Great Canadian Travel Group Feed

Discover Ireland When The Days Are Long

Wed, 06 May 26 20:50:18 +0000

Experience the magic, history, and breathtaking landscapes of the island of Ireland with Exotik Journeys. Whether you’re seeking a perfectly paced introduction or a deep-dive cultural exploration, the Unforgettable Ireland in 8 Days and Explore Ireland in 12 Days itineraries offer two remarkable ways to experience the very best of the Emerald Isle. With departures timed for June and July 2026, travellers enjoy long summer days, lush green countryside, and ideal touring conditions.

UNFORGETTABLE IRELAND IN 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
From $3,395 per person
Departures: June 9, June 30, July 14, 2026

This curated journey is ideal for travellers looking to experience Ireland’s most iconic highlights in one seamless itinerary. Beginning in the lively capital of Dublin, guests settle into Ireland’s cultural heartbeat before heading south through rolling countryside and historic towns.

A highlight of the early journey is a visit to the legendary Blarney Castle, where travellers can kiss the famous Blarney Stone and explore centuries-old grounds surrounded by lush gardens. From there, the route continues into County Kerry, where the dramatic scenery of the Ring of Kerry showcases rugged coastlines, mountain passes, and charming villages. A traditional sheepdog demonstration adds an authentic glimpse into rural Irish life.

Travellers then head north to witness the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher and the unique limestone terrain of The Burren before arriving in vibrant Galway. Here, guests enjoy a scenic cruise on Lough Corrib and explore the cultural richness of the region.

The journey continues into the wild beauty of Connemara, including a visit to the historic Kylemore Abbey. The tour concludes back in Dublin with immersive experiences such as the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, blending modern storytelling with Ireland’s powerful heritage.

Inclusions highlight: 4-star hotels, guided touring, motorcoach transportation, airport transfers, and curated cultural experiences.

EXPLORE IRELAND IN 12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS
From $5,655 per person
Departures: June 9, July 14, 2026

For travellers who want the ultimate discovery of Ireland, this extended journey reveals not only iconic landmarks but also hidden gems and deeper cultural encounters across the island of Ireland.

Starting again in Dublin, the tour heads north to Belfast, where guests explore the city’s vibrant revival and the world-renowned Titanic Belfast. The journey continues along the breathtaking Antrim coastline to the legendary Giant's Causeway and onward to the historic city of Derry.

Travelling through the west, guests discover natural wonders including the dramatic Marble Arch Caves and the sweeping beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way before reaching cultural hubs like Galway.

The journey south showcases some of Ireland’s most beloved treasures: the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, the iconic Blarney Castle, and the scenic drives of the Ring of Kerry within Killarney National Park.

Cultural immersion continues with visits to the historic Midleton Distillery Experience and the craftsmanship of Waterford Crystal. In Kilkenny, medieval charm comes alive before a moving visit to the Dunbrody Famine Ship. The adventure concludes in Dublin with the inspiring EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.

Inclusions highlight: premium accommodations, expert guides, immersive experiences, and seamless touring across Ireland.

Why Travel Ireland with Exotik Journeys?

Each itinerary is thoughtfully curated to highlight Ireland’s most iconic landscapes, rich heritage, and legendary hospitality. From rugged coastlines and ancient castles to lively cities and cultural gems, every moment is designed to feel immersive, seamless, and unforgettable. Backed by over 45 years of travel expertise, Exotik Journeys delivers trusted peace of mind, exceptional value, and expertly crafted journeys that go far beyond the ordinary.

LET US TAKE YOU THERE!

$500M Update Brings Guest-Favorite Feature Across Holland America Line Fleet

Wed, 06 May 26 20:50:18 +0000

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, Pinnacle-class ships to other ships in six Vista and Signature-class ships.

Grand Dutch Cafés and More

Inspired by European café culture and rooted in the cruise line’s Dutch heritage, the Grand Dutch Café has become a signature venue and experience, with eye-catching, iconic Delft-blue and white ceramics, paint, and leather trim evoking the stepped rooflines of Amsterdam, and sweet and savory Dutch edibles that take guests from morning coffee through pre-dinner bites and drinks. The social hub on Deck 3 near the atrium in Pinnacle-class ships reflects the role cafés play in communities in the Netherlands and Europe… and have become favorite social hubs on Pinnacle-class ships.

On my last cruise, we went to the Grand Dutch Café twice daily! My friend who inexplicably loves pickled herring was thrilled! We aren’t the only people who want more Grand Dutch Café in our lives.

“Our guests have been very clear about what they love about our ships and what they want to see more of, and Holland America Evolution is our answer to that,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president, Holland America Line at Seatrade, making the announcement.

While the signature Grand Dutch Cafe is the highest profile addition to ships during the biggest fleet revitalization in the cruise line’s 150+ year history, the line will also add other restaurant and bar options, and refresh and reinvent key guest spaces — including new stateroom and suite categories — while maintaining the spacious design and intimate ship feel guests associate with Holland America Line ships.

The first ship on the dry-dock list is the Oosterdam, whose renovations will debut in the fall of 2027. The schedule and plans for the remaining 5 ships in the Evolution plan – and how these extended drydocks will affect planned itineraries – will be announced soon. Impacted booked guests will be contacted directly.

New Staterooms and Suites – Including Solo Verandahs

Oosterdam will get 76 new staterooms while the line promised to preserve the “room at the rail” guests love. New and enhanced accommodations debuting on Oosterdam include:

NEW: Solo Verandahs: Thirty purpose-built staterooms created specifically for solo travelers. Each features a private balcony, dedicated workspace, and full Holland America Line amenities, responding to strong and growing guest demand.
When asked about the pricing of the new solo verandah staterooms at Seatrade, Bodensteiner revealed that pricing would be ‘dynamic’ based on demand. At the same time, she suggested that, while there were no plans to offer the staterooms without a single supplement, there would be savings compared to the 100% markup single travelers often encounter on cruise lines.
NEW: Bridgeview Suites: Two new suites offering sweeping 180-degree ocean views through panoramic windows at the forward part of the ship, with 900 square feet of space, a wraparound balcony, and separate living and sleeping areas.
Reimagined Pinnacle Suite: The most expansive suite ever introduced on a Vista Class ship, offering 1,550 square feet of refined living space with panoramic views, a private balcony, separate living room, powder room, bedroom, ensuite bath, and walk-in closet.
Vista Suites debut on Oosterdam: Twenty-four Vista Suites, familiar to guests who have sailed on Pinnacle Class ships, will be introduced on Oosterdam for the first time.

Sustainability Part of the Plan

Renovations focus on revitalizing the fleet while improving efficiency and reducing overall environmental impact: waste reduction and circular design, prioritizing upcycling and material reuse.

Media in attendance at the Seatrade conference received a gift bag that included this coaster, in true Grand Dutch Café style, made from upcycled carpet – just one example of the cruise line's upcycling and efficiency efforts.

The company is also investing in energy efficiency as part of the Evolution.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images courtesy

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Alaska Cruise Edition)

Wed, 06 May 26 20:50:18 +0000

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 Bear

The most common, the smallest— and often the first bear travelers encounter — is the black bear. Widespread across Southeast Alaska, they thrive in the dense coastal rainforest that lines so many cruise routes.

‘Baby Bear’: Adults typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds, with males on the higher end. They stand about 3 feet at the shoulder on all fours, but can reach 5 to 7 feet when upright. Compared to other Alaska bears, they’re compact — built for agility rather than dominance.

What's for dinner: Black bears are true opportunists. Their diet leans heavily towards vegetarian — berries, grasses, roots — supplemented with insects, shellfish, and the occasional salmon. You’ll often see them along shorelines at low tide, turning rocks with surprising dexterity. They’re also excellent climbers, frequently escaping danger (or napping) in trees.

Wow: Accessibility. In ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, black bears can appear startlingly close to town. It’s not uncommon to spot one from a roadside or harbor edge — a quintessential Alaska moment where wilderness and daily life blur.

That’s why some people joke that the easiest way to see a black bear is a local dumpster!

2. Brown Bears

Black bears are not uncommon in wild areas of other parts of the US and Canada. Brown bears – called grizzly bears inland – are much, much rarer in the ‘lower 48.’ So this is the bear most travelers come hoping to see — and for good reason. Brown bears are the heavyweight icons of Alaska wildlife and bear spotting.

“Mama Bear”: Coastal brown bears routinely weigh 600 to 1,200 pounds, with some exceptional males pushing beyond that. Standing upright, they can reach 8 to 10 feet tall. A pronounced shoulder hump — pure muscle used for digging and power — is their signature silhouette.

What's for dinner: While technically omnivores, coastal brown bears are protein-driven powerhouses. Salmon is the game-changer. During peak runs (late June through August), they consume staggering amounts — sometimes dozens of fish a day — prioritizing the fattiest parts to bulk up for hibernation. Earlier in the season, they graze on sedge grasses; later, they’ll add berries and carrion to the mix.

Wow: The fishing. Watching a thousand-pound bear stand in a rushing river and pluck a leaping salmon midair is one of North America’s great wildlife spectacles. Cruise excursions to places like Admiralty Island National Monument or Katmai National Park and Preserve deliver top opportunities to experience this natural theater.

3. The Kodiak Bear

Venture a little farther to get a chance to glimpse the only bear found nowhere else in the world except Alaska. Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears isolated for thousands of years in the rich environment of the Kodiak archipelago, where they became super-sized versions of their cousins on the mainland.

“Papa Bear”: Among the largest bears on Earth, Kodiak bears often exceed mainland brown bears. Mature males commonly weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds, with rare individuals approaching 1,600 pounds. Standing height can exceed 10 feet. They are, quite simply, massive.

What's for dinner: Like other coastal brown bears, Kodiaks benefit from a nutrient-rich environment — abundant salmon, lush vegetation, and minimal competition. Their diet mirrors that of mainland coastal bears, but in an ecosystem that has allowed them to grow even larger over time, and breeding among the smaller, isolated population reinforces the gigantic genes.

Wow: Rarity and scale. Found only on the Kodiak Archipelago, they’re not part of most cruise itineraries. But for those on Gulf of Alaska routes, crossings via Kodiak to Asia — or willing to take a fly-out excursion — the reward is seeing one of the planet’s most powerful land mammals in a setting that feels truly remote.

Cruises: Alaska's Wilderness Safaris

What makes Alaska so compelling isn’t just that you can see three types of bears — it’s how naturally those encounters fit into a cruise. Ships provide access to remote coastlines and protected wilderness areas, while guided excursions handle the logistics and safety of getting you into bear habitat responsibly.

Timing matters. Salmon season dramatically improves your odds of seeing brown and Kodiak bears in action. But even outside those peak weeks, Alaska’s sheer abundance of wildlife means that bear sightings — especially black bears — are never out of the question.

What about Polar Bears?

Alaska is technically home to a fourth bear – one that’s on many soft adventure travelers’ bucket lists. But polar bears are truly Arctic bears, far beyond the reaches of Alaska cruises, which focus on the temperate coastal rainforest ecosystems of Alaska hundreds of miles south of polar bear country.

If polar bear sightings are your dream, an Arctic cruise - especially in Canada and Norway – offers some of the best chances to see the world’s largest bear and largest carnivore on Earth!

START YOUR TRIP!

Video and story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.

Other images: Getty

Breaking News: Princess Cruises Building All-New Class of Ships, its Largest-Ever!

Wed, 06 May 26 20:50:18 +0000

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 and Star Princess.)

Here’s how the upcoming Voyager-class of ships stacks up against Princess’ previous classes of ships beginning before this millennium, with Voyager-class representing the next generation in size and technology, but only a slight boost, under 500 additional guests, in staterooms and suites.

Voyager Class (2035+): 183,000 gross tons (GT), 4,700 guests. LNG-powered.
Sphere Class (2024-2025): 177,000 GT, 4,300 guests. Introduced the signature dome feature and massive Piazza design.
Royal Class (2013–2021): ~142,000-145,000 GT, 3,600 guests. This class of ship became known for its SeaWalk and atrium.
Grand Class (1998-2008): ~107,000-113,000 GT, 2,600 guests. At one time, the largest ships in the fleet were considered mid-sized vessels.

According to Princess, the new Voyager-class vessels will integrate the most desired and highest-rated experiences and venues Princess Cruises is known for, with completely re-imagined outer decks, staterooms, and Piazza designs that cater to Princess’ global travelers and worldwide deployments and itineraries. These new ships will build upon the award-winning Sphere Class platform and continue to leverage the latest hospitality and marine technologies.

