For many travelers, the increasingly popular destination of Japan begins and ends on the island of Honshu – literally, it’s ‘Main Island.’ I can’t blame them – so much of the energy and contrasts of Japan are to be found there: the neon energy of Tokyo, the ancient cultural treasures of Kyoto, the food scene of Osaka, and iconic attractions as different as Mount Fuji and Tokyo Disneyland! All connected by those famous, high-speed bullet trains.
But if you stay on Honshu your entire trip to Japan, you’re missing out on experiences that will astound and resonate with you most after you leave. The incredible north-south length of the Japanese archipelago – about the same distance as the continental USA, although much narrower – means the islands of Japan span vastly different climates. That means many different sights, landscapes, and local cultures.
Think active volcanoes, subtropical beaches, and winter wonderlands, antique forests, distinctive cuisines, and cultural traditions, including indigenous peoples, that feel worlds apart from the familiar Golden Route. Japan’s other main islands - from Hokkaido in the north, to Kyushu, Shikoku, and tropical Okinawa in the south - offer compelling reasons to linger longer and dig deeper.
No wonder cruising to Japan is taking off! Voyages to other islands of this famously maritime nation allow visitors to experience many other facets of real Japan.
Japan’s northernmost main island is often compared to Alaska or Scandinavia for its vast landscapes, lower population density, outdoor lifestyle, and indigenous culture. Hokkaido is the traditional homeland of the Ainu, an Indigenous people whose history in northern Japan stretches back centuries before Japanese settlement of the island.
In winter, Hokkaido is famous for some of the lightest, driest powder snow on earth, with legendary ski resorts.
Summer brings wildflower meadows, cycling, hiking, and cooler temperatures, offering relief from the humidity elsewhere in Japan. The island is also home to several national parks, including one of Japan’s most remote wilderness areas, where brown bears, whales, and eagles thrive.
Food is another draw. Hokkaido’s cool climate produces some of Japan’s finest dairy products, seafood, and agricultural products. Snow crab, sea urchin, scallops, and rich miso ramen are local specialties.
Southwest of Honshu lies Kyushu, an island shaped by fire.
The landscape is dominated by active volcanoes, including Mount Aso, whose enormous caldera is among the largest in the world. Steam vents and volcanic peaks create some of Japan’s most dramatic scenery.
That also makes Kyushu one of Japan’s premier hot spring destinations.
History buffs will find another layer of fascination. Because of its proximity to the Asian mainland, Kyushu served as an important gateway for international influence. The city of Nagasaki tells one of Japan’s most complex stories, from early international trade to its role in World War II and its remarkable recovery.
Food lovers should come hungry. Tonkotsu ramen, made with a rich pork-bone broth, originated in Kyushu and remains one of Japan’s most beloved regional dishes.
The smallest of Japan’s four main islands is often overlooked—and that’s why you should go.
Shikoku offers a quieter, slower-paced Japan where traditional rural landscapes remain intact. Rice paddies, mountain villages, fishing communities, and dramatic gorges, vine suspension bridges, and coastlines define much of the island.
Its most famous attraction is the Shikoku Pilgrimage, an 88-temple circuit spanning more than 700 miles around the island.
If Hokkaido is the Alaska of Japan, Okinawa, at the opposite, southern end of the country, is its Hawai’i.
Okinawa (pictured, top) is not one of Japan’s four main islands, but it has incredible appeal with subtropical coral reefs, turquoise waters, jungles, and Ryukyu Kingdom cultural heritage — with its own language, cuisine, music, architecture, and lifestyle.
The people of Okinawa are not considered Indigenous in the same way as Hokkaido’s Ainu, but they continue to preserve a distinct cultural identity from the centuries-old Ryukyu Kingdom, which Japan annexed in the 19th century.
Today, visitors experience this distinctive heritage through Ryukyu textiles and pottery, Okinawan soba noodles, and music played on a unique three-stringed instrument.
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Images: Getty
By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel expert and journalist
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by Erika Docor on 06/25/2026
London. Venice. Lisbon. Each powerhouse travel destination already has its share of iconic hotels. But new properties opening in 2026 give visitors the unique ability to live inside the history and culture of these storied cities, not just peer at them from the outside.
Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch
One of London's most recognizable landmarks is now one of its most exclusive places to stay, offering access to ordinary people for the first time ever.
Commissioned as a memorial to Queen Victoria and designed by the architect behind Buckingham Palace's famous façade, the Grade I-listed historic site, Admiralty Arch, has been the grand ceremonial gateway linking Trafalgar Square with The Mall and Buckingham Palace. That’s made it the one of the most-photographed buildings in London: the backdrop for royal carriage wedding and funeral processions, state occasions, and national celebrations.
