Stories

VIDEO From the Bridge: Meet the Captain of the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti

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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... Read more

New Zealand Attracts a New Generation of Lord of the Rings Fans on 25th Anniversary of Film

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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... Read more

Lights Out on One of the Hottest New Travel Trends

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For generations, travelers have organized their days around daylight. Get up. See the sights. Take the photos. Then, as the sun sets, the day starts wrapping up. One of travel’s fastest-growing trends turns that itinerary upside down. And the lights off. Noctourism... Read more

The Cruise Line Breeding “Super Coral” and Other Good News for World Oceans Day

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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... Read more

Scotland's Greatest Summer Spectacle: the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

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Every August, something remarkable happens on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The ancient fortress, perched atop the craggy remnants of a volcano in the center of Scotland’s capital city, becomes the backdrop for one of the world's most moving and... Read more

The Natural Thrills of Costa Rica

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If you want the focus of your vacation to be an authentic immersion into raw nature, put Costa Rica on your list of outdoor adventure destinations. This Central American country is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. In... Read more

Gaudí at 100: Barcelona's Most Famous Architect "Raising the Roof" of the City

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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... Read more

Why Travelers are Following the Trail of South Africa’s Oldest Vineyards

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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... Read more

Opera by the Sea: Where World-Class Music Meets the Waterfront

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The world’s waterfronts are undergoing incredible transformations, from no-go industrial sites to revitalized centers of urban lifestyle and community living. Increasingly, the centerpiece of that renaissance… is a landmark, architectural marvel music hall. Often labeled ‘opera houses,’ these venues are the... Read more

Orient Express Launches World’s Largest Sailed Cruise Ship

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The Golden Age of Sail is returning – with a 21st century twist! Storied travel company Orient Express made its first appearance at Seatrade, just ahead of the debut its first cruise ship: a 720-foot, 100-guest solid-sail ship that marries... Read more