The World's Greatest Vacations |

Hantavirus and norovirus aren’t expected to slow down cruising

2026-05-18

Recent outbreaks of hantavirus and norovirus on cruise ships are making headlines, but they’re unlikely to dim the growing popularity of cruises, according to industry representatives and travel experts. In fact, many within the industry still expect a record number of people worldwide to take cruises this year despite three passengers aboard the Hondius dying […]

The New Coastal Rhythm: Destinations That Prioritize Space Over Scene

2026-05-18

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations For years, coastal travel was defined by visibility. The right beach club reservation, the busiest promenade, the destination everyone else seemed to be chasing at the exact same moment. Lately, that version of luxury has started to feel strangely exhausting. A quieter coastal rhythm is […]

On the Magdalena River, AmaWaterways takes guests on a Colombian journey

2026-05-12

ONBOARD THE AMAMELODIA — If a river cruise is a floating hotel, then AmaWaterways’ AmaMelodia is a floating resort — a tropical one. The AmaMelodia and its sister ship, the AmaMagdalena, cruise the Magdalena River in Colombia. AmaWaterways debuted Colombian river cruising a year ago, and this month it hosted a small group of media, giving journalists […]

The Art of Arrival: A Summer of Intentional Space in Las Vegas

2026-05-10

There is a distinct shift that occurs when traveling toward the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. The density of the center corridor begins to thin, replaced by a sense of verticality and light. It is here that Fontainebleau Las Vegas has emerged as the modern successor to the city’s storied icons. For the […]

Altitude Without Effort: Elevated Escapes That Redefine Mountain Travel

2026-05-10

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations Mountain travel has long been associated with exertion, steep climbs, dense winter crowds, or rugged isolation. But a quieter evolution is taking place at higher elevations. A new generation of alpine and mountain destinations is redefining the experience through design, accessibility, and atmosphere. These are […]

The outlook for summer luxury travel to Europe is positive. Pictured, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Photo Credit: INTERPIXELS/Shutterstock

Is Europe demand really down? Sellers paint nuanced picture

2026-05-04

Air booking data suggests a summer slowdown in Americans’ travel to Europe, but the luxury market appears to be flat-out thriving while the mass market might be waiting for fares to drop. Aviation data firm Cirium analyzed air bookings from early January through late April, reporting that U.S.-to-Europe transactions for travel in July were down […]

Luxury train traveling through a mountain valley in soft golden light, capturing the elegance and continuity of a longer, slower journey.

The Return of the Grand Journey: Why Longer, Slower Travel Is Back

2026-05-04

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations For years, travel has been defined by compression. Shorter trips, tighter itineraries, and a focus on maximizing time rather than experiencing it. The result has often been movement without depth, a series of moments rather than a cohesive journey. That model is beginning to shift. […]

The cruise operator will offer an exclusive sailing on the barge Savannah. Photo Credit: French Waterways

French Waterways adds auto, helicopter tours to canal cruise

2026-04-27

French Waterways, which specializes in luxury barge cruises, will add vintage auto and helicopter tours to one of its historic canal voyages. The cruise operator will offer an exclusive sailing along the Canal du Midi in southern France this year on the barge Savannah. CEO Rosie Mansfield called the trip a “once-in-a-lifetime experience;” prices start […]

Expansive coastal road at sunrise in early spring with soft golden light and open landscape, capturing the feeling of arriving at a destination before the crowds.

Where Spring Arrives First: Early-Season Destinations Before the Crowds

2026-04-27

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations There is a moment each year when winter releases its hold, but before the world fully responds. A brief, shifting window where landscapes begin to open, light softens, and destinations move quietly from dormant to alive. April sits inside that transition, but not all places […]

The State of the Global Cruise Industry Keynote panel at Seatrade. From left, moderator Contessa Brewer, Carnival Corp.'s Josh Weinstein, Royal Caribbean Group's Jason Liberty, MSC Group's Pierfrancesco Vago, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' John Chidsey and CLIA's Bud Darr. Photo Credit: Seatrade Cruise Global

At Seatrade, cruise executives unfazed by fuel price surge

2026-04-20

MIAMI BEACH — Iran’s wartime closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused disruptions and rising prices worldwide. But cruise executives at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference here last week described the industry as well positioned to weather the volatility. During the State of the Global Cruise Industry panel last week, Carnival Corp. CEO Josh […]