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New, ‘Suite’ Stays at Sandals Resorts Take Your All-Inclusive Beach Vacation to Another Level

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New, ‘Suite’ Stays at Sandals Resorts Take Your All-Inclusive Beach Vacation to Another Level

Sandals is introducing its first-ever four-bedroom butler villas, brand new ‘Skypool Suites’ with rooftop terraces, more guest-favorite ‘Rondovals,’ as well as re-imagined beachfront and bluff view rooms across adults-only, ‘luxury-included’ Sandals resorts throughout the Caribbean. Now available for booking, these new, ‘suite’ experiences are part of ‘Sandals 2.0,’ and encourage visiting amongst friends, and bringing the tropical outdoors into your living space during your next beach vacation.  Sandals Resorts is renowned for all-inclusive luxury romance for adults, with iconic, destination-defining properties in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, each set on a white-sand beach handpicked for its beauty.JAMAICA’S NEW ‘SUITE’ SPOTSCheck out newly renovated villas at Sandals Ochi, including the Two-Bedroom and... more


France’s Christmas Miracle: Spectacular Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris After Fire

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France’s Christmas Miracle: Spectacular Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris After Fire

Restored to its former glory and beyond, Notre Dame de Paris has risen from the ashes of a 2019 fire that many feared meant the end of an era for one of the most joyous historic cathedrals in Europe. The December 7, 2024 reopening ceremony and resumption of Masses felt like a Christmas gift to the world, not just for the church-going community, but also for those of us who have fallen in love with travel to Paris and France. The five-year restoration project was massive in both care and scale. Coming in at over $800 million, with work still to be done, it tapped thousands of masters of ancient craftsmanship and even the ancient forests of France. Both were needed... more


New Battleship Memorial Exhibit at Pearl Harbor for 80th Anniversary of End of WWII in the Pacific

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New Battleship Memorial Exhibit at Pearl Harbor for 80th Anniversary of End of WWII in the Pacific

December 7, 1941, is remembered annually for the attack on Hawai’i’s Pearl Harbor that drew the USA into World War 2. But September 2, 1945, is just as important in American history. That date in 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with the formal Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Two moving battleship memorials at Hawai'i’s Pearl Harbor symbolically bookend America’s War in the Pacific. The USS Arizona, sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, remains the final resting place of 900 of the ship’s 1177 sailors who lost their lives that day. The USS Missouri, the location of the ceremony where the war ended, ultimately returned to Pearl Harbor after decades of... more


VIDEO: Baking Festive Sweets Aboard a Viking Christmas Market River Cruise – with Recipe!

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VIDEO: Baking Festive Sweets Aboard a Viking Christmas Market River Cruise – with Recipe!

Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a Christmas market cruise on the Rhine from Switzerland, through France, and Germany, to the Netherlands, in the cradle of so many of our Christmas traditions. It’s a multi-sensory travel experience, from the sights of festive decorations and booths at the markets, twinkling lights and decorations, the scent of mulled wine, and the authentic tastes of holiday treats, at the markets, as well as on board our Viking longship. You’ll be immersed in the joy of the season as you explore markets and cross everyone off your Christmas list with delightful, artisan-made arts, crafts and treats unique to the region. Viking brings Christmas on board, too, with decorations, and lights that twinkle indoors and... more


VIDEO SHIP TOUR: The Best Places on an Emerald Yacht Cruise to Relax Over a Drink

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VIDEO SHIP TOUR: The Best Places on an Emerald Yacht Cruise to Relax Over a Drink

Three cheers to the yachting lifestyle!  Emerald Cruises’ yachts are warm-weather cruising on a whole different scale: small! With only 100 guests, you feel like you’re aboard your own private yacht – that’s designed to make you feel immediately at home as you spend lazy days chasing the sun… and relaxing with something cold in your hand that reminds you: you’re on holiday! WATCH THE VIDEO SHIP TOUR ABOVE: The Best Places on an Emerald Yacht Cruise to Relax Over a Drink Sleek and modern and built with the warm waters of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Seas and other remote corners of the world, Emerald Sakara and her twin ship Emerald Azzurra are sized to sail into off-the-beaten-track ports –... more


