November 2018 Global Traveler

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November 2018

THE CRUISING ISSUE Set sail on a rising tide of new cruise vessels and voyages. p. 44

CARIBBEAN CRUISING p.66 COCHIN p. 64 COZUMEL p. 72 FORT LAUDERDALE p. 58 LISBON p. 52 NEW ORLEANS p. 60 TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING p. 70 VENICE p. 62

letter from the editor ®

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com

BON VOYAGE! ADMITTEDLY, I HAVEN’T CRUISED MUCH. But after reading through the articles in this month’s issue, our first-ever Cruising Issue, that’s a fact I know I need to change. There truly is something for everyone in the world of cruising, a theme we tried to highlight on the following pages. From large-ship cruises, which Richard Newton delves into further on page 40, and sailing cruises like Katarina Line, reviewed on page 19, to river cruises — check out Uniworld’s recent transformation on page 82 — and smaller, luxury cruises (for example, on Silversea Cruises, page 36), whatever type of cruiser you deem yourself, there’s an option for you.

My first cruise was in 1999/2000, when I was 16 years old. My parents planned Christmas with family in Clearwater, Florida, before embarking on a New Year’s cruise to celebrate the millennium. Of course, at that age, I thought it was horrible my parents were keeping me from my friends on the holiday, but I TO THE ROCK: ended up having the time of my life. I made tons Kimberly Krol on an Alcatraz cruise of new friends, I was never bored with the endless PHOTO: © KIMBERLY KROL activity options available, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first time snorkeling in Grand Cayman. There was a bit of magic in the air as the bell chimed midnight on Y2K and I was surrounded by the darkened expanse of the ocean, the twinkling stars overhead and the celebratory cheers from our fellow passengers.

I spared you the awkward teenage photos from that first cruise, but in a nod to the many different types of cruising available around the globe, opted for this one from Alcatraz Cruises. On a windy San Francisco day, my friend and I braved the breeze to explore the infamous prison. You never know what worldwide excursion or tour is going to send you adrift.

Fittingly, almost 20 years later, I will ring in the upcoming New Year on a cruise — just one of a different ilk. I embark on my first river cruise Dec. 27, with U by Uniworld. We’ll first visit the famous Christmas markets in Regensburg and Passau before anchoring in Vienna, where we’ll welcome 2019, and then hit up Melk, Bratislava and Budapest for more holiday fun. A different kind of cruising experience, but I’m sure it will yield equally fond memories.

It’s now time to set sail with this issue, with ports of call in Montréal, Lisbon, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Venice, Cochin, the Caribbean and Cozumel. We even make a trans-Atlantic crossing aboard Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2 on page 70.

Join us next month as we announce the 2018 winners of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards and celebrate the 15th anniversary of the survey! Until then, ahoy, mateys!

Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor ANGELIQUE PLATAS angelique.platas@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor ERICH J. MARTIN erich.martin@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Content Producer DEBRA BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Editor at Large HOLLY RIDDLE holly.riddle@globaltravelerusa.com

ART Art Director TRACEY CULLEN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor VANCE PICCIN

COLUMNISTS

WRITERS

KRISTY ALPERT MARGARET BACKENHEIMER J.D. BROWN MARK CHESNUT EUNICE FRIED MARY B. GALLAGHER JACK GUY ALLIE MOORE

REGINA BARABAN SUSAN BARNES RON BERNTHAL DEBRA BOKUR ELLEN CLARK ELYSE GLICKMAN MEGAN HILL ILONA KAUREMSZKY KARIN LEPERI ALLIE MOORE RINA NEHDAR RICHARD NEWTON

ete bios, For compl usa.com altraveler visit glob

CIRCULATION Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD, TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI Research Consultant SHARON STERNE

ste of The Ta tour a o b Lis treks offers l colorfu through ods ho r o b neigh raria to like Mou bites le p sam cal from lo tions institu cafés. and new about e or m Learn ge 52. pa on Lisbon

ADVISORY BOARD Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE, COO MICHAEL KIELY, President CARLOS CAPPUCCIO, Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD, Deputy Vice President Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON, Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN DOHERTY, Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN, Vice President Special Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK, Secretary MARK LANE, Research Director FRANK LOVERME, Treasurer KEVIN RYAN, Director of Technology BOB HANCOCK, Director of Digital Advancement JARED TORGAN GENERAL COUNSEL THOMAS F. GOLDMAN

KIMBERLY KROL, EDITOR IN CHIEF

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letter from the publisher ® ®

PLEASANT SURPRISES THIS FALL I ATTENDED THE Turkish Airlines World Golf Club outing at the Angeles National Golf Club in Los Angeles. Turkish holds tournaments worldwide, with the winners competing in the final playoff in Antalya, Turkey, in October. GT Globility Board member Steve White and Bill Noonan, a longtime friend and industry veteran, joined me on the course. (See my Golf review on TEAM PLAYERS: Francis X. Gallagher with longtime friend Bill Noonan and page 34.)

GT Globility Board member Steve White Although we played well, with PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER Steve grossing a low score, we did not think we had a shot. At the luncheon, however, we learned Steve was the overall winner, a triumph not only related to his fine game but also to our following the rules. Our group was one of the few teams that played from the indicated tees and followed the Stableford format to the letter. I am proud to announce Steve White will fly business class on Turkish Airlines to compete in the global finish! At the time of printing, this event had yet to take place, but I will report the final winners.

I stayed at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport hotel, just a few miles from the course. Recently renovated, the hotel features many lovely venues for entertaining and meeting. I was particularly fond of the on-site bar area with its festive, welcoming atmosphere.

I encountered a small issue as I unpacked. It seemed the room was not properly serviced. I discovered only one-eighth of a roll of toilet paper with no reserve rolls, shower gel in place of hand soap and no bottled water. I called down and was informed the toilet paper would be brought up. In the meantime, I ordered room service — a club sandwich (with avocado, as seems to be the rule in California) and the best french fries I’ve ever tasted. Two hours later, the toilet paper and some bottled water arrived. I think readers will agree providing several bottles of water is not costly and is a must.

The following day I received a guest survey, which I completed honestly with the positives and negatives. Much to my surprise, I received an apologetic response from the hotel: Thank you for choosing to stay at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport and providing your honest feedback on the Guest Satisfaction Survey.

Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority and we sincerely apologize for falling short of meeting your expectations.

As a teachable moment, we have shared your feedback with the appropriate hotel team to ensure the necessary guidelines are in place to prevent issues like the one we provided you from occurring in the future.

Once again, thank you for your valued feedback and we hope to serve you again whenever your travels bring you back to Burbank.

California was full of pleasant surprises!

CONNECT WITH GT Check out GT’s Pinterest boards at pinterest.com/globaltraveler Follow GT on Instagram @globaltravelermag

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EXPLORING NORTHERN CHINA WILL BE MUCH EASIER next month, thanks to the arrival of a new, non-stop service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Shengyang (SHE) on China Southern Airlines.

The Los Angeles–Shenyang service kick offs in late December, offering travelers from North America direct access to the capital of the Liaoning Province three times weekly onboard an Airbus 330.

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On your next trip to Shenyang from North America, fly China Southern Airlines’ newest service for a trip you will never forget.

Learn more at global.csair.com.

contents

November 2018

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44

58 42 FEATURES

BUSINESS DESTINATIONS

40 Making Waves The newest mega-ships leave their predecessors in their wakes.

52 Destination One: Lisbon Once the center of exploration and trade, Lisbon poises for rediscovery.

44 Ships Ahoy!

Set sail on a rising tide of new cruise vessels and voyages.

58 Stateside: Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale shines with a resurgence of luxury tourism.

48 City on the Seaway A majestic river, European ambience and stylish accommodations attract events to Montréal.

60 9–5: New Orleans New Orleans’ culture indeed makes it easy to entertain clients.

52 6

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NOVEMBER 2018

62 After 5: Venice Discover the local charm of Italy’s island city.

ON THE COVER globaltravelerusa.com | $4.99

November 2018

THE CRUISING ISSUE Set sail on a rising tide of new cruise vessels and voyages. p. 44

CARIBBEAN CRUISING p.66 COCHIN p. 64 COZUMEL p. 72 FORT LAUDERDALE p. 58 LISBON p. 52 NEW ORLEANS p. 60 TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING p. 70 VENICE p. 62

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COVER PHOTO: VIKING LONGSHIP IN BUDAPEST PHOTO: © VIKING RIVER CRUISES

contents

November 2018

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64

72

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24 74

70

CONNECTIONS

LEISURE DESTINATIONS

24 26 27 30 32 34 36 38 77 80

10 13 16 21

64 Neighborhoods: Cochin Wander historic districts and backwaters in picturesque Cochin.

Technology Wine & Spirits Wealth Tours Spas Golf Chefs Cruising LGBTQ+ Health

Mail Call News Reviews One on One Windstar Cruises 78 Port Update 82 Past & Present

66 Friends & Family: Caribbean Cruising Embark on a family getaway through the crystal-blue Caribbean.

70 Bucket List: Trans-Atlantic Crossing Chart a course to your own distant shore aboard the majestic Queen Mary 2.

72 Kicking Back: Cozumel Dive into Cozumel for a shore excursion filled with sun and surf.

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NOVEMBER 2018

FX E X P R E S S

P U B L I C AT I O N S , I N C .

Global Traveler and Globility are registered trademarks of Global Traveler magazine and of its parent company, FXExpress Publications, Inc. Global Traveler is not affiliated with any commercial interests within the travel industry. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor can the publisher accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited articles, photographs or other material.

AAM member 04-0361-2. AAM audited circulation 111,517. ISSN 1551-7187 ©2018 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

PHOTOS: © ELLEN CLARK, © DEEPBLU, © SEABOURN, © EERO

LIFESTYLE

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LATAM.com 1.866.4359.526 or contact your travel agent 2018 © LATAM AIRLINES GROUP S.A. - All rights reserved.

140

Best Airline in South America nine years in a row

mail call SEPTEMBER Q&A WITH ANDREW RISCH, ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Q&A WITH KATIE SKRZEK, VICE PRESIDENT / DIGITAL DIRECTOR I have been on a cruise once, with two of my friends after college to Key West and the Bahamas. Though my experience is limited, I’m intrigued by the variety of options currently available, particularly river cruises and those to cold-weather destinations like Alaska.

In our September 2018 issue, Andrew Risch discussed all things fall — including the extended voting season for our annual GT Tested Reader Survey — and the nostalgia of the season. This begged the question: What are some of your favorite autumn memories?

Cruising fans, do you have a favorite type of cruise?

Email us: letters@globaltravelerusa.com

My family and I tend to vacation in the fall. Whether on their school break or just before the semester starts, we try to go somewhere for a long weekend and enjoy the outdoors. It’s always a fun time to connect after a busy summer.

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September 2018

In our Sept. 25 issue of This Month in Aviation with Harriet Baskas, Baskas discussed the price hike across most major airlines. United Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, WestJet and Air Canada recently raised their fees for checked bags and for overweight and oversized bags.

GREEK ISLES p. 76 ISLE OF SKYE p. 70 LONDON p. 69 MEDELLÍN p. 68 SANTA FE p. 64 SHANGHAI p. 66 TAHITIAN ISLANDS p. 74

ALEXIS WALKER, via email Autumn always makes me think of when I was a kid and my family and I would go apple picking and buy fall decorations for the house.

It’s also a great time to get out hiking and camping.

JEFFERY WALLIS, via email

Wherever Awards 2018

WHEREVERFAMILY SPECIAL SECTION p. 46

PERFECT HARMONY Kyoto looks both forward and backward with ease. p. 58

September2018.indd 1

8/16/18 1:40 PM

DANCIN’ IN SEPTEMBER

We are a camping family, so the fall makes me think of my family’s annual trip to camp in upstate New York. Now we go back occasionally and stay around the Finger Lakes and visit the different wineries.

COURTNEY THOMPSON, via email

Our magazine is celebrating 15 years, and our September 2018 issue is another reason to revel in that fact, according to one GT Advisory Board member and avid long-time reader.

The September issue is the best I have read in 15 years. Congrats!

MARK LANE, via email

UNITED’S LATEST BAGGAGE FEE HIKE

This is why I prefer Southwest Airlines. No baggage fees at all for two checked bags. And the seats are roomier.

Thanks, United, for validating my airline of choice: Southwest.

YVONNE “EV” LANELLI, via email I think it stinks United raised its baggage prices. The whole airline industry should take a good look at the consumers who fly: It feels like someone is choking us every time we fly. It’s ridiculous to fly

on an airline and be charged for everything, even to choose your seat. It’s also unfair a couple cannot sit together unless they decide to pay in advance for that privilege. I am angry and ready to fight, not fly.

GLORIA AUGUSTYN, via email It seems the fees just won’t quit.

Every time I go to book a flight, I’m paying a bit more for something but getting less.

JACK KRAUFF, via email

HURRICANE RELIEF SEASON In our Sept. 26, eFlyer USA newsletter, we discussed all the airlines and travel organizations donating funds and contributions to the devastating effects of Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas. After environmental damages only marginally improved, even two weeks after the storm, water levels continued to rise. Top travel

CONTACT GT Do you have a story to share? Thoughts on a recent GT article? Email us: letters@globaltravelerusa.com or write to Letters to the Editor, 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067 Letters must be written exclusively to Global Traveler and must include your full name, mailing address and contact phone number. Letters become the property of Global Traveler.

We cannot respond to every letter. Global Traveler reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in Mail Call are not necessarily those of Global Traveler, and Global Traveler cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

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SOFITEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS | 8555 BEVERLY BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 | 310-278-5444 WWW.SOFITEL-LOS-ANGELES.COM

PLUS TRAVEL WITH APP-TITUDE

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Globility

THE SOURCE FOR LUxURY BUSINE

ABU DHABI

organizations announced they would contribute to Hurricane Florence relief efforts taking place in the Carolinas, including Delta Air Lines donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross to benefit the agency’s hurricane relief efforts — in addition to a $1 million grant to the Red Cross as an Annual Disaster Giving Program. Our readers responded.

They were lucky to have had so many passengers healthy enough to hop on the next flight after turning around. The entire situation could have gone way worse, but still, such a silly mistake and easily avoided with a more experienced crew.

A HALF-CENTURY OF BUILDING CASTLES IN THE SAND

HANGZHOU

IMMORTALIZED BY PAINTERS AND POETS ALIKE kicking back | COOK

ISLANDS

FAMILY BUSINESS MEETS ROMANCE IN THE WHITE CITY

Argentina’s signature white will have all your senses dancing.

I

n an attempt to describe Torrontés, Argentina’s signature white wine, some have compared it to Pinot Grigio, Viognier, even Riesling. But none come close. Made from the grape of the same name, Torrontés is like no other. It begins with an aroma that conjures up a bouquet of flowers (the honeyed, perfumed Muscat of Alexandria is one of its ancestors), hinting that a sweet wine will follow. But no, Torrontés goes toward dry and fruity with a tangy and spicy edge. It is the perfect aperitif and equally right with shellfish, Niçoise salad, chicken, other whitemeat dishes, lightly flavored cheese and many Asian foods.

As Americans discover this intriguing wine, they will also discover that, with a myriad of choices, even the most attractive Torrontés usually costs under $20.

And what are the most attractive Torrontés? Among two dozen that I’ve recently tasted, these are my favorites.

Xavier Flouret Flaca 2008 ($18) is one of the most elegant Torrontés, with a delicate floral nose that hints of apricot and peach; a dry, Powered by round, well-structured body; a fruit-filled taste and vibrant acidity; and a long, delicious finish.

Its Muscat ancestor comes to the fore in Lo Tengo 2009’s ($11.50) vivid, flowery aroma. It goes on to be a clearly focused, intensely flavored, bright and satisfying wine.

IN THE COOK ISLANDS, on Rarotonga, I’m walking along a dusty path, edged There is a suggestion of by a plethora of plants and trees. Fat papayas hang from their umbrella-like sweet mint and an evocation trees; bananas, still green on the stem, invite; and mangos, ripe and ready, have of orange and peach in Finca fallen from their roost. Blossoming bushes waft a perfume, butterflies circle halos La Linda 2009’s ($11) aroma, around my head, and a stream gurgles nearby. A mother sow and her family of followed by a relatively full body cartoonish piglets join me on the road. Not one but 10 roosters crow in competing symphonies — though early morning is long past. The sea lies nearby, but and excellent balance. Altogether a here, hiking inland, surrounded by steep hills and much vegetation, I feel like the pleasing, inviting wine. only person left on Earth.

Finca El Origen Reserva 2009 ($12) Luckily, I’m not. I share this walk with one of the Cook Islands’ most Ease body, mind andoffering soul ain is clean, crisp and refreshing, famous residents, a larger-than-life figure known as Uncle Pa, once a world typical Torrontés floral flavor with pear the natural goodness of the surfing champion. Though an octogenarian, he wears long dreadlocks, treks and peach overtones and a gentle reminder shirtless and sports a colorful sarong. With rippling muscles and the physique of citrus fruits in the A particularly of a 30-year-old man, he belies aging and serves as the metaphorical poster Cook Islands.

