look suspiciously filtered (even when they’re not!) You’re going to love your trip so much that you will want to savor the moments for as long as possible. Emerald river cruise ship docked in Willemstad, the Netherlands  I don’t believe in souvenirs that collect dust or worse! End up in landfills. Here...

The Golden Age of Sail is returning – with a 21st century twist! Storied travel company Orient Express made its first appearance at Seatrade, just ahead of the debut its first cruise ship: a 720-foot, 100-guest solid-sail ship that marries exquisite French hospitality, design and craftsmanship with next-generation, eco-friendly maritime innovation. Orient Express Corinthian isn’t just a first for the ultra-luxury travel company known since the 19th century for its exquisite trains and hotels. It’s a first for cruising itself. The ship’s...

The world’s waterfronts are undergoing incredible transformations, from no-go industrial sites to revitalized centers of urban lifestyle and community living. Increasingly, the centerpiece of that renaissance… is a landmark, architectural marvel music hall. Often labeled ‘opera houses,’ these venues are the opposite of stuffy, formal halls that host exclusively traditional performances. Sitting directly on the water, these new icons of modern culture embrace the ebb and flow of the waves they overlook: relaxed and connected to the city around them. Ferries...

Fans of the Grand Dutch Cafés onboard Holland America Line’s newest ships can look forward to finding this little piece of Netherlands culture and design onboard many more ships soon. At the Seatrade industry cruise conference in Miami in April, Holland America Line’s president warned the media conference that the event was not a new ship announcement. But fans of the line still have plenty to celebrate.As part of a half-billion-dollar, fleet-wide ‘Evolution,’ HAL is expanding the best of its newest,...

Earth Day is April 22, and it’s a wonderful time to share stories of travel companies that are making the world we love to travel a better place. For G Adventures, the focus is on trees. In the last 18 months, the tour operator has expanded its global Trees for Days initiative with seven new community partners. Its network now stands at 22 communities across multiple continents and benefits more than 200,000 local people. And within the next month, the project will...

By 2039, there will be three new ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, the largest, most advanced ships ever for the cruise line, carrying over 4700 guests each, and dual-fuel, powered primarily by the sustainability-conscious LNG (liquified natural gas). The new class of ships is called the Voyager class, with the first ship scheduled for delivery in 2035. The new class of ships is another step forward for the cruise line, and its most recent, Sphere class of ships (Sun Princess...

In Alaska, everyone can feel like they’re in a fairy tale. Even the one with the three bears! Wildlife watching opportunities – especially bear sightings – rank among the top reasons to take an Alaska cruise. And I’ve never known anyone to leave disappointed! WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE OF SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS ON A REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISE TO ALASKA But how many different types of bears can you hope to see? 1. The American Black BearThe most common, the smallest—...

It’s spring at last, and our thoughts turn to the outdoors and our gardens. What better inspiration for a trip than some of the most breathtaking flower shows on earth - that take nature’s horticultural gifts and maximalize the colors, the spectacle and the drama! 1. Keukenhof Gardens — NetherlandsKeukenhof’s claim to fame is scale and control. More than seven million bulbs are planted by hand each year in layered sequences—early, mid, and late bloomers—so the park continuously evolves across its...

Do you travel for the food? Festivals? Or maybe family? Over a quarter of travelers these days are interested in heritage or ancestry-based trips. The surge in DNA testing has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in the popularity of genealogy-focused trips. People are putting their traveling ‘genes’ on. And not going sightseeing, but searching for their roots. Motivations vary from family heritage to the story of migration from their ancestral homes.Do any of these ideas strike a chord in you...

If you love river cruising and you love ocean cruising… then there’s a new cruise style on the horizon for you. Beginning December 2026, Windstar’s newest ship, Star Explorer, will offer new river-to-ocean cruises combining the best of both experiences. No changing ships. Your floating boutique hotel seamlessly transitions from a river cruise to an ocean voyage, and your trip continues from an intimate river experience into equally compelling coastlines. Purpose-built for river-to-ocean travel, the 224-guest, all-suite yacht can navigate waterways that...

Two very different new ships—one an intimate, design-forward superyacht, the other a high-energy floating resort—are sending a strong message. Whether you’re a cruise lover or a cruise newbie, there’s a cruise style and ship that’s perfect for you. The recent, back-to-back debut of Emerald Cruises’ newest intimate, modern yacht and Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest Caribbean mega-ship shows just how wide that spectrum has become—and why first-time cruisers, in particular, have never had more options to ‘dip your toes’ into cruising waters.Emerald...