For more than 400 years, Switzerland has been the world’s watchmaking and time-keeping capital. And unlike many luxury industries in other countries that outsourced production decades ago, the most respected Swiss watch brands are still made in Switzerland — often by hand, often in the same valleys and communities where the craft was born.
That makes a Swiss watch or clock not only an investment in precision timekeeping and prestigious personal style, but also a truly authentic and heirloom-quality memento of a visit to Switzerland.
Now, when it comes to souvenir shopping, I'm firmly in the ‘consumables’ camp: something you can eat or drink or share when you get home. But something useful that also represents timeless craftsmanship and will last forever? That is the kind of souvenir I can get behind. Especially when it's wearable every day!
I know we are bombarded with opportunities to treat ourselves to luxurious Swiss timepieces at every turn: from chic boutiques in shopping centers, on cruise ships, and in airports, to online. But here’s why: actually going to Switzerland and immersing yourself in its horological history and culture – then buying that statement watch from the source! – will give you a lot more satisfaction – and something to talk about! - than a simple store transaction.
The story of Swiss watchmaking began almost accidentally in the 16th century. Mechanical clocks and then portable timepieces had been developed in the late mediaeval period in other European countries.
It was when Protestant reformer John Calvin banned the display of jewelry and luxurious ‘excess’ in Geneva that local goldsmiths and jewelers quickly pivoted to an alternative product to save their businesses. Useful and practical watches were the perfect workaround to the restrictions.
Inadvertently, Calvin’s ‘sumptuary laws’ ended up launching Switzerland as the grandfather of the industrialization, precision, artistry, and global standardization of watchmaking. And set the country on the road towards being the undisputed home of the most luxurious and prestigious timekeeping brands.
By the 1700s, watchmaking had spread into the Swiss Jura Mountains, where long winters kept farming families indoors for months at a time. Tiny workshops producing gears, springs, enamel dials, and cases emerged across western Switzerland. Entire villages specialized in microscopic components assembled elsewhere into finished timepieces.
The geography mattered. Swiss watchmaking evolved in relative isolation, encouraging highly specialized expertise and obsessive precision. By the 19th century, Swiss makers dominated international exhibitions and world timing competitions. Railroads, shipping, science, and later aviation and sporting events all required increasingly accurate timekeeping — and Switzerland set the global benchmark.
Made-in-Switzerland marques remain global cultural touchpoints and symbols of success, as much as luxury products such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Breitling, and TAG Heuer. Even disruptor Swatch has populist Swiss chic.
A trip to Switzerland lets you actually see how mechanical watches are still made in ‘factory towns’ that are pilgrimage sites for timekeeping fans.
In Switzerland’s ‘Watch Valley’ — the informal name for Switzerland’s watchmaking corridor — you’ll find factory tours and museum experiences tied to legendary brands. Don’t miss the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva that traces five centuries of horology. Or the UNESCO-listed town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, where urban planning itself reflects the watch industry, with streets and workshops designed to maximize natural light for microscopic watch assembly.
In an era when luxury branding and souvenirs are often disconnected from manufacturing reality, Swiss watches remain the real deal. A ‘Swiss Made’ label carries strict requirements including movement manufacturing, assembly, and inspection inside Switzerland.
You know that treating yourself to a Swiss mechanical watch is not about telling time in an era when your phone has taken over that role. Instead, Swiss watches purchased at their source represent an indelible sense of place alongside engineering, heritage, craftsmanship, and increasingly, permanence in a disposable age.
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Image: Getty
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by Erika Docor on 05/28/2026
It’s a tropical vacation fantasy: staying in an overwater bungalow over breathtaking, warm, turquoise waters in the legendary and romantic South Pacific. But what if your overwater bungalow floats with you to a new, incredible destination every day?
That’s one of the best reasons to experience the Islands of Tahiti and French Polynesia with Paul Gauguin Cruises.
The Paul Gauguin IS your floating overwater bungalow in the fabled South Seas. With mesmerizing early morning sail-ins and romantic sunset sailaways from the emerald green cliffs and picturesque lagoons of places you’ve visited in your dreams: Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and beyond.
