Galapagos by Tiny Cat
Swimming next to inquisitive sea lions, adorable penguins, graceful sea turtles, and a multitude of colorful schools of fish was worth taking four airplanes and numerous buses to reach the EcoGalaxy in the Galapagos Islands. The 16-passenger, three-deck catamaran was built to fit ecological paramete
DAY@SEA: NoRWEGIAN VIVA
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 wa
Power Pop For Better Ships
ABBA, the internationally revered pop group, has been giving joy and excitement to hundreds of millions for more than five decades. Now, they’re showing themselves to be environmentally conscientious as well by backing a new generation of wind-assisted ships. The Swedish megastars are partnering
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-
Now Visualize a Stress-Free Vacation….
Travelers seeking relaxation often return from their vacations more stressed than when they left. Racing to catch flights, adjusting to time changes, and wrestling with reservation forms can be exhausting. That’s why more and more European hotels are providing opportunities to practice mindfulness
Virgin’s Forest
Hats off to Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s prestigious collection of luxury accommodations, for raising awareness of — and money for — mangrove conservation. Visitors to Necker Island, Sir Branson’s private island in the British Virgin Islands, are being encouraged to make a c
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
Mooning Over SH Diana
When you walk onto Swan Hellenic’s newest ship, SH Diana, you are immediately greeted with a sense of elegance and sophistication. That’s not what you might expect from an expedition ship, but the newest member of Swan Hellenic’s fleet captures the essence of high-class exploration. As soon as
A Different Sip
Every coffee lover has a favorite. Do you sip only single-origin Colombian or Brazilian? Perhaps you prefer flavored varieties, with vanilla, pecan or hazelnut added. Even if you’ll drink any dang bean that has caffeine, surely you go for one or two grocery-store brands over the others. But have y
A Stunning Vista
Were it not for the 18th-century baroque-period bastions within view, we might think we were in Hollywood instead of Malta. A lively, open-air cocktail reception and decadent dinner kicks off an evening filled with lavish entertainment and gala celebration. Even big names are in attendance: Emmy Awa
Delicious Castles
Craving a destination with Old-World flavor? Once the strongholds of European nobles, these castles today cater to globe-hopping gourmands, serving up local cheeses, organic chocolates, wine and beer, and more, along with a hefty dose of history. AUSTRIA Prior to COVID-19, beer lovers were encourage
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,
Authors in the East
The Chao Phraya River flows opaque and powerful through Bangkok, a working river if there ever was one. Merchant ships once wound their way upstream from the sea to unload coal and take on rice and teak wood, and even today a few bright yellow colonial buildings and a customs house remember East mee
Creatures of the Drake & the Bransfield
All penguins are little people wearing tuxedos. This is a truth that no one can deny. But now I can say authoritatively that king penguins are minor nobility at a society function, while gentoos are busy waiters and maitres d’hotel, waddling officiously back to the kitchen while keeping an eye on
MSC Cruises unveils MSC World Europa with an eye on the fleet of the future
When MSC Cruises named its newest ship in Doha, Qatar, in November last year, the privately-owned cruise line pulled out all the stops. The MSC World Europa naming ceremony included an incredible drone show, an impressive fireworks display set against the Doha skyline, and an appearance from a disti