Belmond Launches First Luxury Sleeper Train in England and Wales

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Belmond Launches First Luxury Sleeper Train in England and Wales

The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, is a new way to indulge in slow travel in the lap of luxury. Debuting in the summer of 2025, it’s the first modern luxury sleeper train to allow you to discover some of the UK’s most spectacular natural landscapes and hidden gems on its three inaugural, three-day routes. Timeless Routes Through the English CountrysideDeparting from London, the Britannic Explorer takes guests to Cornwall, The Lake District, or Wales. The routes are scheduled to allow travelers to combine two regional journeys into one trip: The Cornwall and Lake District routes run from Friday to Monday, while the Wales route runs from Monday to Thursday. By day, optional off-train guided excursions will showcase the rich cultural tapestry,... more


Rosewood Debuting Private Island Resort Fusing Ultra-Luxury and Adventure in the Bahamas

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Rosewood Debuting Private Island Resort Fusing Ultra-Luxury and Adventure in the Bahamas

Rosewood Exuma opens in 2028, bringing Rosewood’s elevated experiential travel and authenticity to the Exumas. The pristine archipelago of 365 islands in the Bahamas is the destination of the latest addition to Rosewood’s Caribbean portfolio. The private island resort offers next-generation luxury while honoring the character of the Exumas. Rosewood Exuma Within the Exumas, there’s a 124-acre private island called East Sampson Cay, the home to Rosewood Exuma and its 33 suites, all offering dramatic views of the island's pink and white sands and turquoise waters and several sitting directly on the beach. Visitors will discover Rosewood's “A Sense of Place” philosophy at Rosewood Exuma, inspired by the destination. Six unique food and beverage outlets showcase local delicacies, including ingredients grown from the resort's... more


How to Get the UK's Mandatory, New Electronic Entry Permit for Your Next Trip to Britain

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How to Get the UK's Mandatory, New Electronic Entry Permit for Your Next Trip to Britain

Beginning January 8, 2025, American and Canadian travelers to the United Kingdom will be required to apply - in advance of your trip - for the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The digital application process opens November 27, 2024 for anyone planning to arrive in Britain from January 8, 2025 and onwards. The British government has been introducing the new digital entry permits in a phased approach to a goal of fully digitizing entry into its borders by 2025. Americans and Canadians are now among the groups of foreign residents required to submit and able to apply for an ETA. ETA’s are mandatory for entry into the UK. That includes children and babies. The program is for regular travelers going to... more


Hotels that Put you at the Heart of Europe’s Top Christmas Markets

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Hotels that Put you at the Heart of Europe’s Top Christmas Markets

The holidays are just around the corner, and nothing gets you into the spirit of the season like a pre-Christmas trip to Europe, where so many of our favorite festive traditions originated. Europe’s Christmas markets, many of which have been around since the Middle Ages, are magical places to embrace the holiday spirit and celebrate in the month leading up to Christmas. Immerse yourself into the Christmas spirit by laying your head just wandering distance from the market, soaking in the ambiance from the festivities, meandering through decorated streets to your home away from home in Europe. From former palaces to historic bank buildings, these market-adjacent hotels bring their own history, style, and romance to the festive winter season, making for bucket-list-worthy stays... more


Embrace the ‘Quiet Travel’ Trend in Laid-Back Costa Rica

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Embrace the ‘Quiet Travel’ Trend in Laid-Back Costa Rica

If the world seems noisier and more chaotic than ever to you – you’re not alone. As life gets more stressful, online searches for ‘quiet travel’ have shot up like your blood pressure. One of the first places savvy travelers look to disconnect and rediscover tranquillity in nature is Costa Rica. The Central American country’s famous way of living, called ‘Pura Vida,’ has more appeal than ever, embodying a simple, joyful life connected to nature and loved ones. ‘Pura Vida’ translates to ‘pure life’ or ‘simple life’. It's both an approach to life and a greeting in Costa Rica that's used to express a positive attitude and encourage you to take things in stride. Costa Rica’s lush rainforests and pristine beaches... more


Why This Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line is Building a Hotel in the Southernmost City on Earth