Many more details have yet to be revealed in advance of the first Voyager-class ship - the cruise line doesn't even have renderings of the vision of the Voyager-class ship!

But fans of Princess Cruises will be watching this space, eager for details as they emerge.

A History of Innovation

In 1965, Princess Cruises began as a single ship sailing to Mexico, and it has grown into a world-renowned cruise line that connects guests to more than 345 destinations across seven continents.

According to the cruise line, Princess was the first to introduce affordable balconies, flexible dining options, and even weddings at sea officiated by the ship's captain. Princess was also the first cruise line to launch Movies Under the Stars — a now-iconic poolside feature — and continues to lead with experiences that surprise and delight in meaningful ways.

It created MedallionClass: a first-of-its-kind experience built around a simple, wearable device called the Medallion. With tools like OceanNow, Manage Booking, and OceanReady, guests enjoy a seamless voyage focused on personalization and convenience.

Its most recent class of ships—the Sphere Class, with sister ships Sun Princess and Star Princess—represents the future of cruising with groundbreaking design and guest experiences.

Today, Princess is part of Carnival Corporation and operates a fleet of 17 ships with a presence in every region of the globe, on all 7 continents.

START YOUR TRIP!

Image: Star Princess, courtesy of Princess Cruises

G Adventures Shines Spotlight on Global Tree Projects on Earth Day

Wed, 06 May 26 20:50:18 +0000

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 reach a milestone of 6 million trees!

The company points out that trees represent immediate and multi-layered climate solutions: one where tree growing does more than restore ecosystems, it helps rebuild livelihoods, strengthen communities, and create long-term resilience for those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Trees provide shade and shelter for people and domestic animals and crops; forests are homes for wildlife biodiversity; their roots prevent erosion from increasingly violent storms; they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen… and so much more.

With this project, each tree is grown with a long-term commitment to reach maturity, with the first trees from the initiative now beginning to mature in 2026, three years after the program launched.

Furthermore, Trees for Days has been built on a new, more enlightened model than previous reforestation initiatives. It works in partnership with communities. Instead of focusing solely on environmental outcomes or carbon offsetting, the initiative is designed to address the interconnected challenges communities face from the climate emergency, from food insecurity and unemployment to biodiversity loss and climate resilience.

By putting local people at the center, supporting women, uplifting Indigenous communities, and creating economic opportunities, tree growing becomes a catalyst for broader change.

G Adventures has provided examples of some of their latest tree initiatives under the program:

Reclaiming the ‘Last Refuge’ of the Higa-onon community in the Philippines

A powerful example of this approach of creating meaningful benefit is in the Philippines, where the Higa-onon Indigenous community is restoring its ancestral forest after decades of environmental decline. Described as their “last refuge,” the rainforest had been severely depleted, and the community, facing extreme poverty, was forced into destructive practices such as illegal logging and mining in order to survive. Tribal elders wanted to protect their sacred forests but had no means to do so.

Today, that story is being rewritten. Trees for Days is supporting the Tribes and Nature Defenders project, which has mobilized over 200 local tribal farmers, 15 youth enthusiasts, and 5 women to physically restore Indigenous lands. Nurseries cultivating thousands of native and coffee trees are helping to restore biodiversity while creating sustainable livelihoods rooted in the protection of the forest itself.

For elders, this project represents a fight for “cultural nature survival," recognizing that the forest and the community cannot exist without one another.

Kenya: Combating the impact of drought and supporting Women-Owned Nurseries

In Kenya, Trees for Days is supporting the farming communities of Embu, who have been battling a persistent drought since 2024. With insufficient or late rains, agricultural productivity and food security are under constant threat.

Trees for Days has partnered with Trees for Kenya to develop agroforestry that directly impacts household health. Over 50,000 seedlings have been distributed to 523 farmers over the past 10 months, bringing the total number of trees grown to over 300,000 since the program's implementation in 2023. The program focuses on fruit trees (mangoes and avocado) and medicinal species, including Moringa Oleifera. Over 20,000 of these seedlings have been sourced from local women-owned nurseries, demonstrating another way tree growing can be a powerful engine in supporting female financial independence.

The impact: For the women running these nurseries, the income from seedling sales is pooled and used to provide loans to group members in need. Bella (aged 64) used her loan to support her household of seven, buying two hens, which now provide her family with fresh eggs and a new micro-income. Julia (aged 58) purchased a goat, which provided fresh milk and drastically improved the nutrition of her family’s daily meals.

Canada: Rebuilding the Ocean's "False Bottom"

When we think of deforestation, we rarely think of the ocean seabed, but the loss of underwater kelp forests in Canada has severely impacted marine biology and the traditional food system of local Indigenous communities. Trees for Days has partnered with Coastal Kelp, which includes the Tsawwassen First Nation, Nuchatlaht Tribe, and Lax Kw'alaams Band, working to restore marine ecosystems through an innovative “seaforestation” approach on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. By installing non-invasive moorings in areas previously unsuitable for kelp growth, they have created a ‘false-bottom’ and a brand new marine habitat, which has driven a staggering ecological bounce-back, with new species of kelp returning and the area being repopulated with scallops, oysters, shrimp, and rockfish.

The impact: 10% of all processed kelp is given back to members as community food products, and 10% of the fertilizer created is donated to community gardens

While planting trees is relatively easy, growing them and ensuring they deliver real, lasting benefits is far more complex. G Adventures and Trees For Days believe their community-driven approach will create the most benefits for people and the planet we love to travel.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images courtesy of G Adventures

8 Reasons Guided Tours Are Perfect for Solo Travellers

Thu, 16 Apr 26 20:39:44 +0000

8 Reasons Solos Travellers Should Consider Guided Tours

Guided tours offer solo travellers a stress-free way to explore the world with built-in safety, companionship, and expert guidance. With Collette, you’ll enjoy expertly crafted itineraries, knowledgeable Tour Manager and local guides, and unique experiences you might miss on your own — all while meeting like-minded travellers.

Still not convinced? Read on to learn why guided travel might be perfect for your next solo adventure.

Why Guided Tours Can Be Perfect for Solo Travellers

Safety and peace of mind come first

Traveling alone can feel daunting, especially in unfamiliar destinations. Guided tours come with safety — professional Tour Managers, vetted accommodations, and secure transportation. You’re never navigating late-night transfers or isolated routes alone, and Collette offers 24/7 Emergency Support in the rare event that your journey hits a snag.

Built-in companionship without pressure

Guided tours attract people who love discovery, which means you’re surrounded by travellers who “get” your enthusiasm, pace, and priorities. Connections happen organically on the road. Some will be quick conversations, while others may become lasting friendships. But you’ll also have space to step back and take in the day quietly should you choose.

Expert guides unlock deeper cultural insight

Collette’s local guides and Tour Managers bring history and culture to life in ways a guidebook can’t. The cobbled streets of an Old Town become a living history museum; a drive through the countryside becomes a lesson in local life. Instead of skimming the surface, you’ll learn the meaning behind local traditions, taste regional specialities with context, and hear anecdotes that only insiders know.

Hassle-free logistics mean more time for you

Planning a major trip on your own can feel like a full-time job — one that doesn’t stop, even once you’re on your journey. A guided tour removes the burden of logistics so you can focus on what matters: enjoying the experience. With transportation, timing, and key experiences already arranged, you get to enjoy the best parts of travel without decision fatigue or last-minute logistical scrambles.

Access off-the-beaten-path experiences

When you travel solo, it’s easy to stick to what’s visible — major landmarks, popular restaurants, and well-trodden paths. But there’s magic to be found in the lesser-known gems.

Picture this: sharing a home-hosted lunch in the Umbrian countryside, where a local family serves traditional recipes passed down for generations, or sitting down in South Korea for a candid conversation with a North Korean defector. Collette’s tours are crafted by destination insiders, giving you access to these kinds of authentic experiences that go beyond the guidebook.

Interested in that home-hosted meal in the Umbrian countryside? Ask your travel advisor about Collette's Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside.

Or, join a conversation with a North Korean defector on their Japan & South Korea: From Tokyo to Seoul tour.

Cost clarity and value

One of the biggest challenges of solo travel is managing unpredictable expenses. Guided tours simplify this by including the essentials. Accommodations, on-tour transportation, many meals, and key experiences are built into Collette’s tour pricing. That means fewer surprises and more control over your budget.

Plus, group rates often unlock savings you can’t get on your own, especially for more premium experiences.

Confidence in unfamiliar destinations

Guided tours make exploring complex or remote regions easier, from language barriers to local customs. Whether navigating Tokyo’s high-speed bullet trains or understanding tipping etiquette in Morocco, your Tour Manager smooths the way. Think of them as your cultural roadmap, empowering you to enjoy the culture without stress.

Freedom to pave your own way

Collette’s guided tours include built-in free time, so you can have the chance to discover a destination however you wish — whether that means on your own or with some newfound friends. Take the long way through a historic neighborhood. Sip your coffee slowly at a café, or wander through a market or museum at your own rhythm.

Plus, optional add-on excursions give you even more ways to pave your own way on tour.

FAQs

Q1: Are guided tours good for first-time solo travellers?

Yes. They provide structure, safety, and social opportunities, making them ideal for first-time solo travellers.

Q2: Do I have to share a room on a guided tour?

Depending on your tour operator, no. Collette offers single-room options for solo travellers.

Q3: How much free time do guided tours allow?

It varies, but most itineraries include some flexible afternoons or evenings for independent exploration.

Q4: Can I join a guided tour if I’m introverted?

Absolutely. You can engage with others as much or as little as you’d like.

Q5: Are guided tours more expensive than traveling solo?

Not necessarily. When you factor in included experiences and group rates, they often offer excellent value.

The Bottom Line for Solo Travellers

Solo travel doesn’t have to mean going it alone — and guided tours offer the perfect balance of independence, connection, and confidence. With expert planning, meaningful cultural experiences, and the freedom to explore at your own pace, Collette makes it easy for solo travellers to see more of the world without the stress. Whether you’re adventuring for the first time or your passport is already well stamped, a guided tour can turn your next solo journey into something truly unforgettable.

Ask your travel advisor about Collette’s expertly planned, expertly led tours.

Turning Family History Into Meaningful Travel

Thu, 16 Apr 26 20:39:44 +0000

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 and beckon you to your ancestors’ distant shores?

Learning: discovering your original identity
Connection: walking where your ancestors lived and left
Closure: if your family didn’t choose their displacement or migration
Curiosity: sparked by DNA surprises or family lore
Legacy: sharing “where we come from” with the next generation

Ancestry Travel Hotspots

Do these destinations call you home? Here are some of the more popular destinations for North Americans to trace their roots.

Ireland and Scotland, the emotional epicenter for those with Celtic roots
Italy (especially Sicily and southern regions) draws diaspora descendants in droves
Germany and Eastern Europe are seeing new interest as archives become more accessible
Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway are booming with ancestral travelers, thanks to strong genealogical records
West Africa — particularly Ghana — has become a powerful destination for many with African heritage, due to its connection to the transatlantic slave trade

How to do Ancestry Travel?

Family heritage travel is genealogy, part emotional archaeology. But how much information do you need to ‘start digging?’

Some travelers arrive armed with binders of family trees and DNA results. Others simply know that “Grandpa was from somewhere near Kraków.”

Ancestry travel gives all the questions new meaning: Who? Where? When? Why? How?

Here are tips to get the most from ancestry travel:

Do the Homework (But be Realistic)

Before you book a ticket, spend time with records — immigration documents, ship manifests, census forms, church registries. Sites like FamilySearch are invaluable, and many towns will respond to polite archive requests.

But remember: villages change. Borders shift. Records disappear.

Go looking for discovery — and be open to whatever you find, or don’t find.

Bring in a Local Expert

If you’re zeroing in on a specific town, hire a local genealogist or guide. They know which municipal office holds the birth records and who still remembers the families who left.

In small places, people — not paperwork — may be your best resource.

Balance Roots With Real Travel

Don’t turn your trip into a full-time research project.

Yes, visit the ancestral village. But also experience the destination. If your roots are in southern Italy, explore Puglia. If they trace to Portugal, spend time in Porto to understand the country's rhythm. Today’s lifestyle is as valuable a lesson in your heritage as your history.

Strike up Conversations

Walk into bakeries. Visit parish offices. Ask about your surname.

Bring documents. Smile. Be curious. And friendly.