From an overwater bungalow, you gaze out onto the incredible seas of Polynesia. From your veranda aboard the Paul Gauguin, you gaze onto the thatched roofs, palm-dappled untouched beaches, steep jungles, and vivid colors of the islands and their surrounding seas.
For over a quarter of a century, the Paul Gauguin has called French Polynesia home. Designed in every respect specifically to sail into the quiet coves and shallow lagoons of the islands of the South Pacific, she is part of the seascape and culture of Tahiti and French Polynesian travel.
Like a cherished heritage inn, she has undergone frequent refurbishments that have maintained her jewel-box charms and quality appointments, with tasteful nods to modern tastes and comforts.
A voyage aboard feels like you’ve traveled not only to the other side of the Pacific, but also to another time: of gracious, slow travel, of voyages of discovery in pristine places, of having time and space and silence to think and appreciate the company of the people you’re traveling with.
It’s a haven of escapism, tropical nature, French Polynesian history, culture, and nautical heritage.
Is there any more evocative holiday that celebrates the romance of exotic travel more than a vacation in an overwater bungalow in the South Pacific? Having sailed aboard the Paul Gauguin in my own, floating overwater bungalow… I think there is.
By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert
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by Lynn Elmhirst on 05/28/2026
The seasons for cruise and travel are changing – even disappearing altogether! Holland America Line has become the latest cruise line to expand to year-round sailing in Europe, joining the likes of Viking and Windstar to make the coasts of the Mediterranean and beyond a destination for all seasons.
From festive Scandinavian cities to European Christmas markets, Lapland and a more relaxed Mediterranean, new Holland America Line winter voyages bring the season to life with an extended 2027-2028 season sailing through early spring. These itineraries showcase Europe at a different pace, with access to seasonal experiences, regional traditions and a greater mix of destinations across the region With more overnights and late-night stays, the new deployment offers deeper, more immersive ways to explore throughout the year.
The expanded season includes a dozen cruises aboard Nieuw Statendam across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The new itineraries add more than 70 additional port days year-over-year, giving guests more time in port along with extended stays and fewer crowds.
The deployment also includes two additional voyages aboard Zuiderdam, further expanding options for guests exploring Europe during the winter season.
Nieuw Statendam’s holiday sailings are designed to immerse guests in Europe at one of its most atmospheric times of year, when city squares glow with lights, markets fill with local artisans and the pace of travel invites deeper exploration. With overnights and extended stays built into each itinerary, guests have the time to experience the traditions, cuisine and rhythms that define the season.
Beyond the holiday season, Nieuw Statendam’s winter and early spring sailings shift south to the Mediterranean, where guests can experience the region at a slower pace. With mild temperatures and a rich mix of seasonal experiences, destinations feel local and approachable, offering a fresh perspective on some of Europe’s most-visited cities.
The itineraries span the Western and Eastern Mediterranean as well as the Canary Islands, connecting cultural capitals and coastal towns across Spain, France, Italy and Greece. Voyages include ports such as Valencia, Marseille and Livorno, and Naples for access to Pompeii. Farther east, sailings explore destinations including Mykonos, Rhodes and Kusadasi, along with overnight calls in sought-after destinations allowing for more time ashore.
With a mix of seven- to 14-day voyages, guests can choose shorter, region-focused sailings or combine itineraries for a more expansive journey.
Longer Collectors’ Voyages span up to 24 days and can also be sailed back-to-back, allowing guests to experience a broader mix of the region. Sailings highlight the Mediterranean in a season when the pace is slower, the atmosphere is more intimate and each destination offers a more authentic connection.
Whether you want to escape hot weather, avoid crowds during school holidays, or enjoy seasonal local holiday celebrations, formerly ‘off season’ cruises are increasingly the perfect solution. With all the benefits of cruising: packing once and having your floating hotel bring you into the heart of multiple destinations, and having all the details looked after so all you have to do is be on vacation!
