Dan Howell Travel Feed

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Wonders featuring a 4-Night Cruise

Tue, 12 May 26 04:00:43 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

On a private yacht, embark on a 4-night cruise of the Galápagos Islands with a naturalist guide.
Explore the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu.
Meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Master two of South America’s classics, ceviche and pisco sours, at an interactive cooking class.
Delight in a farm-to-table lunch with a local Quechua community.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Learn traditional methods of harvesting and weaving from a rural community.
Stand tall in the “Middle of the World” at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum.
Wind through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu.

HOTELS

Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Lima
Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley, Yucay
Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Casa Andina Premium, Cuzco
Mercure Hotel Alameda, Quito
M/Y Coral II, Galapagos Islands

INCLUDED

Stay:

14 Days
13 Nights

Meals:

13 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
8 Dinners

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Wonders featuring a 4-Night Cruise to the West Islands

Tue, 12 May 26 04:00:43 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

On a private yacht, embark on a 4-night cruise of the Galápagos Islands with a naturalist guide.
Explore the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu.
Meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Master two of South America’s classics, ceviche and pisco sours, at an interactive cooking class.
Delight in a farm-to-table lunch with a local Quechua community.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Learn traditional methods of harvesting and weaving from a rural community.
Stand tall in the “Middle of the World” at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum.
Wind through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu.

HOTELS

Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Lima
Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley, Yucay
Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Casa Andina Premium, Cuzco
Mercure Hotel Alameda, Quito
M/Y Coral II, Galapagos Islands

INCLUDED

Stay:

14 Days
13 Nights

Meals:

13 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
8 Dinners

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Wonders featuring a 4-Night Cruise to the South Islands

Tue, 12 May 26 04:00:43 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

On a private yacht, embark on a 4-night cruise of the Galápagos Islands with a naturalist guide.
Explore the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu.
Meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Master two of South America’s classics, ceviche and pisco sours, at an interactive cooking class.
Delight in a farm-to-table lunch with a local Quechua community.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Learn traditional methods of harvesting and weaving from a rural community.
Stand tall in the “Middle of the World” at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum.
Wind through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu.

HOTELS

Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Lima
Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley, Yucay
Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Casa Andina Premium, Cuzco
Mercure Hotel Alameda, Quito
M/Y Coral II, Galapagos Islands

INCLUDED

Stay:

14 Days
13 Nights

Meals:

13 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
8 Dinners

The Complete South Pacific

Tue, 12 May 26 04:00:43 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Take a tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Explore the Great Barrier Reef from a high-speed catamaran and choose from a collection of included activities.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Taste world-class wines during a private tour of Chateau Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.
At sunset, enjoy a champagne toast while gazing at Uluru.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Take a 'waka,' a traditional Maori canoe ride on the Otakaro Avon River.
Learn about the endangered Tasmanian Devil and the conservation efforts aimed at its survival.
See Australian wildlife and learn about indigenous culture at Rainforestation Nature Park.

HOTELS

Sheraton Melbourne, Melbourne
Hadley's Orient Hotel, Hobart
Pullman Adelaide, Adelaide
Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock
Flynn Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Cairns
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney
Hotel Indigo, Auckland
Sudima Lake Rotorua, Rotorua
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington
Distinction Christchurch, Christchurch
Rendezvous Heritage, Queenstown

INCLUDED

Stay:

27 Days
26 Nights

Meals:

24 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
11 Dinners

Mackinac Island featuring the Tulip Time Festival

Mon, 11 May 26 04:00:42 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Immerse yourself in generations of innovation during a visit to the Henry Ford Museum.
Spend two nights at the glorious Victorian-era resort, the Grand Hotel.
View extraordinary flowers in bloom at Holland’s Tulip Time Festival.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Experience Chicago’s famous Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse where “sophistication, sports, and history blend to create a distinctive dining experience.”
Dine at the Grand Hotel where "every meal is an event."

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Climb aboard your horse-drawn carriage, Mackinac Island’s local transportation, for a tour of the island.
Enjoy the sounds of Detroit’s musical history over dinner at a local restaurant.