BY mouth.

BECCA HENSLEY harmonious wine. child for his role as this island nation’s most famous healer. An herbalist or The delightful Pascual Toso 2009 ($15) kahuna, he learned from his grandmother about the power of the plants that BEACHSIDE BLISS:herbal notes grow on these less-traveled islands. Intuitive, fearless, with a foot in both the combines keen fruit flavors, Spa treatment on the beach at and a fresh lemony acidity with a trace of past and the modern world, Uncle Pa has helped thousands of people regain Aitutaki Lagoon their health over the years. As we walk, he picks leaves, flowers, berries and honey and floral tones.

PHOTO: © STEVE ALLEN | DREAMSTIME.COM Following its aroma of fresh flowers and ripefruit. He tells me how he makes elixirs or poultices from them; he lets me taste fruit, Colomé 2009 ($15) is a graceful wine with notes reminiscent of grapefruit.

72citric globaltravelerusa.com JUNE 2017 The pale-shaded Dominio del Plata’s Crios 2009 ($13.50) has a lilac-scented aroma with peach overtones followed by a dry, tangy taste. 

INFO TO GO

A variety of international airlines fly to Rarotonga International Airport on the Cook Islands’ main island. In December 2016 Air New Zealand began weekly non-stop flights on its comfortable Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which offers a new premium-economy option, from Los Angeles (LAX), making the trek from the United States easier than ever.

ICELAND

ADVENTURE AWAITS IN THE LAND OF FIRE A

May 2011 | Global Traveler | 35

www.globaltravelerusa.com

It’s great if these airlines actually donate the money they say they are going to. It seems too often everyone rushes to claim they are donating and contributing to aid efforts after a natural disaster but leave the job unfinished.

TEL AVIV

Torrontés Tango

Art of Healing

JACK ROBBINS, via email

fine vines

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It’s an expensive and dangerous time of year for regions in harm’s way of a hurricane. It’s nice to know big travel corporations pitch in also, even if the lack of tourism to that area could harm their business.

anywhere your business takes you, right on your globaltravelerusa.com

JONATHAN WILDE, via email

JENNIFER CRAWFORD, via email

UNDER PRESSURE In our Sept. 26 eFlyer Asia, we discussed the recent Jet Airways’ flight crew forgetting to pressurize the cabin, causing 150 passengers to experience serious discomfort, including 30 passengers reportedly bleeding from their ears and mouths. This sparked a few letters from readers.

I hadn’t realized something so simple as a switch controlled the pressure of an airline cabin. I’m glad there weren’t more serious injuries; that airline should be sued for neglect.

ANGELA DISSOLVE, via email

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NOVEMBER 2018

JETBLUE GOING GREEN In our Sept. 26 issue of eFlyer USA, we discussed the renewable jet fuel more frequently used on JetBlue flights and other airlines, thanks to a few Airbus deliveries. This inspired a reader to write in.

In this political and environmental climate, I think it is a novel and well-appreciated effort seeing these big corporations work to cut carbon footprints. If an easy, costeffective and eco-friendly swap can be made, we should — wherever possible. Happy to hear this renewable jet fuel is becoming more mainstream; may take another look at JetBlue.

SIMON BAKER, via email

Availa at the

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON GT BLOGS? Updated daily, our blogs offer readers an inside look at the lives and travels of the GT staff. Last month we featured blogs about everything from whale watching in Québec to apple picking in New York and a beach week in Seaside, Oregon.

globaltravelerusa.com/blog

PHOTO: © ZHUKOVSKY | DREAMSTIME.COM

We have a home in North Carolina and we were very lucky with Hurricane Florence, but we have a lot of friends who were not so lucky. I’m happy to know so many companies are stepping up to help.

Visit our website to access past and present articles, reports, guides, hot travel links and deals and video interviews, as well as forms for subscribing to the magazine and our eFlyer newsletters.

news Millennial-Focused Cruise Line Accepts Adults of All Ages

U by Uniworld — a formerly millennial-focused cruise line launched in April — decided to end the agerestriction part of its original booking rules. Now it opens the cruise itineraries to adults of all ages, not just travelers between the ages of 21 and 45.

U by Uniworld specializes in cruising experiences rather than the traditional hop-on, hop-off itineraries that dominate the cruising industry. Instead, itineraries focus on longer stays at ports, allowing passengers the opportunity to spend more time in one place and engage in the local culture, a growing travel trend for millennial and generation-X travelers.

On board, guests can expect the same services and activities the company has offered since its inception, including mixology classes, yoga classes, theme parties and silent discos.

Currently, U by Uniworld offers European cruises but announced plans to expand to Southeast Asia. ubyuniworld.com

PRINCESS CRUISES’ GLOBALLY INSPIRED COCKTAILS This fall Princess Cruises introduced a new onboard cocktail menu to inspire travelers to taste the world. The cruise line added 10 new libations to its drink menu, each representing a different cultural corner of the world.

The signature menu was created by Rob Floyd, a renowned mixologist whose idea was to inject an element of exoticism into the lounges and restaurants on the ships. According to Floyd, “Guests will be able to enjoy a wide selection of fully realized drinks that combine what I refer to as the Three Ts: taste, technique and tale.”

These globally influenced cocktails include the Ivory Coast, made with Grey Goose vodka, Amarula African liqueur, Kahlua and chocolate shavings; and the Egyptian Zombie, a combination of Bacardi Superior rum, Gosling’s Dark rum, blackberry brandy, sweet and sour, grenadine, and orange and pineapple juices.

Princess also expanded its selection of other alcohols on board, including 39 new wines, 17 international craft beers and 20 new spirits.

PHOTOS: © PRINCESS CRUISES, © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

princess.com

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Wine Voyages with Paul Gauguin Cruises

Travelers who book a select journey with Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019 have a chance to participate in onboard wine tastings and seminars led by industry experts. Throughout the year, a number of itineraries will welcome wine growers and sellers on board to offer guests exclusive lectures and tastings.

Beginning in February as part of the Tahiti and Society Islands cruise, Paul Gauguin Cruises will welcome Jody Bogle, a manager of the family-owned Bogle Vineyards and Winery in California.

Robin and Danuta Pfeiffer of Oregon’s Pfeiffer Winery will be on hand to lend their knowledge and expertise on the April 13 journey to Marquesas, Tuamotus and the Society Islands, a 14-night cruise through French Polynesia.

Other California wineries making appearances throughout the year include the Steven Kent Winery, Napa’s Salvestrin Winery, Whitehall Lane Winery and Peju Province Winery. pgcruises.com

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news

Azamara’s Country Home on the Sea

Azamara Club Cruises built a new cruise ship that will make passengers feel more at home than on a vessel exploring exotic destinations.

MV Azamara Pursuit — which set off on her maiden voyage in August — accommodates just 702 passengers, making it a fairly small ship compared with others on the sea but packing just as much in terms of on- and off-boat experiences.

Pursuit hosts AzAmazing Evenings, excursions that expose guests to local life in some of the ship’s port cities.

With a focus less on high-tech amenities and flashy entertainment and more on wooden décor and nature, the ship appeals to travelers who seek a more classic experience, akin to a few quiet days in a country cabin.

Pursuit’s next journey will depart March 20, 2019, and will sail from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Lisbon, Portugal. azamaraclubcruises.com

Cruise Lines Encourage Immersive Experiences

Touted as floating hotels, cruise ships offer anything and everything travelers could want and need in terms of dining options, leisure activities and entertainment. So why would anyone want to leave the ship?

Certain cruise lines encourage their guests to disembark more often and immerse themselves in port locations to enjoy a more experiential vacation rather than parking on the lido deck for an entire week.

Instead of tour guides schlepping hordes of tourists through crowded city streets, the scenes of which can vary greatly between day and night, companies like Oceania, Azamara and Paul Gauguin Cruises offer alternative activities like snorkeling in hidden coves, beach yoga classes or access to private golf courses not open to the public. Passengers aboard Regent Seven Seas cruises can tour Andrea Bocelli’s Tuscan estate and his recording studio, and Windstar Cruises increased the number of stops that stay the night from 50 percent to 70 percent.

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Late summer brought a slew of announcements regarding additions to various cruise lines’ destinations. As the 2018–2019 cruising season kicks off, major lines add service during the upcoming season and beyond.

Currently homeporting in Tampa, Florida, Carnival’s Miracle ship will return to San Diego and resume journeys to Mexico and Hawai’i as of December 2019 and January 2020.

Regent Seven Seas announced an ambitious itinerary that will take passengers to six continents, omitting only Antarctica. With a duration of 117 nights spent in 30 countries, the Seven Seas Mariner will set sail in January 2021 from Miami, nearly circumnavigate the globe and finish in the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, in 2020 Crystal Cruises plans to launch a 105-day journey between Miami and Rome, Italy, traveling through the Panama Canal to islands in the South Pacific, Australia and Southeast Asia before also ending in the Mediterranean.

PHOTOS: © AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES, © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

Newest Cruise Routes for 2018–2019

deals & rewards

Holiday Cruise in the South Pacific

Continuing its presence in the South Pacific, Paul Gauguin Cruises announced a sevennight winter holiday excursion: Tahiti and the Society Islands.

Scheduled to set sail Dec. 22, passengers will spend the Christmas holidays in French Polynesia, thousands of miles from any winter wonderlands.

The journey departs from Papeete, Tahiti, and sails to Bora Bora, Moorea and the Society Islands. Passengers have the opportunity to book stays off the ship at Paul Gauguin Cruises’ exclusive retreats in Motu Mahana and in Bora Bora. Off-boat activities include snorkeling, jet skiing, barbecues prepared by locals, cocktails served from floating bars and access to private beaches. pgcruises.com

PHOTOS: © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES, © CALIN ANDREI STAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Redeem Your Alaska Miles with Finnair

Members of Alaska Airlines’ Alaska Mileage Plan can now earn and redeem miles with partner airline Finnair.

Alaska Mileage Plan members have been able to earn miles with Finnair since 2017, but only recently have members been able to redeem miles with the Helsinki-based airline.

Based on Alaska Airlines’ pricing scheme, members need 30,000 miles to fly Finnair between the United States and Europe in economy class, and 70,000 miles to fly in business class.

Finnair flies between the United States, Europe and Asia. alaskaair.com finnair.com

Cruise to European Christmas Markets

Travelers who dream about visiting Europe’s iconic Christmas markets but are stuck when it comes to deciding where to go can experience a dream come true with one of the following Christmas river cruise options.

A-ROSA Donna’s Christmas Markets on the Danube package includes a six-night journey along the Danube River in Central Europe with a memorable stop at markets in Vienna, Austria, all for less than $850 per person. Travelers with limited time can opt for the four-night A Merry Little Christmas cruise aboard U by Uniworld’s The A ship. Stops include Budapest, Hungary, and Vienna, Austria. With shore excursions and two daily meals included, the price per passenger is approximately $1,700.

The River Cruise Line’s MPS Lady Anne offers a Christmas-themed itinerary that departs Dec.

5 and sails along Germany’s Rhine River from Andernach to Cologne. For less than $400, the three-night excursion features stops at Cologne’s market stalls, where mulled wine and gingerbread abound.

Finally, the Magic of Advent on the Rhine cruise from Amadeus River Cruises journeys from Speyer, Germany, to Strasbourg, France, the latter hosting France’s oldest Christmas market.

The cruise starts on Dec. 12 and costs approximately $2,360 per person.

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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Maasdam

Reviewed by Jim L. Elliott

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ All events were wellorganized and started on time. ◆ The crew members’ smiles and care for the passengers were remarkable. ◆ First-rate entertainers came from all over the world.

Embarkation/Disembarkation: Both were done in a professional and rapid manner with little to no waiting. Lunch was available upon embarkation with the usual options of hot and cold foods from the buffet on an upper deck. Cabins/staterooms were ready for occupancy in the early afternoon and made available in the order of suites, balcony rooms, ocean-view and inside rooms.

Stateroom: The Maasdam is an older ship, built in 1993 and refurbished in 2016. Our Vista Suite, a traditional balcony-type

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cabin, included a sitting area, private veranda, a tub with a shower, and plenty of closet space for longer cruises.

Services/Amenities: Food on board was of a high quality.

The Maasdam has a limited number of dining options due to the size of the ship, including the main dining room, a buffet on a top deck and two specialty restaurants. There were also six bars and lounges. Service in the main dining room was slow, with two hours the normal duration for an evening meal; for older passengers and large tables, this was acceptable. Crew served an afternoon tea at 3 p.m. each day.

Services included a beauty salon/barber shop, a spa, eight elevators, Cellular at Sea (for a high price), self-service laundry and laundry/dry cleaning services for a fee. For relaxation and entertainment, passengers can enjoy pools and a hot tub, a library, a casino, a disco, a movie theater with multiple shows daily, an outdoor movie screen, a video arcade, shops and a showroom for evening entertainment and lectures for large groups.

◆ My wife enjoyed the craft classes held on at-sea days.

The price of sewing classes included taking home the sewing machine! ◆ Internet prices were high and speeds were slow due to the satellite connection, something all cruise lines need to improve.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE hollandamerica.com

PHOTOS: © HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Ports of Call: The 28-night cruise from San Diego to Lima and back aboard the Maasdam included Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Fuerte Amador, Panama; Salaverry (Trujillo) and Lima (Callao), Peru, overnight; Manta, Ecuador; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; Corinto, Nicaragua; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and returning to San Diego, California.

◆ Lectures, held almost daily, focused on the people, history and culture of upcoming ports of call and not on excursions that could be purchased.

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VIKING OCEAN CRUISES

Viking Sun

Reviewed by Shelley Pearce Ports of Call: Viking Sun visited Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Gdańsk, Poland; Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Copenhagen and Ålborg, Denmark; and Stavanger, Eidfjord and Bergen, Norway.

Embarkation/Disembarkation: Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, was our cruise rendezvous point. Everyone arrived a day early to acclimatize and explore.

Viking has great staff waiting to welcome everyone at the beginning of the cruise and each day as we returned from excursions. We were able to check in several hours earlier than many passengers since we booked a junior suite. The process was smooth and painless.

Staff members are always at their posts as tours leave the ship, distributing bottles of water to keep you hydrated and to send you off with enthusiastic wishes for your scheduled tours. For example, returning from our long day in Berlin, the staff lined up, cheering and handing out moist towels.

PHOTOS: © VIKING

Stateroom: We booked a Penthouse Junior Suite. Our housekeeping staff had an attitude of service and did a great job keeping our suite spotless. It was stocked with L’Occitane bath and body products.

With many early morning tours, we ordered breakfast via room service and felt pampered. The food was excellent.

Viking does a great job communicating with daily print publications such as the Viking Daily. It provides detailed schedules, history, background, local facts and maps of ports, delivered to your stateroom every evening.

Services/Amenities: I enjoyed Viking’s daily lectures. For the passengers’ convenience, port talks and lectures are recorded and available two hours after the talk concludes and can be viewed in your stateroom. My favorite lecturer was Michael Chesire, the resident historian, who served in the Royal Navy for 35 years, although all were superb.

We visited the Explorer’s Lounge (Marnsen’s), had many meals in the Restaurant and the World Café as well as the Pool Grill.

Special bookings were required for Manfredi’s and the chef ’s table.

My favorite restaurant was Manfredi’s, serving primarily Italian.

Our band of six opted for the unlimited drinks package and was not disappointed. Our nightly ritual was to meet at a bar and have pre-dinner cocktails while reviewing everyone’s day. I believe we frequented all lounges and bars on our trip, including Aquavit Bar, Explorer’s Lounge, Viking Bar, Pool Bar, Torshavn and the Wintergarden. The bartenders were pleasant, efficient and ready to fill our requests. The six of us also opted for the $10 per-day charge for travel pass phone service. It was nice to have but seldom needed.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ Be sure to book shore excursions prior to the trip. The popular ones book rapidly. ◆ Excursions not included as part of the cruise price tend to be less crowded and of a high quality. ◆ Also, book specialty restaurant reservations prior to sailing.

VIKING RIVER CRUISES vikingrivercruises.com

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REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

Seven Seas Voyager Reviewed by Robert Mason

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ Service and food are the very best. ◆ We return to Regent Seven Seas time and time again.

◆ For us, the most interesting ports of call were Dubai, Madagascar and Cape Town.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS www.rssc.com

Ports of Call: Seven Seas Voyager made stops at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, United Arab Emirates; Muscat, Oman; Mumbai, Goa and Cochin, India; Maldives; Seychelles; Kenya; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Madagascar; Maputo, Mozambique; and Richards Bay, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa.