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Images: Holland America Line
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by Erika Docor on 05/28/2026
When is the Med… not just the Med? The Mediterranean Sea and its iconic coastal towns, yacht harbors, fishing villages, beaches, cliffs, and cultural touchpoints are on nearly everyone’s list of favorite escapes. But – pop quiz - did you know that the Mediterranean isn’t just one sea?
In reality, it’s a collection of smaller seas that developed independently and were named before the full region was charted by ancient navigators. Ultimately, they were stitched together by ancient trade routes, empire-building, mythology, culture, cuisines, and coastlines. Travel across the Med, and you’re not cruising a single body of water. You’re crossing distinct maritime worlds, each with its own personality, history - even color palette and weather!
How many Mediterranean ‘seas within a sea’ can you name? How many could you point out on a map? There are at least a dozen! Here are the 5 most famous and noteworthy:
Tucked between Italy and the Balkan coast, the Adriatic Sea may be the Mediterranean’s most elegant subsea. Venetian merchants once ruled these waters, leaving behind a trail of bell towers, marble squares and fortified ports from Venice to Dubrovnik. The Adriatic is narrower and calmer than the rest of the Mediterranean, making it ideal for yacht cruising and smaller-ship itineraries. Its eastern coastline, especially along Croatia and Montenegro, is deeply indented with coves, islands, and medieval stone towns.
(Venice Image: Lynn Elmhirst)
South and to the east: the unmistakably Greek Aegean Sea (pictured, top, Getty Images). By cruise ship, yacht or ferry, go island-hopping and discover civilizations that shaped the Western world. The Aegean is scattered with thousands of islands, though only a fraction are inhabited. Santorini is the one everyone pictures first, but smaller islands reveal how diverse the Aegean really is. The sea itself tends toward striking cobalt blues against the stark whites of villages under blazing sun.
South of France, another “sea within the Mediterranean Sea” has a glamorous reputation more famous than its name. Did you know the Italian Riviera and the Côte d’Azur are technically on the Ligurian Sea? This is the heart of the chic ‘Mediterranean’ lifestyle, where villages evolved into playgrounds for aristocrats, artists and billionaires. Portofino, Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez all front these waters. Behind the polished marinas, the Ligurian coast is breathtakingly vertical, with rocky cliffs, terraced hillsides, fishing villages and some of Europe’s most dramatic coastal rail routes. This is also where Mediterranean beach culture as we know it was born.
(Monaco Image: Lynn Elmhirst)
The Tyrrhenian Sea, off Italy’s western coast, is the heart of the cinematic Mediterranean. Rome, Naples, Capri, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Amalfi Coast all face the sea where ancient Greeks and Romans battled. Volcanoes still shape the horizon, and underwater archaeology continues to uncover shipwrecks from empires that once dominated the known world. Travelers crossing the Tyrrhenian quickly understand how deeply Italy’s identity is tied to the sea — from seafood markets in Naples to Stromboli’s volcanic silhouette rising from the water at night.
(Sardinia Image: Getty)
Then there’s the Balearic Sea around the Spanish islands of Mallorca/ Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Your first thoughts may go to Ibiza’s famous party culture, but explore beyond: Menorca preserves quiet coves and prehistoric stone sites; Mallorca combines mountain villages with sophisticated food culture; Ibiza, despite its nightlife fame, has become a serious wellness and luxury destination. All infused with Spanish island culture.
(Mallorca Image: Getty)
Remembering the mosaic of the Mediterranean’s seas is the clue to why we love to return to its shores again and again. From the Straits of Gibraltar on its Western gateway, to Biblical shores at the Eastern end, the Mediterranean reveals worlds of travel appeal.
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By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.
Images as noted
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by Erika Docor on 05/28/2026
For wine travelers, South Africa’s Old Vine Project has transformed a tasting trip through the Cape winelands into a journey through living wine history.