HOTELS

Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL
Courtyard Grand Rapids Downtown, Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City - Riverfront, Bay City, MI
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Detroit, MI

INCLUDED

Stay:

9 Days
8 Nights

Meals:

8 Breakfasts
1 Lunch
4 Dinners

Journey Through Egypt and Jordan

Sun, 10 May 26 04:00:41 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Stand before the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Meander through historic Petra, the “Rose Red City.”
View the tombs of King Tut and Ramses VI during a tour of the Valley of the Kings.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Prepare your meal and eat family-style at an Arabic cooking class in Petra.
Immerse yourself in Middle Eastern flavors during a ‘small plates’ meze lunch in the Jordanian capital.
Enjoy an afternoon tea aboard your ship, while gazing upon the Nile’s banks.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Dress up and join the fun at a traditional galabeya party.
Connect with locals during a home-hosted lunch in Madaba.
Discover the secrets of the Nile, the world’s longest river, on a 4-night cruise.

HOTELS

Amman Marriott Hotel, Amman
Petra Marriott Hotel, Petra
Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, Dead Sea
Marriott Cairo Hotel & Casino, Cairo
M/S Blue Shadow I, Nile River Cruise, Luxor
Marriott Cairo Hotel & Casino, Cairo

INCLUDED

Stay:

15 Days
14 Nights

Meals:

13 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
10 Dinners

Treasures of Egypt

Sun, 10 May 26 04:00:41 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Discover the Valley of the Kings, including a viewing of the tombs of Kings Tutankhamun and Ramses VI.
Explore the 4,000-year-old religious complex of the Karnak Temple.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Enjoy an afternoon tea aboard your ship, while gazing upon the Nile’s banks.
Experience freshly prepared traditional local cuisine each night on your Nile cruise.
Get a first-hand introduction into how Egyptian cuisine is prepared during a cooking demonstration.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Dress up and join the fun at a traditional galabeya party.
Journey by motorboat to Philae Temple, rescued stone by stone during the construction of the High Dam.
Embark on a 7-night cruise and discover the secrets of the Nile, the world’s longest river.

HOTELS

Cairo Marriott Hotel & Casino, Cairo
M/S Blue Shadow II, Nile River, Nile River
Intercontinental Citystars Hotel, Cairo

INCLUDED

Stay:

13 Days
12 Nights

Meals:

11 Breakfasts
8 Lunches
9 Dinners

Australia's Outback to New Zealand's South Island

Sat, 09 May 26 04:00:40 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Explore Kata Tjuta and the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Cruise Milford Sound, taking in the natural beauty that surrounds you.
Explore the Great Barrier Reef.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Dine with locals in their home.
Witness Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset while you sip champagne.
Take in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House — an architectural wonder.
Discover the origins of the Kuku Yulanji Aboriginal people on a tour in the Daintree Rainforest.
Overnight in the majestic Mt. Cook National Park.

HOTELS

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney
Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Cairns
Desert Gardens, Uluru
Crown Promenade Melbourne, Melbourne
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, Queenstown
The Hermitage, Mount Cook
Distinction Christchurch, Christchurch

INCLUDED

Stay:

20 Days
19 Nights

Meals:

17 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
9 Dinners

Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires

Sat, 09 May 26 04:00:40 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

Mingle with the gauchos (South American cowboys) at an estancia.
Spend two nights in Mendoza, South America’s famous wine country.
Stroll through Buenos Aires with a local and get to know the city’s diverse flavors and flair.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Experience Santiago’s Central Market with a local before enjoying a seafood lunch with your finds.
Enjoy wine tastings at two of Mendoza’s breathtaking vineyards.
Savor an asado barbeque on a sprawling ranch.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Discover Argentina’s yerba mate tea, a drink steeped in tradition.
Learn about families tragically separated during Argentina’s military dictatorship and an organization that works to reunite them.
In Buenos Aires, master the art of tango with a professional dancer before mingling with the locals at a social club.

HOTELS

INCLUDED

Stay:

10 Days
9 Nights

Meals:

8 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
3 Dinners

South Pacific Wonders

Sat, 09 May 26 04:00:40 +0000

MUST-SEE INCLUSIONS

See where the original colonists first settled during a city tour of Sydney.
Board a catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

Take in the sights during a dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour.
Enjoy a Kiwi barbecue on the western shore of Lake Wakatipu.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Come to know Australia’s ancient traditions at the Rainforestation Nature Park.
Paddle the Avon River in a traditional Maori waka (canoe).
Take a guided tour of the fascinating Sydney Opera House.