Stateroom: Our master suite featured two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. A separate dining room, living room and bar rounded out the suite offerings. We’ve sailed many times with Regent Seven Seas and have never been disappointed.

Services/Amenities: The best part of the Regent Seven Seas experience: It includes everything — all specialty restaurants, all beverages, our shore excursions and laundry. The onboard fitness center is wonderful. Also, tipping is not expected on the ship.

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PHOTOS: © REGENT SEVEN SEAS

Embarkation/Disembarkation: We started our experience with a three-day pre-cruise tour in Dubai, which was wonderful.

Our adventure then began in Dubai and finished in Cape Town, South Africa. Overall, the ship accommodates 700 passengers and 450 crew.

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KATARINA LINE

MS Antonella

Reviewed by Eric Ludwig

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

Ports of Call: We sailed MS Antonella from Split, Croatia, to Milna, Bol, Hvar, Korčula, Miljet, Pelješac Peninsula and Makarska, and returning to Split.

Embarkation/Disembarkation: The round-trip Croatian voyage from Split was a cycling cruise, with a mountain bike provided and an e-bike option available. We averaged 28 kilometers (about 17 miles) per day as we soaked up the amazing land and sea views. We stopped along the way for a cold drink or the occasional leisurely swim. It was seven days of cycle, eat, rest, gaze, laugh, repeat.

PHOTOS: © KATARINA LINE

Stateroom: I stayed in an under-deck cabin with a porthole. All cabins are en-suite on the small ship.

Services/Amenities: Each day on this sun-drenched, small-ship cycling cruise took us to another exotic port on the Dalmatian Coast; we were dropped off at one end of the island to cycle to the other, where our ship waited for us.

The ship included a dining hall, half-board, captain’s dinner and a sun deck. I traveled solo and was one of only two Americans on the 30-passenger ship. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet and know everyone by name.

The crew and guides spoke fluent English.

◆ Day 2 We had a long, steady climb to the crest of a hill, past mulberry and fig trees, pine forests, olive groves and vineyards. We passed white marble quarries used for The White House in Washington, D.C. After 35 kilometers of cycling, we stopped at the little shepherd’s village Gažul with its stone houses and enjoyed an authentic local lunch of grilled meats and local distilled liqueurs.

We cycled another 10 kilometers to Bol; on the descent to the beach, we marveled at the breathtaking panoramic views of Hvar in the distance, making the morning’s climb worth the effort. ◆ Day 4 In Korčula we had evening drinks atop a castle; the only way to get beverages there was for the waitress to hoist them up by pulley. ◆ Day 6 The Makarska Riviera offered sweeping vistas and dozens of activities in which to participate.

KATARINA LINE www.katarina-line.com

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OCEANIA

Nautica

Reviewed by Paula Vogel

Ports of Call: Nautica sailed from Mumbai, India, to Dubai and Fujairah, United Arab Emirates; Muscat and Salālah, Oman; Aqaba, Jordan; Luxor, Egypt; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus; Rhodes and Santoríni, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; Valletta, Malta; and Palermo, Sorrento and Civitavecchia, Italy.

Stateroom: This 28-day voyage was our seventh with Oceania; we book early to secure a Penthouse, especially for this extensive a cruise. This small, 600-passenger ship features a 240-square-foot Penthouse with a bathtub and shower, truly a luxury accommodation. Oceania offers 120v electrical, convenient for U.S. passengers. Computer, lap robes and bathrobes, good reading lights, luxury linens and consistent cleanliness are Oceania hallmarks.

Services/Amenities: Oceania is known for its culinary leadership, and this voyage offered its contribution. Chef Mario created outstanding menus for the grand dining area; specialty restaurants; and especially the Terrace Grill, an outdoor casual-dining venue. Two notable occasions were an amazing Asian-themed night and freshgrilled yellowfin tuna. Mario is ever-present, ensuring his vision is carried out in each restaurant every day and night. Local menus also featured Mediterranean, Arabian and Indian fresh ingredients. A daytime grill offers smoothies, ice cream, grilled Kobe beef burgers and ahi tuna.

Oceania provides a Canyon Ranch heart-healthy menu with every meal, so guests can count calories. Canyon Ranch also hosts the ship’s spa and workout rooms.

The ship’s library is a quiet, cool spot with leather chairs and footstools and a variety of reading materials. The computer room

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is staffed many hours of the day. A putting area, table tennis, bingo, trivia and a casino are standards.

Another Oceania hallmark is unusual ports of call. We picked this itinerary for its variety as well as the opportunity to pass through the Suez Canal. Because the Nautica is a smaller ship, smaller ports were available and unencumbered by the larger ships and other tourists.

Many ports provided complimentary buses for the short drive to town. Having already visited Egypt, Jordan and Israel, the most fascinating to me were Muscat with the old souk and gold market, Limassol and Palermo. These felt off-the-beaten-path and less modern. Oceania provides a variety of land tour options at a range of prices as well as a small tour option with a maximum of 12 people. An Oceania staff member rides on each bus to ensure quality and to evaluate the performance of local providers.

With 10 days at sea, I decided to take bridge lessons. A delightful Australian couple taught duplicate bridge, entertained us with stories and gave little koala bear toy prizes as often as they could. I made friends and learned some bridge. I encourage passengers to join some group to meet people of common interests.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ We met fascinating people on this cruise. Some of that has to do with the exotic itinerary drawing people ready for adventure. Even playing the daily trivia game was an opportunity to develop friendships. ◆ Everything on the ship worked!

Crews were actively engaged in preventive maintenance so passengers were not troubled with electrical, plumbing and HVAC problems — especially noted in the hot climates. ◆ Note the adult passenger booking. This cruise line does not prohibit families with young children, but there are no accommodations for children, except maybe the swimming pool, TV/ movies and ice cream. ◆ Though we didn’t order room service, we took advantage of the butler’s ability to book meals at specialty restaurants, arrange group dinners and help us entertain.

OCEANIA CRUISES www.oceaniacruises.com

PHOTOS: © OCEANIA

Embarkation/Disembarkation: Our voyage began April 29 in Mumbai and ended May 27 in Civitavecchia. Oceania did not plan our travel to and from the ship, but that did not diminish the service, easy boarding and welcome from the entire crew. Luggage was transported directly to the suite, an entirely seamless process.

One morning in port, I watched the buses prepare for tours. To my surprise, 10 members of Oceania’s housekeeping staff, in full uniform, departed the ship with sprayer bottles, buckets and cleaning cloths. Each boarded a bus and proceeded to spray and clean the interior and exterior of the buses for Oceania guests. How’s that for attention to detail?

one on one

JESS PETERSON Director, Itinerary and Revenue Planning, Windstar Cruises One travel tip you cannot live without: Bring clothes and toiletries in your carry-on in case luggage gets lost.

Best advice for business travelers: I like eating local food and immersing myself in local culture.

Most of my business travel involves scouting new locations for Windstar, so it’s important not to isolate myself.

ABOUT YOUR BRAND Tell our readers about the seven new European and four new Asian itineraries coming in 2019.

Our new itineraries highlight Windstar’s itinerary strengths: the ability to visit small ports where big ships can’t go and dock closer to major attractions.

On our new Thai Temples itinerary, we dock in the heart of Bangkok, whereas most ships dock hours away from the city. That itinerary also visits Phuket and, instead of stopping at the cruise port 30 minutes from Patong Beach, we anchor off the beach and open our watersports platform for things like stand-up paddle boarding or simply floating in the sea. In Europe we continue to find new places to visit like Vis Island in Croatia and Porto Ercole, the gateway to Tuscany.

PHOTO: © WINDSTAR CRUISES

Name: Jess Peterson Title: Director, itinerary and revenue planning Company, city: Windstar Cruises; Seattle, Washington Number of employees: 1,800 (140 at the Seattle headquarters) Recent project: Launch of Wind Surf’s Grand Caribbean voyage, a 56-night voyage to every corner of the Caribbean. Our flagship will visit many places for the first time, including a partial transit of the Panama Canal, ports in Central America and Cayman Brac.

First job: Product manager, Imgur Technologies Little-known fact about you: I studied computer science and thought I would work in Silicon Valley after college.

YOUR BUSINESS What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years?

Small-ship cruising and expedition cruising are increasing in popularity. Windstar has always been a great small-ship cruise line, and we’re really excited

about expanding our expedition offerings from Alaska to other parts of the world.

Best career advice you’ve received: There is always an element of luck and being at the right place at the right time, but you can put yourself in situations where you’re more likely to get lucky.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? Learning is key. The cruise industry is complex, and the best way to understand it is to learn different parts of the operation, from marine operations to shore excursions to sales. Ask questions and take on projects that take you outside your specific area. Your understanding of the business will increase if you see financial decisions from an executive point of view.

AS A TRAVELER Favorite travel memory or story: On my last trip, an Alaska cruise, I was standing on deck when I heard splashes. I looked over the side and saw porpoises playing at the bow. It was magical.

Windstar returned to Alaska this year after a 20year hiatus. What can travelers expect from those trips? Windstar’s Alaska cruises have lots of variety and allow you to get a deep understanding of Alaska. You’ll visit well-known ports like Juneau and small communities like Wrangell and Metlakatla.

Best of all, our knowledgeable onboard expedition staff lead optional kayak and Zodiac expeditions when the ship is in Tracy Arm, Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords National Park, allowing guests to get close to nature and the ice.

What can premium travelers expect from the Windstar experience? Tell us about the partnership with the James Beard Foundation.

Windstar specializes in casual, unstuffy luxury. Our ships feel like a family, and staff know your preferences within the first few days. The James Beard partnership elevates our dining room offerings and menus. Every night we serve a few dishes designed by a James Beard chef. On a few cruises a year, we invite JBF chefs to sail with us; they design new dishes that we integrate into our normal menus for all cruises.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Work and Play in Italy Once business concludes, a world of wonder awaits in many of Italy’s incredible cities.

ONCE THE FINAL MEETING WRAPS and the last contract is signed and sealed with a handshake, what’s next? Do you catch a flight back home or do you take advantage of the destination? If your next business trip is to Italy, we suggest adding a few more days to explore the country’s most amazing hot spots.

Make time for more than a mouthwatering Italian meal in these three cities.

WHEN IN MILAN If you find yourself in or near Milan for business, don’t journey home as soon as business is over. Why not visit the Leonardo da Vinci Home or view the world-famous “The Last Supper”? Or perhaps you’d prefer to play a round of golf on Lake Como before enjoying an opera performance at La Scala. The options are endless in Milan once the work day is over.

Varenna, Lake Como Courtesy of Getty Images

Langhe, Piedmont Courtesy of Shutterstock

WHEN IN TURIN When you finish your business in or near Turin, don’t rush back to the airport. You’re in Turin, so why not visit the Egyptian Museum or the Moving Image Museum? Or, be different and spend a day sipping Italy’s best wines at Le Langhe, truffle hunting in Alba or hitting the slopes and skiing the Alps. Whatever your pleasure, indulge it in Torino.

WHEN IN GENOA Stay awhile. Even though business is done, there’s more to see in Genoa. Kick back for a few more days; after all, why not visit Italy’s largest aquarium, or delve deeper into the heart and history of the city with a visit to the ancient and spectacular city center. You can wrap up your stay in Italy with a visit to Santa Margherita or Portofino. With the important meetings out of the way, Genoa is your oyster.

For more information visit www.italia.it

Portofino, Liguria Courtesy of Getty Images

technology

SMART MOVES Well-designed devices offer solutions for everyday needs.

BY JACK GUY

SONY LSPX-S1 GLASS WIRELESS SPEAKER Combining great sound and soft light, the LSPX-S1 is a smart device that adds to the atmosphere whether you are relaxing at home or on a camping trip. Its Advanced Vertical Drive Technology uses the glass of the dimmable lamp to play sound in every direction, and a 1.97inch woofer provides great bass, too. This classy audio solution features cutting-edge design, and smartphone app control makes for easy functionality, too. $799. sony.com

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EERO HOME WIFI SYSTEM In the modern home, we rely on the internet for everything from controlling our lights to streaming movies, placing greater strain on our connections than ever before. A system like the Eero makes sure every room in the house gets fast internet speeds using boosters known as Beacons, so you can easily watch multiple HD video streams at once. Replace your old router with an Eero and add a couple of Beacons for blanket coverage in properties up to 3,000 square feet.

It’s an elegant solution to an annoying problem, and you can keep an eye on your network using the accompanying app. $399. eero.com

VICTORINOX LEXICON HARDSIDE FREQUENT FLYER SMART SUITCASE Anyone who flies regularly knows how important good luggage is. Famed Swiss brand Victorinox developed a tough carry-on that boasts eight super-recessed wheels for a smooth ride and maximum internal capacity, as well as an interior pocket with a portable power pack for on-the-go USB charging. It also features integrated multitool, X-shaped compression straps and internal mesh pockets for organization. Available in titanium or black, this stylish 34-liter bag looks great and will last forever. $460. victorinox.com

PHOTOS: © OLYMPUS, © SONY, © EERO, © VICTORINOX

OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-5 WATERPROOF CAMERA Smartphone cameras evolved to the extent many people don’t own standalone cameras, but for adventure travel you’ll be glad for a hardy bit of kit like the Tough TG-5. Waterproof to 15 meters (50 feet), shockproof and freezeproof, it can handle everything from scuba diving to mountain summits, all while shooting raw stills and Ultra HD 4K video. A fast F2.0 lens is great for quality shots in difficult conditions, and the built-in WiFi allows easy uploading to social media. $450. getolympus.com

CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD Airlines at Chicago’s airports offer more than 250 nonstop destinations worldwide.

World class airports with best in class amenities.

VISIT www.flychicago.com

@fly2ohare @fly2midway

@flyohare @flymidway

/fly2ohare /fly2midway

/flychicago

wine & spirits

WINES ON THE WATER

age aver n a e, On cruis g n o l g on week ndin e p e d the ze of i s e th an’s wegi r o N ship, sume s con t s e gu ,600 to 4 0 0 e.

1,5 f win o s e l bott

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THE RIGHT TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY may not be among the first 10 Constitutional Amendments. But when it comes to drink especially, it may well define what it is like to sail on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. With 16 ships and five more in the making, the 51-year-old line calls on nearly 300 destinations throughout the world year-round. And on each of those voyages, its ships carry about 100 varieties of wines.

If that number of choices pleases wine aficionados, it may also send panic through new wine fans. What to choose? How to choose? Not to worry. Norwegian makes it simple. Using WineQuest, a wine database, Norwegian offers a most intelligently arranged list. Each group of wines is labeled as Light Intensity, Medium Intensity or Full Intensity. Under the white wine Medium Intensity category, for example, it indicates, “Best with … shellfish or poultry …” Having a steak? The red wine Full Intensity heading tells you, “These rich wines are remarkable when paired with juicy red meat.”

Together, they comprise a cornucopia of the world’s wines

NOVEMBER 2018

chosen by a beverage team that considers each wine’s quality, desirability and popularity with guests. And what are the most popular varietals? According to the ship’s cellar masters, guests prefer Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Moscat. As well as wines, “Norwegian also hosts Winemaker Cruises,” said Luis Ortega, director of beverage development and operations. “The program is now in its third year.”

If the range of choices is wide, so is the range of prices. A large number of bottles are marked in the $20–30 range, and many are also offered by the glass. From there, they move up mostly to $40–80. The far end of the scale includes special bottles, such as Opus One Napa Valley ($375) and Château Lafite Rothschild 2012 ($1,215).

Norwegian’s wine stewards may not open many $1,215 bottles, but in an average year, they do pull the cork on 1,339,980 bottles of wine. Think of that as 7,635,212 glasses of joy and, yes, for guests, the right to eat, drink and be merry.

​PHOTO: © NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Norwegian Cruise Line guests enjoy a wide array of wine on board. BY EUNICE FRIED

wealth

THE GOING RATE

PHOTO: © JAKUB JIRSÁK | DREAMSTIME.COM

As one rate-setting standard phases out, another arrives.

probability it was based on LIBOR. This benchmark has been around for almost 50 years, but its funeral is being planned as you read this issue.

LIBOR will be phased out in 2021 because there wasn’t enough meaningful data to sustain the benchmark. A few scandals associated with it also brought large fines and time behind bars for some, as authorities found individuals and banks manipulated the rates.

LIBOR matters to us because money is frequently lent to businesses and consumers based on the LIBOR interest rates. When LIBOR is no longer around, those credit agreements need to be modified and a replacement standard may not be LIBOR: THOSE FIVE LETTERS in that order are pretty powerful calculated in the same manner, meaning the interest rate you pay and impact many of us. LIBOR stands for London Interbank may not be the same as was originally intended. This will merit atOffer Rate, the interest rate participating banks offer to other tention as you borrow funds that will have repayment terms going banks for loans on the London market. It is the average rate at which a group of 20 banks estimate they’d be able to borrow funds into and beyond 2021.