A shared name can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Manage Your Expectations

Sometimes you’ll find long-lost cousins. Sometimes you’ll find a locked archive and a shrug.

No matter what you discover, if you travel with an open mind and open heart, you’ll always come away richer than when you left.

START YOUR TRIP!

Image: Getty

5 Spectacular Annual Flower Shows Worth Planning a Trip Around

Thu, 09 Apr 26 20:10:38 +0000

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 — Netherlands

Keukenhof’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 eight-week season each March and April.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Our Tulip Time River Cruise on the Emerald Sky in the Netherlands

It’s also known for its indoor pavilions, where Dutch growers stage rotating displays of orchids, lilies, and cut flowers at exhibition quality—essentially a showcase of the country’s global flower industry. Add the classic windmill overlooking surrounding tulip fields, and you get both the postcard and the production line behind it.

Why go: The world’s largest spring flower garden, paired with a living showroom of Dutch floriculture.

2. Chelsea Flower Show — London, UK

The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show is a highlight of Britain’s royal, society, and gardening calendar. Only 5 days long, usually in the third week of May, it draws the who’s who of the Royal Family, celebrities, and flower lovers from around the world.

Defined by its Show Gardens—full-scale, meticulously judged landscapes installed from scratch and dismantled days later, the Chelsea Flower Show is horticultural theater – and big business. Winning “Best in Show” can launch a designer globally. Inside the Great Pavilion, growers compete for medals with near-perfect specimens, and the “Plant of the Year” regularly introduces varieties that go on to dominate garden centres worldwide.

Simultaneously, Chelsea in Bloom transforms the streets of London’s Chelsea—especially Sloane Square and King’s Road—into a free, whimsical open-air floral art trail created by local boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.

Why go: To see the exact gardens, plants, and ideas that will shape how the world gardens next.

3. Floriade Canberra — Canberra, Australia

Spring Down Under is in September and October, and that’s when Aussie gardens shine. Floriade is known for its mass plantings arranged in bold, almost graphic patterns—entire beds of tulips and annuals laid out like landscape-scale design pieces around Lake Burley Griffin.

Each year follows a theme, and the planting schemes are executed with striking precision, more akin to outdoor installation art than traditional bedding displays. Its signature NightFest adds a second layer, with light projections and illuminated sculptures transforming the gardens after dark.

Why go: Monumental tulip displays by day—and a fully reimagined, light-driven experience at night.

4. Chiang Mai Flower Festival — Chiang Mai, Thailand

This northern Thailand festival, held for three short days in early February, is best known for its elaborate flower-float parade, where entire scenes—temples, animals, mythological figures—are constructed from orchids, marigolds, and chrysanthemums.

Chiang Mai is also a centre of orchid cultivation, and the displays highlight rare varieties alongside fields of locally grown damask roses used in regional perfumes and oils. Much of the action centres on Suan Buak Haad Park, where competitive displays and precision planting showcase the region’s horticultural expertise.

Why go: Intricately constructed floral floats and a rare window into Thailand’s orchid and rose-growing traditions.

5. Genzano Infiorata — Genzano, Italy

Genzano’s Infiorata, held over a weekend in mid-June, is defined by precision petal mosaics. Artists use thousands of hand-placed petals—sorted by colour and texture—to create highly detailed images that resemble paintings more than floral displays. The carpets run down a steep street in the historic centre, creating a dramatic, gallery-like perspective.

By Sunday afternoon, a traditional procession deliberately walks across the designs, dismantling them in minutes and highlighting the ephemeral nature of flowers and the natural world.

Why go: Hyper-detailed floral “paintings” you can walk through—before they’re intentionally erased.

START YOUR TRIP!

Video and Story: Lynn Elmhirst, Cruise/ Travel Journalist and Expert

Images: Getty

Two New Ships, Two Ways to Cruise: There Really is a Cruise Out There for Everyone

Thu, 09 Apr 26 20:10:38 +0000

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 Kaia and the Rise of Yacht-Style Cruising

At one end, yacht-style cruising is booming! Fewer guests, more space, and a strong connection to the destination. The new Emerald Kaia is home to just 128 guests, a scale that feels closer to a private club than a cruise ship.

What that size delivers is not just intimacy, but a different rhythm of travel in the warm-water destinations she’s designed to sail. Days unfold at a slower, more immersive pace.

Whether you sail the Emerald Kaia on the Adriatic coast between Venice and Dubrovnik or island-hopping through the Seychelles, the ship’s design leans into that philosophy: expansive outdoor decks, seamless indoor-outdoor living, and suites filled with natural light.

The latest Emerald Cruises yacht includes a reimagined observation deck, larger suites, and more flexible interconnecting accommodations for groups. The onboard experience leans further into immersive, contemporary luxury: more varied dining venues, stronger indoor-outdoor flow, and a purpose-built wellness deck that integrates spa, fitness, and relaxation into a single, cohesive experience that opens onto the sea.

Relaxing at Sea: Dining and Design Re-imagined aboard Emerald Kaia

It’s easy yachting luxury rather than traditional cruising formality. Dining is designed to feel interactive and varied—an open kitchen concept that brings guests closer to the culinary process, relaxed Mediterranean-style poolside dining, and small-scale, highly curated private dining inspired by regional cuisines.

Wellness, too, is no longer a side offering but a central pillar. The dedicated wellness deck integrates spa treatments, salt therapy, cold plunges, and fitness spaces in a way that feels holistic.

Even the accommodations reflect changing travel habits. The introduction of interconnecting suites speaks to a growing segment of travelers who want to share experiences—families or groups of friends—without sacrificing privacy.

Norwegian Luna, A Ship That’s Its Own Destination

At the other end of the spectrum: a ship designed to deliver around-the-clock variety, energy, and choice on a much larger scale.

The new Norwegian Luna brings more than 3,500 guests together in a floating playground of options. But unlike older-generation mega-ships that could feel overwhelming, the modern approach is about letting guests shape their own experience—whether that means adrenaline, entertainment, or quiet escape.

With Norwegian Luna, what’s new isn’t just the hardware—it’s the way a large ship is organized around choice and personalization. The ship introduces next-level attractions like a hybrid rollercoaster-style waterslide, immersive game zones, and outdoor activity spaces designed for all ages, alongside more segmented experiences that let different travelers coexist without overlap.

There’s a clear evolution toward multi-generational travel, with purpose-built zones for families, teens, and adults—including elevated “ship-within-a-ship” suites in the Haven for those seeking privacy. Add in a broader range of dining and entertainment, and the innovation here is about flexibility: a large ship that doesn’t feel one-size-fits-all, but instead lets guests design their own version of the cruise experience.

The Ultimate Vehicle for Multi-generational Travel

For active travelers and families, the appeal is immediate. Attractions blur the line between cruise ship and theme park, while expansive outdoor spaces offer room to move and play.

Alongside the high-energy attractions are adult-only entertainment venues, private retreat areas, and a “ship-within-a-ship” suite complex that offers a more exclusive, insulated experience for those who want it.

Dining follows the same logic of abundance and choice, with a wide range of global cuisines and multiple venues that allow guests to curate their own culinary journey rather than follow a fixed schedule.

Beyond the Ship: The Rise of Curated Destinations

And then there’s the destination. The Norwegian Luna is focused on Caribbean itineraries out of Miami and New York, anchored by private island experiences—Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize, Norwegian’s private beach resort. Complete with beach clubs, waterparks, and curated shore amenities, these exclusive spaces are designed to extend the Luna’s lifestyle ashore.

The Big Takeaway: A Cruise Style for Every Traveler

So what ties these two very different ships together? Choice.

Options for experienced cruise travelers to try something new – and a way for new-to-cruise travelers to find the voyage that’s exactly right for you.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Emerald Cruises/ Scenic Group and Norwegian Cruise Line

River to Ocean Onboard a Single Ship: Windstar’s New Way to Cruise

Thu, 09 Apr 26 20:10:38 +0000

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 are too small for larger ocean ships and reach coastal destinations that traditional river vessels can’t access.

Even if you’ve already sailed aboard the world’s iconic rivers, this new way of cruising offers the next frontier. Think cultural connections, the opportunity to immerse yourself in less-traveled ports, and authentic maritime exploration.

Where Does Star Explorer Sail on Her River-to-Ocean Voyages?

Star Explorer’s 2027 itineraries showcase exactly what makes this concept so appealing: sailings that bring guests into city centers by river, then continue on to coastlines, islands, and unexpected ports beyond.

Impressionist France (10 nights) – Ideal for Seine veterans ready to go further, this trip from Bordeaux to London / HMS Belfast pairs the Seine and the Thames with overnights in Bordeaux, St. Malo, and Paris/Rouen, plus access to the D-Day beaches.
Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal (8 nights) – Perfect for travelers who have sailed the Rhône and are ready to expand their wine-focused journeys, this voyage extends from France into Spain and Portugal, pairing Bordeaux’s Garonne and Gironde rivers with culinary discoveries along the Spanish coast and time in Portugal’s Douro region.
Moroccan Markets & Iberian Icons (8 nights) –Journey into Seville via the Guadalquivir, continuing on to a broader mix of Iberian and Moroccan destinations.
Ireland Circumnavigation (10 nights) – Craving wild and dramatic landscapes? This sailing includes a call at Cork City Quay on the River Lee, then continues along Ireland’s rugged coastline of cliffs and castles.

Other River-Meets-Ocean Inspired Windstar Cruises

Beyond Star Explorer, Windstar offers travelers more ways to experience small-ship cruising across Europe and beyond.
French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine – A natural extension for Seine cruisers, this culinary-focused itinerary blends Bordeaux and Rouen/Paris with nearby coastal regions.
British Isles Medley This sailing from Paris/Rouen to Leith includes small-ship-only ports like Swansea and Fort William.
Quick Getaways: St. Malo Getaway A natural add-on for Thames and Seine cruisers, this round-trip from London / HMS Belfast includes visits to St. Malo and Brittany.
Quick Getaways: Belgium: A Sweet Getaway River cruisers seeking a shorter escape will love this 3-day trip that combines London and Antwerp via the Scheldt, offering Belgian charm, historic streets, and culinary pleasures.
Ancient Wonders of Vietnam & Angkor Wat Ideal for Mekong cruisers interested in a new Southeast Asia option, this journey sails through Halong Bay and along the Saigon River into Ho Chi Minh City, then continues to Bangkok via the Chao Phraya River, with inland stops like Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh.

Growing Windstar Fleet

Star Explorer will be the 8^th yacht-sized ship in the Windstar fleet. Over four decades, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of four Star Class all-suite vessels and three Wind Class sailing yachts, accommodating 150-350 guests. In addition to the arrival of Star Explorer, Windstar’s legendary Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a two-phase redesign to be completed by 2027.

START YOUR TRIP!

Image courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Discovering the Future of Wellness Travel in Sweden

Thu, 26 Mar 26 22:10:16 +0000

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 for its thousands-year-old sauna culture, is an inspiration for wellness lifestyle – and a beacon for wellness travelers… and now this:

The “Swedish Prescription”

In a wellness ‘first,’ Sweden has become the first country where patients can download a medical referral form to take to their physician for wellness travel to the country!

The Swedish Prescription isn’t a marketing gimmick. The program is rooted in deeply-held Swedish beliefs and practices, like

‘fika:’ social rituals of connecting with loved ones;
‘lagom,’ or achieving balance, moderation, and sustainability in your way of life;
love of getting outdoors, no matter what the weather, and of course,
sauna and thermal hot/cold practices,

all of which combine to create meaningful and scientifically supported health benefits.

Hagastrand and Hotel J: Beyond the Spa Hotel

All that said, why would anyone go to Sweden in the winter, far enough north that the sun rises after 8 am and sets mid-afternoon?

I went to spend a week immersed in the wellness experiences at 2 of Stockholm's Nobis Hospitality Group hotels: Hagastrand and Hotel J.

The company has set a new gold standard for wellness travel, following a three-year renovation program, masterminded by Alla Sokolova, its Head of Wellness.

“I think every human being has an innate wish to be in their best form,” she explained to me. Her vision for the wellness program at the hotels is for a stay there to be part of a “never-ending learning journey” to help create winning conditions for guests to achieve their maximum performance, their best selves.

HAGASTRAND SPA AND HOTEL

When it re-opened in Fall, 2025 as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Hagastrand Spa and Hotel was already billing itself as a “new social wellness destination” in Sweden’s capital. A post-modern building attached to a historic military barracks in the quiet, seaside location of Stockholm’s Royal Park, Hagastrand re-launched with a 27,000 square foot, cutting-edge wellness center with some practices that are the first of their kind.