HOTELS

Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Cairns
Novotel Sydney Darling Square, Sydney
Distinction Christchurch Hotel, Christchurch
Millennium Hotel, Queenstown

INCLUDED

Stay:

15 Days
14 Nights

Meals:

12 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
6 Dinners

Splash Into Summer Savings with Up to 60% Off All-Inclusive Escapes

Thu, 07 May 26 20:13:31 +0000

Save up to 60% on summer getaways in Punta Cana and Costa Mujeres, including the brand-new Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres - All-Suite Resort, featuring all-suite accommodations, premium all-Club
service, and a multi-zone water park.

Book by May 31, 2026, for travel through December 23, 2026.

Contact us today to learn more.

2 Nights Free at UNICO 18º77º Montego Bay

Wed, 06 May 26 20:00:21 +0000

Book at UNICO 20º87º Riviera Maya or UNICO 20º10º Riviera Nayarit and receive two complimentary nights at UNICO 18º77º Montego Bay, opening soon in Jamaica.

Contact us today to learn more.

Where Sunshine Sets The Tone

Wed, 06 May 26 13:51:15 +0000

Sun‑drenched destinations. Elevated stays. Moments made for two.

With United Vacations’ Savor the Sunshine offer, your celebration of love begins in some of the world’s most beautiful settings. Enjoy savings of up to 25% plus exclusive benefits at a curated collection of luxury and all‑inclusive resorts ideal for honeymoons, destination weddings, anniversaries, and romantic escapes.

From beachfront vows to post‑wedding retreats, these thoughtfully selected resorts pair attentive service, inspired dining, and romantic experiences designed to savor every moment.

Impression by Secrets Resorts brings intimacy to luxury with refined design, personalized service, and elevated gastronomy. With Endless Privileges®, everything is included—so you can relax into every detail of your celebration.

Explore the featured properties below and find the perfect setting for your next chapter together. Contact us today to learn more.

Savor the Sunshine Wherever You Roam

Wed, 06 May 26 13:44:51 +0000

Sun‑drenched destinations. Elevated stays. Moments made for two.

Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate beachfront ceremony, a blissful post‑wedding retreat, or a romantic getaway designed to slow life down and savor every moment, these resorts offer exceptional service, inspired dining, and thoughtful experiences created with romance in mind.

Explore the featured properties below to find the perfect backdrop for your “I do,” your honeymoon, or your next unforgettable chapter together.

Impression by Secrets Resorts

Impression by Secrets offers lavish luxury at intimate boutique resorts with exquisite care and epicurean artistry. Guests can expect to indulge with Endless Privileges®, where everything is included. Guests will delight in exclusive experiences tailored to their preferences, service dedicated totheir specific desires and curated gastronomy designed to rise above every expectation.

Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts

Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts deliver cultivated moments and elevated experiences to each guest. Endless Privileges® provide unparalleled personal service, enriching activities, exclusive amenities, and curated cuisine for a customized stay.

Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya

Exclusively for adults, Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya inspires guests to live in the moment surrounded by natural beauty, serenity, and romance. Pristine beaches and crystalline waters set the scene, while the tranquil Zen Spa and luxurious accommodations bring vacation dreams to life.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

Nestled between the natural Bahia Petempich beach and the Caribbean Sea, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun all-inclusive resort offers heartfelt service and atmosphere of sophistication for guests of all ages. Guests can indulge in endless activities, amenities and comforts in this oceanfront paradise fit for the entire family.

Secrets Resorts & Spas

Secrets Resorts & Spas offer adults an extra measure of all-adult romance, immersed in exquisite beachfront settings with Unlimited Luxury® inclusions. Dedication to personal attention and elevated levels of service let guests release all worries and focus on each other.

Dreams Resorts & Spas

Dreams Resorts & Spas offer unforgettable beachfront experiences designed for couples and families to connect with those who matter most in a high-end setting. The Explorer’s Club for kids and Core Zone Teens Club provide supervised day and evening activities that will undoubtedly make for memorable moments.

Breathless Resorts & Spas

Live Big with DJ hosted pool parties and exciting nightly club scenes. Breathe Deep with a treatment at the world-class spa by Pevonia®, a workout at the fitness center, or a sundrenched day on the beach. At Breathless Resorts & Spas®, guests will enjoy their best life in paradise.

Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts

Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts are designed for travelers seeking casual comforts filled with simple pleasures. These all-inclusive, adults-only, beachfront resorts are fresh, relaxed and offer experiences that complement every traveler’s style. It's where custom meets convenience and living well is effortless. From familiar flavors and locally-inspired fare, to inviting amenities, friendly service and an array of cultural experiences, the stage is set for memory making moments.

Sunscape Resorts & Spas

Sunscape Resorts & Spas offer fun-filled and worry-free, family-friendly vacations. Guests will experience Unlimited-Fun® – where everything is included – paired with a vibrant beachfront atmosphere and friendly service.

What Your Brain Actually Does Differently At Sea

Mon, 04 May 26 17:35:53 +0000

There's a reason you step off a ship feeling like a better version of yourself. Lighter. Clearer. Oddly rested, even if you stayed up until 2 am at The Manor (our onboard dance hub). This feeling isn't just the cocktails and the sea breeze; it's your brain, doing something genuinely different the moment land disappears from view.

Neuroscience and environmental psychology have spent years catching up to what Sailors already know intuitively: the ocean changes you. Here's what's actually happening inside your head when you're out there, seeing the world from our kid-free luxury ships.

Blue space does something land can't

Researchers use the term "blue space" to describe any natural water environment, and the evidence for its effect on mental health is compelling. Studies consistently show that time near, on, or around water reduces cortisol levels, lowers heart rate, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the one responsible for rest and recovery.

On land, your brain is constantly processing stimulation: notifications, traffic, deadlines, the ambient hum of being reachable. At sea, that input drops sharply. The visual field opens up. The horizon is steady. Your nervous system, finally given permission to exhale, takes it.

This isn't relaxation as a feeling. It's relaxation as a measurable physiological state.

Your default mode network gets a proper rest

When you're not actively focused on a task, your brain shifts into what neuroscientists call the default mode network—a kind of background processing state associated with daydreaming, self-reflection, and creative thinking. The problem is that modern life rarely lets it run properly. Constant stimulation keeps interrupting it.

At sea, something shifts. The gentle, rhythmic motion of a ship—the kind you barely notice after the first hour—creates a low-level sensory environment that's just engaging enough to quiet the noise without demanding attention. Your default mode network gets the uninterrupted time it rarely gets on land.

This is why so many people report having their best ideas on a cruise. It's not coincidence. It's neurology.

The sound of water is genuinely calming

The ocean isn't quiet, but it's the right kind of loud. Research into auditory environments shows that non-threatening, rhythmic, natural sounds—waves, water movement, wind—trigger relaxation responses in the brain more reliably than silence.

White noise machines try to replicate this. They don't come close.

When you're on deck watching the water move, or falling asleep in a sea terrace cabin with the hum of the ocean outside, your auditory cortex is processing sound in a fundamentally different way than it does in an office, a city, or a busy airport. The brain reads it as safe. And when the brain feels safe, everything else follows.

Time perception changes at sea

Ask anyone who's sailed and they'll tell you: days feel longer. Not in a boring way. In the way that a really good day feels long because you were actually present for all of it.

There's a well-documented link between novel experiences and the perception of time. When your brain encounters new environments, new flavors, new people, and new places in quick succession, it encodes more memories per unit of time. The result is that a week at sea can feel richer and more expansive than a month of ordinary routine.

On a Virgin Voyages voyage, that novelty is stacked deliberately (and included in your voyage fare). World-class dining across 20-plus eateries. Ports that shift every day or two. Entertainment that doesn't repeat. Shore experiences (we call them Shore Things) that are genuinely unexpected. Your brain is taking it all in, and it's filing it carefully.

Social connection rewires your stress response

Isolation is one of the most consistent predictors of poor mental health. Its opposite—genuine, easy, unforced social connection—has the reverse effect. Oxytocin rises. Stress hormones fall. The brain's threat-detection systems calm down.

A ship is a uniquely social environment. Not in a forced, name-tag-at-a-conference way. In the way that good bars, good restaurants, and good company make conversation feel effortless. On our adults-only ships, the Sailor-to-crew ratio sits at 2.5 to one, which means the experience is attentive without being overwhelming. And because there are no children on board, the social atmosphere skews toward people who are there to be present, connect, and actually enjoy themselves.

That environment is not incidental. It's engineered.