In the United States, a newly created from each other in five currencies replacement rate called the Secured across seven time zones. In its simplest LIBOR matters to us because Overnight Funding Rate, or SOFR, terms, LIBOR is a number produced money is frequently lent to references the cost of borrowing U.S. daily in response to a theoretical question posed to a group of large businesses and consumers based dollars overnight with U.S. Treasury securities as collateral. Thus far, SOFR banks: What interest rate would you on the LIBOR interest rates. rates have been similar to LIBOR have to pay to borrow money from rates since the SOFR rates began to be other banks? It is the most widely used published in early April. benchmark for short-term interest You could probably say so far, so good for SOFR, as it is ahead rates in the world, primarily because most of the world’s largest of its implementation schedule, devised by a panel in charge of borrowers borrow money on the London market. this transition away from LIBOR. As referenced above, the year While you may not be familiar with the term, in all likelihood 2021 is the goal. Bankers are slowly adjusting, but according to you have borrowed money, such as for a mortgage or a student studies, there are not yet many SOFR-based products in the bankloan, and the interest rate you paid was based upon LIBOR. If funding market. you have taken a loan with a variable interest rate, there is a high The content of this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice.

Always seek the expertise of a certified financial advisor or other qualified provider with any questions you may have regarding personal finance, investment and money-related issues.

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tours

ALL ASHORE Boutique to bespoke, book the best shore excursions on your next voyage. BY KRISTY ALPERT

IN PORT:

Windstar Cruises, Mykonos (left), and the Evening in Ephesus tour with dinner at Celsus Library (right) PHOTOS: © WINDSTAR CRUISES

uise w cr e f A , like lines r dsta Win nd ses a i u r C ean aribb , C l nal Roya natio r e t In sts r gue offe e to hanc c e h t ied ertif get c oard h onb g u o es thr ours c I PAD the ake m o t ir f the o t s mo d boar n o s . day port or in

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CRUISE SHIPS OFFER A WORLD of onboard entertainment, from live performances to gaming and friendly competitions, but part of the joy in taking a cruise is seeing the world and experiencing new places while exploring ashore. Although it’s entirely possible to head out on your own once the ship docks in its destination, booking a ship-sponsored tour or even booking through an independent tour operator proves a great, stress-free way to make the most of your time in port.

At one time, booking a shore excursion through the cruise company meant waiting in long lines and getting shuttled between tour buses by tour leaders wielding bright umbrellas or megaphones. Fortunately, those days are long gone, and many savvy cruise operators now offer boutique shore excursions and rare experiences available exclusively to cruise attendees.

Shore excursions today are just as likely to include a lunch inside a local’s home as they are to take guests behind the scenes of the world’s most elusive sites, like Windstar Cruises’ Evening in Ephesus tour. This tour allows a select number of guests to dine privately inside the monumental Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey, in a courtyard illuminated with flickering white lights and echoing with the sounds of the Aegean Chamber Orchestra.

Princess Cruises prides itself on variety, as proven by its Helsinki offerings. Not only can guests choose to join a group

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of 40 to drive through the countryside and end up at a homecooked lunch inside an authentic Finnish home, but they can also opt for a private driver to take them and a party of up to six guests anywhere they please for a half- or full-day private tour of the area.

The shore excursions designed by Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection have become known for their unique-to-thedestination offerings and altruistic itineraries. The company partnered with EatWith for its Do as the Locals Do excursions to offer cruisers an opportunity to dine one on one with locals in their homes, and the cruise line also frequently partners with local charities to give guests the chance to give back while on board. Guests traveling on Uniworld’s India’s Golden Triangle and the Sacred Ganges cruise have the option to participate in a five-day ME to WE pre-cruise extension that combines volunteering with sightseeing.

Disney Cruise Line’s shore excursions include a number of adults-only options and active options for families, but its signature experiences stand out for cruisers looking for truly bespoke encounters. In Newcastle, England, families with children ages 5 and up may book the Broom Class Is in Session excursion that takes guests on a tour of Alnwick Castle (used as Hogwarts in the films Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) before a 30-minute broomstick training session for blossoming wizards and witches.

FX Excursions FX Excursions offer a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a destination around the world. The unique itineraries, exclusively created by and for FXExpress Publications, Inc. and its partners, allow participants to go hands-on at a worldwide event or see an international city in a new way. All the planning and sightseeing is handled for attendees, from the flights and accommodations to the itinerary.

Visit our websites — globaltravelerusa.com, whereverfamily.com and trazeetravel.com — to learn more about our three tour options, including suggested itineraries in worldwide destinations and recommended tours travelers can book at leisure through our preferred tour partner. Our Specialty Tours allow you to travel with us on a handcrafted agenda around the globe.

spas

MINDFUL LIVING AND LUXURY Dr. Andrew Weil brings holistic wellness to the Seabourn fleet. BY REGINA BARABAN

INNER PEACE:

Spa relaxation

PHOTO: © SEABOURN

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FULL DISCLOSURE: I AM A FAN OF integrative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil. So I had high expectations for an enriching experience as I settled onto my yoga mat at his Crystal Sound Bath class, covered myself with a blanket, applied an eye pillow and retreated from the world around me. After welcoming us to what promised to be a deeply meditative experience, our instructor/wellness guide proceeded to create a sequence of varying sound wave vibrations with three different crystal bowls, also known as singing bowls. As the atonal, haunting sounds of the bowls filled the room, the vibrations seemed to harmonize with each other and flow into my being. I lost consciousness of time and slipped into a trance-like state. When I emerged 50 minutes later, I felt relaxed and renewed.

Not only was this a new spa experience for me, but it happened in an unexpected venue: a cruise ship. Pampering spa treatments are de rigueur on luxury cruise ships, but in 2016 Seabourn added a new dimension to its fleet-wide spas with Dr. Weil’s wellness program

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at sea, said to be the first of its kind. The Seabourn fleet also offers Mindful Living seminars that take deep dives into Dr. Weil’s research and his best-selling books on nutrition, spontaneous healing, healthy aging and other mindful living topics.

It was on Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxe ship, Seabourn Ovation, where I took the memorable crystal bowl class — and was a daily visitor to the small but serene spa and wellness center, with six treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, a motion studio and a fitness room.

Each day at the spa, I went to meditation and yoga classes that reflected a different mindful living theme: compassion, flow, happiness, love, laughter, gratitude. Yoga classes were tailored to mind/body balance while focusing on different physical goals, from balancing the chakras to improving range of motion. I was impressed with how quickly the teachers understood my physical challenges and taught me how to move into postures without risk of injury. Indeed, among my “Seabourn moments” — those bespoke takeaway memories that

define the brand — were the stretching and yoga classes with fitness instructors Kyle and David.

The Ovation’s friendly spa staff reflected a ship-wide service modality that felt genuine and remarkably attentive without being pretentious. With 300 suites (all with verandas) and 12 decks, the Ovation is fifth in the Seabourn fleet and a sister ship to Seabourn Encore, launched in 2016. Embarking on the brand-new Ovation at the shipyard in Genoa, Italy, last May, I was struck by its beauty. The interior design by Adam Tihany is elegant yet welcoming, with a modern vibe. I felt like I was entering a refined luxury yacht.

The Atrium, a curved, centrally located staircase masterfully designed with polished mahogany handrails and vivid blue carpeting, defines the flow and gives star power to everyone on the stairs. The character of the Ovation is also defined by 1,600 pieces of fine art by 120 artists, strategically curated by ArtLink and capturing the eye and the imagination throughout the ship.

Even the standard veranda suite took my breath away. A walk-in closet! Marble bathroom with full-sized bathtub and separate shower! Large, visually private veranda! As a Seabourn first-timer, it took me a day or so to learn the ship’s layout, but passengers who previously sailed on any of the fleet will find the overall deck plan familiar.

While the ship is decidedly elegant, many aspects of the Ovation experience presented a modern sensibility. Think onboard coffee roaster; a fun (and delicious) sushi restaurant; homemade gelato; and a new al fresco dining concept, called Earth & Ocean, serving Moroccan tagines and other international fare poolside. Among a wide choice of spots to hang and unwind, I especially liked the luxe cabana apartment at the 12th-floor Retreat (a passenger upsell) for a romantic interlude, and the spacious lounge area for socializing at Chef Thomas Keller’s The Grill. Another favorite, being a coffee

aficionado, was sipping a cup of freshly roasted brew at Seabourn Square while watching the world go by. Unlike on most ships, this information hub is an open-plan space for personnel and casual café for guests.

Day after day, I returned to the spa for respite and exercise. Unlike other public spaces on the ship, the spa was not designed as a “wow” but rather as a tactile, neutral backdrop that creates a feeling of calm. The light, airy colors and curved walls contribute to an atmosphere of laid-back luxury.

Note to fellow wellness aficionados: Not all of the spa services on the Ovation — albeit excellent — are part of Dr. Weil’s program. Look for the Mindful Living with Dr. Andrew Weil heading on the spa brochure to find classes, individual trainings, treatments and seminars with his imprimatur.

SMOOTH SAILING:

Spa treatment room (top), Seabourn Ovation at sea (bottom left), and spa detail (bottom right) PHOTOS: © SEABOURN

Seabourn seabourn.com

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golf

TOURNAMENT PLAY Angeles National Golf Club hosted a rewarding round for the Turkish Airlines World Cup.

BEST BET: Hole 2 PHOTO: Š FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

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PROUDLY BOASTING ITS CLAIM as the only Jack Nicklausdesigned golf course in Los Angeles County, Angeles National sits at the base of the Angeles National Forest. The 18-hole course offers lovely views and generous fairways and, important in the thirsty California of today, plenty of water, as the greens and fairways were lush and green when we played.

Global Traveler held an outing at Angeles National when we launched some 15 years ago, long before it even built the clubhouse.

This year I was the guest of Turkish Airlines for its annual Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup championship, dubbed the widest-reaching corporate golf tournament in the world. The airline hosts tournaments like the one in Los Angeles all over the world, with the winner of each invited to attend the grand championship in Antalya, Turkey, at the end of October each year. Last year 8,000 participants played in 100 qualifying tournaments across 60 countries.

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BY FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

Our foursome included Steve White, GT Globility Board member, and Bill Noonan, a longtime veteran of the airline industry who worked with carriers spanning from TWA to Malaysia Airlines.

Before he teed off, Steve made a point of thoroughly reading the tournament rules and listening to the pro’s instructions; it turned out to be vital information to the outcome. Bill and I played a skin game in which we bet $1 per hole with carryovers, which proved enjoyable as well.

HOLE 2 | 562 yards, par 5

As we started our game at Hole 4, Hole 2 was toward the end of the round and where Bill and I really began to have our competition. On the previous hole, I was ahead by $29; there was no way for Bill to win, so I challenged him to a double or nothing bet on the remaining three holes, and he accepted.

This is the longest hole on the course; although listed as the No. 5 handicapped hole, it can be more difficult. Power hitters can shorten it by cutting off the dogleg and carrying the fairway bunker to the landing area. Mere mortals have to play a straight shot and treat it as a true par 5. Errant shots off the tee to the right will find a stand of cottonwood trees. Your second shot to the landing area needs to avoid the bunker on the right. Clearing this bunker offers a clean approach shot to the green.

Both Bill and I struggled; I had a terrible third shot from a side bunker and blamed this on bad club advice from Steve. Bill took the hole!

HOLE 9 | 446 yards, par 3

The tournament was played with a shotgun start, so we played the holes out of sequence. We started on Hole 4, so the No. 1 handicapped hole came relatively early in the game. It also was beginning to get hot, at least for those in Southern California; but for guys from Pennsylvania where the summers are blazing and the humidity is near saturation level, it was not a big deal. Nine offers a nice layout with a wide-open fairway but also an arroyo full of brush before the green. I landed left center, shocked at the distance I still had to carry to the green from this position. Bill sliced one with a near chance of staying in, but then it bounced in the brush on the right. Bill found an enormous number of balls in these dry areas prone to snakes — we called him the snake charmer.

Steve hit an equally good shot dead center.

From here, it seemed like a long second shot, and I overcooked a utility wood to the top left of the green. Bill continued to charm the snakes while Steve hit a perfect shot on the green. I could feel my wallet growing as I scored a par.

HOLE 10 | 429 yards, par 4

The little pond should not come into play on the left as it is so close, but psychologically it rattles many golfers. Bill skipped one across the pond and somehow made it through the fence.

I hugged the left side, never turning enough, and caught the left bunker. Steve hit his typical not-so-fun accurate drive — I laughed as I asked, “Where is the joy in a near-perfect shot?”

Bill came back like a champ with a hard 3-wood to the left side but short of the green. I made a fantastic shot out of the sand with a 7-iron, but it came up short. Steve, of course, landed on

the green in two. As the competitive energy grew, both Bill and I chipped on and one-putted for bogey.

HEATED COMPETITION:

HOLE 18 | 377 yards, par 4

PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

We thought it was hot before, but the sun came down hard at Hole 18, and we had a slight backup at the tee box. It gave us the opportunity to discuss the best play on 18, a wonderful closing hole with many obstacles. The fairway goes slightly uphill and then crests and returns toward the green. Bill’s tee shot looked great as it headed out left over the brush and wasteland and started turning right.

I was sure this would bounce freely to the center of the fairway, but the snake charmer was back and the ball was lost. I killed a ball with the Cobra, straight and true and landing past the crest of the hill to the flat area below. Steve landed short and farther right, nearly in the rough but safe.

From here, players must hit an accurate ball to the green, which hugs the left side and a large pond. I took dead aim, struggled about the correct club and launched my iron. I pushed it right, fine, as this is the bail-out area. From here I chipped on for another bogey, as did Steve.

There are many other great holes at Angeles National, but more important is Turkish Airlines’ dedication to educate the world about the fine golf in Antalya. On a final note, I liked the Cobra F6 set so much, I bought the driver, utility woods and some irons, used, online!

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Hole 10

Angeles National Golf Club 9401 Foothill Blvd.

Sunland, CA 91040 tel 818 951 8771 angelesnational.com

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chefs

FLAVOR AT SEA Chef Richard Weichbold keeps the cuisine fresh for Silversea Cruises’ fleet. BY KIMBERLY KROL

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Spaccanapoli and La Terrazza reflect Silversea’s Italian heritage. At Spaccanapoli on Silver Muse, travelers are transported to the namesake emblematic street in Naples. A selection of Italy’s best cuisine is served à la carte in La Terrazza.

For the best the sea has to offer, cruisers should opt for Atlantide, named for the seven nymph daughters of Atlas, on Silver Muse. Silversea’s collaboration with Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux is highlighted at La Dame by Relais & Châteaux, offering excellent French dining.

A unique and healthy option can be found at The Grill, featuring lava stone cooking in the evenings and a daytime rotisserie and gourmet salad and burger bar.

For tapas-style dining and international cuisine alongside jazz and blues music, dine at Silver Note.

Before joining Silversea, Weichbold trained with Southern Sun Hotels in Cape Town before moving to hotels in London. He started as executive chef for Silversea in 2003 and has been in his current role since 2008.

WHICH DESTINATIONS INSPIRED YOU, AND HOW HAS THAT INSPIRATION TRANSLATED INTO YOUR CULINARY CONCEPTS? This is a difficult question to answer, being a chef at sea. Unlike working in a hotel and restaurant in one specific place, being a chef on a cruise line is different every day. You are greatly influenced by the port/city or country you are in, and this reflects in your daily menus.

You can be in Asia with exotic spices, fruits and vegetables; Alaska with the freshest halibut, king crab and salmon in season; or local cheeses, olive oils and cold cuts all over the Mediterranean. So it’s all about utilizing the freshest, in-season products in the area of sailing; this is found all over the world with local specialties and items and is what influences the style of cooking and menus.

PHOTOS: © SILVERSEAS

RICHARD WEICHBOLD HAS an amalgamation of the world’s greatest cuisines, flavors and ingredients at his fingertips as the fleet corporate chef for Silversea Cruises. In his role, he oversees all the galleys and restaurants on board the luxury cruise line’s nine-ship fleet. And dining is a high priority at Silversea.

Every ship features a diversity of dining venues, and the cruise line partners with the prestigious Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux. While not all venues are available on all the ships, here’s a closer look at different dining options from Silversea.

The Restaurant’s open seating dining room balks at the traditional cruise theme of assigned times and tables. Here travelers can choose how they dine and socialize as they wish. For outlets with Asian accents, Indochine serves exquisite dishes bursting with Asian essences, while Seishen Restaurant, on board Silver Spirit, prepares Asian fusion, including regional dishes from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Kaiseki’s dishes honor the meticulous preparation and beautiful presentation of the fine art of kaiseki.

WHOM DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR CULINARY HERO? I would have to say my father. When I was growing up, he was a chef and restaurateur and owned a few restaurants in Cape Town. A lot of the time I visited him in his kitchens and started to help at a young age. As soon as I left school, I went straight into an in-house apprenticeship and always had the advantage of asking my father [for] advice; he steered me down my career path, always supporting me, especially in challenging times, as it can get overwhelming starting in new kitchens in any position as a chef.