Despite its landmark significance, inside was government office space, the HQ of the British Royal Navy’s Admiralty – earning it the name Admiralty Arch. Civilians rarely got inside at all, and never overnight.
That’s all changed. The Waldorf Astoria conversion preserves the building's historic architecture while adapting its 200,000 square feet into a luxury hotel with 114 guest rooms, suites, residences, restaurants, a ballroom, and spa. More than half the accommodations are expansive residential-style suites, many named for Britain's naval heritage.
The transformation also brings acclaimed dining to the landmark, with restaurants by Michelin-starred chefs Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud, including a rooftop venue overlooking Buckingham Palace and St. James's Park.
For travelers, the Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch (also pictured above) offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Britain's most historic public monuments from the inside—not as a visitor passing through, but as a guest spending the night at the ceremonial heart of London!
Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
One of Venice's grandest historic palaces is entering a new chapter as a luxury hotel, giving travelers access to a building that has been at the center of the city's history for nearly six centuries.
The 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli has reopened as Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli following an extensive restoration. Built in 1436 by the architect associated with the Doge's Palace, the palace has served over the centuries as the private residence of the influential Donà and Giovannelli families and later the Duke of Urbino. Its ornate ballrooms, frescoed salons, and Gothic façade have remained largely hidden from public view.
The restoration carefully preserves the palace's Neogothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture while adapting it into an intimate hotel with just 47 rooms, suites, and apartments. Original frescoes, mosaic floors, and one of Venice's most dramatic staircases have been restored, allowing guests to experience spaces once reserved for Venetian nobility.
True to Venetian tradition, you arrive by private boat through the palace's original 15th-century water gate or via a quiet courtyard off Cannaregio's streets. Public spaces include the spectacular Vittoria Ballroom, created for a royal wedding in 1548, as well as historic salons.
The Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is not just another luxury hotel. It’s an opportunity to stay inside one of Venice's authentic historic palazzi, experiencing a remarkable piece of the city's architectural and cultural heritage from within rather than simply admiring it from the canal.
Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel
In 2026, one of Venice's most famous hotels begins a new era under the beloved Four Seasons flag, following an extensive restoration of a landmark that has welcomed travelers for more than 200 years.
Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, occupies a waterfront complex of three interconnected palaces – one dating from the 15th century - overlooking the Venetian Lagoon, just steps from Piazza San Marco, which became one of Venice's most iconic hotels.
The restoration preserves many of the property's defining historic features, including its soaring pink marble columns, grand staircase, Murano glass chandeliers, and richly decorated Venetian interiors, while introducing updated guest accommodations and public spaces designed to respect the buildings' architectural heritage.
The reimagined Danieli connects visitors with Venice through experiences that highlight the city's living traditions, from Voga Veneta rowing and Murano glass craftsmanship to hidden gardens and the engineering behind the MOSE flood barrier protecting the UNESCO-listed city.
The re-launched hotel under one of the most revered luxury hospitality brands preserves one of Venice's best-known historic landmarks while offering the chance to stay inside a collection of aristocratic palaces and immerse yourself in Venetian culture and lifestyle.
Six Senses Lisbon
Lisbon's growing collection of historic palace hotels gains another fascinating addition with the opening of Six Senses Lisbon, a restoration project that brings two centuries-old aristocratic residences back to life.
Set beside the historic Elevador do Lavra—the city's oldest funicular railway still in operation—the new hotel occupies two restored 18th-century palaces.
The restoration retains grand staircases, soaring ceilings, frescoes, historic artwork, antique rugs, maps, and period furnishings, while introducing 21st-century comforts within spaces once occupied by Lisbon's elite. Rather than replacing the buildings' history, the project highlights it, allowing guests to experience authentic Portuguese palatial architecture from the inside.
Guests are within walking distance of the historic Bairro Alto neighborhood, Avenida da Liberdade, and some of Lisbon's best-known theaters, while rooftop terraces and gardens provide a sense of space and a breezy place to relax in Lisbon’s city center.
For travelers, Six Senses Lisbon allows you to experience one of Europe's most vibrant capital cities from an authentic historic setting.
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Images as noted and courtesy of their respective hotel brands.
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by Erika Docor on 06/25/2026
The private island for Explora Journeys and MSC Cruises, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, is at the forefront of a cruise-industry-wide drive to support and sustain the world’s oceans. World Oceans Day is the perfect time to share some of those stories as we reflect that nearly three-quarters of our Earth is covered in oceans. Whether you live on one of the world’s coastlines or cruise, oceans affect us all.