Novelty and reward are deeply linked

Every new port, every new dish, every first glimpse of a coastline you've never seen before triggers a dopamine response. Dopamine isn't just the "pleasure chemical"—it's the brain's signal for learning, motivation, and reward. New experiences don't just feel good. They build new neural pathways.

Travel, and particularly sea travel, is one of the most effective ways to keep the brain genuinely stimulated as we age. The combination of physical movement, sensory variety, social engagement, and environmental change is almost unbeatable.

The feeling you're chasing has a name

"Blue mind" is the term coined by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols to describe the mildly meditative state the brain enters near water. It's characterized by calm, creativity, and a sense of being fully present. It's not mystical. It's measurable.

And it's exactly what happens when you're standing at the bow of Scarlet Lady watching the Caribbean come into view, or sitting on your sea terrace as the Mediterranean turns gold at dusk.

The ocean doesn't just look good. It's good for you.

Ready to give your brain what it's been asking for?

The science is solid. The experience is better. Whether you're drawn to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or somewhere further afield, a Virgin Voyages voyage gives your brain the space, the novelty, and the sensory richness it rarely gets on land. Explore our fleet of adults-only ships and find the sailing that calls to you.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Receive $400 Shipboard Credit per Suite

Mon, 04 May 26 16:14:31 +0000

Truly Unrivaled Experience

The Regent Experience has long been absolute in its inclusiveness, providing you with the most enriching and luxurious journey on the seven seas. Join us as we travel the world in search of the best life has to offer, with every luxury included, and discover a truly unrivaled experience.

Taste the World - At Regent Seven Seas Cruises, authentic flavors are infused with creative inspiration and regional dishes overflow with heritage and variety.

Receive $400 Shipboard Credit per Suite on select cruises.

Contact your travel agent for more information!

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Explora: Receive up to €300 Journey Experience Credit per Suite

Mon, 04 May 26 16:13:49 +0000

Redefining Ocean Travel

Step aboard your ultra-elegant home at sea, where spacious oceanfront suites, world-class dining, and ocean-inspired wellness set the stage for discovery.

Savour exceptional cuisine, unwind in serene lounges and by tranquil pools, and Journey to both celebrated destinations and hidden treasures, all while discovering your Ocean State of Mind.

Contact your travel advisor for details.

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Seabourn: Receive $300 USD per Suite Shipboard Credit

Mon, 04 May 26 16:13:12 +0000

The Seabourn All-Inclusive Difference
Seabourn welcomes you to all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruising refined to its purest form. Where hand-selected itineraries take you to places beyond the reach of larger ships.

Your home away from home is a superbly appointed luxury suite. Here, you can revel in sublime comfort as the world passes by.

Our world-class dining and culinary experiences rival the finest restaurants around the globe - even when we sail in the most remote destinations.

Contact your travel advisor for details.

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Oceania Cruises: Receive $250 Shipboard Credit

Mon, 04 May 26 16:12:33 +0000

Oceania Cruises’ enhanced value promise redefines luxury cruising with a seamless blend of simplicity, generosity and flexibility, ensuring that every aspect of your voyage is effortlessly taken care of. No hidden fees, no nickel and diming, no guesswork about what’s included. And now we’re adding even more, offering you the opportunity to select one of two additional curated amenities that best fits your travel style. This is luxury of choice.

Oceania Cruises redefines luxury with simple, generous, flexible value—no hidden fees. Now choose 1 of 2 curated perks to match your travel style: a generous shore excursion credit or wine and beer by the glass.

Contact your travel advisor for details.

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Scenic: Up to $250 Savings or up to €250 Onboard Credit per suite

Mon, 04 May 26 16:11:16 +0000

It’s the most enjoyable and luxurious way to explore Europe and Southeast Asia historic cities and towns, where all details are taken care of to the Nth Degree. After all, with Scenic the difference is in the details. Your Scenic Space-Ship and world-class crew are at the heart of your journey, ready to deliver ultra-luxury service and enriching experiences. With an extensive range of truly all-inclusive river cruises plus city extensions and land journeys, a journey through Europe and Southeast Asia with Scenic really is in a class of its own.

Featured Itinerary:
Spectacular South of France
11 days
Departure Date: May 10, 2027
From: $9,245 in a Standard Suite

Contact your travel advisor for details.