If you’re imagining a clinical, white-jacketed, James Bond-style European health retreat, think again. Instead, Hagastrand offers warmth, along with a masterful and welcoming blend of ancient practices and advanced therapies, including modern technologies that deliver wellness experiences to guests in one-of-a-kind ways, all under one roof.

There’s also a focus on music, “a universal language” that “everyone can relate to,” Alla adds.

“Tuning our bodies and our minds,” as she puts it.

Hagastrand’s facilities incorporate both traditional Nordic and international wellness practices, as well as sensory design and the newer concept of ‘biohacking.’

Along with treatment rooms and private suites you expect to find in a spa or wellness center, Hagastrand’s includes:

Underwater therapeutic music in its 18-meter indoor pool;
A Thermal center, with multiple saunas, including herbal and hammam, and also:
- Sweden’s first "Event Sauna," one of the few in the world, for up to 60 guests. As an ‘event,’ one of Hagastrand’s trained sauna masters invites guests in the wellness center to join them in a paced series of rituals where the sauna master employs herbs, music, infused ice, and spoken word to lead guests through a wellness journey that changes every time.
- Scandinavia's largest snow room for cryotherapy
Experience showers, red light therapy, and neuro-acoustic massage loungers.
Gongs, handmade in Italy, including a giant (as tall as a person) gong at the end of the pool played by hand by sauna masters, and
- in the ‘Gongmatic’ room (pictured, top), a ‘self-playing’ gong – also the first in the Nordic countries – which plays in timed performances as guests lie on warm ceramic lounge beds. The audio art installation immerses guests in vibrations and invites them to embark on a meditative journey.
Cardi suit – like a giant diving dry suit with hands and feet, except that a therapist fills this suit with carbon dioxide. The therapy increases blood flow to the cells, resulting in improved oxygen delivery, performance, and rest. Cardi suits are already used extensively by high-performance athletes, but are rarely available to the wellness-seeking public – including me!

The state-of-the-art wellness experiences flow harmoniously with the new versions of familiar practices and are woven seamlessly into a hotel stay that includes warmly Nordic accommodations, stylish bars, and a fine dining restaurant (no restricted, seaweed smoothie diet here unless you wish!) that even drew a member of the Swedish Royal Family while we were dining one evening.

HOTEL J

Sister property Hotel J draws inspiration from its location on the Stockholm archipelago in a Newport, Rhode Island-type neighborhood of illustrious and historic seaside homes.

The nautical and natural themes run deep, from stunning water views and terraces overlooking the sea, extensive gardens that are not just visual but also harvested for wellness herbs and botanicals, and, of course, its wellness offering.

Hotel J’s Sauna by the Sea is a ritual all the more memorable for its location in the Panorama Sauna perched on rocks rising from the waves. The sauna itself is on the second story, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing the perfect vantage point over the sea to become part of your herbal-infused sauna ritual. And a cold plunge into a wintery sea is just steps out the door to conclude your authentic Swedish sauna!

But we also got off property, accompanied by ‘nature therapist’ Lisen Sundgren, who took us on a Swedish interpretation of that famous Japanese wellness practice, ‘forest bathing.’ During a walk in a nature reserve next door in the twilight, where dimming sight helped sharpen our other senses as we were guided to literally feel, hear, and smell the woods. We ended up on a rocky lookout over the sea and the lights of Stockholm on the opposite side of the archipelago, sipping her homemade Swedish rosehip soup and communing by the mystical twinkles of lamp light.

SANCTUM

From the primal forest… to a wellness rave!

In another ‘first,’ Hagastrand and Hotel J’s parent company has introduced ‘Sanctum’ to the Nordics as part of its wellness experience offering. We were invited to the launch party at the Nobis Hospitality Group’s event space at the Stockholm Opera House.

Sanctum hosts these ‘wellness raves’ around the world for a growing community drawn to the euphoric release of its hour-long, high-intensity, music-led 55-minute sessions that combine HIIT, Kundalini yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Ours in Stockholm was candle-lit in the awe-inspiring historic surroundings… in complete silence, with sound healing, music, and guidance delivered through headphones.

***

Embracing the widest interpretations of wellness lived through ancient traditions, Nature, technology, art, and the most welcoming Scandinavian culture and lifestyle… these Swedish hotels are setting the stage for a new global approach to wellness travel.

The Nobis Hospitality Group’s founder gives all the credit for the hotels’ pioneering wellness journeys to Head of Wellness Alla Sokolova – a risk, but a calculated one, with a simple foundation of beauty and hospitality.

“Everybody today is talking about longevity and all these things, and sometimes it's too much,” Alessandro Catenacci, owner and CEO of the family-owned Nobis Hospitality Group, told me.

“I hate the word ‘trend.’”

He acknowledges that the groundbreaking wellness offerings of the two hotels are “a new thing for us,” but “things are not so complicated usually if you do it in the right way.” He points out that wellness practices are a natural way of life for Swedes.

“We are a sauna family.

“And this is very important because you, you can't go on doing things if you don't like that. I love it, really.”

Hagastrand and Hotel J may be on the leading edge. But advanced wellness experiences for travel are no longer a novel trend.

As more travelers intentionally incorporate their wellness practices from home into their travels to new destinations, and expand their wellness horizons while traveling, wellness hospitality will take the lead from Hagastrand and Hotel J in helping us discover the destinations’ best experiences to hone our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images and story by: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Celebrity River Cruises Reveals Experiential Approach to Shore Excursions

Thu, 26 Mar 26 22:10:16 +0000

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 one-of-a-kind, bespoke experiences.

The shore excursions are available across all 2027 and 2028 Celebrity River Cruises itineraries, and pre- and post-cruise stays in Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam.

Storyteller Series: Included locally led experiences that go beyond what guidebooks can capture

Celebrity River Cruises' Storyteller Series offers experiences guided by residents, artists, and cultural insiders who call each destination home. Guests can choose from multiple included experiences at each port, each balancing iconic landmarks with hosts’ personal favorites and hidden stories only locals know. Here are a couple of examples:

Amsterdam

A canal captain will share Amsterdam's centuries-long relationship with water, showing guests an unseen side of the city’s iconic waterways. Guests will cruise hidden passages, through the eyes of someone with deep family ties to the region, as they admire the city’s oldest building, Oude Kerk, board a legendary Dutch trading ship, and learn about modern canal engineering.

Prague

Guests who enjoy discovering a city through food and drink will be led through the city’s rich brewing traditions by a local brewer. From the brewer’s unique perspective, guests will explore historic breweries like the bustling U Vejvodu Tavern, as well as beer-infused artisanal shops. Taking a journey that blends history and hospitality into every pour, the brewer will show guests how centuries-old recipes shaped the city’s culture of connection and celebration.

Skillmaster Series: Included, hands-on experiences invite guests to actively participate in local culture

Guests craft, cook, and create alongside the artisans and makers who shape each destination's cultural identity in shore excursions like these:

Budapest

A local Mamika (grandmother) will lead aspiring culinarians through generations-old Hungarian recipes from her own home kitchen. After selecting ingredients at the local Central Market Hall, guests will uncover dishes that bring Budapest’s soul to the table through Mamika’s treasured family recipes and cooking secrets.

Amsterdam

A local artist leads a painting class that immerses guests in Van Gogh's imagination. After exploring the famed painter’s works at the iconic Van Gogh Museum, guests will discover the settings that influenced some of his greatest pieces while learning some of the techniques he used to turn emotion into color and movement into meaning.

Keys to the City Series: Included independent digital discovery tools with complimentary behind-the-scenes access and stationed local hosts

Through an innovative digital platform, guests access curated route maps tailored to specific interests such as art, history, food, and architecture.

Interactive maps, audio guides, and video content lead guests off the beaten tourist path to interest-led locations, where stationed local hosts provide behind-the-scenes access and exclusive experiences at working studios and craft sites, creating moments of surprise and delight. For example:

Bratislava

Architecture enthusiasts will follow their curiosity to St. Martin’s Cathedral, hearing from a local historian who brings its coronation past to life, before hiking to Bratislava Castle to see how the fortress has watched centuries of change, then pausing beneath the modern span of the UFO Bridge with an architect who explains its bold vision.

Uncover the city’s authentic Slovak flavors from raising a glass in a traditional Slovak pub while a generational brewer pours his stories into every craft drop, to tasting delicate sweets in a family-run pastry shop where the baker shares recipes passed down through decades. Guests will curate their adventure, shaping their own path to uncover the stories of cities exactly as they choose.

Celebrity Takeover Series: Included one-of-a-kind experiences for bucket list memories

Once per sailing, these exclusive, bespoke experiences transform must-see European attractions and unassuming plazas into elevated private events available only to Celebrity River Cruises guests. Celebrity says these are “indulgent bucket-list experiences” designed to be the defining memory of your river cruise

Pre- and Post-Cruise Stays the Celebrity Way

Celebrity River Cruises guests can extend their journey with multi-day pre- and post-cruise stays that carry the same locally-led, small-group discovery philosophy as every sailing.

Available in Prague and Budapest beginning in 2027, and also Amsterdam in 2028, each stay includes daily small-group tours with local hosts, premium hotel accommodations, dedicated concierge service for dining reservations and private experiences, daily breakfast, and airport transfers.

The result is a seamless, end-to-end journey from arrival to departure with no gap between the onboard Celebrity River Cruises experience and the destination discovery that defines it.

Bookings for 2027 and 2028 pre- and post-cruise stays in Summer 2026 open, and all other destination experiences will open for booking in 2027. Celebrity River Cruises sailings are on sale now.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Celebrity River Cruises

The April Fools of Travel Destinations

Thu, 26 Mar 26 22:10:16 +0000

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 side of the world from where they expected to be. There are cities, countries, and regions that regularly get confused.

Admit it: even an intelligent and savvy traveler like you gets some of these destinations mixed up!

So what better time than April Fools to run through the hit parade of trickster travel destinations?

Australia or Austria?

Australia and Austria are as different as two countries can be. And in different hemispheres!

Australia is a young, vast, sun-drenched country defined by distance—beaches, reef systems, and cities like Sydney that feel plugged into the Pacific. It’s long-haul, laid-back, and larger-than-life.

Old World Austria is compact, landlocked, and classically European—Alpine peaks, imperial history, and cultural heavyweights like Vienna and Salzburg.

Yet their confusion is so persistent that Austria’s tourism board leaned into it with the now-famous line: “No Kangaroos in Austria!”

Sweden or Switzerland?

This is possibly the most politely awkward confusion in global travel.

So common, in fact, that Visit Sweden launched an entire campaign to address it—complete with a straight-faced “negotiation” video proposing a formal division of national identities.

The messaging is brilliantly deadpan:

Switzerland has banks; Sweden has sandbanks

Switzerland has yodelling; Sweden has a silent nature

The Swiss keep the watches; the Swedes offer the luxury of forgetting about time

It’s funny because it’s true. The confusion shows up in headlines, speeches, and travel plans more often than any half-experienced traveler would like to admit.

Grenada or Granada?

“Tomayto”, “Tomahto.” Grenayda, Granahda. Two destinations thousands of miles apart, and cultural worlds apart.

Grenada is a Caribbean island nation where there’s nutmeg in the air, rainforest spilling into the sea, and long, languid afternoons on Grand Anse. It’s called the “Spice Island” for a reason.

Granada, on the other hand, is a city in Spain: Moorish palaces, tapas culture, and the architectural marvel of the Alhambra rising above the city like a mirage.

One is barefoot, the other is baroque.

Dominica or Dominican Republic?

This is less a mix-up and more a recurring travel identity crisis. They’re both countries, and both in the Caribbean. But that’s where the similarity ends.

Dominica (dom-in-EE-ka) is volcanic, rainforest-thick, and defiantly underdeveloped. You go here to hike, to soak in hot springs, to earn your cocktail off the beaten track. You have to work a little harder to vacation in Dominica. You won’t find direct flights from North America. Instead, you connect on Island Hopper Airlines through regional hubs like Barbados, San Juan, and St. Lucia.

The Dominican Republic is a hub. It’s one of the Caribbean’s largest countries and most popular beach resort destinations —built for sun-seeking travelers, with resort areas like Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, and a rich colonial history in Santo Domingo. All-inclusive resorts line the country’s beaches, and airlines and packaged tour operators serve the country well.

Slovakia or Slovenia?