Across the Western Cape, the tell-tale shapes of gnarled old bush vines — some planted decades ago — are now among the country’s most compelling travel experiences. Visitors in the know increasingly come not just to taste wine, but to stand among vineyards that survived turbulent decades of drought, shifting wine fashions, and the global race toward high-yield commercial wine production.
At the center of this movement is Rosa Kruger, the South African viticulturist widely credited with helping save the country’s heritage vineyards.
I had the privilege of meeting Rosa at an event hosted by the Wines of South Africa, where she recounted her quest to rediscover, document, and preserve the country’s oldest vines. A tasting confirmed they were worth the effort – and visiting those wineries nurturing and making wine from these small and precious vineyards should be on every oenophile’s list of travel goals.
In the early 2000s, Kruger began traveling through the Cape searching for forgotten old vineyards. At the time, many were at risk of being uprooted because older vines naturally produce lower yields and were often seen as economically inefficient. Kruger believed exactly the opposite: that these mature vineyards represented some of South Africa’s greatest wine treasures.
Her work eventually led to the formal launch of the Old Vine Project (OVP) in 2016. The project’s mission is to identify, preserve, and promote vineyards older than 35 years while creating financial incentives for growers to keep them alive rather than replacing them with younger, higher-yielding vines better suited to mass, commercial wine production.
The result has been transformative — not only for South African wine, but for wine travel.
South Africa did not invent the idea of old vines. European wine regions have revered ancient vineyards for centuries, and wineries in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy long marketed “old vine” wines. Spain and Portugal, in particular, still have vineyards significantly older than many in South Africa.
What South Africa has done — arguably more influentially — has been to turn old vines from romantic wine marketing into a globally respected preservation movement.
South Africa debuted the first nationally organized certification and preservation movement dedicated specifically to identifying, registering, protecting and commercially promoting old vineyards across an entire wine-producing country.
Before the South African model, “old vine” was often vague marketing language with no formal definition. One producer’s old vines might be 20 years old; another’s 80. The Old Vine Project introduced traceable vineyard records and a formal “Certified Heritage Vineyards” seal for vineyards older than 35 years, helping establish credibility and authenticity.
The idea resonated far beyond the Cape winelands.
For decades, many growers saw old vines as liabilities because they yield fewer grapes. The Old Vine Project helped flip that thinking. Lower yields could mean greater concentration, texture, and personality — wines distinctive enough to command premium prices and inspire wine lovers to travel halfway around the world to taste them.
Its impact can now be seen in the Old World and the New World, where wineries are embracing, codifying, and preserving their own oldest vines.
Kruger herself has become one of the most respected figures in global wine. In 2022, she became the first South African inducted into Decanter’s Hall of Fame.
The movement reshaped South Africa’s wine identity. For years, the country was associated with inexpensive bulk wine. The rediscovery of old Chenin Blanc, Cinsault, Semillon, Palomino, and Grenache vineyards helped fuel a premium wine renaissance centered on authenticity, terroir, and heritage.
In the glass, old vines often deliver wines with extraordinary texture, concentration, and sense of place.
For visitors planning a Cape winelands itinerary, the Old Vine Project has created a heritage wine route through some of South Africa’s most compelling vineyard landscapes: a quest that is part wine tasting, part road trip, part treasure hunt.
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Story and event images: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert
Top image: Getty
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by Erika Docor on 05/14/2026
Tulip season in the Netherlands is a feast for the senses: ribbons of technicolor flowers beside canals, market squares bursting with spring blooms, and river cruise ships gliding through landscapes that look suspiciously filtered (even when they’re not!)
You’re going to love your trip so much that you will want to savor the moments for as long as possible.
I don’t believe in souvenirs that collect dust or worse! End up in landfills. Here are some mementos that fulfill the saying, “If you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much.’ Many you’ll consume or share with loved ones, and others you’ll get lots of use from for years to come.
Cheese may be the most delicious example. Markets in towns with name-sake cheeses like Gouda and Edam have been trading wheels for centuries, and a spring cruise often includes excursions where travelers can sample cheeses still made on family farms. Aged Gouda is the superstar!