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Virgin Voyages: Receive Up to $200 Sailor Loot

Mon, 04 May 26 15:34:22 +0000

From Mexico’s vibrant ports to the Caribbean’s laid-back charm, our award-winning, kid-free voyages promise elevated dining, unforgettable entertainment, and adults-only indulgence—all included, always extraordinary.

Always bringing fresh ingredients and made-to-order cooking to the table, our foodie-approved eateries offer everything from food truck faves to ten-course feasts — perfect for crushing any craving.

Contact your travel advisor for more information!

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

$500M Update Brings Guest-Favorite Feature Across Holland America Line Fleet

Mon, 04 May 26 15:34:03 +0000

Fans of the Grand Dutch Cafés onboard Holland America Line’s newest ships can look forward to finding this little piece of Netherlands culture and design onboard many more ships soon.

At the Seatrade industry cruise conference in Miami in April, Holland America Line’s president warned the media conference that the event was not a new ship announcement. But fans of the line still have plenty to celebrate.

As part of a half-billion-dollar, fleet-wide ‘Evolution,’ HAL is expanding the best of its newest, Pinnacle-class ships to other ships in six Vista and Signature-class ships.

Grand Dutch Cafés and More

Inspired by European café culture and rooted in the cruise line’s Dutch heritage, the Grand Dutch Café has become a signature venue and experience, with eye-catching, iconic Delft-blue and white ceramics, paint, and leather trim evoking the stepped rooflines of Amsterdam, and sweet and savory Dutch edibles that take guests from morning coffee through pre-dinner bites and drinks. The social hub on Deck 3 near the atrium in Pinnacle-class ships reflects the role cafés play in communities in the Netherlands and Europe… and have become favorite social hubs on Pinnacle-class ships.

On my last cruise, we went to the Grand Dutch Café twice daily! My friend who inexplicably loves pickled herring was thrilled! We aren’t the only people who want more Grand Dutch Café in our lives.

“Our guests have been very clear about what they love about our ships and what they want to see more of, and Holland America Evolution is our answer to that,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president, Holland America Line at Seatrade, making the announcement.

While the signature Grand Dutch Cafe is the highest profile addition to ships during the biggest fleet revitalization in the cruise line’s 150+ year history, the line will also add other restaurant and bar options, and refresh and reinvent key guest spaces — including new stateroom and suite categories — while maintaining the spacious design and intimate ship feel guests associate with Holland America Line ships.

The first ship on the dry-dock list is the Oosterdam, whose renovations will debut in the fall of 2027. The schedule and plans for the remaining 5 ships in the Evolution plan – and how these extended drydocks will affect planned itineraries – will be announced soon. Impacted booked guests will be contacted directly.

New Staterooms and Suites – Including Solo Verandahs

Oosterdam will get 76 new staterooms while the line promised to preserve the “room at the rail” guests love. New and enhanced accommodations debuting on Oosterdam include:

NEW: Solo Verandahs: Thirty purpose-built staterooms created specifically for solo travelers. Each features a private balcony, dedicated workspace, and full Holland America Line amenities, responding to strong and growing guest demand.
When asked about the pricing of the new solo verandah staterooms at Seatrade, Bodensteiner revealed that pricing would be ‘dynamic’ based on demand. At the same time, she suggested that, while there were no plans to offer the staterooms without a single supplement, there would be savings compared to the 100% markup single travelers often encounter on cruise lines.
NEW: Bridgeview Suites: Two new suites offering sweeping 180-degree ocean views through panoramic windows at the forward part of the ship, with 900 square feet of space, a wraparound balcony, and separate living and sleeping areas.
Reimagined Pinnacle Suite: The most expansive suite ever introduced on a Vista Class ship, offering 1,550 square feet of refined living space with panoramic views, a private balcony, separate living room, powder room, bedroom, ensuite bath, and walk-in closet.
Vista Suites debut on Oosterdam: Twenty-four Vista Suites, familiar to guests who have sailed on Pinnacle Class ships, will be introduced on Oosterdam for the first time.

Sustainability Part of the Plan

Renovations focus on revitalizing the fleet while improving efficiency and reducing overall environmental impact: waste reduction and circular design, prioritizing upcycling and material reuse.

Media in attendance at the Seatrade conference received a gift bag that included this coaster, in true Grand Dutch Café style, made from upcycled carpet – just one example of the cruise line's upcycling and efficiency efforts.