The water dominating the surface of our “Blue Planet,” helps regulate the entire world’s climate and weather by absorbing heat and storing carbon dioxide.
Did you know oceans produce half of the oxygen we breathe, through microscopic marine plants - phytoplankton? The heat and movement of oceans also affect weather patterns, rainfall, and temperatures that affect farming and freshwater supplies far beyond coastal regions.
As a cruise lover, I’m proud that cruising stands up for oceans and our Blue Planet.
The cruise industry has a collective goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), every new generation of cruise ship is 20% more energy-efficient than the previous class of ships. So new cruise ships are about more than new design, dining, and entertainment experiences!
If, like me, the more you cruise, the more you fall in love with and want to protect the oceans.
On World Oceans Day, we can learn more about how cruise lines are being part of the solution, the projects they are supporting and spearheading - some of which you, as a cruise guest, can participate in! - and what we as individuals can do to make a difference.
Super Coral Program – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Meet the marine biologist helping develop ‘Super Coral.’
The Super Coral Program is one of the cruise industry's most ambitious coral-restoration initiatives. Scientists are identifying and propagating heat-resistant strains of endangered coral to help reefs survive warming oceans. Guests visiting Ocean Cay can see coral nurseries and learn about ongoing restoration efforts.
The Mission Blue Partnership is a multi-year collaboration supporting marine protected areas ("Hope Spots"), ocean literacy programs and seagrass restoration projects in the Mediterranean.
“Oceans Day powered by MSC Foundation.”
To celebrate World Oceans Day this year, it has launched “Oceans Day powered by MSC Foundation.” It’s a new onboard program for children and families combining learning, creativity and participation and helping nurture the next generation of ocean ambassadors.
The onboard program is designed around three pillars – celebrating the ocean on every cruise, placing children and families at the center of the experience, and fostering ocean literacy. It draws on the MSC Foundation’s years of collaboration with conservation and education partners, combining lessons from its restoration work at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas with the expertise of organizations such as Mission Blue and Marevivo to create immersive experiences.
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris were designed as working research vessels with onboard wet and dry laboratories. Scientists sail alongside guests conducting research in polar regions, the Great Lakes and other sensitive ecosystems.
Genomics at Sea Program (GASP)
In partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the J. Craig Venter Institute, Viking supports onboard environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing to study marine biodiversity and monitor ecosystem health through its Genomics at Sea Program.
Fjord Phyto Citizen Science Program
Guests help collect phytoplankton samples for NASA-supported research. Phytoplankton produce roughly half of Earth's oxygen and are critical indicators of ocean health.
Great Lakes Research Partnerships
Viking's expedition ships support freshwater science, biodiversity monitoring and water-quality research throughout the Great Lakes—an important reminder that protecting waterways extends far beyond oceans.
Widely considered the gold standard in expedition cruise citizen science. Guests can participate in collecting water samples, recording wildlife sightings, monitoring marine debris and supporting climate research.
Supports projects focused on marine biodiversity, plastic pollution reduction, conservation education and community initiatives in destinations visited by expedition ships.
Funds scientific research and biodiversity studies and brings researchers on board the fleet in remote marine environments including Antarctica, the Arctic and Pacific islands.
Ponant and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) recently unveiled new initiatives to protect polar environments. Their enhanced partnership introduces:
Adelie Penguins, Antarctica image: Alexandre Herbrecht, Studio PONANT / Ocean Image Bank
WWF Global Ocean Conservation Partnership
Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, has a partnership with the renowned World Wildlife Fund supporting sustainable tourism, destination stewardship, responsible seafood sourcing, ocean conservation projects and environmental education.
An onboard ocean education program, developed with WWF, helps guests better understand marine ecosystems and conservation challenges.
Galápagos Conservation Projects
Celebrity's Galápagos operations support a variety of conservation initiatives in partnership with the local community and the Galápagos National Park. Efforts have included giant tortoise restoration, invasive species management and habitat protection.
ORCA Marine Mammal Monitoring Program
Passengers and trained volunteers help collect whale, dolphin and porpoise sighting data for the UK marine conservation charity ORCA. Decades of observations have contributed to marine mammal research and protection efforts.
National Geographic-Lindblad Conservation Fund
Supports marine conservation, scientific research and habitat protection in destinations including Antarctica, Alaska and the Galápagos.
Research and Scientist-in-Residence Programs
Scientists frequently travel aboard Lindblad ships, conducting field research and engaging guests in ongoing conservation projects.
