Lights Out on One of the Hottest New Travel Trends

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For generations, travelers have organized their days around daylight. Get up. See the sights. Take the photos. Then, as the sun sets, the day starts wrapping up. One of travel’s fastest-growing trends turns that itinerary upside down. And the lights off. Noctourism or Astrotourism? “Noctourism” – or nocturnal tourism – is the growing appetite for travel experiences after dark. Noctourism can intersect with astrotourism, but they’re not exactly the same thing. ‘Astrotourism’ is about traveling for celestial experiences.  And a recent survey of tens of thousands of travelers found that nearly two-thirds were considering trips to darker-sky destinations for ‘starbathing,’ constellation tracking and rare celestial events.At night, right? Actually, one of the most recent examples of astrotourism was in the daytime: the August 2026 total solar... more

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Christmas in July Question: Which Christmas Market River Cruise to Choose?

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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 all the details taken care of: being dropped off at the markets without having to find parking! And enjoying seasonal festivities and cuisine on board. Even the Grinch would convert to Christmas on a Christmas market river cruise! But which Christmas... more

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Aman At Sea’s Inaugural Season: Mediterranean and Caribbean

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Aman’s first ultra-luxury lifestyle yacht will chase the sun in her inaugural 2027 season, beginning in the Mediterranean after her mid-year launch, followed by a Caribbean winter season. The Amangati will sail a series of 5- to 8-night itineraries in both regions. The hotel and resort brand that’s introducing its legendary philosophy to ultra-luxury, small-ship cruising has opened reservations for both inaugural seasons, so you can experience storied and exclusive harbors in this brand-new travel experience. Amangati means “peaceful motion” in Sanskrit, and the small ship embarks on her maiden voyage on 7 May 2027, with just 94 guests across 47 expansive ocean-facing suites, each with a private terrace, the highest ceilings in luxury yachting, full-height windows and uninterrupted sea views. Interiors... more

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European Cruising After the Christmas Markets: River and Ocean

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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 year. More cruise lines are extending their European seasons, sailing Mediterranean coastlines and rivers including the Rhine and Danube after the Christmas-market crowds have gone home.Why Cruise Europe in Winter?Fewer travelers, no crowds. This is the most obvious advantage. Museums, historic... more

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New Zealand Attracts a New Generation of Lord of the Rings Fans on 25th Anniversary of Film

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Twenty-five years ago, moviegoers got their first glimpse of Middle-earth — and savvy travelers discovered that it looked remarkably like New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered in 2001, the first chapter of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. All three movies were filmed back-to-back in Jackson’s native New Zealand, with more than 150 locations eventually used across the North and South Islands.Why New Zealand? It wasn’t just hometown patriotism. Jackson had an extraordinary range of landscapes practically on his doorstep waiting to be filmed: pastoral farmland, primeval-looking forests, volcanic terrain, wild rivers and some of the Southern Hemisphere’s most dramatic mountains. It meant multiple realms of Tolkien’s imaginary world could be created... more

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VIDEO From the Bridge: Meet the Captain of the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti

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What’s it like to captain a ship that sails year-round in exotic French Polynesia? I got to ask the captain of the Paul Gauguin during a visit to the bridge on a week-long voyage around the Islands of Tahiti. It’s a bucket-list trip for many of us – and rightfully so. Nowhere in the world compares with the tropical romance of the South Seas, and the Paul Gauguin doubles down on everything to feed your travel imagination: The Paul Gauguin is part of a ‘fleet of 1 ’, so to speak. It’s the only ship for Paul Gauguin Cruises (although the cruise line is now part of Ponant, the luxury French expedition cruise line)That singularity – and the fact that the ship... more

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Keeping Time: Why a Timepiece is Still the Best Souvenir of Switzerland

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For more than 400 years, Switzerland has been the world’s watchmaking and time-keeping capital. And unlike many luxury industries in other countries that outsourced production decades ago, the most respected Swiss watch brands are still made in Switzerland — often by hand, often in the same valleys and communities where the craft was born.  That makes a Swiss watch or clock not only an investment in precision timekeeping and prestigious personal style, but also a truly authentic and heirloom-quality memento of a visit to Switzerland. Now, when it comes to souvenir shopping, I'm firmly in the ‘consumables’ camp: something you can eat or drink or share when you get home. But something useful that also represents timeless craftsmanship and will last... more

