Panda-monium! New Pandas Debut This Year in Two American Cities
There will soon be two new places in the U.S. to visit China’s iconic and endearing national animal. The giant panda, with its unmistakeable black and white markings and adorable fuzzy features, is a keystone species and symbol of global conservations efforts – and it’s one of the ‘bucket list’ animals many people want to experience in person. A pair of pandas from China make their eagerly awaited public debut at the San Diego Zoo on August 8, 2024. Xin Bao...
The Caribbean's Newest Overwater Suites
You don’t have to travel half way around the world to the South Pacific to experience the romance and luxury of overwater suites. Antigua is the latest Caribbean island to bring overwater luxe close to home. The newly opened Royalton CHIC Antigua, is an all-inclusive, adults-only resort and part of An Autograph Collection, with its signature sophistication and a ‘Party Your Way’ concept. And… a dozen overwater suites. The overwater suites come in three categories: Chairman, Presidential and Junior Suites, each with...
3 Idyllic Places to Practice Japanese 'Forest Bathing'
Your next vacation may be the perfect time to take up shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing.’ Wellness fans around the world are embracing the Japanese practice of immersing yourself deeply into the atmosphere of the woods, and the broader concept of spending more time in nature to improve your health and well-being. Renowned for their centuries-old practices of ritualized baths in outdoor or indoor thermal hot springs that dot Japan, the newer term of ‘forest bathing’ perhaps attempts to reflect how...
Get In On This Summer's Hottest Cocktail Trend With These Next-Gen Sips from MSC
Gin is in! Cocktail culture is back, and one of the original ingredients of cocktails is having a renaissance, too. MSC Cruises has ‘tapped’ into the of-the-moment trend that’s seen a boom in types of gin and new gin cocktails. The cruise line is introducing new drinks fleet-wide to join in its lineup of cool summer sips. For many, fun and sophisticated cocktails and new dining experiences are the cornerstone of a cruise vacation, and MSC partners with world-class, award-winning wine, spirits...
Surf’s Up! The Summer Games Competition Happening 10,000 Miles from Paris
On the other side of the earth from the epicenter of the Paris Summer Games, one competition is returning to its roots – while still flying the French flag. For the second Summer Games in a row, surfing is part of the Olympic Games. And while many of the Summer Games competitions are spread around the French capital and even as far away as its Mediterranean coast, mainland France can’t boast the kind of competitive surfing conditions at this time...
Fun Facts About Norway’s Fjords
Norway is so famous for its fjords, the Norwegian word has become part of the international travel dialect. In languages around the world, ‘fjord’ means a deep, natural sea channel reaching far inland, surrounded by dramatic cliffs carved millennia ago by glaciers on their way to the sea. According to Visit Norway, the word ‘fjord’ has Viking roots, relating to the phrase for a ‘crossing point.’ The vast system of fjords along Norway’s coast certainly helps explain ancient Norse seafaring culture; skillful...
New Record Set at Sea: World's Largest Pizza Party
Plenty of cruise lines swear they serve the best pizza. But only one cruise line can now claim to hold the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Pizza Party. Over 60,000 slices of pie were served fresh from the oven over multiple ships across the Princess Cruises fleet simultaneously in July, 2024 to set the record. World’s Largest Pizza Party By the Numbers:· Total Weight of Dough Used: 6,512 pounds· Total Weight of Flour Used: 3,417 pounds· Total Weight of Pepperoni Slices Used:1,393 pounds· Total...
VIDEO: Stunning Scenic Sailing on Europe’s Danube River Aboard the Riverside Mozart
It’s some of the most incredible scenery along the middle Danube River! One of the absolute highlights of our river cruise on the Danube through Austria aboard the Riverside Mozart was the daytime scenic sailing through the wondrous ‘Danube Snare.’ The Danube is Europe’s longest river and the middle Danube is one of the most popular river cruise destinations in Europe - not just for magnificent cities like Budapest, Vienna, Linz and Passau. That middle section of the Danube between...
First LEGO Parade at Sea, Only Over-Water Swing and More on MSC World America
Building family fun on a cruise vacation couldn’t be easier. When the new MSC World America launches in April, 2025, it will have an over 10,0000 square foot kids’ area, complete with an enhanced partnership with LEGO that will offer first-at-sea experiences. Plus the only over-water swing ride – the ‘Cliffhanger’ - towering over 160 feet above the ocean - and other ‘can’t miss’ experiences for families. One of seven districts on the upcoming ship, Family Aventura is the destination for...
This Scandinavian Capital is Paying Visitors to Travel Green
Copenhagen is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainable travel. The tourism board of the capital of Denmark is rewarding you to make green choices when you visit this summer as part of a pilot program that could lead the world in helping both locations and visitors to benefit more from travel. More popular destinations are struggling with growing numbers of visitors and their impact on the environment and local lifestyle. Instead of restricting visitors or...