Tip: Vacuum-packed wedges travel well. Don’t forget to check the import regulations about bringing food into your home country.
Then there are tulips themselves, the official symbol of the country. Cut flowers are perishable, of course. But the Netherlands produces billions of spring flower bulbs annually, and you can shop for exotic varieties at gardens, flower farms, and markets – even the airport on your way home!
Tip: Many countries regulate the import of agricultural products like tulip bulbs. Check your local laws and also look for ‘export ready’ tulips with certification they will pass inspection. OR, if Keukenhof, famous as being the largest spring flower garden in the world, is on your agenda, you can order bulbs from Dutch growers there, and they will be shipped to your home, customs cleared.
Then you can look out your window every spring, see the tulips, and remember your trip to the Netherlands!
Like the cities of Gouda and Edam whose names have lent themselves to their most famous product, the city of Delft is known for its porcelain – or that one-of-a-kind color of Delft blue. Iconic Royal Delft has symbolized Dutch craftsmanship since the 17th century. Originally inspired by Chinese porcelain brought to Europe by trading ships, Delftware evolved into something unmistakably Dutch: windmills, canal houses, floral motifs, all painted in cobalt blue on creamy white ceramics.
You may not be able to resist the Dutch canal house figurines you can collect and line up as a street scene. But practical Delft items, from Christmas ornaments, to tea and coffee services, to a tulip vase that brings two Dutch symbols together, all marry beauty and utility in iconic blue and white.
Tip: beware of fakes. You’ll see all kinds of blue and white ceramics in the Netherlands. But for the quality of porcelain and artisanal hand-painting, nothing matches real, Royal Delft.
Traditional wooden clogs – or klomps - remain a beloved symbol of Dutch culture. Clogs began as practical footwear for Dutch farmers, fishermen, and laborers at windmills. Over time, they became a cheerful national symbol, painted with regional designs. But clogs are not just folklore or crafts. Today, they’re still worn by farmers and millers and are legally certified safety footwear!
Tip: Instead of wooden folk art, fuzzy clog slippers in the Netherlands’ national colors, orange, yellow, or red, make a cozy, lightweight, unapologetically kitschy, and completely charming souvenir that will warm your feet and your heart every winter’s day you put them on!
No visit to the Netherlands is complete without eating – and bringing home – stroopwafels: thin waffle cookies sandwiching a layer of spiced caramel filling. Fresh, warm, market stroopwafels are life-changing. If you’re wondering what every passenger on your river cruise ship is carrying in a thin, paper sleeve, now you know!
Tip: Follow the Dutch and re-create that just-cooked gooey-ness! Balance your souvenir stroopwafels out of the tin over a hot cup of coffee so the steam softens the filling.
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Story and images: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.
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by Erika Docor on 05/14/2026
Earth Day is April 22, and it’s a wonderful time to share stories of travel companies that are making the world we love to travel a better place.
For G Adventures, the focus is on trees. In the last 18 months, the tour operator has expanded its global Trees for Days initiative with seven new community partners. Its network now stands at 22 communities across multiple continents and benefits more than 200,000 local people.
And within the next month, the project will reach a milestone of 6 million trees!
The company points out that trees represent immediate and multi-layered climate solutions: one where tree growing does more than restore ecosystems, it helps rebuild livelihoods, strengthen communities, and create long-term resilience for those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Trees provide shade and shelter for people and domestic animals and crops; forests are homes for wildlife biodiversity; their roots prevent erosion from increasingly violent storms; they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen… and so much more.
With this project, each tree is grown with a long-term commitment to reach maturity, with the first trees from the initiative now beginning to mature in 2026, three years after the program launched.
Furthermore, Trees for Days has been built on a new, more enlightened model than previous reforestation initiatives. It works in partnership with communities. Instead of focusing solely on environmental outcomes or carbon offsetting, the initiative is designed to address the interconnected challenges communities face from the climate emergency, from food insecurity and unemployment to biodiversity loss and climate resilience.