Here’s a quick test: can you place these two Central European countries on a map?

Slovakia and Slovenia don’t just sound similar—they both fly under the radar of popular European travel destinations, so they’ve gotten used to handling the non-stop cases of mistaken identity.

Embassies have long reported receiving each other’s diplomatic pouches. Invitations to official events have arrived in the wrong capital. Trade documents, cultural exchanges, even the occasional VIP correspondence—misaddressed, misrouted, and then, very politely, forwarded along. The postal services of the two countries meet regularly to exchange misaddressed mail!

Meanwhile, the destinations themselves couldn’t be more distinct. Slovakia leans into its Danube River culture, castles, and Carpathian drama; Slovenia into alpine lakes and storybook perfection—hello, Lake Bled.

Baltics or Balkans?

This one is a classic travel-writer slip—and a reminder that “similar-sounding” regions are not all created equal.

The Baltics are the three countries on northeastern Europe’s Baltic Sea coast: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They share a common history shaped by Northern and Eastern Europe and are today known for compact capitals, medieval old towns, and a blend of Nordic and Eastern European influences. Cool, composed, and increasingly design-forward. Think Tallinn’s medieval perfection, Riga’s Art Nouveau swagger.

The Balkans refer to a broader region in southeastern Europe that includes countries such as Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The region is culturally diverse, shaped by Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian histories, and ranges from Adriatic coastlines to inland mountains. Sunshine and history weave through a tangle of cultures that stretch across southeastern Europe, from Adriatic coastlines to inland capitals shaped by empires.

Same opening syllable. Entirely different narratives.

The Moral of the Story

It always happens to someone else you can laugh at - until it’s you landing in the wrong country. Even the most seasoned travelers can be tripped up by a familiar-sounding place and a hastily confirmed booking.

Work with an expert travel advisor, and always double-check your travel documents.

Happy April Fool’s Day… and

START YOUR TRIP (TO THE RIGHT DESTINATION!)

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Images: Getty

Why is it Called ‘Easter’ Island?

Thu, 26 Mar 26 22:10:16 +0000

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 miracle itself. The closest inhabited island is 1300 miles away (Pitcairn Island with only 50 people), and the nearest continental point is Chile, over 2000 miles away. Local tales say a 2-canoe Polynesian expedition around AD 700 was the start of Rapa Nui's extraordinary story.

Today, Easter Island is on the map as one of the corners of the millions of square miles of the Pacific Ocean known as Polynesia – the other corners for easy reference are Hawai’I and New Zealand. And it’s on the map of global travelers who want to come face to face with the island's nearly 1000 moai at its UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monuments to the Past

These stately, solemn statues were carved during a 500-year period in the island's history, beginning a thousand years ago. The moai share artistic characteristics with Polynesian carvings, confirming the origin tale of the Rapa Nui people. Chiseled with only stone tools out of volcanic rock in the 'quarry' of an extinct volcano, each statue took a team of half a dozen artisans about a year to complete. The largest is over 30 feet long and weighs 90 tons. They were an incredible feat of creativity, production, and organization.

You probably think of them as 'Easter Island heads'. But the moai actually have torsos, and some even have complete lower bodies; they were just buried up to their necks over the centuries by shifting sands.

These monumental statues represented deceased ancestors. And only about a quarter were originally installed; others were left in the quarry or remained en route to their intended locations. All but 7 faced inland, the spirits of the deceased 'watching over' the living and their lands. The 7 facing the sea stood as wayfinders for seafarers.

Many moai were toppled after the mysterious collapse of the Rapa Nui society in the 19th century. In recent decades, local and international efforts have restored and re-mounted a number of moai. This dot on a map in Chilean Polynesia still seems as awe-inspiring and as full of hidden secrets as when explorers first arrived.

Timing is Everything

Which brings us to: Why is it called Easter Island? The Dutch explorer who was the island's first-recorded European visitor arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722 – he came upon it while searching for another island. (He must have been pretty lost!) So 'Easter Island' it was dubbed, and its current official Spanish name in Chile is still Isla de Pascua, while its Polynesian name is Rapa Nui, in the local language: the 'naval of the world'.

There's more to Rapa Nui than the silent witness of the moai to the island's past. Visitors experience the local version of Polynesian culture, explore pink-sand beaches, caverns, and dive sites, cycle, hike, or ride horses across prairies and volcanic hillsides, and even surf on those waves so distant from other shores.

How to get there? You can fly from both Chile and Tahiti, participate in tour packages offered by expedition and exotic travel experts, arrive by small or expedition cruise ship, or by private yacht.

There may be nowhere else in the world where a traveler can feel the greatness of human achievement and small in the face of a culture so far across the waves.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert.

Images: Getty

Places Outside of Dublin to Get to Know Ireland – and the Irish

Thu, 19 Mar 26 14:24:43 +0000

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 Isle on St. Patrick’s Day and throughout the year.

Many people fly into Dublin, have a grand time, and leave.

But to really get a feel for the country – and the people you may have an ancestral connection with – you need to get out of the capital – and into the countryside.

Of course, if you know the county where you may have family roots, you’ll want to start there.

And here are 5 more of the best places and experiences beyond Dublin to connect with the Irish people. So you can get a real sense, like I did when I first set foot in the Irish countryside, that “These people are my people.”

County Clare: Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher may draw you west, but it’s the village of Doolin that keeps you there.

After standing at the cliff’s edge, Atlantic wind in your hair, step into a low-ceilinged pub where the music begins almost casually — a fiddle tuning, a bodhrán tapped into rhythm. No stage. No spotlight. Just musicians playing because that’s what you do on a Tuesday night in County Clare.

Locals will ask where you’re from. Someone’s cousin likely lives there. By the end of the evening, you’re clapping along, perhaps attempting a chorus you don’t quite know.

Meet the people: Some tours connect you with a local farmer-guide in the nearby Burren who explains how his family has worked this limestone land for generations. The geology – and the family stories - are fascinating.

County Galway: Galway & Connemara

Galway feels like Ireland’s creative pulse. Buskers line the cobbled streets, poets argue amiably over pints, and Irish (Gaeilge) floats through the air as naturally as a sea breeze.

Head into Connemara National Park and you’ll find a different rhythm — sheep farmers leaning on gates, artisans weaving wool, guides who can trace their lineage back through the valleys.

At Kylemore Abbey, Benedictine nuns still maintain the Victorian walled gardens. The abbey’s romantic silhouette may be what you photograph, but it’s the quiet devotion of those who care for it that lingers.

Meet the people: On a food tour in Galway led by a local who introduces you not just to oysters and farmhouse cheeses, you’ll meet the producers themselves — people whose pride in place is as rich as the flavors.

County Kerry: Killarney & the Ring of Kerry

County Kerry’s scenery is showstopping — lakes and mountains in Killarney National Park, Atlantic views along the Ring of Kerry — but Kerry people have a reputation for storytelling that rivals the views.

Take a jaunting car ride through the park, and your driver won’t simply point out landmarks; he’ll recount legends, local scandals, and family lore with theatrical timing.

Tour Muckross House with a guide who makes 19th-century aristocratic life feel immediate and human rather than distant and grand.

Meet the people: Stop in a rural pub off the main Ring route. The best conversations often happen where there’s no Wi-Fi and no rush.

County Tipperary: Cashel & Ireland’s Ancient East

The Rock of Cashel rises dramatically above County Tipperary, but it comes alive through the voices that interpret it.

Irish guides have a gift: history becomes theatre. St. Patrick, high kings, Viking raids — they’re delivered with humour and a twinkle that keeps things human.

Wander down to Hore Abbey, where you may find sheep grazing among the ruins and perhaps a local photographer happy to share the best angle for your shot.

Meet the people: On a private heritage walk with a local historian, you don’t just see ruins — you meet the descendants of those who built their stories around them.

County Antrim and County Down: Belfast & the Causeway Coast

In Northern Ireland, landscapes are dramatic, but conversations can be even more so.

At Titanic Belfast in Belfast, you’ll meet guides proud of their shipbuilding heritage — honest about history, resilient about the future.

Along the coast, at the Giant's Causeway, local storytellers still recount the legend of Finn McCool as if it might be true. At the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, you’ll likely find yourself laughing nervously alongside strangers as the bridge sways.

Meet the people: Take a black cab tour in Belfast with a driver who shares personal perspectives on the city’s recent history — complex, candid, and deeply human.

Ireland’s landscapes are spectacular. But it’s the Irish people — their renowned easy humour, gift for storytelling, the sense that you’re not quite a stranger — that turns a trip into something lasting.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Images: Ireland.com

Astonishing Facts About China's Terracotta Warriors

Thu, 19 Mar 26 14:24:43 +0000

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 at recognizable fellow people – not mythological gods or legendary beasts - eye to eye. With a quick change of clothes, he could be the guy sitting beside you on the plane!

In 1974, farmers digging a well accidentally uncovered the location of a vast clay army guarding the underground tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

Today, the site, known as the Terracotta Army, is among the most astonishing historical attractions in the world. Millions of travelers explore the enormous excavation halls each year, contemplating the silent ranks of soldiers who have been standing guard since before 200 BCE.

Think about it. They’ve been here for over 2200 years! That means they are:

about the same age as the pyramids of Giza in Egypt,
more than two centuries older than the Colosseum in Rome,
nearly 1,700 years older than Machu Picchu in Peru, and
had been standing at attention for a millennium before Mexico’s Chichen Itza was built.

And that’s not even the most extraordinary fact about the largest burial site on earth!

Every Warrior Has a Different Face

Look closely, and you’ll realize: no two warriors look exactly alike. Rather than a burial installation, it feels like a busy airport or stadium lineup!

Astonishingly, ancient craftsmen achieved this incredible individuality using a modular system of sculpted features—ears, noses, brows, moustaches, and hairstyles—that could be combined in different ways to create unique faces. (Like an early Mr. Potato Head!) Some warriors look youthful, and others, much more weathered; some are clean-shaven, others wear thick beards; some have stern, and others rather friendly expressions.

The result feels uncannily lifelike.

The Warriors Are Surprisingly Tall

Many statues stand between 5'9" and 6'5" (175–195 cm) tall—considerably taller than the average height of people during the Qin dynasty, but very familiar to us today.

They Were Originally Fully Armed

But they didn’t really feel like ordinary people – instead, robust and fierce warriors. Excavations uncovered thousands of genuine bronze weapons among the soldiers—swords, lances, crossbows, arrowheads, and spear tips. Many remain astonishingly sharp even after more than 2,000 years underground.

Some blades had a chromium-rich coating that protected them from corrosion, with technological sophistication centuries ahead of its time.

In other words, the emperor’s afterlife army wasn’t ceremonial – it was battle-ready.

The Army Once Blazed With Color

The statues we see today appear in shades of clay, but originally, they were brilliantly pigmented in reds, greens, purples, blues, and flesh tones, then coated in lacquer.

Unfortunately, exposure to air after excavation almost immediately caused the lacquer to crack and flake. Within minutes, many figures lost the vivid hues they had worn for two millennia.

Today, archaeologists use advanced preservation techniques to stabilize pigment on newly uncovered warriors.

They’re One Part of a Vast Underground World That Has Yet to be Fully Revealed

So far, more than 8,000 warriors, along with hundreds of horses and chariots, have been identified. But the Terracotta Warriors represent just a single section of an immense burial complex.

The mausoleum stretches roughly 56 square kilometers – 22 square miles or 14,000 acres! Archaeologists believe it includes palaces, government offices, stables, acrobats, musicians, and entire landscapes recreated underground.

Remarkably, the central tomb itself has never been opened.

And large sections of the complex remain untouched as scientists wait for better conservation methods before opening additional pits.

Which means the Terracotta Army is still revealing its secrets.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Images: Getty

100 Years After Monet: Giverny Exhibit Celebrates Impressionism’s Origins

Thu, 19 Mar 26 14:24:43 +0000

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 that have come to define him and Impressionism, and also feature on the walls of many a girl’s college dorm room!

Claude Monet (1840-1926) Self-portrait in a beret, 1886
Private collection
© All rights reserved/ Roy Fox Fine Art Photography

Through dozens of paintings from other collections gathered together in their place of origin for the event, the exhibit traces the journey of the struggling artist as he found his footing – and fresh artistic inspiration - in his new home in Normandy. You can see Impressionism take shape through works painted not in studios but outdoors in the sunshine, which experiment with light, color, and the perception of landscape. This was when Monet was developing the groundwork for Impressionism – even as he laid the groundwork for his cherished gardens that became the basis of masterpieces we remember him by today.