This program gives pre-K–12 educators the opportunity to sail on board ships to participate in field-based exploration, providing a transformative, real-world experience that teachers can bring back to their classrooms, schools, and communities, improving geographic literacy and awareness.
Coral Reef and Mangrove Restoration Projects
Through destination partnerships and sustainability programs, Norwegian's brands—including Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—have participated in coral reef, mangrove and coastal restoration initiatives in destinations throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Cruise travel is a choice and a privilege, and we hope cruise travelers will support cruise lines and projects that make a difference to preserve, sustain, and protect the vast oceans that inspire us to travel and sustain the planet.
Videos and story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist
Images courtesy of respective cruise lines or as noted
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by Lynn Elmhirst on 06/11/2026
One hundred years after his death, Antoni Gaudí remains impossible to separate from Barcelona.
The Catalan architect died on June 10, 1926, one of the most defining architects of any era, tragically struck down by a tram. A century later, his extraordinary buildings are not only the city's most recognizable landmarks, but they have also become symbols of Barcelona itself. For most travelers, a first visit to the Catalan regional capital is as much about discovering Gaudí as it is about experiencing Spain.
Throughout 2026, Barcelona is hosting a year-long program of events commemorating the architect's life and legacy with exhibitions, concerts, cultural programs, special tours, and commemorative events across the city.
The centrepiece of the anniversary is a milestone in the long story of the Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s masterpiece towering over Barcelona.
The basilica that is the greatest legacy of the architect is still being built. Construction on Sagrada Familia began in 1882. And although Sagrada Familia will not be fully completed until well into the next decade, it has already achieved UNESCO World Heritage designation.
In death, Gaudí remains with his life’s work. He is buried beneath the nave.
The 100th anniversary of his passing was commemorated on June 10, 2026, by the inauguration of the completed Tower of Jesus Christ, now the tallest church tower in the world.
It was a celebration for the ages, with Pope Leo XIV traveling to Barcelona, joining the King and Queen of Spain and other dignitaries for a commemorative Mass celebrating Antoni Gaudí, and inaugurating the Tower of Jesus Christ.
The completion of the 172.5-meter (568-foot) tower fulfills one of Gaudí's most ambitious visions.
The Tower of Jesus Christ is the central tower of the Sagrada Família tower grouping, and the last one to be completed. It is surrounded by the four towers of the Evangelists and the tower of the Virgin Mary. It has 12 faces. The tower is topped with a three-dimensional four-armed cross, which itself is 17 meters (55 feet) tall and 13.5 meters (44 feet) wide.
Gaudí wanted the cross to shine both day and night. So it features white enameled ceramic and glass, two shiny materials that reflect the vivid Barcelona sun (and can also stand up to exposure to the elements). Spotlights will ensure the cross continues to be a beacon throughout the nights.
Inside, the church remains one of Europe's most phenomenal interiors. Gaudí designed the soaring columns to resemble a forest canopy, with stained glass creating an ever-changing play of light throughout the day.
The ceremonies were an exceptional tribute to the architect and his dream of building a temple conceived as a ‘great stone Bible,’ where art and architecture share with the world the values that inspired the basilica: faith, culture, nature, spirituality and the pursuit of beauty.
Gaudí's significance extends far beyond architecture. His work helped shape modern Catalan identity and became one of the defining expressions of Catalonia's artistic and cultural confidence at the turn of the twentieth century.
Inspired by nature, religion, geometry, and local craftsmanship, he rejected conventional architectural rules and created a style that remains instantly recognizable and completely unique today. Sagrada Familia is just one of seven of his works that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Many cities are known for their architecture. Barcelona is unusual because one architect's vision became inseparable from the city's identity. Gaudí buildings are often the first images travelers associate with Barcelona.
For first-time visitors to Barcelona, four landmarks form the core of any Gaudí itinerary:
Together, they showcase the architect's mature style and his extraordinary ability to blur the boundaries between architecture, art, fantasy and nature.
The anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate Gaudí's greatest achievement - the extraordinary, unparalleled Sagrada Familia - AND that his legacy was not that single building. Many destinations have famous architects and landmark structures.
Gaudí created a visual language so distinctive and even other-worldly that it became the visual and cultural identity of an entire city.
Just one hundred years after his death, a 2000-year-old city can’t be imagined without the vision and cultural signature Gaudí imprinted on this Mediterranean coastal city.
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Top images from video courtesy of Sagrada Familia
Bottom Image and story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert
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by Erika Docor on 06/11/2026
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.
START YOUR TRIP!
Story and event images: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert
Top 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 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.
START YOUR TRIP!
Story and images: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.
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 Erika Docor on 05/14/2026
Shawna Schrank
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