By putting local people at the center, supporting women, uplifting Indigenous communities, and creating economic opportunities, tree growing becomes a catalyst for broader change.
G Adventures has provided examples of some of their latest tree initiatives under the program:
A powerful example of this approach of creating meaningful benefit is in the Philippines, where the Higa-onon Indigenous community is restoring its ancestral forest after decades of environmental decline. Described as their “last refuge,” the rainforest had been severely depleted, and the community, facing extreme poverty, was forced into destructive practices such as illegal logging and mining in order to survive. Tribal elders wanted to protect their sacred forests but had no means to do so.
Today, that story is being rewritten. Trees for Days is supporting the Tribes and Nature Defenders project, which has mobilized over 200 local tribal farmers, 15 youth enthusiasts, and 5 women to physically restore Indigenous lands. Nurseries cultivating thousands of native and coffee trees are helping to restore biodiversity while creating sustainable livelihoods rooted in the protection of the forest itself.
For elders, this project represents a fight for “cultural nature survival," recognizing that the forest and the community cannot exist without one another.
In Kenya, Trees for Days is supporting the farming communities of Embu, who have been battling a persistent drought since 2024. With insufficient or late rains, agricultural productivity and food security are under constant threat.
Trees for Days has partnered with Trees for Kenya to develop agroforestry that directly impacts household health. Over 50,000 seedlings have been distributed to 523 farmers over the past 10 months, bringing the total number of trees grown to over 300,000 since the program's implementation in 2023. The program focuses on fruit trees (mangoes and avocado) and medicinal species, including Moringa Oleifera. Over 20,000 of these seedlings have been sourced from local women-owned nurseries, demonstrating another way tree growing can be a powerful engine in supporting female financial independence.
The impact: For the women running these nurseries, the income from seedling sales is pooled and used to provide loans to group members in need. Bella (aged 64) used her loan to support her household of seven, buying two hens, which now provide her family with fresh eggs and a new micro-income. Julia (aged 58) purchased a goat, which provided fresh milk and drastically improved the nutrition of her family’s daily meals.
When we think of deforestation, we rarely think of the ocean seabed, but the loss of underwater kelp forests in Canada has severely impacted marine biology and the traditional food system of local Indigenous communities. Trees for Days has partnered with Coastal Kelp, which includes the Tsawwassen First Nation, Nuchatlaht Tribe, and Lax Kw'alaams Band, working to restore marine ecosystems through an innovative “seaforestation” approach on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. By installing non-invasive moorings in areas previously unsuitable for kelp growth, they have created a ‘false-bottom’ and a brand new marine habitat, which has driven a staggering ecological bounce-back, with new species of kelp returning and the area being repopulated with scallops, oysters, shrimp, and rockfish.
The impact: 10% of all processed kelp is given back to members as community food products, and 10% of the fertilizer created is donated to community gardens
While planting trees is relatively easy, growing them and ensuring they deliver real, lasting benefits is far more complex. G Adventures and Trees For Days believe their community-driven approach will create the most benefits for people and the planet we love to travel.
Images courtesy of G Adventures
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by Lynn Elmhirst on 04/23/2026
By 2039, there will be three new ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, the largest, most advanced ships ever for the cruise line, carrying over 4700 guests each, and dual-fuel, powered primarily by the sustainability-conscious LNG (liquified natural gas). The new class of ships is called the Voyager class, with the first ship scheduled for delivery in 2035.
The new class of ships is another step forward for the cruise line, and its most recent, Sphere class of ships (Sun Princess and Star Princess.)
Here’s how the upcoming Voyager-class of ships stacks up against Princess’ previous classes of ships beginning before this millennium, with Voyager-class representing the next generation in size and technology, but only a slight boost, under 500 additional guests, in staterooms and suites.
According to Princess, the new Voyager-class vessels will integrate the most desired and highest-rated experiences and venues Princess Cruises is known for, with completely re-imagined outer decks, staterooms, and Piazza designs that cater to Princess’ global travelers and worldwide deployments and itineraries. These new ships will build upon the award-winning Sphere Class platform and continue to leverage the latest hospitality and marine technologies.
