How Many Ways to Celebrate Adventure on a Seabourn Expedition Cruise?
With more cruise lines getting into expedition cruising, travelers have more options about how they want their expedition cruise experience. From the extremes of barebones to the ultimate in luxe? The choice is yours. We sailed onboard a Seabourn expedition cruise to the Arctic this summer, and discovered that the ultra-luxe cruise line has perfectly adapted its celebratory style of cruising to the remote, active, and adventurous realms of expeditions. That includes turning memorable moments into ceremonies, and presenting guests with pop-up...
Highlights of an Emerald Cruise on Asia's Mekong River
One of the world’s longest rivers, flowing through six Asian countries, makes for an exotic Emerald river cruise to remember – and one that will let you strike a few items off your travel bucket list! The Mekong River is a majestic waterway that winds its way through Southeast Asia. Dubbed “the Mother of Water,” the Mekong river is the lifeline for millions of people in the region, providing water, nourishing the surrounding land, and supporting the livelihoods of the people...
The Biggest W Hotel in the World has Opened on Sydney’s Harbourfront with a Spectacular Wave Design
They like to make a splash Down Under. So it’s no surprise the long-anticipated opening of the new W Sydney hotel overlooking Darling Harbour is “making waves.” Its eye-catching, curving architecture adds wave-inspired drama to the harbourfront in Australia’s capital. And it’s the biggest W hotel among the 5 dozen W’s around the world, including two others in Australia, in Melbourne and Brisbane. The hot, new, 588-room destination in Sydney has already become a new architectural icon for Australia, towering over...
"Hoppy" News: UNESCO Lists Czech Hops Landscape as World Heritage Site
The Czech Republic is already a bucket-list destination for beer lovers, with a beer culture dating back to the 10th century, and continuing today, with renowned brewing traditions and iconic beer styles. Pilsner Urquell, the world's first pilsner lager, was born in the city of Pilsen, and visitors can explore the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Museum to learn about its history. Czech beer is known for its exceptional quality and flavor, thanks to the use of Saaz hops and soft water from...
VIDEO: Dramatic Sailing Through One of the World’s Largest Fjords in the Arctic Aboard Seabourn Venture
“The best morning of my life.” That was a cameraman’s reaction to filming in one of the hottest cruise destinations today. The Arctic’s icecaps, glaciers, icebergs and fjords are drawing intrepid cruise travelers who want to experience some of the most remote, pristine, – and epic – scenery in the world. You may have already cruised to Alaska and experienced some of the wilderness along some of its Arctic and Pacific northwest coast. But that doesn’t even begin to touch the scale...
VIDEO: Meet the Moselle River on an Avalon Active & Discovery Cruise
The Moselle is one of the rivers less-traveled in Europe, and that’s just the beginning of the magical appeal of an itinerary that sails from Luxembourg, then the Rhine and Main into Germany. Three waterways with two wine regions, a famous stretch of castles, plus “Active” and “Discovery” shore excursions that give new ways to experience the countryside, cities and culture of the region fill a sunny week that also gives us time to relax. Cruise/travel journalist Lynn Elmhirst sailed on...
CERN in Switzerland Opens New Gateway for Visitors to Get Their Science On
If you thought CERN, the renowned particle physics research facility in Geneva, was just for Nobel laureates and PhD’s, think again. The facility has inaugurated Science Gateway, a new, visionary hub with free admission for anyone from 5 to 95 to get involved in the next generation of human understanding of the universe at what may be the world’s most famous science facility. CERN’s Science Gateway is an architectural achievement as well as providing a new level of access to the...
This All-Inclusive Resort is Expanding Included Dining: OFF-Resort Restaurants
It’s the best of both worlds. Part of the appeal of luxury, all-inclusive resorts is the array of dining options on the property where you can enjoy effortless, delightful dining you’ve already paid for. But what about getting a taste of the local restaurant scene on the rest of the island? And how about supporting other local businesses? Sandals Resorts has come up with the perfect answer in its immersive, “Island Inclusive” dining program that now invites couples at two of its...
This UNESCO Site Just Got One Step Closer... to Completion
Did you know there’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that isn’t even finished yet? Many churches in Europe are World Heritage Sites… but most of them are hundreds, even a thousand years old. Only one of them is still under construction! And recently, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia just achieved another milestone in its journey towards completion. The idea of a work-in-progress UNESCO World Heritage Site runs counter to our concept of World Heritage buildings that reflect long history as well as exceptional...
Two New Ships for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Beginning 2024
Fans of ultra-luxury, all-inclusive boutique European river cruising have two reasons to celebrate. Uniworld has announced the addition of two ships to its fleet. Following the line’s tradition of naming ships after European queens, empresses and other royalty, the new ships names are S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth. The ships will begin sailing in 2024 and 2025 respectively. We say ‘new’ ships, but they’re not newly-launched; however, they are new-to-Uniworld. Victoria and Elisabeth will be familiar to many fans of luxury...