Claude Monet (1840-1926) The Seine near Giverny, 1885

Paris, Musée Marmottan Monet, legs de Michel Monet, 1966, inv. 5175

© Musée Marmottan Monet / Studio Christian Baraja SLB

Claude Monet (1840-1926) Haystacks at Giverny, the Setting Sun 1888-1889

Saitama, The Museum of Modern Art, inv. 0-0023

© Saitama, The Museum of Modern Art

“Before the Water Lilies” features Monet’s interpretations of landscapes, poppies, poplars, and banks of the Seine River, as well as ordinary yet idyllic perspectives of the pastoral Norman countryside, such as the haystacks that became an early signature for the artist. In 1890, Monet acquired his home in Giverny, enabling him to begin transforming the gardens, eventually including the pond with the bridge and water lilies that became the focus of his most famous masterworks.

In addition to the temporary exhibition, pay a pilgrimage to Claude Monet and Impressionism in more places in Normandy and Paris.

Normandy

Giverny: At the Fondation Claude Monet, you can walk through the painter’s flower gardens and Japanese-inspired water lily pond still just as he painted them (pictured, above. Image: Getty). The artist lived here, championing Impressionism, from 1883 until his death in 1926.

Honfleur: The idyllic and historic harbor, with colorful buildings circling it and reflected in the water, was a key location for the development of Impressionism. Monet’s mentor, Eugène Boudin, painted the harbor and encouraged young artists to paint outdoors rather than in studios. His harbor painting is an early Impressionist treasure and part of the collections at Musee Eugene Boudin.

Rouen: This historic Norman town’s cathedral became a repeated subject for Monet. By painting the same subject again and again as the weather and light changed, Monet demonstrated the core idea of Impressionism — that color, shadow, and atmosphere transform our perception of a place from moment to moment. Standing in the cathedral square today, travelers can see the exact view Monet studied so obsessively.

Paris:

Musee de l’Orangerie: Here, eight monumental water lily murals (pictured, top) fill two oval rooms with soft, overhead, natural light, designed specifically according to Monet’s instructions when he donated them to the nation as a symbol of peace following the First World War. The paintings were designed to surround viewers in a continuous panorama of water, reflections, and sky, creating what Monet envisioned as a peaceful, immersive environment rather than a traditional gallery experience.

Musée d'Orsay: nearby, this museum completes the story of Impressionism with one of the world’s greatest collections of works by Monet and his contemporaries, including Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and others.

Unpack Once, Immerse Yourself in Impressionism on a Seine River Cruise

Do a deep dive into Impressionism and its roots on a Seine River cruise round trip from Paris to Normandy, which takes you to Giverny and other Impressionist landmarks.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images as credited, courtesy of Musee des Impressionismes Giverny: “Monet in Giverny. Before the Water Lilies 1883- 1890”

Top Image: Getty

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Discovering the Future of Wellness Travel in Sweden

Thu, 26 Feb 26 22:13:23 +0000

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 travel. And my stays at two sister hotels in Stockholm proved the country is in the vanguard of redefining wellness travel again.

The “Swedish Prescription”

In a wellness ‘first,’ Sweden has become the first country where patients can actually download a medical referral form to take to their physician to be prescribed wellness travel to the country!

The Swedish Prescriptionisn’t a marketing gimmick. The program is rooted in deeply-held Swedish beliefs and practices, like

‘fika:’ social rituals of connecting with loved ones;
‘lagom,’ or achieving balance, moderation and sustainability in your way of life;
love of getting outdoors no matter what the weather; and of course,
sauna and thermal hot/cold practices,

all of which combine to create meaningful and scientifically-supported health benefits.

Hagastrand and Hotel J: Beyond the Spa Hotel

All that said, why would anyone go to Sweden in the winter, far enough north that the sun rises after 8 am and sets mid-afternoon?

I went to spend a week immersed in the wellness experiences of 2 of the Stockholm hotels in the Nobis Hospitality Group: Hagastrand and Hotel J.

The company has set a new gold standard for wellness travel, following a three-year renovation program, masterminded by Alla Sokolova, its Head of Wellness.

“I think every human being has an innate wish to be in its best form,” she explained to me. Her vision for the wellness program at the hotels is for a stay there to be part of a “never-ending learning journey” to help create winning conditions for guests to achieve their maximum performance, their best selves.

HAGASTRAND SPA AND HOTEL

If you’re imagining a clinical, white-jacketed, James Bond-style European health retreat, think again. Instead, Hagastrand offers warmth along with a masterful and welcoming blend of ancient practices and advanced therapies, including modern technologies that can deliver wellness experiences to guests in one-of-a-kind ways, all brought together under one roof.

There’s also a focus on music, “a universal language” that “everyone can relate to,” Alla adds.

“Tuning our bodies and our minds,” as she puts it.

Hagastrand’s facilities incorporate both traditional Nordic and international wellness as well as sensory design and even the much newer concept of ‘biohacking.’

Along with treatment rooms and private suites you expect to find in a spa or wellness center, Hagastrand’s includes:

Underwater therapeutic music in its 18-meter indoor pool;
A Thermal center, with multiple saunas, including herbal and hammam and also:
- Sweden’s first "Event Sauna," one of the few in the world, for up to 60 guests. As an ‘event,’ one of Hagastrand’s trained sauna masters invites guests in the wellness center to join them in a paced series of rituals where the sauna master employs herbs, music, infused ice and spoken word to lead guests through a wellness journey that changes every time.
- Scandinavia's largest snow room for cryotherapy
Experience showers, red light therapy, and neuro-acoustic massage loungers.
Gongs, handmade in Italy, including a giant (as tall as a person) gong at the end of the pool played by hand by sauna masters, and
- in the ‘Gongmatic’ room (pictured, top), a ‘self-playing’ gong – also the first in the Nordic countries – which plays in timed performances as guests lie on warm ceramic lounge beds. The audio art installation allows guests to be immersed in the vibrations and embark on a meditative journey.
Cardi suit – like a giant diving dry suit with hands and feet, except that a therapist fills this suit with carbon dioxide. The therapy allows greater blood flow to the cells, which result in greater oxygen delivery, performance and rest. Cardi suits are already used extensively by high-performance athletes, but rarely available to the wellness-seeking public – including me!

The state-of-the-art wellness experiences flow harmoniously with the new versions of familiar practices and are woven seamlessly into a hotel stay that includes warmly Nordic accommodations, stylish bars and a fine dining restaurant (no restricted, seaweed smoothie diet here unless you wish!) that even drew a member of the Swedish Royal Family while we were dining one evening.

HOTEL J

Sister property Hotel J draws inspiration from its location on the Stockholm archipelago in a Newport, Rhode Island-type neighborhood of illustrious and historic seaside homes.

The nautical and natural theme runs deep, from stunning water views and terraces overlooking the sea, extensive gardens that are not just visual, but harvested for wellness herbs and botanicals, and of course, to its wellness offering.

But we also got off property, accompanied by ‘nature therapist’ Lisen Sundgren, who took us on a Swedish interpretation of that famous Japanese wellness practice, ‘forest bathing.’ During a walk on a next-door nature reserve in the twilight, where dimming sight helped sharpen our other senses as we were guided to literally feel, hear, and smell the woods. We ended up on a rocky lookout over the sea and the lights of Stockholm on the opposite side of the archipelago, sipping her homemade Swedish rosehip soup and communing by the mystical twinkles of lamp light.

SANCTUM

From the primal forest… to a wellness rave!

In another ‘first,’ Hagastrand and Hotel J’s parent company has introduced ‘Sanctum’ to the Nordics as part of its wellness experience offering. We were invited to the launch party, held in the Nobis Hospitality Group’s event space at the Stockholm Opera House.

Sanctum holds these ‘wellness raves’ around the world for a growing community drawn to the euphoric release of its hour-long, high-intensity, music-led, 55-minute sessions combining HIIT, Kundalini yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Ours in Stockholm was candle-lit in the awe-inspiring historic surroundings… in complete silence with the sound healing, music and guidance individualized by headphones.

***

Embracing the widest interpretations of wellness lived through ancient traditions, Nature, technology, art and the most welcoming Scandinavian culture and lifestyle… these Swedish hotels are setting the stage for a new global approach to wellness travel.

“Everybody today is talking about longevity and all these things, and sometimes it's too much,” Alessandro Catenacci, owner and CEO of the family-owned Nobis Hospitality Group, told me.

“I hate the word ‘trend.’”

He acknowledges that the groundbreaking wellness offerings of the two hotels is “a new thing for us,” but “things are not so complicated usually if you do it in the right way.” He points out that wellness practices are a natural way of life for Swedes.

“We are a sauna family.

“And this is very important because you, you can't go on doing things if you don't like that. I love it, really.”

Hagastrand and Hotel J may be on the leading edge. But advanced wellness experiences for travel are no longer a novel trend.

As more travelers intentionally seek to incorporate their wellness practices from home in their travels to new destinations, and expand their wellness horizons while traveling, wellness hospitality will take the lead from Hagastrand and Hotel J in helping us discover the destinations’ best experiences to hone our mental, physical and spiritual health.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images and story by: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Equine Travel Experiences to Celebrate Year of the Horse

Thu, 26 Feb 26 22:13:23 +0000

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 and transportation. In connection with what may be human’s / history changing relationship with a single animal.

As technology advanced, our relationship with horses everywhere has changed… but in many places, our love affair with horses and riding traditions continues.

Here are just a few of the best experiences in some cultures with rich, storied equestrian traditions. As a spectator or an active participant, here are places to celebrate your inner equine spirit.

Spain

In sun-washed Andalusia, horses are woven into the fabric of history, life, and human drama. They even become high art at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.

Here, gleaming Andalusian stallions perform intricate dressage choreographed to Spanish music — precision elevated to poetry, with distinctive historic costumes that remind us that to be Spanish is to ride (pictured, top).

The main attraction is the performance itself, but visitors can tour the stables, watch training sessions and even book riding lessons with school-trained instructors for a deeper connection.

It’s refinement rather than raw adventure — and utterly mesmerizing.

Austria

Beneath the extraordinary chandeliers at Vienna’s palatial, Baroque Spanish Riding School, legendary Lipizzaner stallions perform their famed “airs above the ground” — levades, caprioles, equine dance movements that seem to defy gravity.

The atmosphere is hushed, reverent. Attend morning exercise sessions for a more intimate look at training in progress.

Visitors cannot ride the Lipizzaners themselves, but private carriage tours in Vienna and riding schools throughout Austria allow travelers to connect with the broader equestrian culture.

Its heritage is preserved in military tailcoats and centuries-old tradition.

England

Meanwhile, English polo is outdoor summer theatre -with a competitive edge and Royal pageantry.

At Guards Polo Club near Windsor and Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex, the British season unfolds on immaculate emerald fields. Spectators sip the classic British polo cocktail, Pimm’s punch, picnic beside the pitch and stroll out to stomp divots between chukkas.

The matches are fast and tactical — ponies pivoting sharply, mallets striking with precision.

Travelers can attend major tournaments as spectators, book hospitality enclosures, or – if you’re a rider - arrange beginner polo lessons at affiliated clubs outside tournament play.

It’s sport wrapped in ceremony — linen, horsepower and long golden evenings.

Chile

In Chilean Patagonia, horses aren’t a novelty or a nod to history — they’re part of everyday ranching life.

On remote Argentine estancias, herding days unfold on horseback across grasslands beneath Andean peaks. Gauchos ride with effortless authority over the landscape, horse and rider equally proud. Rivers are crossed without fuss; sheep are herded with quiet whistles.

Travelers don’t just watch — you can jump into the saddle too. Ride alongside working gauchos on half-day, full-day or multi-day estancia programs. No elite experience required; the horses are steady, the pace immersive rather than intimidating. You’re traveling at the speed of sheep, after all.

Evenings end with asado around an open fire and the deep sleep of a day spent outdoors. You won’t need reminding to forgo your devices and stop worrying about wifi. Patagonia teaches rhythm.

Morocco

Few silhouettes are more cinematic than an Arabian horse against the Sahara sands. On your next trip to Morocco, forgo a camel ride in favor of a horse expedition.

Canter along Atlantic beaches near Essaouira or venture inland for guided desert treks across golden dunes. Fabled Arabian horses are spirited but sure-footed, led by Berber guides who balance adventure with safety.

You may even witness a fantasia — ceremonial horsemen charging in synchronized bursts of thunder.