WHAT ONE PERSON MOST INFLUENCED YOUR COOKING STYLE? There are a few, but one who stands out is Henri Brosi (executive chef of the Dorchester in London). I started off as chef de partie and worked my way up to banqueting sous chef. He instilled in me not only an appreciation of utilizing

and preparing all food products to the highest level possible but also influenced my management of the chefs that work with me. Before working there, it was only about getting the job done; he taught me to respect the product if it was the most expensive item or the cheapest cut of meat.

Another big influence he had on me was discipline and managing my subordinates in the best way possible, following the rules and being fair. Working the last 15 years with Silversea and being able to travel most places in the world, experiencing all the different food cultures, it just made me respect the local products much more.

the world. We have the advantage of the mountains to the sea to the winelands, and this is reflected in the food — a melting pot of all cultures. It is also very much about local ingredients, freshness and so much variety.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD CITY? Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I would have to say there. In the past few years, there has been such a boom in the restaurant industry, and it is an extremely popular place to visit for people all over

SILVERSEA CRUISES silversea.com

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT BIG TREND ON THE FOOD SCENE WILL BE? I believe it will carry on with more sustainability and knowing exactly what is in your food. People are moving away from processed foods and wanting more to know what is in their food and how that product was made, farmed or fished.

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cruising

THE ELEGANT CHOICE Crystal Cruises brings new luster to luxury sailing. BY J.D. BROWN AND MARGARET BACKENHEIMER OVER THE PAST DECADE, Crystal Cruises soared to the top echelons of ocean cruising with its two fine ships, the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity, two of the largest vessels in this rarefied class, each carrying about a thousand passengers. Crystal has been able to offer more options in entertainment, enrichment and activities than its top-of-the-line competitors while maintaining superb service with extremely high passenger-to-staff and passenger-to-space ratios. Crystal passengers have come to expect gratuities to be covered and fine wines, premium spirits, Champagne and specialty coffees to be complimentary.

The cruise line recently added free internet and WiFi connections, too. Along the way, Crystal became the leader in providing multigenerational family cruises for well-to-do travelers.

What more could Crystal Cruises do, one began to wonder. Then, in 2015, under new ownership, Crystal did do more, much more, creating its own fleet of luxurious river ships in Europe, adding an upscale expedition yacht and even taking to the air.

Crystal River Cruises came on the scene in 2016 with the launch of the Crystal Mozart, at 160 passengers the largest and widest cruise ship plying the Danube. The launch of the Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel quickly followed. This fleet of five brought high-luxury ships rather than another round of riverboats to the Danube, Rhine and Main rivers, offering all passengers balconies, butlers and suites. In 2019 the Crystal Ravel will be the only vessel making seven-night Danube cruises from Vienna to ports in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.

While extending its luxury ocean cruise experience to river cruising, Crystal simultaneously entered the expedition sailing market with the launch of the Crystal Esprit, a 62-passenger, all-suite, all-butler yacht designed for the adventurous upscale traveler. In 2019 the Crystal Esprit will explore the Côte d’Azur (with VIP access to the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix); the seaside gems of Italy; the offshore isles of Greece; and, with its Arabian Nights Collection, Egypt, Oman, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises will add its second ship, the 200-passenger Crystal Endeavor, in 2020, with bookings already open for explorations of the Russian Far East, Tasmania and Antarctica.

After posting its impeccable cruising credentials on ocean, river and expedition sailing, was there any place left for Crystal to venture? Turns out the sky was the limit, literally. Crystal created two more new lines: Crystal Luxury Air, to offer on-demand charter flights worldwide for up to 12 guests on its redesigned Bombardier Global Express Jet XRS, and the other, Crystal AirCruises, operating the largest private charter luxury tour jet in the industry, the 88-passenger Boeing 777-200LR Crystal Skye.

Bring out the fine crystal, wherever you’re bound.

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SUITE DREAMS:

Crystal Serenity (top) and Penthouse Suite with veranda (middle), and Crystal Bach Suite Bedroom (bottom) PHOTOS: © CRYSTAL CRUISES

xury ra-lu t l u s ches, omize s epit he fine tou ms to e s i u r g roo tal C g with all t dinin Crys n d i e s i m u e cr th ions. ocean vate wine- ream stat pri ice c from rry’s e J d n Ben a

2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

Best Beaches ___________________________________________________________________________

Best River Cruise Line __________________________________________________________________

Best Historical Attractions, Domestic __________________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Entertainment _______________________________________________________

Best Historical Attractions, International _______________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Dining ________________________________________________________________

Best Adventure Destination, Domestic_________________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Spa ____________________________________________________________________

Best Adventure Destination, International _____________________________________________

Best Cruise Ship Excursions ___________________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in the United States _________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Rewards Program ___________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in Europe_____________________________________________________

Best Cruise Port ________________________________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in Africa ______________________________________________________

Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World _______________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in Asia________________________________________________________

Best Hotel Chain Resorts ______________________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America______________________________________

Best Pet-Friendly Hotel ________________________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination in Mexico_____________________________________________________

Best Family Resort Chain in the World ________________________________________________

Best Leisure Destination for Groups (Four or More)___________________________________

Best All-Inclusive Resort_________________________________________________________________

Best Weekend Destination in North America__________________________________________

Best Tour Operator_____________________________________________________________________

Best Weekend Destination in the World_______________________________________________

Best Airport for Layovers_______________________________________________________________

Best North American Ski Destination___________________________________________________

Best Airport Recreation_________________________________________________________________

Best International Ski Destination______________________________________________________

Best Stopover Program_________________________________________________________________

Best Caribbean Island _________________________________________________________________

Best Leisure Airline ____________________________________________________________________

Best Island in Europe __________________________________________________________________

Best Airline Onboard Entertainment___________________________________________________

Best Island Pacific Rim _________________________________________________________________

Best Airline Onboard Menu_____________________________________________________________

Best Family Cruise Line ________________________________________________________________

Best Premium-Economy Class ________________________________________________________

Best Luxury Cruise Line ________________________________________________________________

Best Pet-Friendly Airline ________________________________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Suites _________________________________________________________________

Best Luxury Vehicle ____________________________________________________________________

Best Adventure Cruise Line ____________________________________________________________

Best Car Rental _________________________________________________________________________

Best Small-Ship Cruise Line ____________________________________________________________

Favorite Luxury Watch Brand __________________________________________________________

Best Large-Ship Cruise Line ___________________________________________________________

Favorite Liquor Brand___________________________________________________________________

PLEASE MAIL THE COMPLETED SURVEY TO Kevin Ryan, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, 1800 JFK Blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Or fax to 215 545 4810 Or vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/leisureballot Name Street Address City

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feature

Making Waves

The newest mega-ships leave their predecessors in their wakes. BY RICHARD NEWTON APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES offshore, a shimmering white island appears. Or is it a shopping mall or an entertainment complex? Or a theme park? Or a huge resort hotel? Or a floating town of 8,000 people? Whatever it is, it is moving steadily and silently along the horizon, heading north. Even at a distance, from my vantage on the waterfront of a Spanish coastal town, I feel dwarfed. I am gazing

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across at Symphony of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

Currently the largest, I should say. In recent years the mantle has been passed with remarkable frequency to successive ships of the same cruise company, Royal Caribbean International. In 2009 the world champion was Oasis of the Seas, overtaken a year later by Allure of the Seas, itself surpassed in 2016 by Harmony of the Seas.

The reign of Symphony of the Seas will last until 2021, when a slightly larger (as yet unnamed) sister ship is scheduled to take to the waves.

Royal Caribbean is not the only player in this mega-ship race. MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Dream Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and P&O all have mammoth ships planned for the near future, many of which will be powered by liquefied natural gas. They won’t just be huge, they’ll also be green.

Why the obsession with size? The simple reason is super-sized cruise ships are popular, and popular ships make money. The more complicated reasons involve an increase in what’s known as Panamax (the maximum size of ship that can use the Panama Canal) and fundamental changes in the cruise market, putting the emphasis on the ship as a destination in its own right.

From 2016, bigger locks and a widening of the Canal significantly increased the size of ships able to traverse Panama, enabling shortcuts between the Atlantic and the Pacific. But for the largest cruise ships, the new Panamax is academic. They will always be way too big. Symphony of the Seas is more than double the maximum tonnage for the Canal. Therefore, it is not suited to the traditional seasonal schedule, spending winters port-hopping in the Caribbean with summers in Alaska.

When the ship is the resort, the routes become secondary.

The Caribbean remains the preferred winter location, and the Mediterranean has become dominant for the summer trade. For many passengers, the ports of call are merely a diversion. All of the main attractions reside on board.

Gone are the days when the highlights of a cruise included dressing up for dinner with the captain or gazing landward from the rails. From the Spanish shore, I photograph Symphony of the Seas and instantly post the image to Twitter. I expect reciprocal

images from the ship looking in my direction. But there are none.

The Twitter timeline is full of images of the ship’s glittering interior: the Central Park, with 20,000 tropical plants; the funfair on the Boardwalk; the line for Starbucks; last night’s show in the poolside AquaTheater; the twin spiraling slides of the Ultimate Abyss, down which adrenaline junkies can descend 10 stories in 13 seconds.

The facts of the giant ship are breathtaking. It has 18 decks, 24 elevators and seven neighborhoods (including Central Park, the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade and the Youth Zone).

Its 2,774 guestrooms accommodate a total passenger capacity of 6,680 (plus 2,200 crew). The cost of construction was $1.35 billion.

Symphony’s sister ship, Allure of the Seas — slightly smaller but costing $1.5 billion — boasts a two-deck dance hall and an ice skating rink. Oasis of the Seas ($1.4 billion) has basketball and volleyball courts, a zip-line over the central atrium and a miniature

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BIGGEST AND BOLDEST:

(Left to right) Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, AquaTheater, Royal Promenade and Ultimate Abyss

PHOTOS: © ROYAL CARRIBBEAN

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SEAFARING FUN:

(Left to right) Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas zip-line, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge stateroom and Magic Carpet, and Norwegian Joy’s go-cart racetrack PHOTOS: © ROYAL CARRIBBEAN, © CELEBRITY CRUISES, © NORWEGIAN

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golf course. Norwegian Joy (approximately $700 million) includes a go-cart racetrack. The Disney Dream ($900 million) has the world’s first at-sea water coaster. Celebrity Edge ($1 billion), due to launch in late 2018, will feature a Magic Carpet, a tennis court-sized platform that will slide up and down the outside of the ship.

As the big-ship market becomes increasingly competitive, the unique selling points become ever more outlandish. The use of drones will likely become commonplace in the future, both for food and laundry deliveries direct to stateroom balconies and even to enable passengers to board at sea. Symphony of the Seas already has a Bionic Bar in which automated arms mix and serve the drinks, and fully automated restaurants are on the drawing board for future ships.

Innovation is limited only by current technology and the imagination of the designers. But what about the size of the ships? How much bigger can they get? Some experts argue they’re already too big.

For a start, the larger the ship, the fewer ports capable of handling it. It’s not just a question of the physical space required for docking but also of dealing with the mass movement

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of thousands of passengers. Many of the smaller Caribbean islands already struggle to cope with the sudden influx of visitors. Coach excursions in particular can present a logistical nightmare; some islands simply don’t have enough vehicles to accommodate everyone who might want to take a trip inland.

As the world fleet of mega-ships grows, even the larger ports feel the strain. Receiving two or three cruise ships at the same time pushes the current capabilities to the breaking point.

Either the ports of call will have to invest in upgraded passenger terminals and transport infrastructure, or the mega-ships will have to make do with a shrinking list of suitable ports of call.

Sheer size presents other problems. One of the most common is the outbreak of illness, especially norovirus — exceptionally contagious and leading to vomiting and diarrhea. In the enclosed environment of a ship at sea, it can spread among passengers and crew with alarming speed. The larger the ship, the more people infected. Although most outbreaks strike fewer than 10 percent of the people on board, the illness can make a misery of dozens (sometimes hundreds) of cruise vacations.

All other issues are dwarfed by the almost unthinkable

possibility of a mega-ship catching fire, running aground or sinking.

Regulations set by the International Maritime Organization stipulate full evacuation should be completed within 30 minutes of an order being given to abandon ship. To date, the only true emergency affecting a mega-ship came when Costa Concordia ran aground off an Italian island in 2012. In that case, evacuation took six hours; 35 of the 4,200 people on board died.

Not surprisingly, Symphony of the Seas addresses safety by going big.

Each of its 18 lifeboats can carry up to 370 people. The lifeboats are the last line of defense. The new mega-ships have innumerable safety systems to protect against all possible threats. Even so, one of the first big ships (though it looks like a tugboat compared to the current generation), RMS Titanic provides a lesson from history that you can never be too careful. Accidents will always happen.

Although safety is the most important factor when designing a new ship, the contingencies are deliberately discrete. First and foremost, the aim is to wow the passengers. Symphony of the Seas, in common with other new-generation mega-ships, doesn’t disappoint. It is breathtaking from every angle, whether you’re on board in your private stateroom or the public areas or if you’re standing on shore six miles away watching it sail past.

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feature

Ships Ahoy!

Set sail on a rising tide of new cruise vessels and voyages. BY KARIN LEPERI ON HER WAY: Viking Sky christening in Tromsø, Norway PHOTO: © VIKING

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THE YEAR 2019 WELCOMES A HOST of new ships, itineraries, themes (multigenerational, active, wellness, soft adventure, cultural, culinary and educational) and initiatives bound to capture the interests of many travelers. The premise: Cruising has never been easier, with all sorts of itineraries and ships appealing to various price points from luxury to value-based. Whether you join a large or

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small ocean cruise, river cruise or expeditionary cruise, each has its advocates, admirers and repeat customers.

“It’s an exciting time for cruising in all regards,” says Ralph Grizzle, founder, Avid Cruiser and River Cruise Advisor. “River cruising is seeing more active options like biking, hiking, yoga and wellness on board, and the introduction of wider and more sophisticated vessels.” He notes there is a style of cruising for just about everyone.

Like touring Europe? River cruising will be much more enjoyable than coach touring, as you unpack only once for your shipboard room. Are you an explorer?

Expeditionary cruises can take you to the world’s most remote regions with options for kayaking, snorkeling and exploring in pontoon boats. Or maybe you prefer the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas and Broadway? Big ships deliver oodles of options with their entertainment, casinos, theme park attractions and multiple dining choices, as well as huge sun decks and pools to soak in the sun. And if you just want to have a more intimate experience, enjoy fine dining and some soft adventure, a small ship will fit the bill and feel less crowded.

However, it’s important to note the cruising industry itself is responding to continued positive growth not only with the rollout of new ships but also with the addition of new features.

Expect to see a lot of crossover, according to Grizzle. “Crystal Cruises, for example, has launched a fleet of river cruise vessels, while Viking River Cruises has launched a series of ocean ships. Scenic, a river cruise operator, is launching an expedition vessel in January of 2019. Not surprisingly, perhaps, all of these companies have done an outstanding job at making the transition from one area of operations to another. The expedition market is experiencing explosive growth.”

Other trends, especially in river cruising, include guided bicycle tours and wellness themes and focus on regional cuisine and wines, local craft beer and cocktails inspired by ports of call. Of course, diners can always order from a permanent menu that usually includes steak, chicken and vegetarian options. Another nice trend? Many ships, especially in river and expeditionary cruising, are becoming greener and more sustainable in operations.

THE BIG OCEAN CRUISE LINES (usually 1,000-plus passenger capacity) adding to their fleets include the following 2019 rollouts: Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas debuts Jan. 2, 2019, with a passenger capacity of 4,180. Then, on Jan. 5, Norwegian Cruise Line adds a ship for 3,900. On Jan. 6, Costa Smeralda rolls out for Costa Cruises with passenger capacity of 5,176.

The next day, Jan. 7, will see Princess Cruises’ unnamed cruise ship come on line with accommodations for 3,560 passengers, while Carnival introduces another unnamed ship Jan. 8 for 3,934 cruisers.

Smaller ships (generally less than 1,000 passengers) are making their mark, too.

Viking Ocean Cruises successfully entered the ocean

BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE:

Costa Smeralda at sea (top), stateroom (middle) and Colosseo (bottom) PHOTOS: © COSTA

le peop f o r umbe cross The n ruises a d gc se takin ld increa r o lion the w .62 mil 7 0 15 from ers in 20 llion mi eng pass t 21.12 e ou rs ar b e a b m o t u 13. N ease in 20 d to incr te hen expec 2019, w y gh all throu ll potenti i n, w they 25 millio d excee ng to rdi . acco a.com t s i t Sta NOVEMBER 2018

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cruise business in 2015 with its first ship, Viking Star. Now, the 930-passenger Viking Jupiter will sail in 2019, the sixth oceangoing ship in the successful series. Viking set its goal for a total of 16 ocean ships in its fleet.

