New Zealand Attracts a New Generation of Lord of the Rings Fans on 25th Anniversary of Film
Twenty-five years ago, moviegoers got their first glimpse of Middle-earth — and savvy travelers discovered that it looked remarkably like New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered in 2001, the first chapter of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. All three movies were filmed back-to-back in Jackson’s native New Zealand, with more than 150 locations eventually used across the North and South Islands.Why New Zealand? It wasn’t just hometown patriotism. Jackson had an...
VIDEO From the Bridge: Meet the Captain of the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti
What’s it like to captain a ship that sails year-round in exotic French Polynesia? I got to ask the captain of the Paul Gauguin during a visit to the bridge on a week-long voyage around the Islands of Tahiti. It’s a bucket-list trip for many of us – and rightfully so. Nowhere in the world compares with the tropical romance of the South Seas, and the Paul Gauguin doubles down on everything to feed your travel imagination: The Paul Gauguin is part...
How Low Can They Go? Historic Water Levels and the Future of River Cruising in Europe
I adore river cruising. I constantly recommend river cruises to viewers and followers. But river cruising is facing an industry-changing crisis. And I think it’s time to face it head-on with new solutions that will benefit everyone. A NEW LOW Low water levels on Europe’s major rivers – including the Rhine and the Danube – are making headlines around the world. I was at (not on!) the Rhine last week (early August, 2026), and I was shocked at the water levels, as you can...
Attention Cycling Fans: Tour de France Rolls Across the English Channel in 2027
In July 2027, the Tour de France will make cycling history in the UK. Three men’s stages and three women’s stages will put Britain on the cycling world stage. In fact, it will be a historic double-header: for the first time, both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes will hold their Grand Départs - in the same country - outside France. The 114th edition of the world’s most famous bicycle race will begin with a 630-kilometer road trip...
Walk on the Wild Side: Animal Encounters on the Beaches of the Caribbean
You came to the Caribbean for the beach. So did the wildlife. Throughout the islands, some stretches of sand come with company: two legs or four, from birds to beasts to reptiles. Some creatures are unexpected, others have earned celebrity status. Some are indigenous to their islands, while others have adapted over centuries to new climes. Here are some Caribbean beaches where you may have to share your patch of sand – and get a glimpse of a local resident of the...
D-Day Landing Beaches Achieve Overdue Milestone; How to Make Your Own Pilgrimage
82 years after what Winston Churchill called “the most complicated and difficult” military operation in world history, Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches finally achieved long overdue recognition of their place in the world as we know it today – plus the protection needed to ensure their lessons live on for future generations. LEARN MORE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Normandy Landing Beaches Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site after 82 years. The surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied soldiers – from the UK, USA, Canada,...
VIDEO: Wine and So Much More on a Scenic Bordeaux River Cruise
I say ‘Bordeaux,’ and you think: wine. It’s true Bordeaux is one of the most fabled and beloved wine regions of the world, and a trip to France to spend time exploring the wineries of Bordeaux is a bucket list trip for many of us. But ‘Bordeaux’ has another meaning. Translated, it means ‘at the water’s edge.’ And a river cruise may be the most authentic way to honor and live the true essence of the Bordeaux region. WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Favorite scenery,...
Top “Coolcation” Travel Destinations
Record-breaking summer heatwaves throughout Europe have more travelers looking for cooler destinations to spend the holidays. I have some favorites. By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert Some like it hot! And since Coco Chanel made it stylish to spend even scorching summers on the French Riviera, heat-loving travelers have flocked to the Mediterranean during the season. Those who couldn’t brave Mediterranean heat? Well, they stayed in more central areas of Europe in the summers. That’s been the pattern for decades – but...
Crystal’s New Ship Doubles Down on Family-Focused Spaces
When Crystal Grace launches in 2028, she’ll have more dedicated family spaces and programming than ever. That sets Crystal apart from most other cruise lines in the luxury space, which either permit but provide few age-specific amenities – or simply ban a younger passenger set. Not so Crystal Grace. Existing ships Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity have a playroom for kids 3-12, a lounge and video arcade for teens and outdoors, and children share the main Seahorse Pool deck with adults....
Spain’s Summer Spectacles
For most travelers, summer in Spain means lazy days on Mediterranean beaches, late-night tapas and sangria in sunny plazas. Summer is also Spain’s festival season – with two events famous the world over headlining a heady, heated frenzy of cultural celebrations. And only in Spain would they treat death-defying dares - and a food fight - equally seriously! I Call “Bull” Every July 6, the northern city of Pamplona erupts with the 9-day San Fermín Festival. Literary lovers will recall that Ernest...