Many more details have yet to be revealed in advance of the first Voyager-class ship - the cruise line doesn't even have renderings of the vision of the Voyager-class ship!
But fans of Princess Cruises will be watching this space, eager for details as they emerge.
In 1965, Princess Cruises began as a single ship sailing to Mexico, and it has grown into a world-renowned cruise line that connects guests to more than 345 destinations across seven continents.
According to the cruise line, Princess was the first to introduce affordable balconies, flexible dining options, and even weddings at sea officiated by the ship's captain. Princess was also the first cruise line to launch Movies Under the Stars — a now-iconic poolside feature — and continues to lead with experiences that surprise and delight in meaningful ways.
It created MedallionClass: a first-of-its-kind experience built around a simple, wearable device called the Medallion. With tools like OceanNow, Manage Booking, and OceanReady, guests enjoy a seamless voyage focused on personalization and convenience.
Its most recent class of ships—the Sphere Class, with sister ships Sun Princess and Star Princess—represents the future of cruising with groundbreaking design and guest experiences.
Today, Princess is part of Carnival Corporation and operates a fleet of 17 ships with a presence in every region of the globe, on all 7 continents.
Image: Star Princess, courtesy of Princess Cruises
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by Lynn Elmhirst on 04/23/2026
In Alaska, everyone can feel like they’re in a fairy tale. Even the one with the three bears! Wildlife watching opportunities – especially bear sightings – rank among the top reasons to take an Alaska cruise. And I’ve never known anyone to leave disappointed!
But how many different types of bears can you hope to see?
The most common, the smallest— and often the first bear travelers encounter — is the black bear. Widespread across Southeast Alaska, they thrive in the dense coastal rainforest that lines so many cruise routes.
‘Baby Bear’: Adults typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds, with males on the higher end. They stand about 3 feet at the shoulder on all fours, but can reach 5 to 7 feet when upright. Compared to other Alaska bears, they’re compact — built for agility rather than dominance.
What's for dinner: Black bears are true opportunists. Their diet leans heavily towards vegetarian — berries, grasses, roots — supplemented with insects, shellfish, and the occasional salmon. You’ll often see them along shorelines at low tide, turning rocks with surprising dexterity. They’re also excellent climbers, frequently escaping danger (or napping) in trees.
Wow: Accessibility. In ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, black bears can appear startlingly close to town. It’s not uncommon to spot one from a roadside or harbor edge — a quintessential Alaska moment where wilderness and daily life blur.
That’s why some people joke that the easiest way to see a black bear is a local dumpster!
Black bears are not uncommon in wild areas of other parts of the US and Canada. Brown bears – called grizzly bears inland – are much, much rarer in the ‘lower 48.’ So this is the bear most travelers come hoping to see — and for good reason. Brown bears are the heavyweight icons of Alaska wildlife and bear spotting.
“Mama Bear”: Coastal brown bears routinely weigh 600 to 1,200 pounds, with some exceptional males pushing beyond that. Standing upright, they can reach 8 to 10 feet tall. A pronounced shoulder hump — pure muscle used for digging and power — is their signature silhouette.
What's for dinner: While technically omnivores, coastal brown bears are protein-driven powerhouses. Salmon is the game-changer. During peak runs (late June through August), they consume staggering amounts — sometimes dozens of fish a day — prioritizing the fattiest parts to bulk up for hibernation. Earlier in the season, they graze on sedge grasses; later, they’ll add berries and carrion to the mix.
Wow: The fishing. Watching a thousand-pound bear stand in a rushing river and pluck a leaping salmon midair is one of North America’s great wildlife spectacles. Cruise excursions to places like Admiralty Island National Monument or Katmai National Park and Preserve deliver top opportunities to experience this natural theater.
Venture a little farther to get a chance to glimpse the only bear found nowhere else in the world except Alaska. Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears isolated for thousands of years in the rich environment of the Kodiak archipelago, where they became super-sized versions of their cousins on the mainland.