Azamara will offer its first-ever sailing to Alaska with two of its 690-passenger ships.

“Our 2019 itineraries span the world with new ports and destinations such as Alaska. … We are confident that our growing number of first-time and millennial cruisers, along with repeat customers, will find that the new itineraries offer the type of personalized and unique experiences they seek,” says Larry Pimentel, president and CEO, Azamara Club Cruises.

Known for visiting off-the-beatenpath destinations as well as popular ports, Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet with no interior cabins, and half the fleet’s ships boast all-suite rooms. Next year brings seven new itineraries and 163 ports of call for Europe alone, with a focus on more carefully curated sailings and custom experiences designed for small ships and travelers open to novel experiences. The Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar prides itself in offering cruises “180 degrees from ordinary.”

Tauck expects to increase its passenger volume in small-ship cruising by 40 percent with the addition of five new small-ship cruises making their debut. The company is expanding shore excursion choices to offer guided bicycle trips in more destinations.

ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER:

RIVER CRUISING WILL ALSO SEE NEW LAUNCHES IN 2019. Viking River Cruises was established in 1997 with four ships. Now, more than 20 years later, it is the world’s largest small-ship cruise line, with more than 50 ships in the river fleet alone. Seven new Viking ships are on order for 2019, with six being Viking Longships with 190 passengers in 95 staterooms. The other Viking ship to be introduced in 2019 joins three sister ships sailing the Douro River in Portugal, accommodating 106 passengers in 53 staterooms. The Viking Longships, known for their upgrades involving sustainability, include such features as topside organic herb gardens, onboard solar panels and energy-efficient hybrid engines designed to minimize vibrations.

In May 2019 AmaWaterways debuts AmaMagna, its newest and largest ship to date. Designed with multiple

AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna (top), sports platform (middle) and SA / SB Suite PHOTOS: © AMAWATERWAYS

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dining venues, a sports platform and larger staterooms, AmaMagna is twice the width of the standard river cruise ship.

That should appeal to new cruisers. “Research has shown that many ocean cruisers and active travelers have yet to experience river cruising because they thought the staterooms were too small or the dining options and activities too limited. We are confident that AmaMagna, with the additional space and more diverse onboard programs, will overcome these objections and open up a whole new market for us,” says Rudi Schreiner, president and co-owner, AmaWaterways.

AmaMagna will also introduce an exclusive concierge golf program. While sailing the Danube, guests will have a seamless golf experience where all the details are taken care of by the ship, such as arranging tee times at some of Europe’s world-class golf courses, along with practice balls and golf carts waiting for you. Transfers are by a Mercedes-Benz, and clubs are cleaned for you, ready for your next game.

Uniworld introduces its newest Super Ship in 2019, S.S. Bon Voyage, sailing in southwestern France, while CroisiEurope River Cruises debuts MS Amalia Rodrigues on the Douro River in Portugal.

EXPANDING HORIZONS:

EXPEDITIONARY CRUISES COMPRISE one of the fastest-growing segments of the cruise market, though it’s questionable how much growth this sector can sustain. In March 2019 Ecoventura launches one of the greenest yachts to sail the Galápagos, MV Theory. The 20-passenger mega-yacht with 10 premium cabins brings 5-star luxury to the wilds.

Poseidon Expeditions introduces a new expedition cruise program departing Edinburgh to the frozen north. From the Highlands to the High Arctic, the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, three seas and the islands of three countries.

Ecoventura’s MS Theory king cabin (top), dining room (middle) and sundeck (middle right); and Poseidon’s new expedition cruise departing Edinburgh to the frozen north (left) PHOTOS: © MATT DUTILE, © POSEIDON

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mice | MONTRÉAL

City on the Seaway A majestic river, European ambience and stylish accommodations attract events to Montréal. BY RON BERNTHAL

WATER’S EDGE:

Old Port of Montréal

PHOTO: © LOÃC ROMER

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MONTRÉAL IS OFTEN DESCRIBED as one of the most Europeanlooking cities outside Europe. Add in its numerous outdoor cafés, a Parisian-influenced Metro, safe streets and bilingual population, and it is no wonder planners choose the city more than ever for MICE events.

According to Tourisme Montréal, more than 11 million tourists visited the city in 2017, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, with visitor spending, including by MICE participants, at more than CAD4 billion ($3.08 billion), up 9.7 percent.

Last year, passenger traffic into Montréal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport from the United States surged by almost 12 percent, and the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal reported an increase in hotel occupancy to 77 percent. “This year was again punctuated with city-wide public and MICE events, marking the city’s efforts to position itself as a cultural metropolis and international-caliber destination,” said Christopher Marilley, director of meeting and convention sales, Tourisme Montréal.

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More than 100 festivals take place in Montréal every year, from world-class culinary events to large outdoor gatherings. Some of the bigger events include the International Montréal Jazz Festival, ranked as the largest jazz event in the world by Guinness World Records (June); Just for Laughs, one of the most prestigious comedy events in North America (July); and Montréal en Lumière (Festival of Light), a citywide feast for the senses. It encompasses music, theater and dance performances; food and wine events; and light installations, including one at the iconic Jacques Cartier Bridge (February–March).

Major conferences in 2018 utilizing the Montréal Convention Centre include the 9th International Congress on Glaucoma Surgery, NIPS 2018 Neural Information Processing Systems and the 39th Sicot Orthopaedic World Congress.

Montréal offers many deluxe MICE hotels such as Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (950 rooms); Le Centre Sheraton (982); Le Westin Montréal (455); Loews Hôtel Vogue (142); The RitzCarlton, Montréal (98); and the Hyatt Regency Montreal (595). All these properties offer ample meeting space, fine dining and catering options.

Several new, smaller meeting hotels include the boutique 90-room Le Mount Stephen, opened last year in a restored historic building with floor-to-ceiling windows, on-site spa and the Britishinspired Bar George. The modern, tech-savvy Hôtel Monville offers 269 guestrooms as well as meeting space on the 20th floor

FINE DINING:

Le Bateau-Mouche with Montréal skyline in background (top) and the ship’s interior main deck (middle), and EMC Pantry cheese display at Restaurant Le Richmond & Market Montreal (bottom) PHOTOS: © BATEAU-MOUCHE OF MONTRÉAL, © JOANNA TRICORACHE

and opened this year just steps from the Palais des Congrès. The 169-room AC Hotel Montréal CentreVille opened this year as Marriott’s first AC hotel brand in Canada.

The Four Seasons Hotel returns to Montréal after a 20-year absence with a CAD398 million ($307 million) project expected to open in 2019 as an 18-story, 166-room, mixed-use hotel complex that will include retail spaces, a restaurant and bar, a Four Seasons Spa and 18 luxury residences.

Group planners can book two excursion companies offering meeting and dining space on board St. Lawrence River cruise boats. Le Bateau-Mouche launched in 1992 and quickly earned the Tourism Grand Prix from the Office des Congrès et du Tourisme du Grand Montréal in the Tourist Innovation category. With the addition of a 440-square-foot open-air deck, the boat’s full length now reaches 110 feet, with a capacity of 190.

Le Bateau-Mouche does not use plastic glasses, plates or utensils for its dinner cruise, and its green philosophy means a smoke-free environment; even the boat’s crew wear polo sweaters made of organic cotton. For MICE groups, Le Bateau-Mouche offers several packages, including a 1.5hour tour that departs from the Jacques-Cartier Pier at the Old Port of Montréal and passes Montréal Olympic Stadium, Montréal Science Centre, Jacques Cartier Bridge and Habitat 67. The 3.5-hour dinner cruise includes fine-dining menu options created by Executive Chef Alain Pignard of Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, a live musical performance and a sound and light experience.

Another option for St. Lawrence River cruising is the Croisieres AML company boat, the AML Cavalier Maxim. MICE planners can negotiate a complete buy-out or use one or more of the boat’s four decks. The cruise offers guided sightseeing and lunch or dinner cruises. Deck A offers a multipurpose panoramic room with a capacity of 250. Deck B has the Maxi Club, with access to an outdoor terrace and a capacity of 160, and the Intimate Atrium, a private lounge with a panoramic view accommodating 60.

UNIQUE VENUES The Palais des Congrès de Montréal (Montréal Convention Centre) helps planners put on environmentally sustainable events. Since 2011 the venue’s Culti-Vert Project, a rooftop container garden, helped reduce the urban heat island effect and produces organic herbs, fruits and vegetables. Located downtown and linked to 4,000 hotel rooms by the city’s underground pedestrian network, the Palais des Congrès features 551,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, with 88 meeting rooms. congresmtl.com Downtown’s towering Au Sommet Place Ville Marie offers the 360 Observation Deck on its 46th floor for receptions, business meetings and galas, with a capacity of 200. Additional features include a 45thfloor interactive exhibition on modern-day Montréal and the highest restaurant in the city, Les Enfants Terribles, on the 44th floor. placevillemarie.com

Deck C, on the upper level, features windows on both sides and a 210-seat terrace.

Other popular MICE activities on the St. Lawrence River include jet boating and rafting in summer and learning to play ice hockey or curling in winter.

The Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal (Museum of Contemporary Art), also known as the MAC, offers MICE planners a trendy environment on the Place des Arts, where many of Montréal’s international festivals hold gala events. A larger, newly designed MAC will open at the same location in 2021 with an eclectic angular overhang and new spaces for Restaurant du MAC opening onto an outdoor terrace. The expanded and transformed venue will greatly enhance the options for group events. macm.org

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PHOTOS: © NORWEGIAN, © DEEPBLU

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COZUMEL

destination one | LISBON

Not Just Any Port Once the center of exploration and trade, Lisbon poises for rediscovery. BY ELYSE GLICKMAN ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS: Lisbon city center (left), and Belém Tower (right) PHOTOS: © TURISMO LISBOA

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THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT would be a different place if Portuguese explorers and merchants during the Age of Discovery had not made their mark around the world via the oceans, the Silk Road and the Spice Road. Lisbon became the ultimate point of origin for ships heading toward the Americas, Africa and Asia, later returning with goods, ideas and business practices that would lay the foundations for today’s global economy.

Centuries later, Lisbon remains an important

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port of call for trans-Atlantic cruises as well as those headed to the Atlantic coast of Europe, the western Mediterranean, the British Isles and Northern Africa. So much so, in fact, the Port Authority of Lisbon set out to increase calls and double the number of cruise passengers. This initiative, along with the maritime can-do spirit that defined the Age of Discovery, continued with the November 2017 opening of the Lisbon Cruise Port Terminal located on the banks of the Tagus estuary. Designed by noted Portuguese architect

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE Portuguese

COMING AND GOING

U.S. citizens must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business visa-free stays of up to 90 days.

Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended day of departure and have at least two blank pages open for stamps.

João Luís Carrilho da Graça, it is projected to welcome more than 400,000 cruise passengers per year.

Although two other terminals remain in operation, the new addition was conceived with the 21st century in mind, factoring in sustainability and a smooth onward flow of tourists to avoid congestion elsewhere in the city. After two years of construction by Global Ports Holding and a $28 million investment, the new terminal quickly assumed strong footing as a city-within-a-city, covering 148,542 square feet over three floors, according to trade publication The Maritime Executive.

Other features include 4,900 feet of pier for docking a wide variety and size of ships; automated gangway systems; and on-site equipment to supply ships with check-in facilities, water supplies and other provisions while in port.

By the end of this year, the Port of Lisbon will have welcomed 14 ships: Le Lyrial, Costa Mediterranea, MSC Magnifica, Saga Sapphire, Veendam, Balmoral, Ventura, Aurora, AIDAvita, Royal Clipper, Star Breeze, Oceana, MSC Preziosa and Viking Sun. The successful execution of this marvel makes it all the more remarkable that Lisbon re-emerged in phoenix-like fashion after the global 2008 financial crash that hit Portugal particularly hard, with unemployment peaking at 18 percent at its worst point in 2012.

LODGING HOTEL AVENIDA PALACE Lisbon’s first luxury hotel opened in 1892. With an intact Belle Époque exterior, interiors are judiciously adorned with velvet drapes, stained glass skylights, gold carvings, vintage furniture and other objets d’art.

Rua 1º de Dezembro 123 $$$$–$$$$$ MARTINHAL CHIADO At this chic family-focused property, parents can do business and date night while Kids

Club staff look after the kids in a secure space with fun activities.

Other amenities, like Martinhal Residences, are in development.

Rua das Flores 44 $$$$–$$$$$ OLISSIPPO LAPA PALACE This 19th-century gem, one of Lisbon’s most expensive luxury hotels, takes exclusivity to new levels. Its location within a labyrinth of narrow streets guarantees privacy and views as exquisite as the service, décor, pool and gardens.

Rua do Pau de Bandeira 4 $$$$$

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Other remedies helping cure Lisbon’s economic woes included international investment and the restoration of homes and hotels that were clearly architectural diamonds in the rough. American professional services and investment management company Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated reinforced this philosophy, predicting Portugal could achieve a new investment record of $2.5 billion in 2018, with foreign investors responsible for almost 80 percent of investment transactions last year, attracted by low interest rates, a wide variety of investment opportunities and an increase in both rents and tourism. The increase in investor commitment, in turn, is projected to propel further developments in the residential, retail and office markets, many taking over some of the most beautiful and unusual tile-covered structures in the city.

The hotel and hospitality industries, meanwhile, inject a mighty dose of adrenaline and style into Lisbon’s economy. Gonçalo Garcia, director of business advisory at Cushman & Wakefield’s hospitality division in Lisbon, told hotelnewsnow.com Portuguese hotels experienced double-digit revenue growth since the recession’s peak in 2013 and 2014. He also projected Portugal will have 115 new hotels by 2019 as real estate investments reach new heights. Of the 9,500 new rooms, 71 percent are in the upper segments, and approximately half will open in Lisbon and Porto.

Portugal’s National Institute of Statistics documented hotel revenue rose approximately 18 percent in 2017 to $3.6 billion, with a 12.1 percent year-over-year increase in overnight stays by international visitors to 37.2 million. New airline routes also contributed to the spike in tourism, business travel and investors. Foreign visitor numbers to Portugal rose by nearly 12 percent to 12.7 million last year, which also brought about a lively retail scene blending international chains, one-off independent boutiques and former homes and industrial space transformed into lifestyle-driven shopping experiences unique to Lisbon, showcasing Portugal’s emerging furniture and fashion industries.

Patricia Araújo, head of retail, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, noted there’s a focus on “high street” retail instead of shopping center development, which happens to be in tune with the existing flavor and character of Lisbon’s colorful neighborhoods. She added the restaurant sector is seeing a high rate of new openings and innovation and observed

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Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré neighborhood is currently the city’s hot spot for restaurants and nightlife. However, restoration and preservation across town has given way to fashionable, chef-driven restaurants and cocktail bars in Baixa, Barrio Alto and even long-established Praça do Comércio.

Lisbon also proves to be a destination for both startups and international corporations, including several tech goliaths.

Buildings and warehouses in the Riverside neighborhoods are converted into office space to meet rising demand, especially from legal and financial service providers. Google recently announced it is opening a tech support center near Lisbon, while shared workspace businesses such as the Beato Creative Hub are blossoming in developing neighborhoods on the east side of the city.

The essence of what makes Lisbon a city of the future as well as one with a storied past can be summed up by AICEP Portugal Global, an independent public entity of the Government of Portugal. Besides its favorable location as the European country closest to the United States and Canada, the cost of living is one of the lowest in Europe (65 percent of the French cost of living). It is the second-safest capital in Europe behind Helsinki, while the Financial Times ranks Lisbon as Europe’s second-best city for investment, and Portugal as a whole is ranked 15th out of 141 in the 2015 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report. Indeed, Vasco da Gama and Portugal’s other pioneers of global travel would be proud to see what they started keeps Lisbon as relevant as ever.

LOOKING OUT: Lisbon overview

PHOTO: © JOSÉ MANUEL

JUST THE FACTS

Time zone: GMT +9 Phone code: Country code: 351 City code: 21 Currency: Euro Key industries: Clothing, textiles and footwear; food processing; wood pulp, paper and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; and tourism

CHECKING IN WITH CHITRA AND ROMAN STERN Founders, Martinhal Family Hotels

As business conference and incentive travel expand to include the entire family, how do Lisbon’s attractions add to this appeal?

Families with children often avoid cities because it is more difficult to get around with kids in tow.

However, Lisbon is considered one of the safest in Europe, and locals are extremely welcoming of children. Practically every restaurant in town is childfriendly. The Oceanarium, Science Centre, Lisbon Story Museum and Lisbon Zoo are perfect examples of places to visit with kids. All of this makes Lisbon an ideal business conference destination where participants are encouraged to bring their families and extend their trips into vacations.

What other factors contribute to Lisbon’s growing economy and popularity as a cruise and business destination?