***

Make the Year of the Horse the year you reconnect with the ancient, primal human tie to hoofbeats in the world’s epic landscapes and cultures.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Getty

Princess Cruises Celebrates Margarita World Record – and Winning Celebrity Partnership

Thu, 26 Feb 26 22:13:23 +0000

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 Gemignani, who developed exclusive artisanal pizzas for the fleet.

Now they’ve done it again, shifting from a favorite food to a favorite holiday cocktail.

And their margarita world record is one piece of an even bigger celebrity partnership mosaic.

On February 17, 2026, during a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas, the Regal Princess became the location for another record-breaking party. The event turned the ship into a floating fiesta for the ship’s 3500 guests to celebrate Princess Cruises’ most popular cocktail.

Over 8 hours, the guests did their part to help break the Guinness World Record for most margaritas sold in 8 hours.

How many, you ask? Well, raise your salt-rimmed glass to the guests of the Regal Princess, who ordered 3410 handcrafted margaritas. That easily tops the previous record of 2,728 for the iconic lime-and-tequila cocktails.

What’s more, the occasion coincided with Princess Cruises marking the sale of over 1 million of its signature “24K Margaritas” between January, 2025 and January 2026.

The 24K Margarita is the fleet’s most popular signature cocktail, made exclusively with Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila, co-founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey.

The million-margarita milestone arrives just over one year after Princess Cruises and Pantalones Organic Tequila launched their fleetwide partnership in October 2024, quickly becoming one of the most successful beverage collaborations in cruise line history.

Camila and Matthew McConaughey are also the godparents of Princess Cruises’ most recently-launched ship, the Star Princess, the newest Sphere-class ship from Princess Cruises. They officially christened the vessel in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025, using none other than a bottle of their tequila. For the world record-breaking, the couple sent a congratulatory video message that was played onboard to the guests of the Regal Princess as the record was announced, with the audience roaring its approval.

While made with Pantalones Tequila, Princess Cruises’ most popular cocktail is otherwise a classic margarita: handcrafted with Cointreau, Grand Marnier, margarita mix, and served over ice in a salted-rim glass.

And in addition to the 24K Margarita, guests can toast their cruise with any of a lineup of handcrafted cocktails created by Princess’s Mixologist Rob Floyd has designed a menu of other margaritas using the McConaugheys’ tequila, too, like

Pants on Fire – with Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, Campari, smoked paprika and agave
Sea Legs – Reposado tequila, Luxardo Maraschino, fresh lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave syrup and soda
Hot Pants – Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, fresh jalapeno and agave
Fancy Pants Paloma – Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, Fever Tree grapefruit

To ensure your cravings for the cocktail never go unsatisfied, there’s even a roaming ‘Pantalones Organic Tequila Custom Cart’ capturing the ‘spirit’ of the McConaughey brand throughout the voyage.

In just over a year, having one of these cocktails on board has become an essential Princess Cruises experience fleet-wide.

And now, with the margarita world record, Princess Cruises has put a cherry on top of a celebrity brand partnership that’s a template for the kind of wild success that cruise lines – and avid cruise travelers! – are looking for.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert

Images courtesy of Princess Cruises

Beyond the Beach: Unforgettable March Break Family Adventures

Thu, 26 Feb 26 22:13:23 +0000

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 historians (or kids obsessed with Viking mythology), Norway delivers.

In Oslo, real Viking ships more than 1,000 years old bring sagas to life.

WATCH VIDEO, TOP: Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway

Outside the city, snow-covered fjords and forests invite cross-country skiing — a national pastime kids can try with beginner lessons.

Storytelling traditions, stave churches and dramatic winter landscapes make the past feel close enough to touch. And you won’t leave Norway without falling in love with its ubiquitous trolls!

Mid-March sweet spot: lingering snow, lengthening daylight, far fewer tourists than summer.

Safari During Calving Season - Tanzania

Make this March Break the trip of a lifetime with a family safari. In parts of the Serengeti, mid-March aligns with calving season — when thousands of wildebeest give birth within weeks. It’s dramatic, educational and utterly unforgettable.

Family-friendly tented camps offer guided game drives and conservation talks. Lions, elephants and giraffes appear not on screens but in living color in one breathtaking scene after the next.

Mid-March sweet spot: wildlife intensity before heavy long rains begin.

Samurai, Robots and Bullet Trains in Japan

Japan in mid-March hums with anticipation of the cherry blossom season. Even if peak bloom arrives later, the energy is electric — and the crowds are lighter than April.

Families can ride the Shinkansen bullet train at 300 km/h past the snowy peaks of Mount Fuji, dress as samurai in Kyoto, explore ancient temples one day and immersive digital art museums the next. Kyoto’s gardens and temples strike a mystical chord, and castles evoke history and legends.

Tokyo’s neon skylines, anime and tech districts fascinate teens, and no one will forget its iconic fish market and tasting sushi the way it was meant to be! And fill up on Japanese comfort food in the pleasantly cool climate.

Mid-March sweet spot: mild weather and pre-blossom buzz.

Alpine Storybook Adventure - Austria

March snow in Austria’s Tyrol region is often excellent, and ski schools are among the most family-friendly in Europe. But this isn’t just about downhill runs. The ski scene in Europe is a different experience from that in North America, giving your family the opportunity to broaden their horizons in a worldly way.

Think torchlit evening walks through medieval villages. Tobogganing down floodlit mountain tracks. Lunch in alpine huts serving hot chocolate so thick it feels like pudding. In Innsbruck, colourful townhouses and imperial history add cultural depth between ski days.

Mid-March sweet spot: strong snow conditions, sunnier skies, fewer January crowds.

Camel Caravans and Sahara Stars in Morocco

Summer in the Sahara can be blistering. March? Glorious. Warm days, cool nights.

Families can ride camels across golden dunes near Merzouga, try sandboarding, and gather around Berber campfires under a sky pierced with stars. With no city lights, the Milky Way feels almost close enough to touch.

Explore markets and casbahs, drink iconic sweet mint green tea and indulge your palate in new and appealing flavors you’ll crave once you return home. Maybe take a family cooking class to share your family’s newfound culinary favorite with loved ones at home!

Mid-March sweet spot: ideal desert temperatures.

Fire and Ice in Iceland

March in Iceland is a full-scale natural theater.

Families can walk across moss-covered lava fields, explore ice caves, and soak in geothermal pools while snowflakes fall. Waterfalls thunder against icy cliffs, and you can stand steps from the world’s original ‘geyser’ as it erupts high into the air.

If the skies are clear, northern light sightings are still possible before spring fully settles in.

And don’t miss unique Icelandic foods like their iconic street food, their one-of-a-kind mutton hotdog!

Mid-March sweet spot: winter landscapes without the deep-dark January days.

***

This March, trade forgettable pool time and buffets for wonder and lifelong memories. Trips like these – even just the week of the break- will carve this family time together into young minds and create shared stories to relive forever.

START YOUR TRIP!

Video, Iceland images: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Images, unless otherwise noted: Getty

From Samba to Snow! Carnival Around the World

Thu, 12 Feb 26 16:56:50 +0000

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, giving alms and in contemplation of the upcoming miraculous holiday.

That meant that the last couple of days before the beginning of Lent, households rid themselves of anything tempting or forbidden during the time of pious restrictions.

“Carnival” comes from the Latin “carne vale” or “farewell to meat,” and Carnival became a final indulgence before the privations of Lent. On the Christian calendar, Lent begins on “Ash Wednesday.” So Tuesday was your last chance. The French expression “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” – time to eat all the rich food in the house before Lent so it wouldn’t go to waste.

Over time, Carnival or Mardi Gras evolved into wild celebrations of dance, drink, disguises, food and music.

And as Christianity spread around the world, Carnival evolved into wildly different expressions of local culture, cuisine, climate… and even resistance.

Here are some of the world’s most different – and irresistible - Carnivals to inspire you to travel and celebrate in February!

VENICE

The Venice Carnival is one of the world’s most iconic and is uniquely symbolized by masks and historic costumes, even today. Here, Carnival isn’t loud; it’s theatrical and dramatic. The city’s lagoon-softened light, historic palazzi and gliding gondolas provide the perfect backdrop for a festival built on concealment and social inversion.

Historically, Venetian masks allowed nobles and commoners to all appear anonymous and mingle freely, gambling and gossiping beyond class constraints before returning to the usual strict social order on the first day of Lent.

Today, the tradition endures in the form of exquisitely crafted masks, silk capes, and full 18th-century costumes that transform St. Mark’s Square into a living panorama every Carnival season. Rather than parades and public parties, Venice offers moments: a masked figure gliding over a bridge at dawn, candlelit balls in Renaissance palaces, or quiet promenades along misty canals.

RIO DE JANEIRO

If Venice whispers, Rio roars. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a full-throttle experience, driven by samba, sweat, and spectacle. Born from Afro-Brazilian traditions and shaped in working-class neighborhoods, Rio’s Carnival is both celebration and competition. The centerpiece is the Sambadrome, where elite samba schools spend all year preparing elaborate floats, choreography, and politically charged themes for a single night of emotional release, competition in the Sambadrome and chaos on the streets.

Rio’s Carnival blocos—street parties—spill through neighborhoods, inviting anyone with a pulse to join. Fueled by caipirinhas made with a local sugarcane spirit, cachaca, even if you’ve never danced the samba before, you’ll discover the rhythm within you to join in Rio’s spirit of Carnival.

NEW ORLEANS

In NOLA, Carnival goes by a different name. Mardi Gras celebrations here have become legendary, making the birthplace of jazz one of the top Carnival destinations every February.

“Krewes,” some centuries old, plan extravagant parades with military precision, while the streets erupt in beads, music, and color. New Orleans’ Mardi Gras symbols are legendary: purple-green-and-gold beads tossed from ornate floats, masked krewe royalty like Rex and Zulu, hand-decorated coconuts, jazz bands on street corners, and the ever-present slice of king cake hiding its tiny baby inside.

Mardi Gras here isn’t just European Christian. It’s deeply rooted in the cultures that blended in this historic port city: French, African, Caribbean, and American South traditions into something unmistakably local. It’s a festival that belongs to the city’s people as much as its visitors—and one where tradition matters as much as the party.

QUEBEC CITY

Quebec City flips the Carnival script entirely by celebrating the coldest days of an unforgiving Canadian winter. The Québec Winter Carnival, held deep in February, proves that pre-Lenten revelry doesn’t require heat—just heart (and layers). Its cheerful snowman mascot, Bonhomme, presides over ice palaces, night parades, canoe races across the frozen St. Lawrence River, and plenty of caribou (a spiced maple liquor, not the animal).

This is Carnival as resilience and French Canadian culture: a celebration of endurance, community, and winter cheer. Where other Carnivals strip down, Quebec bundles up—and finds just as much joy.

TRINIDAD

Few places embody Carnival’s original spirit of liberation as powerfully as Trinidad. Emerging from the aftermath of slavery and colonial rule, Trinidad Carnival is rooted in resistance and self-expression.

Carnival in Port of Spain grew out of emancipation, when formerly enslaved Africans claimed the streets after 1834 and transformed an elite European masquerade into a bold expression of freedom and identity. Traditions like J’ouvert, steel pan music, and satirical mas characters remain acts of cultural resistance—celebrating liberation through rhythm, costume, and unapologetic public joy.

J’ouvert—held before dawn—sees revelers covered in mud, paint, or oil, reclaiming the streets to the beat of steel pan and soca. Later come the dazzling masquerade bands, where costume, movement, and music merge into something ecstatic and a declaration of identity, joy, and survival.

ONE FESTIVAL, MANY FORMS

From Venetian masks to Caribbean mud, from samba drums to snow palaces, Carnival proves that a shared ritual can take on endlessly diverse faces. Wherever you find it, Carnival invites participants to join in the spirit and rituals of a united community.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Getty

Winter Olympics in the South of France? Mais Oui!

Thu, 12 Feb 26 16:56:50 +0000

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 Côte d'Azur, centered around Nice, will host the 2030 Winter Olympics from February 1–17, 2030. Paralympics follow from March 1–10, 2030.

Wait – How Can This Work?

Hosting the Winter Olympics in the Côte d’Azur / French Riviera is possible because the event is actually a joint endeavor between the coast and nearby regions of the Alps: the "French Alps 2030".

Believe it or not, even with a Mediterranean backdrop, the Games are actually able to take advantage of a lot of existing winter sports infrastructure. So it’s not going to be one of the infamous international sports events that require massive funding of facilities that have little purpose in the future.

