European Cruising After the Christmas Markets: River and Ocean
What cruises give you the warmest welcome in Europe’s coolest months? River and coastal ocean cruising doesn’t completely stop when the Christmas holidays start. In fact, Europe’s “quiet season” is becoming a season of its own for cruisers. It’s true that most Christmas markets pack up around Christmas Eve, although some extend through the holidays. But then come New Year’s celebrations, winter sales, Carnival, distinctive seasonal foods and traditions — and, along parts of the Mediterranean, the first blossoms of the...
How Low Can They Go? Historic Water Levels and the Future of River Cruising in Europe
I adore river cruising. I constantly recommend river cruises to viewers and followers. But river cruising is facing an industry-changing crisis. And I think it’s time to face it head-on with new solutions that will benefit everyone. A NEW LOW Low water levels on Europe’s major rivers – including the Rhine and the Danube – are making headlines around the world. I was at (not on!) the Rhine last week (early August, 2026), and I was shocked at the water levels, as you can...
D-Day Landing Beaches Achieve Overdue Milestone; How to Make Your Own Pilgrimage
82 years after what Winston Churchill called “the most complicated and difficult” military operation in world history, Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches finally achieved long overdue recognition of their place in the world as we know it today – plus the protection needed to ensure their lessons live on for future generations. LEARN MORE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Normandy Landing Beaches Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site after 82 years. The surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied soldiers – from the UK, USA, Canada,...
VIDEO: Wine and So Much More on a Scenic Bordeaux River Cruise
I say ‘Bordeaux,’ and you think: wine. It’s true Bordeaux is one of the most fabled and beloved wine regions of the world, and a trip to France to spend time exploring the wineries of Bordeaux is a bucket list trip for many of us. But ‘Bordeaux’ has another meaning. Translated, it means ‘at the water’s edge.’ And a river cruise may be the most authentic way to honor and live the true essence of the Bordeaux region. WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Favorite scenery,...
Christmas in July Question: Which Christmas Market River Cruise to Choose?
It’s never too early to start counting down the days until Christmas – or plan a holiday getaway. Christmas in July reminders are a great opportunity to think about how you want to celebrate or travel to get into the spirit of the season. And for me, Christmas market river cruises may be the very best way. First, you get the benefits of river cruising: unpacking once and sailing into the hearts of these European villages, towns, and cities, and having...
Top Souvenirs from a Springtime Trip to the Netherlands
Tulip season in the Netherlands is a feast for the senses: ribbons of technicolor flowers beside canals, market squares bursting with spring blooms, and river cruise ships gliding through landscapes that look suspiciously filtered (even when they’re not!) You’re going to love your trip so much that you will want to savor the moments for as long as possible. Emerald river cruise ship docked in Willemstad, the Netherlands I don’t believe in souvenirs that collect dust or worse! End up in landfills. Here...
5 Spectacular Annual Flower Shows Worth Planning a Trip Around
It’s spring at last, and our thoughts turn to the outdoors and our gardens. What better inspiration for a trip than some of the most breathtaking flower shows on earth - that take nature’s horticultural gifts and maximalize the colors, the spectacle and the drama! 1. Keukenhof Gardens — NetherlandsKeukenhof’s claim to fame is scale and control. More than seven million bulbs are planted by hand each year in layered sequences—early, mid, and late bloomers—so the park continuously evolves across its...
River to Ocean Onboard a Single Ship: Windstar’s New Way to Cruise
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...
Celebrity River Cruises Reveals Experiential Approach to Shore Excursions
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...
100 Years After Monet: Giverny Exhibit Celebrates Impressionism’s Origins
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...