In terms of geography, [compared to] other European capitals, Lisbon offers an unmatched ratio of price versus quality of service and, with centuries of different influences and cultures from around the world, it is famous for its hospitality and language abilities.

Usually, younger generations in their 40s and below speak English fluently.

Even people who don’t speak English fluently make a huge effort to help. It’s also located one to three hours from major European and North African cities, and six to eight hours from hubs in South America and North America.

Direct flights from Asia and Oceania add to the accessibility.

What new developments going up around Lisbon do you find particularly exciting?

Chitra: Since I arrived in Lisbon years ago, it has been seriously spruced up and redeveloped. However, it still charms with its beauty, history and luminosity. That said, there are several interesting evolutionary trends on the fronts of food, culture and art, as well as many new hotels that can host meetings and events of different sizes. The most interesting but underplayed area is the Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) — site of the World Expo 1998 — which is a case study in urban regeneration.

Its Altice Arena and exhibition center can host a great diversity of [business and trade] events. Its innovative urban framework includes seven kilometers of waterfront with safe pedestrian areas, bike paths, kids’ play areas, water sports center, concert hall, new residences and an oceanarium.

EXPLORATIONS:

Lisbon Oceanarium (top), and Parque das Nações PHOTOS: © BENNYMARTY | DREAMSTIME.COM, © PRESSE750 | DREAMSTIME.COM

What neighborhoods or areas are not “in” right now but are poised for a comeback?

The riverside neighborhoods between Parque das Nações and Cais do Sodré (Matinha, Prata, Marvila, Xabregas, Beato and Poço do Bispo) are not yet “in” but are already starting to show signs of dynamism. This development is encouraged by some private initiatives, public policy, cultural activities and a bohemian atmosphere, and it is expected to become a trendy area with startups, cafés, bars, restaurants, art galleries, concert halls and much more. This area (along with lifestyle developments such as LXFactory) proves Lisbon City is great at urban remodeling. The recent years of foreign direct investment and subsequent growth are helping bring a new spirit into these areas.

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CULTURAL HERITAGE: Belém Tower (top), and LXFactory (bottom) PHOTOS: © TURISMO LISBOA, © DAGOBERT1620 | DREAMSTIME..COM

DINING

CAN THE CAN Chandeliers and fixtures constructed from fish tins pay tribute to Portugal’s canned fish industry. However, Michelin-starred executive chef Miguel Laffan reinterprets Portugal’s gastronomic legacy by combining tinned fish with exotic spices, tropical fruits and local produce.

Terreiro do Paço 82/83 $$$$ PALÁCIO CHIADO Even with several distinctive dining rooms, Palácio Chiado rethinks the food court with a walk-in kitchen divided into stations dedicated to meats, seafood, traditional Portuguese recipes and vegetarian items with global spins.

Rua do Alecrim 70 $$$$ PESCA Chef Diogo Noronha continues to trailblaze at this cozy venue, building dishes from local and foraged components to reflect “the ocean in its purest state.” Cocktails by bartender Fernao Goncalves would make Jules Verne proud.

Rua da Escola Politécnica 27 $$$$–$$$$$

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DIVERSIONS

Widely known as the historic district of the Age of Discovery, Belém boasts an embarrassment of riches showcasing the ways Portuguese commerce, religion and culture shaped the modern world.

After all, it’s where Vasco da Gama and fellow explorers departed for their journeys, Belém Tower anchored the city’s defense system, and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos set architectural standards with its late-Gothic Manueline style. And if those landmarks — or lines for the original pastels de Belém egg tarts — get too crazy, you’ll find plenty of interesting museums dedicated to archaeology, coaches and maritime interests, as well as the Belém Cultural Centre, to check out.

The LXFactory, built into repurposed industrial space, shows how other cultures touched by Portuguese exploration continue to influence today’s Portuguese food, fashion and interior design. While

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INFO TO GO

the complex boasts excellent bars, creative casual dining and cool home retail shops, its Sunday flea market delivers even more local color. The Barrio Alto and Chiado districts are awash in concept stores. These self-contained mini-malls built into former residences offer eclectic mixes of fashion, home accessories and conversationstarting souvenirs.

Soccer enthusiasts should not miss the chance to tour Benfica Stadium. Even casual fans will get a thrill walking through the field, visiting the locker rooms and press room, getting a selfie with the eagle mascot of Sports Lisboa and Benfica or buying brag-worthy souvenirs for the kids from the pro shop.

Lisbon hosts five major cruise ship docks. Santa Apolonia, Santa Apolonia Jusante and Jardim do Tabaco lie within walking distance or a short metro ride to city center.

Alcântara and Da Rocha are located closer to the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge and Belém, the city’s historic and cultural hub.

Consult your cruise company to find out where your ship will dock.

Lisbon Portela Airport serves as the main international air travel gateway to Portugal and the hub for TAP Air Portugal, the country’s flagship airline. The most convenient transfer from Portela or the cruise ports to town is via metro trains, running every few minutes 6–1 a.m. daily and costing €1.40 one way (about $1.65). A €6 ($7) daily pass covers the metro, buses and trams. Options include taxis (one way €10–20, or about $11–23) and the Yellow Bus Aerobus outfitted with luggage racks (€3.15, or about $3.65)

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stateside | FORT LAUDERDALE

On the Bright Side Fort Lauderdale shines with a resurgence of luxury tourism. BY SUSAN B. BARNES ON TRACK:

(left to right) Costa Hollywood Beach Resort balcony view, Brightline, and CIRC Hotel rooftop bar and meeting room PHOTOS: © COSTA HOLLYWOOD RESORT, © BRIGHTLINE, © CIRC HOTEL

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IT WOULD BE EASY to fall into the shadows of its bigger sister to the south, but Fort Lauderdale continues to shine bright, just as it has since the 1930s. Last century, the destination solidified its place in spring break history with its sunny skies and sandy beaches. Today, Fort Lauderdale welcomes about 14 million visitors annually and is taking great strides to be sure it meets expectations while at the same time looking to the future.

Earlier this year, a new high-speed train began service with stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Brightline, the only privately owned, operated and maintained passenger rail system in the United States, operates daily, nearly on the hour, with expansion to Orlando underway. Brightline’s centrally located stations connect to existing public transit options including light rail, rideshares, taxis and even car and bicycle rentals. The Brightline station in Fort Lauderdale (101 N.W. 2nd Ave.) provides new access to the Museum of Discovery and

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Science, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, FATVillage Arts District and more.

Cruise Terminal 25 at Port Everglades, one of the top three cruise ports in the world, is undergoing complete renovations in preparation for the arrival of Celebrity Cruises’ new 2,918-passenger Celebrity Edge, scheduled to begin sailing in December. Also preparing to set sail from Port Everglades in December is Holland America Line’s newest Pinnacleclass ship, the 2,650-passenger Nieuw Statendam; Oprah Winfrey will serve as the ship’s godmother.

In addition to Brightline and the new cruise ships debuting this winter at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale’s hotel scene is booming, with seven new properties opening or slated to open this year. In nearby Dania Beach, the 143-room Hotel Morrison opened with 1,500 square feet of meeting space, and the 111-room modern, boutique CIRC Hotel opened in downtown Hollywood, complete with a rooftop bar and 3,000 square feet of meeting space.

In Fort Lauderdale proper, the 150-room TRYP by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Maritime Hotel caters to leisure and business travelers alike, with 3,400 square feet of event space. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Downtown/Las Olas offers 108 guestrooms and 1,037 square feet of meeting space.

On tap, The Dalmar, part of Marriott International’s new Tribute Portfolio collection brand, is slated to open at the end of this month. The 25-story hotel will feature 209 guestrooms, as well as 9,000 square feet of event space and a rooftop bar with 360-degree views of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Floors seven through 12 of The Dalmar will house Element

Fort Lauderdale Downtown, an extended-stay option with 114 guestrooms. Just steps from the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, the Costa Hollywood Beach Resort, set to open later this year with 307 suites (studios to threebedroom), features a 25,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. The Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale broke ground and is expected to open in late 2019 with 150 hotel rooms and 95 residences, along with meeting facilities.

Plenty is happening in the way of hotel refreshes, too.

The historic Escape Hotel will transform into the Gale Boutique Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale Beach, with 96 guestrooms and 129 condo residences (opening early 2019), and the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is finishing up $7 million in renovations, including 25,000 square feet of meeting space.

Elsewhere, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood undergoes a $1.5 billion property-wide expansion, projected for completion in 2019, increasing the total number of rooms to 1,200 and featuring 120,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Anticipated to open in 2019 with a $30 million renovation, Le Méridien Dania Beach at Fort Lauderdale Airport (formerly Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel) will feature 245 guestrooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

For more insight into what is new and on the horizon in Fort Lauderdale, we checked in with Chintan Dadhich, general manager, Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. The city’s first high-end resort opened in October 2017 and was the first to tap into the neighborhood’s luxury sector.

Asked how Fort Lauderdale changed over the past handful of years and how he thinks the city will evolve, Dadhich replied, “Fort Lauderdale has undergone a major evolution. Introducing new luxury hotels, airlift, public transportation, fine dining, culture and entertainment, Fort Lauderdale is now attracting travelers from around the world. The city has created new offerings that cater to the discerning visitors who have come to explore the neighborhood’s emerging luxury sector.”

Dadhich noted Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport added new flights from the Middle East, London and Cuba, “which has resulted in a direct economic impact from the increasing number of visitors.”

“As the number of yearly visitors continues to rise, the evolution of our city is progressing quickly,” Dadhich said.

“Amid this resurgence of luxury tourism, we [Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach] will continue to provide travelers with experiences that cannot be found elsewhere in South Florida. We are honored to be at the helm of this movement and will continue to bring an unparalleled ambience to the city of Fort Lauderdale.”

SCENIC DRIVES

If you would rather hop in a car and drive than take Brightline to Miami or West Palm Beach for the day, there are plenty of places to go, whichever direction you choose. Head north for about 30 miles and visit Delray Beach, boasting a European vibe with its main boulevard filled with boutiques, cafés and galleries in the Pineapple Grove Arts District.

For an outdoor adventure, point your car west and head about 30 minutes to the Everglades; after all, nearly two-thirds of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area is made up of Everglades protected wetlands.

Once you arrive, explore the area by air boat or kayak, and get up close to its native inhabitants, from exotic birds to American alligators.

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9–5 | NEW ORLEANS

The Big Easy New Orleans’ culture indeed makes it easy to entertain clients. BY MEGAN HILL LIVELY BEAT:

Jazz musicians at the Frenchmen Art Market

PHOTO: © NEW ORLEANS TOURISM AND MARKETING CORPORATION

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NEW ORLEANS HAS LONG INSPIRED poets, novelists, musicians — and the casual visitor. It’s easy to see why fans wax poetic about the Big Easy, where you seem to encounter romance, history and a good party around every corner.

The city remains a tourism hub, with visitors flocking here for annual events like Jazz Fest, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras. New Orleans continues to improve its infrastructure for these visitors, with a $993.7 million airport improvement project in progress that includes a new terminal building opening in 2019 at Louis Armstrong International Airport. British Airways added new

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non-stop flights between New Orleans and London Heathrow, and more airlines are following suit.

New Orleans has several major tourism-focused projects in the works, including an expansion for the National World War II Museum that will add a hotel and conference center. A new Four Seasons hotel is in the works in the former World Trade Center building downtown.

And the city continues to grow as a hub for cruise lines like Norwegian and Carnival, with around 1.5 million passengers boarding ships at the port in 2017. In 2019 and 2020 travelers can reach destinations like Acapulco, Mexico; Belize; Corinto, Nicaragua; Grand Cayman; Key West; and Montego Bay, Jamaica, all by cruise ship from New Orleans.

Cruises also head up the Mississippi River. American Cruise Lines offers seven-day excursions to riverside cities like Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, while the American Queen Steamboat Co. sails for nine days to and from Memphis.

Both use stately paddlewheelers to transport guests in historic style. Most visitors add a few days on either end of their sailing to enjoy all New Orleans has to offer.

Fittingly, New Orleans’ transit system weaves into its charming tapestry. The iconic red streetcars clang along St. Charles Avenue, traveling under arching, ancient oak trees cloaked in Spanish moss. Four other streetcar routes join a wide-ranging bus network that connects major points and neighborhoods around the metro area.

Travel to and from the airport is best arranged with a taxi or via app-based

ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft. Taxi booths are located on the first level of the terminal outside of Baggage Claim areas 1 and 14. Cab rides from the airport to the Central Business District and the French Quarter are $36 for up to two passengers. Uber and Lyft passengers will find their rides outside of the Ground Transportation Center on the first level of the Short-Term Parking Garage, accessible from the crosswalk outside of Baggage Claim 6.

New Orleans is renowned worldwide for its food, so it’s easy to wine and dine clients here. Start the day with café au lait and fried doughnuts, called beignets, at Café Du Monde, the open-air French Quarter icon, for a must-have experience. If you need to get an early start, Wakin’ Bakin’ in Mid-City slings breakfast sandwiches and burritos starting at 7 a.m. daily. For something healthier, Satsuma Café features plenty of vegetarian and juice options, plus excellent coffee, in various locations around town.

For lunch or dinner, options range from historic classics to hot newcomers — and you can’t go wrong with either. You’ll make a great impression with classic New Orleans fare at legendary restaurants like Dooky Chase, Cochon, Herbsaint and Commander’s Palace. This city continues to draw national attention with newcomers like Saba, the modern Israeli restaurant from celebrated chef Alon Shaya; Bywater American Bistro, one of the best new restaurants in the country; and Josephine Estelle, which combines New Orleans and classic Italian influences in a smartly decorated space.

It’s easy to keep entertaining clients long after dinner in the Big Easy. Maybe you’ll keep things low-key and opt for a cocktail at a classic haunt like the stately Columns Hotel, where a mint julep will set a warm night right. Or settle in at the Sazerac Bar in the grand Roosevelt Hotel, where you’ll feel like Don Draper closing the deal of a lifetime. You’ll certainly wow your clients by taking seats at The Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone, the circus-themed home of the Vieux Carré cocktail.

There’s no shortage of entertainment here. Maybe you’ll find live music along Frenchmen Street, a hub of music clubs drawing some of the best local musicians at dives like The Spotted Cat and d.b.a. You can go highbrow, too, with tickets to a performance of the New Orleans Opera or New Orleans Ballet Association.

Theater thrives in New Orleans, with a robust performing arts community. You might score tickets to a visiting Broadway show at classic venues like the Saenger Theatre or the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Local professional companies, like the Southern Repertory Theatre, are always top-notch, too.

HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS: National World War II Museum (above), and beignets at Café Du Monde (left) PHOTOS: © NEW ORLEANS TOURISM AND MARKETING CORPORATION

17 s 20 rlean n I w O Ne e its ok br ism r tou rd, y o arl c e e n r ing n see illio ho m w 11 ors t i .51 vis t $7 le n hi spe on w li bil wn. to in NOVEMBER 2018

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after 5 | VENICE

Evening in Venice Discover the local charm of Italy’s island city.

BY ALLIE MOORE

VIBRANT VENICE:

Bifano (left), and Venetian masks (below) PHOTOS: © NATALIYA HORA | DREAMSTIME.COM, © SIMON THOMAS | DREAMSTIME.COM

CANALS, GONDOLAS AND SOARING steeples of religious monuments form the heart of Venice, a city inundated with visitors but still somehow able to retain the charm that keeps travelers coming to gape at its storied beauty. The Italian city of more than 400 bridges presents its old-world elegance and awe-inspiring architecture to passengers aboard the bevy of cruise ships that dock at its port, with opportunities for leisure from sunrise to tramonto.

While other visitors traipse among the city’s crowded streets and across rising bridges, opt instead to take a ferry across the water to Murano, an island known for its glass production, where you can sit in on a free demonstration and watch the artisans at work. Upon exiting, pass through the shops to peruse the handmade glass statues, jewelry and home décor. Brush up on the island’s history of glassmaking by visiting the Museo del Vetro to learn more about this tradition dating to the late 13th century. Or catch another ferry across the Venetian Lagoon to the neighboring island of Burano, where brightly colored buildings line narrow canals and where lacemaking thrived once upon a time. Browse modern-day machine-made lace clothing before heading back to the passenger ferry.

Whether you’re docked for one night or two, you may find yourself on the hunt for a classic Venetian mask. You can find some of the larger collections of the papier-mâché souvenirs at Atelier Marega, La Bauta

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and Ca’ de Sol. The latter hosts five-day mask-making workshops for those for whom Venice is a first or final stop.

Before wandering back to the ship, treat yourself to an authentic Venetian meal at Ristorante Alle Corone — just a stone’s throw from the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Fava — where seasonal menus feature Italian favorites from the sea like grilled prawns, fried sardines and ricotta-stuffed ravioli with a red mullet sauce. Cap off the evening with a few scoops of the city’s illustrious gelato at Gelateria Al Sole, which serves a few vegan selections, as well.