The iconic coastal city of Nice is the central hub of the Games, but it will host just indoor "ice" events, including figure skating, speed skating, hockey and curling. Nice’s Allianz Riviera soccer stadium will be temporarily transformed into a massive ice rink, as the French are calling it, a “palace of hockey” seating over 30,000 for one of the most-viewed and hotly-contested team sports. The Palais Nikaia will see curling teams compete, and a 5000-seat new arena is being built for figure skating and short-track.

In the meantime, the "snow" events will be held in the nearby Southern and Northern Alps in four zones that take advantage of their existing alpine sports infrastructure:

The Briançonnais zone is located in the Southern Alps and will host freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

The Savoie zone is already home to world-class resorts like Courchevel (pictured) and Méribel, and will be the site of the alpine skiing, ski jumping, and bobsleigh/luge competitions.

And finally, the Haute-Savoie zone to the north is where biathlon and cross-country skiing events will take place.

Meanwhile, in Nice, a new Nice Airport TGV (High Speed Train) station is under construction to make it easy for visitors to arrive from all corners of the world and get around easily during the Games. Afterwards, of course, it will remain a legacy benefitting all visitors to the South of France.

Historic First:

The closing ceremony for the 2030 Games is planned for Nice’s picturesque Promenade des Anglais (pictured, top), offering a historic first: a Winter Olympic finale with the Mediterranean Sea as the backdrop instead of a traditional stadium.

Winter on the Côte d’Azur

Not to mention the incredible charms of the French Riviera lifestyle – even in the winter! The 2030 Winter Games will also shine a spotlight on a beloved travel destination that’s not often considered a four-season option – but it should be!

Cool temperatures encourage you to get cozy while walking along the scenic coastline promenades, where pine trees meet palm trees year-round.

Winter is when the mimosa blooms – the iconic, cheerful, sunshine-yellow and unmistakably-scented symbol of the season in the South of France.

It’s also a culinary peak time of the year. Winter is the season for the French citrus harvest and even the ‘black diamonds’ of southern French cuisine: truffles! Markets and restaurants celebrate the seasonal ingredients, and you’ll attend the next competition of the Winter Games, replete with some of the best French cuisine of your life.

The first-ever opportunity to experience the highest levels of winter sport and storied French Riviera lifestyle, all in the same unforgettable trip, is a travel opportunity of a lifetime.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert

Polynesian Pearls: The Most Romantic Souvenir from the World’s Most Romantic Travel Destination

Thu, 12 Feb 26 16:56:50 +0000

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 Gem

Unlike mineral gems, pearls are organic, marine miracles, created individually inside oysters. If an irritant, like a grain of sand, somehow ends up inside an oyster, to protect itself, the oyster coats the irritant with layers of nacre, slowly transforming it into something luminous and magically iridescent.

Tahitian pearls(often called “black pearls,” though they’re rarely pure black) come from the black-lip oyster, Pinctada margaritifera. These oysters thrive in the warm, pristine lagoons of islands such as Bora Bora, Rangiroa and Taha'a.

From Natural Treasure to Coveted Statement Piece

Long before the modern era of pearl cultivation, natural pearls were treasured throughout the Pacific, found rarely and randomly in wild oysters harvested for food.

European explorers arriving in the 18th and 19th centuries quickly recognized their value. By the early 20th century, overharvesting wild oysters nearly depleted local populations.

The turning point came in the 1960s and ’70s, when Japanese pearl cultivation techniques were successfully adapted for local oysters. Pearl farming became a cornerstone industry across the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos. Today, Tahitian pearls are one of French Polynesia’s most important exports—and one of its most elegant ambassadors.

Their value lies in three things: rarity, size, and color.

Tahitian pearls are saltwater cultured, often larger than other types of pearls, displaying natural dark body colors with luminous overtones: peacock green, aubergine, silver, blue, even hints of rose. That depth of color is not chemical dyes; it’s biology and environment working together.

In an era of mass-produced mementos, Tahitian pearls remain natural, deeply tied to place, and a true heirloom treasure.

5 Tips for Shopping for Tahitian Pearls in French Polynesia

As a symbol of love, elegance and travel sophistication, pearls are investments you want to cherish for a lifetime and pass along as heirlooms. You want to shop wisely.

Walk through Papeete’s municipal market, browse high-end boutiques in Bora Bora, or visit a working pearl farm on Rangiroa, and you’ll see the range—from simple single-pearl pendants perfect for daily wear to dramatic strands worthy of black-tie evenings back home.

1. Grading basics

Four factors matter most:

Luster (the glow): The sharper and brighter the reflection, the more valuable the pearl.
Surface quality: Fewer visible blemishes generally mean higher value.
Shape: A perfectly round shape is rare and most expensive. Near-round and baroque shapes can offer excellent value.
Size: Larger pearls command higher prices—but only if luster and surface are strong.

Experts suggest that if you must prioritize one thing, prioritize luster. A slightly smaller pearl with exceptional glow will outshine a larger dull one.

2. Black is the new black… or is it?

True Tahitian pearls display natural dark body colors with complex overtones. If a pearl looks flat, jet-black, and inexpensive, it may be dyed freshwater. Ask directly: Is the color natural? Reputable jewelers will say yes—and put it on your receipt.

3. Look at the drill hole

Ask to see the pearl closely. Around the drill hole, color should be consistent. Heavy dye often pools at the edges in treated pearls (less common in certified Tahitian pieces, but still worth checking).

4. Compare in natural light

Boutique lighting flatters everything. Step near a window. The pearl should still glow, not look chalky.

5. Ask for documentation

French Polynesia has strict export regulations for Tahitian pearls. Your purchase should come with:

A detailed receipt listing pearl type and size
Disclosure of any treatments (Tahitian pearls are generally not dyed)
Certification for buying higher-value pieces

Are they worth the price?

Tahitian pearls are among the most valuable cultured pearls in the world because of their rarity, natural dark colors, and the time required to grow them—often 18 to 24 months.

Prices can range from a few hundred dollars for a modest pendant to several thousand for exceptional, round, high-luster pieces. The key question is not just price—it’s whether the pearl has strong luster, pleasing color, and craftsmanship to match.

If it does, you’re not just buying jewelry. You’re buying a natural, marine treasure.

Perhaps that’s why Tahiti's “black” pearls endure as Polynesia’s most meaningful souvenir: subtle, luminous, and forever linked to water, time, and your memories of the lagoons and shifting tides of your trip to a once-in-a-lifetime destination steeped in romance.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/travel journalist

Images: Getty

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ New Ship ‘Sails’ Into the Future of Luxury Expedition Cruising

Thu, 12 Feb 26 16:56:50 +0000

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 enabled by three carbon masts and solid sails.

When conditions at sea and with the wind permit, these elements will enhance operational efficiency and enable zero-emission cruising, allowing for a silent presence on the water. The new ship is equipped with dual-fuel engines and electric-hybrid propulsion, featuring a large marine battery system that enables high speeds even in light wind conditions, enhancing the sailing experience with virtually silent operation.

Atlas Adventurer is engineered to sail in any waters of the world, including polar destinations, equipped with zero-speed fin stabilizers, two vertical fin stabilizers, a reinforced hull, and Ice Class 1B (Polar Category C) capability.

Accommodating up to 400 guests, supported by a crew of 275, the Atlas-class sailing yacht will also expand the cruise line’s onboard guest experience, including all-suite accommodations across every category, increased space and amenities, and a broader range of dining, wellness, and social offerings, while maintaining the boutique hospitality that defines Atlas Ocean Voyages.

The vessel will include seven dining venues, featuring specialty restaurants and a new culinary studio for hands-on learning and destination-inspired programming. It will also have five lounges, a cocktail bar and social spaces, along with two outdoor bars. Guests will find an expanded fitness and wellness center, a large swimming pool, and purpose-built expedition capabilities, including Zodiacs, luxury motorboats, and a marina platform with an ocean pool for water-based exploration.

“With Atlas Adventurer, we are introducing a new generation of luxury expedition sailing yachts. This vessel serves as a bridge between the wind mastery of the 15th century and the solid sails and electric propulsion of the 21st century,” said Mario Ferreira, Chairman, Founder and Owner of Mystic Invest Holding, Atlas’ parent company.

“The yacht is designed to comply with future zero- emission port regulations and can navigate silently, allowing access to some of the most exclusive and restricted small ports around the world.”

Inaugural Season

Beginning in late 2028, Atlas Adventurer will explore destinations across Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and Africa, including Seychelles, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa, further extending the line’s global reach while continuing to redefine luxury expedition cruising to remote destinations around the world.

Atlas Adventurer will join the cruise line’s existing fleet of 3 ships that are designed to explore some of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations.

START YOUR TRIP!

Renderings courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Great Canadian Travel Group Feed

Discover Ireland When The Days Are Long

Why Travel Ireland with Exotik Journeys?

$500M Update Brings Guest-Favorite Feature Across Holland America Line Fleet

Grand Dutch Cafés and More

New Staterooms and Suites – Including Solo Verandahs

Sustainability Part of the Plan

START YOUR TRIP!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Alaska Cruise Edition)

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE OF SOME OF OUR

FAVORITE WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS ON A REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISE TO ALASKA

1. The American Black Bear

2. Brown Bears

3. The Kodiak Bear

Cruises: Alaska's Wilderness Safaris

What about Polar Bears?

START YOUR TRIP!

Breaking News: Princess Cruises Building All-New Class of Ships, its Largest-Ever!

A History of Innovation

START YOUR TRIP!

G Adventures Shines Spotlight on Global Tree Projects on Earth Day

Reclaiming the ‘Last Refuge’ of the Higa-onon community in the Philippines

Kenya: Combating the impact of drought and supporting Women-Owned Nurseries

Canada: Rebuilding the Ocean's "False Bottom"

START YOUR TRIP!

8 Reasons Guided Tours Are Perfect for Solo Travellers

8 Reasons Solos Travellers Should Consider Guided Tours

Why Guided Tours Can Be Perfect for Solo Travellers

FAQs

The Bottom Line for Solo Travellers

Turning Family History Into Meaningful Travel

Ancestry Travel Hotspots

How to do Ancestry Travel?

Here are tips to get the most from ancestry travel:

Do the Homework (But be Realistic)

Bring in a Local Expert

Balance Roots With Real Travel

Strike up Conversations

Manage Your Expectations

START YOUR TRIP!

5 Spectacular Annual Flower Shows Worth Planning a Trip Around

1. Keukenhof Gardens — Netherlands

2. Chelsea Flower Show — London, UK

3. Floriade Canberra — Canberra, Australia

4. Chiang Mai Flower Festival — Chiang Mai, Thailand

5. Genzano Infiorata — Genzano, Italy

START YOUR TRIP!

Two New Ships, Two Ways to Cruise: There Really is a Cruise Out There for Everyone

Emerald Kaia and the Rise of Yacht-Style Cruising

Relaxing at Sea: Dining and Design Re-imagined aboard Emerald Kaia

Norwegian Luna, A Ship That’s Its Own Destination

The Ultimate Vehicle for Multi-generational Travel

Beyond the Ship: The Rise of Curated Destinations

The Big Takeaway: A Cruise Style for Every Traveler

START YOUR TRIP!

River to Ocean Onboard a Single Ship: Windstar’s New Way to Cruise

Where Does Star Explorer Sail on Her River-to-Ocean Voyages?

Other River-Meets-Ocean Inspired Windstar Cruises

Growing Windstar Fleet

START YOUR TRIP!

Discovering the Future of Wellness Travel in Sweden

The “Swedish Prescription”

Hagastrand and Hotel J: Beyond the Spa Hotel

HAGASTRAND SPA AND HOTEL

HOTEL J

SANCTUM

START YOUR TRIP!

Celebrity River Cruises Reveals Experiential Approach to Shore Excursions

Storyteller Series: Included locally led experiences that go beyond what guidebooks can capture

Skillmaster Series: Included, hands-on experiences invite guests to actively participate in local culture

Keys to the City Series: Included independent digital discovery tools with complimentary behind-the-scenes access and stationed local hosts

Celebrity Takeover Series: Included one-of-a-kind experiences for bucket list memories

Pre- and Post-Cruise Stays the Celebrity Way

START YOUR TRIP!

The April Fools of Travel Destinations

Australia or Austria?

Sweden or Switzerland?

Grenada or Granada?

Dominica or Dominican Republic?

Slovakia or Slovenia?