The World's Greatest Vacations |

Century Diamond unveils Century Diamond for 2027 Rhine Debut

2026-09-28

Century Cruises is expanding its presence in Europe with the introduction of Century Diamond, a new luxury river ship scheduled to make its inaugural voyage in August 2027. The announcement follows the launch of Century Star, the company’s first new-generation ship for Europe’s rivers. While Century Star is based on the Danube, Century Diamond will […]

Lindblad expands Antarctica — and luxury — presence with acquisition

2026-09-28

Lindblad Expeditions is best known for small-ship cruises that explore the natural world with ships displaying the name of longtime partner National Geographic. With its latest acquisition, CEO Natalya Leahy wants travel advisors to know there’s more to explore on land with Lindblad. The company earlier this month acquired a 60% stake in White Desert, […]

The Port-Day Details That Matter More Than the Shore Excursion Description

2026-09-28

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations A shore excursion can sound complete on paper: a private guide, a celebrated lunch and several major sights between arrival and departure. What the description rarely explains is how much of that day will actually be spent on the experience that persuaded the traveller to […]

The Private Transfer Details That Decide How a Journey Begins

2026-09-21

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations A private transfer is one of the smallest lines on a luxury itinerary, yet it controls the first impression of what follows. After an overnight flight, being met inside the terminal feels very different from searching for a driver beyond a crowded arrivals hall. The […]

Lower Manhattan’s tourism renaissance, 25 years after 9/11

2026-09-21

When hospitality veteran Prince Sanders left the former Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park in 2014 for a new hotel job in Midtown Manhattan, he swore to colleagues he’d never work downtown again. “Ritz-Carlton was a luxury anchor downtown, but I really struggled to serve guests there,” said Sanders. “No matter what anyone wanted to do, […]

A rendering of a refreshed Queens Grill Suite on the Queen Mary 2. Photo Credit: Cunard

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is getting more cabins

2026-09-14

Cunard will add 31 staterooms and suites to the Queen Mary 2 during a drydock in April 2027. The cruise line will also refresh every existing Grill Suite onboard and enhance multiple public spaces. Of the 31 new accommodations, 16 will be Cunard Princess Grill Suites and 15 will be Britannia category staterooms. Improvements to […]

A private chef serves breakfast in the courtyard of a staffed luxury villa, illustrating the service details travellers should clarify before booking.

What “Fully Staffed” Really Means at a Luxury Villa

2026-09-14

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations A staffed villa offers one of luxury travel’s most appealing promises: the privacy of a private home with the ease of a fine hotel. Breakfast appears when the household wakes, and dinner unfolds without anyone studying a menu or signing a bill. Yet “fully staffed” […]

Luxury wooden hotel launch on a misty Italian lake beside an elegant lakeside hotel in early autumn.

When the Hotel Is Open but the Season Is Over

2026-09-08

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations The shoulder-season details luxury travellers need to check before booking Shoulder season has acquired an almost flawless reputation. The light is softer, the streets are quieter and a suite that was difficult to secure six weeks earlier may suddenly be available. In many destinations, September […]

New A350s will have a premium economy cabin in a 2-3-2 configuration with 28 seats. Photo Credit: Emirates

Emirates elevates premium economy with privacy screens

2026-09-08

Emirates said newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft will have an adjustable privacy screen between every seat in the premium economy cabin. Also, every seat in premium economy will have electrically powered seats, a first in premium economy for Emirates. The electric privacy divider extends to the full height of the seat. Emirates says it’s the […]

Windstar guests visiting Rome. The line has been sailing the Mediterranean for the full winter since 2023. Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises

The Mediterranean has become a year-round cruising destination

2026-08-31

Explora Journeys hadn’t intended to cruise the Mediterranean in winter, but the luxury line needed to redeploy a ship away from the Middle East due to the Iran war. And even though sales for the winter Med cruises launched just seven months before the first departure, bookings were brisk, said Chris Austin, Explora’s president of North America. […]