“Papa Bear”: Among the largest bears on Earth, Kodiak bears often exceed mainland brown bears. Mature males commonly weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds, with rare individuals approaching 1,600 pounds. Standing height can exceed 10 feet. They are, quite simply, massive.
What's for dinner: Like other coastal brown bears, Kodiaks benefit from a nutrient-rich environment — abundant salmon, lush vegetation, and minimal competition. Their diet mirrors that of mainland coastal bears, but in an ecosystem that has allowed them to grow even larger over time, and breeding among the smaller, isolated population reinforces the gigantic genes.
Wow: Rarity and scale. Found only on the Kodiak Archipelago, they’re not part of most cruise itineraries. But for those on Gulf of Alaska routes, crossings via Kodiak to Asia — or willing to take a fly-out excursion — the reward is seeing one of the planet’s most powerful land mammals in a setting that feels truly remote.
What makes Alaska so compelling isn’t just that you can see three types of bears — it’s how naturally those encounters fit into a cruise. Ships provide access to remote coastlines and protected wilderness areas, while guided excursions handle the logistics and safety of getting you into bear habitat responsibly.
Timing matters. Salmon season dramatically improves your odds of seeing brown and Kodiak bears in action. But even outside those peak weeks, Alaska’s sheer abundance of wildlife means that bear sightings — especially black bears — are never out of the question.
Alaska is technically home to a fourth bear – one that’s on many soft adventure travelers’ bucket lists. But polar bears are truly Arctic bears, far beyond the reaches of Alaska cruises, which focus on the temperate coastal rainforest ecosystems of Alaska hundreds of miles south of polar bear country.
If polar bear sightings are your dream, an Arctic cruise - especially in Canada and Norway – offers some of the best chances to see the world’s largest bear and largest carnivore on Earth!
Video and story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.
Other images: Getty
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by Lynn Elmhirst on 04/23/2026
Do you travel for the food? Festivals? Or maybe family? Over a quarter of travelers these days are interested in heritage or ancestry-based trips. The surge in DNA testing has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in the popularity of genealogy-focused trips.
People are putting their traveling ‘genes’ on. And not going sightseeing, but searching for their roots. Motivations vary from family heritage to the story of migration from their ancestral homes.
Do any of these ideas strike a chord in you and beckon you to your ancestors’ distant shores?
Do these destinations call you home? Here are some of the more popular destinations for North Americans to trace their roots.
Family heritage travel is genealogy, part emotional archaeology. But how much information do you need to ‘start digging?’
Some travelers arrive armed with binders of family trees and DNA results. Others simply know that “Grandpa was from somewhere near Kraków.”
Ancestry travel gives all the questions new meaning: Who? Where? When? Why? How?
Before you book a ticket, spend time with records — immigration documents, ship manifests, census forms, church registries. Sites like FamilySearch are invaluable, and many towns will respond to polite archive requests.
But remember: villages change. Borders shift. Records disappear.
Go looking for discovery — and be open to whatever you find, or don’t find.
If you’re zeroing in on a specific town, hire a local genealogist or guide. They know which municipal office holds the birth records and who still remembers the families who left.
In small places, people — not paperwork — may be your best resource.
Don’t turn your trip into a full-time research project.
Yes, visit the ancestral village. But also experience the destination. If your roots are in southern Italy, explore Puglia. If they trace to Portugal, spend time in Porto to understand the country's rhythm. Today’s lifestyle is as valuable a lesson in your heritage as your history.
Walk into bakeries. Visit parish offices. Ask about your surname.
Bring documents. Smile. Be curious. And friendly.
A shared name can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Sometimes you’ll find long-lost cousins. Sometimes you’ll find a locked archive and a shrug.
No matter what you discover, if you travel with an open mind and open heart, you’ll always come away richer than when you left.
Image: Getty
All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be copied, re-published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
by Lynn Elmhirst on 04/09/2026
Shawna Schrank
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