The company is also investing in energy efficiency as part of the Evolution.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images courtesy

Norwegian Cruise Line: Up To $200 USD Onboard Credit Per Stateroom

Mon, 04 May 26 15:31:40 +0000

Let Inspiration Guide You

Enjoy world-class specialty dining and unlimited premium drinks with the Free at Sea™ cruising package.

An evolution of the senses. A revolution of flavor. An infusion of past favorites and all-new additions. Prepare your palate for a colorful spectrum of gastronomic proportions onboard the Norwegian Aqua™. Delight in returning favorites like Cagney’s Steakhouse and brand-new concepts like Sukhothai — a stunning, modern Thai restaurant that immerses you into authentic Thai flavors made from the finest ingredients. Dive into the wonderful world of dining excellence and discover elevated experiences at every corner that will make your mouth water.

Contact our travel agency for details.

This offer is valid for booking through 12/31/2026

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Alaska Cruise Edition)

Mon, 04 May 26 15:31:12 +0000

In Alaska, everyone can feel like they’re in a fairy tale. Even the one with the three bears! Wildlife watching opportunities – especially bear sightings – rank among the top reasons to take an Alaska cruise. And I’ve never known anyone to leave disappointed!

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE OF SOME OF OUR

FAVORITE WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS ON A REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISE TO ALASKA

But how many different types of bears can you hope to see?

1. The American Black Bear

The most common, the smallest— and often the first bear travelers encounter — is the black bear. Widespread across Southeast Alaska, they thrive in the dense coastal rainforest that lines so many cruise routes.

‘Baby Bear’: Adults typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds, with males on the higher end. They stand about 3 feet at the shoulder on all fours, but can reach 5 to 7 feet when upright. Compared to other Alaska bears, they’re compact — built for agility rather than dominance.

What's for dinner: Black bears are true opportunists. Their diet leans heavily towards vegetarian — berries, grasses, roots — supplemented with insects, shellfish, and the occasional salmon. You’ll often see them along shorelines at low tide, turning rocks with surprising dexterity. They’re also excellent climbers, frequently escaping danger (or napping) in trees.

Wow: Accessibility. In ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, black bears can appear startlingly close to town. It’s not uncommon to spot one from a roadside or harbor edge — a quintessential Alaska moment where wilderness and daily life blur.

That’s why some people joke that the easiest way to see a black bear is a local dumpster!

2. Brown Bears

Black bears are not uncommon in wild areas of other parts of the US and Canada. Brown bears – called grizzly bears inland – are much, much rarer in the ‘lower 48.’ So this is the bear most travelers come hoping to see — and for good reason. Brown bears are the heavyweight icons of Alaska wildlife and bear spotting.

“Mama Bear”: Coastal brown bears routinely weigh 600 to 1,200 pounds, with some exceptional males pushing beyond that. Standing upright, they can reach 8 to 10 feet tall. A pronounced shoulder hump — pure muscle used for digging and power — is their signature silhouette.

What's for dinner: While technically omnivores, coastal brown bears are protein-driven powerhouses. Salmon is the game-changer. During peak runs (late June through August), they consume staggering amounts — sometimes dozens of fish a day — prioritizing the fattiest parts to bulk up for hibernation. Earlier in the season, they graze on sedge grasses; later, they’ll add berries and carrion to the mix.

Wow: The fishing. Watching a thousand-pound bear stand in a rushing river and pluck a leaping salmon midair is one of North America’s great wildlife spectacles. Cruise excursions to places like Admiralty Island National Monument or Katmai National Park and Preserve deliver top opportunities to experience this natural theater.

3. The Kodiak Bear

Venture a little farther to get a chance to glimpse the only bear found nowhere else in the world except Alaska. Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears isolated for thousands of years in the rich environment of the Kodiak archipelago, where they became super-sized versions of their cousins on the mainland.

“Papa Bear”: Among the largest bears on Earth, Kodiak bears often exceed mainland brown bears. Mature males commonly weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds, with rare individuals approaching 1,600 pounds. Standing height can exceed 10 feet. They are, quite simply, massive.

What's for dinner: Like other coastal brown bears, Kodiaks benefit from a nutrient-rich environment — abundant salmon, lush vegetation, and minimal competition. Their diet mirrors that of mainland coastal bears, but in an ecosystem that has allowed them to grow even larger over time, and breeding among the smaller, isolated population reinforces the gigantic genes.

