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Windstar Cruises is spotlighting its ocean-river hybrid itineraries

2026-05-26

Windstar Cruises has been quietly crafting hybrid ocean-river itineraries for years. Now the small-ship line is highlighting these itineraries to travel advisors with river cruise clients, aiming to capture new customers. In a river cruise market where itineraries overwhelmingly focus on the same collection of rivers, Windstar’s hybrid itineraries present alternative waterways, like Spain’s Guadalquivir […]

Private by Design: The Rise of Spaces Built for Seclusion

2026-05-26

Richard Shane Founder and CEO The World’s Greatest Vacations Luxury travel has traditionally been associated with access, the best table, the most exclusive resort, the destination everyone else wanted to reach. Increasingly, however, the definition of luxury is shifting away from visibility and toward control. Travelers are no longer simply looking for privacy. They […]

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 […]

Interior Lobby at FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS

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 […]

Luxury alpine terrace overlooking expansive snow-capped mountains in soft morning light, capturing the calm and elevated atmosphere of modern mountain travel.

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 […]