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3 Sandals Resorts Get $200 Million Glow Up in ‘Great Jamaica Comeback’

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A trio of storied resorts on the island where Sandals was born is being reborn as part of Jamaica's comeback. A new name, new dream-inspiring accommodations, new dining venues, new menus, and new experiences celebrate Jamaican culture, cuisine, and natural beauty across the three properties.  Sandals Royal Caribbean is being renamed Sandals Caribbean Cay.  Plus, the first Sandals ever, as well as Sandals South Coast, are all part of the $200 million re-imagination project that brings beloved resorts – and Jamaican all-inclusive hospitality - into a new era. 1 The Resort That Started It All: Revitalizing Sandals Montego BayOver 40 years after opening its doors, Sandals Montego Bay is being transformed while honoring its legacy as Sandals’ flagship property. A lobby design... more

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When Your Overwater Bungalow Sails with You in Tahiti: Paul Gauguin Cruises' Room Tour

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It’s a tropical vacation fantasy: staying in an overwater bungalow over breathtaking, warm, turquoise waters in the legendary and romantic South Pacific. But what if your overwater bungalow floats with you to a new, incredible destination every day? That’s one of the best reasons to experience the Islands of Tahiti and French Polynesia with Paul Gauguin Cruises. The Paul Gauguin IS your floating overwater bungalow in the fabled South Seas. With mesmerizing early morning sail-ins and romantic sunset sailaways from the emerald green cliffs and picturesque lagoons of places you’ve visited in your dreams: Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and beyond. From an overwater bungalow, you gaze out onto the incredible seas of Polynesia. From your veranda aboard the Paul Gauguin, you gaze onto... more

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Do You Know Your Mediterranean A, B… Seas?

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When is the Med… not just the Med? The Mediterranean Sea and its iconic coastal towns, yacht harbors, fishing villages, beaches, cliffs, and cultural touchpoints are on nearly everyone’s list of favorite escapes. But – pop quiz - did you know that the Mediterranean isn’t just one sea? In reality, it’s a collection of smaller seas that developed independently and were named before the full region was charted by ancient navigators. Ultimately, they were stitched together by ancient trade routes, empire-building, mythology, culture, cuisines, and coastlines.  Travel across the Med, and you’re not cruising a single body of water. You’re crossing distinct maritime worlds, each with its own personality, history - even color palette and weather! How many Mediterranean ‘seas within a... more

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Holland America Launching Year-Round Cruises in Europe

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The seasons for cruise and travel are changing – even disappearing altogether! Holland America Line has become the latest cruise line to expand to year-round sailing in Europe, joining the likes of Viking and Windstar to make the coasts of the Mediterranean and beyond a destination for all seasons. From festive Scandinavian cities to European Christmas markets, Lapland and a more relaxed Mediterranean, new Holland America Line winter voyages bring the season to life with an extended 2027-2028 season sailing through early spring. These itineraries showcase Europe at a different pace, with access to seasonal experiences, regional traditions and a greater mix of destinations across the region With more overnights and late-night stays, the new deployment offers deeper, more immersive ways... more

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

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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 CruisingAt 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... more

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Why Travelers are Following the Trail of South Africa’s Oldest Vineyards

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For wine travelers, South Africa’s Old Vine Project has transformed a tasting trip through the Cape winelands into a journey through living wine history. Across the Western Cape, the tell-tale shapes of gnarled old bush vines — some planted decades ago — are now among the country’s most compelling travel experiences. Visitors in the know increasingly come not just to taste wine, but to stand among vineyards that survived turbulent decades of drought, shifting wine fashions, and the global race toward high-yield commercial wine production.The Champion of South Africa’s Old VinesAt the center of this movement is Rosa Kruger, the South African viticulturist widely credited with helping save the country’s heritage vineyards. I had the privilege of meeting Rosa at an event... more

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5 Spectacular Annual Flower Shows Worth Planning a Trip Around

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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 eight-week season each March and April.WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Our Tulip Time River Cruise on the Emerald Sky in the NetherlandsIt’s also known for its indoor pavilions, where Dutch growers stage rotating displays of orchids, lilies, and cut flowers at exhibition... more

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Ancestry Travel Tips

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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 identityConnection: walking where your ancestors lived and leftClosure: if your family didn’t choose their displacement or migrationCuriosity: sparked by DNA surprises or family loreLegacy: sharing “where we come from”... more

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