Story About Chile
Why This Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line is Building a Hotel in the Southernmost City on Earth

Silversea is taking a groundbreaking approach to ultra-luxury Antarctic expedition cruising – literally! The cruise line has broken ground on a hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, to create a seamlessly deluxe experience for its guests on their voyages to the White Continent.Silversea is the only cruise line that homeports from Puerto Williams during the Antarctic season. And the new, 150-room hotel will provide a seamless, ultra-luxury-all-the-way experience for Antarctic expedition cruise guests. The cruise line already operates an innovative ‘Antarctic Bridge’ fly-cruise program, allowing guests to opt to skip crossing the Drake Passage. It’s the fastest and most direct route all the way to the bottom of the word. Silversea guests fly directly to Puerto Williams from Santiago, Chile’s capital. With the... more


Viking Expands in Asia with New China, Tibet, Japan Itineraries

Story About China
Viking Expands in Asia with New China, Tibet, Japan Itineraries

Following the recent inauguration of its pioneering coastal China cruises, Viking has announced six new itineraries in Asia that will expand exclusive access for its guests to Japan and China, with Tibet in 2025. The new voyages will explore iconic destinations in China, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an and Lhasa in Tibet (Xizang), as well as Osaka, Japan. Each voyage will offer guests signature Viking-style immersive, destination-focused experiences, insightful lectures, and regionally inspired cuisine.The new voyages will operate from September to November 2025. Ranging from 15 to 22 days and, building on the successes of its new coastal China cruises, Viking’s new cruise itineraries will continue to highlight rarely-seen destinations and ports in China to which only Viking has access. "We... more


VIDEO: Emerald Captain Shares Why a Mega-Yacht is the Best Way to Cruise the Caribbean

Story About Caribbean
VIDEO: Emerald Captain Shares Why a Mega-Yacht is the Best Way to Cruise the Caribbean

If you thought sailing to small islands and boutique harbors in idyllic tropical places was just for billionaires in their private yachts, think again. Even you can feel like a billionaire on one of Emerald Cruises’ two new mega-yachts. We sailed aboard the Emerald Sakara on a ‘yachtsman’s itinerary’ from San Juan, Puerto Rico, weaving through the U.S. and British Virgin Islands to St. Kitts and St. John’s, Antigua. And even if you’ve cruised the Caribbean many times before, this is an all-new cruise experience! WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: A conversation with Emerald Sakara’s Captain Rob on the bridge about what makes yacht cruising in the Caribbean a game-changing way to cruise. GOOD NEWS! Both Emerald Yachts Sailing the Caribbean for the Winter 2025-26... more


New Digital Border Forms and Airport Hall Transform Travel to St. Maarten

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New Digital Border Forms and Airport Hall Transform Travel to St. Maarten

New digital border processing and hall at SXM airport mean arriving for your next trip to the Caribbean’s famous twin-nation island will be faster, easier, and better than ever before. But you do have to get online and fill out the new forms before you check in to your flight to St. Maarten.Mandatory Digital Forms for Travel to St. MaartenSt. Maarten has implemented a new Digital Embarkation/ Disembarkation (ED) Form. As of October 8, 2024, all visitors arriving at Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten (SXM) must complete the arrival form before checking in for their flight. This new digital form aims to simplify the arrival process for travelers with a modernized, streamlined system. The forms and more information are available on... more


New Small-Ship Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line Launches 2nd Ship; Explora III and IV On the Way

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New Small-Ship Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line Launches 2nd Ship; Explora III and IV On the Way

During a spectacular naming ceremony in Civitavecchia – the port for Rome, Italy – Explora Journeys launched Explora II. The September, 2024 event marked the debut of the second of six ships by the lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group. Explora Journeys promises guests the opportunity to experience an “Ocean State of Mind,” connecting you with both the sea and the growing cruise line’s curated destinations. The traditional maritime ceremony featured the symbolic cutting of a ribbon to break a bottle on the ship’s bow by Explora II’s godmother, Rosalba Giugni, founder and president of the Marevivo Foundation, a non-partisan environmental conservation organization committed to the preservation of marine environments, founded in 1985.Rosalba was chosen for this honor, as... more


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