Wow: Rarity and scale. Found only on the Kodiak Archipelago, they’re not part of most cruise itineraries. But for those on Gulf of Alaska routes, crossings via Kodiak to Asia — or willing to take a fly-out excursion — the reward is seeing one of the planet’s most powerful land mammals in a setting that feels truly remote.

Cruises: Alaska's Wilderness Safaris

What makes Alaska so compelling isn’t just that you can see three types of bears — it’s how naturally those encounters fit into a cruise. Ships provide access to remote coastlines and protected wilderness areas, while guided excursions handle the logistics and safety of getting you into bear habitat responsibly.

Timing matters. Salmon season dramatically improves your odds of seeing brown and Kodiak bears in action. But even outside those peak weeks, Alaska’s sheer abundance of wildlife means that bear sightings — especially black bears — are never out of the question.

What about Polar Bears?

Alaska is technically home to a fourth bear – one that’s on many soft adventure travelers’ bucket lists. But polar bears are truly Arctic bears, far beyond the reaches of Alaska cruises, which focus on the temperate coastal rainforest ecosystems of Alaska hundreds of miles south of polar bear country.

If polar bear sightings are your dream, an Arctic cruise - especially in Canada and Norway – offers some of the best chances to see the world’s largest bear and largest carnivore on Earth!

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Video and story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.

Other images: Getty

Breaking News: Princess Cruises Building All-New Class of Ships, its Largest-Ever!

Mon, 04 May 26 15:29:20 +0000

By 2039, there will be three new ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, the largest, most advanced ships ever for the cruise line, carrying over 4700 guests each, and dual-fuel, powered primarily by the sustainability-conscious LNG (liquified natural gas). The new class of ships is called the Voyager class, with the first ship scheduled for delivery in 2035.

The new class of ships is another step forward for the cruise line, and its most recent, Sphere class of ships (Sun Princess and Star Princess.)

Here’s how the upcoming Voyager-class of ships stacks up against Princess’ previous classes of ships beginning before this millennium, with Voyager-class representing the next generation in size and technology, but only a slight boost, under 500 additional guests, in staterooms and suites.

Voyager Class (2035+): 183,000 gross tons (GT), 4,700 guests. LNG-powered.
Sphere Class (2024-2025): 177,000 GT, 4,300 guests. Introduced the signature dome feature and massive Piazza design.
Royal Class (2013–2021): ~142,000-145,000 GT, 3,600 guests. This class of ship became known for its SeaWalk and atrium.
Grand Class (1998-2008): ~107,000-113,000 GT, 2,600 guests. At one time, the largest ships in the fleet were considered mid-sized vessels.

According to Princess, the new Voyager-class vessels will integrate the most desired and highest-rated experiences and venues Princess Cruises is known for, with completely re-imagined outer decks, staterooms, and Piazza designs that cater to Princess’ global travelers and worldwide deployments and itineraries. These new ships will build upon the award-winning Sphere Class platform and continue to leverage the latest hospitality and marine technologies.

Many more details have yet to be revealed in advance of the first Voyager-class ship - the cruise line doesn't even have renderings of the vision of the Voyager-class ship!

But fans of Princess Cruises will be watching this space, eager for details as they emerge.

A History of Innovation

In 1965, Princess Cruises began as a single ship sailing to Mexico, and it has grown into a world-renowned cruise line that connects guests to more than 345 destinations across seven continents.

According to the cruise line, Princess was the first to introduce affordable balconies, flexible dining options, and even weddings at sea officiated by the ship's captain. Princess was also the first cruise line to launch Movies Under the Stars — a now-iconic poolside feature — and continues to lead with experiences that surprise and delight in meaningful ways.

It created MedallionClass: a first-of-its-kind experience built around a simple, wearable device called the Medallion. With tools like OceanNow, Manage Booking, and OceanReady, guests enjoy a seamless voyage focused on personalization and convenience.

Its most recent class of ships—the Sphere Class, with sister ships Sun Princess and Star Princess—represents the future of cruising with groundbreaking design and guest experiences.

Today, Princess is part of Carnival Corporation and operates a fleet of 17 ships with a presence in every region of the globe, on all 7 continents.

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Image: Star Princess, courtesy of Princess Cruises