Beauty and the Bottle
The Italian Lakes are among the most beautiful and popular places to visit in Europe. The glory of nature lies all around with glistening waters, picturesque lakeside villages, medieval castles and imposing mountain views. Stretching from the River Po in the south to the lower Alps and the Dolomites
Snow’s Bones
The waters of Glacier Bay National Park practically boil with life in the summer: Sail here, and you’re likely to see bears turning shoreline rocks over for food or vanishing into the trees; shaggy mountain goats climbing along impossibly steep slopes; and humpback whales breaching, diving, an
A Centennial Family Cruise
Living to the age of 100 is an amazing feat … but celebrating a centennial birthday aboard a cruise ship with family from all over the country is truly extraordinary. We set sail from Miami last spring on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky with four generations of the Guthmann clan to honor o
Discovering China on the Shanghai Train
There’s no better way to travel from Beijing to Shanghai than on the tracks. China is home to the world’s longest high-speed rail network, with a length of over 42,000 kilometers (26,098 miles). The Chinese rail network gives travelers a rare opportunity to see parts of China and aspects of dail
Luxury … With a Twist!
Explora I’s Lobby Bar soars midship from Decks 4 to 5 but it doesn’t call to mind the traditional cruise ship atrium with its riotous activity and zooming glass elevators. This inviting space, the social heart of Explora Journeys’ first ship, is part living room, with plush seating and cockt
Cruising Cool and Bright
There’s not much that isn’t perfect about the eco-ship Havila Castor. It checks all the boxes: styling, service, food, and comfort, and all of it while leaving only the tiniest carbon footprint on board and in eco-conscious shore excursions. The 179-cabin, 640-passenger vessel offers classic Sca
On the Truffle Trail
Come autumn, every waiter worth his salt, working in the Langhe region of Piedmont in northern Italy, has two words on his tongue: “With truffle?” The inquiry comes with a presentation of said white truffle (the rare Tuber magnatum) on a silver platter … though with their tumor-like form and g
4 Countries, 2 Wheels, 0 Experience
“But, we haven’t even sat on a bike for four years!” My response to my wife’s idea to embark on a two-week cycling adventure down the Danube was hardly enthusiastic. But the more I thought about it, the more it appealed. What’s not to love about cycling along beautiful paths beside one
Small-Ship Woman in a Big-Ship World
“Hold. Hold! There’s somebody still in the tube.” That’s not what you want to hear while standing on a trap door, waiting for someone to push a button that will send you plummeting 10 decks down the side of a cruise ship. That trap door was my entry point for The Drop, which
Navigating 2024: Newbuilds Ahoy!
A fleet of newbuilds will sail into 2024, each ship promising new high-water marks in innovation, luxury, and adventure. Here’s an overview of what we’re looking forward to sailing. Royal Caribbean takes center stage in January with the much-anticipated debut of Icon of the Seas. This 7,600-
Another World… Another Scotland
My feet scrape against the surface of 3-billion-year-old Lewisian gneiss as I scale the boulders that surround the glistening Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye. My steps are the only sound aside from distant bleating of sheep and the squawk of gulls as they fly high overhead. I feel as though I’m a
Uninhabited, Untamed, and Untouched
Outside of the city and beyond the canal zone, Panama presents a visitor with surprisingly unspoiled nature. So be sure to hone your listening skills and practice watching for the rustling of trees in the canopy above. The rain forest in Panama covers 63 percent of the country and sequesters 160 ton
Fashion for the Future
Hats off to Piper & Skye, a company that not only creates beautifully crafted luxury handbags and accessories, but helps save our planet as well. All their bags, wallets, and other products are fashioned out of materials with a low carbon footprint and made from invasive species. Case in point:
Pampered? Or Pushing It?
Day breaks over the Sea of Cortez with the honey-colored glow of a stunning sunrise. Witnessing this from a cruise ship fills your spirit with an energy that affirms your choice to explore this stunning region on an expedition sailing. Several cruise lines visit the Sea of Cortez from Baja Californi
Summertime Calls For Swedish Luxury Fashion
Summertime in Sweden calls for pleasantly warm temperatures and the urge to peel off layers of clothing depending on the UV Index. Even though the heat can verge on the unbearable during the summer (it is the Land of the Midnight Sun, after all), residents and visitors alike love this time of year t
Geothermal Iceland
After a long journey to Iceland, I was desperate for a hot shower. But when I turned on the faucet I was overwhelmed by an egg-like stench. The odor came from silica impregnated with hydrogen sulfide, which is present in Iceland’s hot water due to the island’s immense geothermal activity. The wa
Quebec Cruises Greener
The Port of Quebec continues to make the cruise industry more environmentally sustainable through an ongoing Quebec International Cruise Forum. The forum draws ideas from a variety of sources. It brings together citizen groups, members of the maritime industry, representatives of the tourism sector,