Travelers with an extended stay can seek out some of the city’s vibrant nightlife spots such as gay-friendly Porto de Mar in the Marghera district, where €5 (about $5.85) grants entry into the bar and patio area, both open until 4 a.m. For an aperitif with water views, head to Cannaregio where quieter canal-side bars and trattorias, like Dodo Caffè, serve as a more tranquil setting for a nightcap.

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neighborhoods | COCHIN

Natural Beauty Wander historic districts and backwaters in picturesque Cochin. BY ELLEN CLARK

TIMELESS TRADITIONS: Fishing nets (left), and a local’s houseboat on the Cochin backwaters (above) PHOTOS: © ELLEN CLARK

40 han t e are Mor ips h s top se to s crui . d e l 018 du n 2 i sche n ochi in C CHINA

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Cochin

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TANTALIZING FOR BOTH its rich history and natural beauty, every year Cochin (also known as Kochi) welcomes visitors from all parts of the world.

But what makes it particularly attractive to cruise ships is its harbor. Known as one of the finest and safest natural harbors on the Arabian coast of India, it’s no wonder it makes a preferred port of call on repositioning cruise itineraries between Southeast Asia and Europe.

Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral founded Cochin when the Portuguese penetrated the Indian Ocean in the late 15th century, thus giving Cochin the distinction as the first European settlement on Indian soil. Split into two sections, its more modern Ernakulam district boasts high-rises and a bustling modern vibe, while across the water on a peninsula, the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin speak to the city’s past. In the historic districts you’ll find spice markets, an impressive collection of colonial architecture, 17th-century Dutch houses, India’s first European church, a synagogue and a Portuguese palace.

One of Cochin’s more unusual sights is the Chinese fishing nets. According to legend, the Chinese explorer Zheng He introduced the nets, brought from the court of the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out the horizontal nets measuring 65 feet or more across, with each installation operated by a team of up to six fishermen. It’s a lot of work for a modest catch, so today the nets remain more of a tourist attraction than a way to reel in loads of fish.

While the nets might be Cochin’s most iconic attraction, one of its most mesmerizing has to be the backwaters. Part of the 560 miles of waterways making up the Kerala backwaters, they consist of a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets. Many cruise ships offer backwater excursions; cruising along the waterways offers a chance to observe a unique way of life. Small villages, individual dwellings and houseboats dot the shore, surrounded by palm trees and lush foliage. Water birds, like kingfishers and cormorants, fly overhead, adding to the overall feeling of tranquility.

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friends & family | CARIBBEAN CRUISING

Life’s a Breeze

Embark on a family getaway through the crystal-blue Caribbean. BY RINA NEHDAR THE LOCALS WILL TRY TO CONVINCE YOU everyone, always, has spoken English. From the taxi driver in Roatán, Honduras, to the snorkel guide in Belize, when we sailed through the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Getaway, everyone seemed to conspire to make us feel completely comfortable exploring this brilliant version of reality.

If you’re fortunate enough to earn a cruise as a performance bonus or your company decides expanding alliances in the Caribbean is its next step, there is something for everyone lucky enough to go with you.

Boarding the Norwegian Getaway, my husband, two sons and mother all immediately noticed how clean and shiny every surface appeared as gold handrails reflected beveled

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chandelier lights. Carpets of hot pink and gray felt simultaneously exciting and soothing. Wood panels graced the halls we walked on the way to our rooms. Ours featured a balcony with a table and two chairs, an open invitation to feel the kiss of the light ocean breeze as we sailed between destinations.

Food from many countries makes guests feel at home: Italian, Brazilian, French, Japanese and good old-fashioned American steaks are all on board and available without set dining times, what the cruise line calls its Freestyle Cruising.

The ship boasts four complimentary restaurants; one diverse buffet with vegetarian, gluten-free and kid-friendly options; and, of course, room service. There are also nine specialty restaurants. The designers of all these dining rooms took full advantage of their locations by presenting diners with startling ocean views. The widest and most regal was The Tropicana Room, placed at the aft of the ship, where we enjoyed a table by a wall of windows. Over crab cake appetizers, we watched the wake of the ship line the sea. Crooning, live Latin music surrounded us, and guests swayed to samba on the crimson dance floor. Another night, we enjoyed the specialty restaurant Ocean Blue, where we shared lobsters and got the boys to try

AT SEA:

Norwegian Getaway

PHOTO: © NORWEGIAN

g Brin wn o your eling k snor o s gear n a you c e r explo ere h anyw ave h and thing y ever fit.

SUN AND SURF:

West Bay Beach (top), and coral reef (bottom) PHOTOS: © IRISHKA777 | DREAMSTIME.COM, © HOATZINEXP | DREAMSTIME.COM

salmon and fried fish. Although our table for five was inside, we observed couples having quieter, romantic dinners on the adjoining, partly sheltered deck. But our server, Jenny, kept it light and kept us laughing with her insightful humor and the attention she showered on our boys.

The cruise offers excursions to sample the ports visited. These curated experiences allow visitors to see a bit, touch a little, get some Instagram-worthy pictures and feel protected throughout. But you also have the option to forge your own path and create your own experiences — as long as you’re back by sailing time. We opted to do both. In Roatán, Honduras, and Costa Maya, Mexico, we charted our own course, while in Harvest Caye, Belize, and Cozumel, we joined a group of other vacationers to experience what we couldn’t on our own: snorkeling a distant reef and swimming with dolphins.

In Roatán we hired a driver, Joelle, with a minivan to take us to a few spots we had read about: the popular West Bay Beach and the less visited Half Moon Bay in West End. We snorkeled in the center of the public beach at Half Moon Bay through glassy blue water, saw hundreds of vivid fish circling rainbow coral, shopped a little and contemplated getting our hair braided by the locals who offered.

When we visited West Bay Beach, we found the beaches privatized by resorts, so each person had to pay a fee to rent a chair. Joelle took us to Jungle Top Zipline, which also rescues animals. There we got a chance to play with basketball-sized capuchin monkeys that tried to steal our hats and happily bounced from our heads to our hearts.

At Costa Maya, a port specifically built for cruise ships, we stepped off the pier into a Disneylike version of Latin America. From the pier a sinewy path winds its way past well-maintained, primary-colored shops and restaurants. Giggling, the boys dunked their feet into a small aquarium filled with fish the size of their fingers whose only desire in life was to nibble on their dead skin. We rented a golf cart, another dream for the boys, and drove it 10 minutes to the fishing village of Mahahual, where we didn’t see any fishermen but did find lots of fun places to eat, snorkel and buy trinkets. Time zone changes are a constant on cruise ships, so when a fellow passenger informed us our watches were an hour slow, we raced as quickly as our cart’s maximum 7 mph speed allowed back to the pier and grabbed a quick bite at an authentic taco stand, La Tortilleria. Then grandma, or Baba as we call her, and I dared a bit of tequila tasting with a local expert who educated us in the tequila and

LODGING

THE HAVEN Enjoy the attention of a private butler in your family suite that includes two bedrooms and a living room, access to the private Haven restaurant and your own poolside lounge.

Norwegian Getaway $$$$$ LOEWS MIAMI BEACH HOTEL If Rock Hudson picked up Marilyn Monroe, it would be at this beachfront hotel with a 1950s Hollywood premiere feel. The private, poolside cabanas offer the perfect place to slide into your new time zone before the cruise.

1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Florida $$$$$ SPA SUITES Soak in the Norwegian Getaway’s Thermal Suite hot tub as often as you like after enjoying the views of the cobalt-blue ocean from your private Spa Suite balcony.

Norwegian Getaway $$$$$

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PLAY TIME:

Water slide (top) and pool area with water slides on board Norwegian Getaway (bottom)

PHOTOS: © NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES, © FISKNESS | DREAMSTIME.COM

DINING CAP’S PLACE Before your cruise, stow your smuggled booze in the Prohibition Era restaurant full of hidden rooms and trap doors. On an island off Lighthouse Point, the only way in is by Cap’s ferry boat.

2765 N.E. 28th Court, Lighthouse Point, Florida $$$ THE ILLUSIONARIUM Enjoy dinner theater on the sea with an assortment of magic and illusion acts to entertain or boggle. Try for a table near the dome.

Norwegian Getaway $$$ OCEAN BLUE Savor freshly caught seafood served in a room full of ocean breezes. A slower pace, an extensive wine list and chocolate lava cake are the rewards.

Norwegian Getaway $$$$

INFO TO GO

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 3,963-passenger Norwegian Getaway sets sail on a round-trip, seven-day Western Caribbean cruise from the Port of Miami to Roatán, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. Miami International Airport lies about 10 miles from the port (about $20 one way by taxi). Norwegian Cruise Line offers ground transfers between the airport and the pier (about $16 each way); be sure to make reservations at least four days prior to sailing.

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mezcal production process before we whipped back to the ship.

Our day in Harvest Caye, a resort-style island developed by Norwegian, started with a snorkeling excursion led by H2o Tierra Tours. We went by boat to see another part of the reef we had been enjoying, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The largest reef in the Western Hemisphere, it spreads 625 miles along the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. Since this was in the middle of the ocean, the tour provided life vests and gear and reassurances for those less comfortable in open water situations. Baba tried to keep up with the group but reminded us it had been years since she last snorkeled, so our marine guide, Mario, stayed behind with her. “Leave no soldier behind,” he told us, as the rest of us flipper-kicked away in search of sea life.

In Cozumel we learned about and swam with bottlenose dolphins at Dolphinaris, which partners with

NOVEMBER 2018

students, teachers and veterinarians at universities to study best practices to care for dolphins.

“Dolphins in the wild live 25 years,” our trainer, Wendy, told us before we took turns letting our dolphin, Frida, give us gentle smooches on our cheeks. “But they live up to 60 years in human care.” I’m sure it depends on the humans providing the care. During our visit, Dolphinaris had seven bottlenose dolphins ranging in age from 28 years to one day old. We witnessed the baby swimming in a protected area with the mother.

Afterward, we each got belly rides with Frida and explored the rest of the facility’s offerings.

On sea days we climbed the onboard adrenaline-rushing rope course and raced down waterslides. We saw younger kids splashing in their own private aqua park and revelers enjoying the permanent dance party happening in the adults-only pool area.

In the evenings we marveled at Broadway-worthy musical performances, laughed at family-appropriate comedy shows and put our heads together with another family to figure out how to Escape the Big Top in the popular escape room.

After all the daily together time, the boys couldn’t wait to run off to their new friends in the Splash Academy kids club. Baba visited the casino, and we checked out the cool Skyy Vodka Ice Bar and Bliss dance lounge.

On the last night, my husband and I slow-danced on our balcony. The moon cast a sparkling veil over the mysterious dark ocean as we floated back to the real world. Our safety nets cast aside, we sailed back to where everyone, once again, spoke their own language.

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AN EVENING WITH JUSTIN TURNER, LOS ANGELES’ THIRD BASEMAN! Cardmembers had the opportunity to watch Los Angeles take on Houston during a Sunday afternoon home game, followed by a private reception and dinner with starting third baseman Justin Turner at The Palm Restaurant. During a question and answer session, guests asked Justin about his career on and off the field. Before departing each guest posed for a photo with Justin and received a signed baseball.

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PRIVATE DINNER WITH CHEF JEREMIAH LANGHORNE, JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BEST CHEF MID-ATLANTIC! Awarded Best Chef Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation, Chef Jeremiah Langhorne hosted a memorable evening with a specially curated, summer-inspired menu at The Dabney, his Washington, D.C., restaurant. Cardmembers began with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception featuring creative seasonal libations. All were then seated for a four-course, wine-paired dinner featuring modern American food with regional and historic influences. Throughout the evening guests had an opportunity to watch Chef Langhorne and The Dabney team at work through the open kitchen centered around a wood-burning hearth.

bucket list | TRANS-ATLANTIC CRUISE

Oceans Away Chart a course to your own distant shore aboard the majestic Queen Mary 2. BY DEBRA BOKUR

GRACE AND GRANDEUR: (Left to right) Queen Mary 2, The Verandah restaurant and Grand Lobby PHOTOS: © CUNARD

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LEANING OVER THE POLISHED DECK RAIL, I’m aware latitude and longitude have given way to vast stretches of deep blues and a multitude of grays. Beneath my feet, depth is measured in fathoms, a deep well filled with countless mysteries likely to remain forever hidden beneath the shifting surface.

I’m aboard Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2, one of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners. With my husband, James, I’ve embarked upon a seven-night trans-Atlantic journey that began in New York, bound for the English coast. The route appeals on multiple levels, from the lack of daily port calls to the pure romance of crossing the wild seas by ship.

Leaving port in Brooklyn, we sail past the Statue of Liberty, watching from the balcony of our stateroom as the tall lady slips away into the gathering dusk. On the decks below, passengers line the rails, waving to the receding figure. We reach open water, and James pops open a waiting bottle of chilled Champagne to toast our adventure.

By morning, we’ve left all sight of land far behind. We’ve chosen the breakfast in bed morning room service option and relax over our coffee and tea while gazing at the water from our veranda.

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The movement of the ship can barely be perceived, and we watch as multiple pods of dolphins arc through the waves alongside the ship, joking Cunard paid a remarkable level of attention to details.

Later, we take a self-guided tour to admire the elegant Art Deco design and beautifully appointed spaces. Completely remastered in 2016, the QM2 is clad in gleaming new woodwork, a freshly painted hull, luxurious carpets and upholstery, newly varnished floors and restored artwork. Dining has expanded to include The Verandah restaurant, while more staterooms were added to the upper deck. Refreshed classic spaces include the largest ballroom at sea and a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub. On the lower decks, corridors display fascinating permanent exhibitions that detail the illustrious history of both Cunard and the QM2.

On each sailing, Cunard offers a range of entertainment options with world-class speakers and performances, and I begin the day with an Insights Lecture in the opulent Illuminations theater. Speaker Maureen Ryan shares colorful stories of her past as a post-war telephonist and Lady Assistant Purser aboard the QM2 and the Queen Elizabeth — posts she held during the days when most important positions on ships belonged only to men.

bears the 2 y r a M n e e Que hip.

Service, th r a t S n a cruise s e a h it t h r e W h t y r a r a er its legend an ocean lin g in e b Known for f o n istinctio important d

Ryan explains Cunard’s origins began with a contract awarded to Samuel Cunard to transport Her Majesty’s mail between Britain and the Americas. It was a monumental feat he accomplished in 13 days, when most crossings took up to six weeks.

This evening is the first of several gala evenings taking place en route to England. All around us, women dressed in beautiful evening gowns and glittering jewels and men in formal tuxedos glide gracefully toward their tables. After our meal, we make our way toward the sumptuous Royal Court Theatre, meandering through the art gallery along the way. Tonight there’s a musical production followed by a ball, and we quickly learn our waltzing skills are not up to those of our fellow passengers.

The next day, we have time to catch a star show in the Planetarium before we head to the Queens Room for afternoon tea. The white-gloved wait staff float through the room, silver trays aloft, offering us a selection of delicate sandwiches and beautiful cakes.

Later in the week, James heads off to attend a class in conversational Japanese, and I take an afternoon workshop with New Yorker magazine cartoonist David Sipress. Later, we rendezvous in the Champagne Bar to strategize over our attire for the upcoming Roaring Twenties Ball. Happily, our Charleston dance moves are up to par, and we have an exceptional time in a setting that couldn’t be more historically perfect.

Before the sun rises on our last day aboard, we awake to the sound of the ship’s horns grandly announcing her arrival in Southampton. Back at our balcony rail, we reflect on the soothing nights and long, peaceful hours spent enjoying the great liner as she made her way across the wide, deep sea.

It’s unlikely Samuel Cunard could have anticipated someday a woman from Providence, Rhode Island, would cross the gangplank to the deck of the QM2 with enough anticipation to keep a whole fleet of ships afloat; yet here I am, rested and grateful to have made the journey.

INFO TO GO

When booking a trans-Atlantic voyage with Cunard, options for travel arrangements include airport transfers to and from the ship. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York is accessible from LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports.

Options for the Southampton Port include London Heathrow (LHR), Stansted (STN) and Gatwick (LGW) airports. The ports lie less than an hour from the New York airports and less than two hours from the London airports, respectively. On both ends, transportation options include private car, taxi, Cunard shuttle service or train.

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kicking back | COZUMEL

Island Adventures Dive into Cozumel for a shore excursion filled with sun and surf. BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY INTO THE DEEP:

Diving in Cozumel PHOTO: Š DEEPBLU

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OUR AIR-CONDITIONED MOTOR COACH whisks us off to the edge of the sea by the dramatic El Mirador. This coastal walk along the rugged eastern shoreline of Cozumel offers a popular lookout from a sea-carved rock arch. The selfie crowd deals with their selfie sticks to take photos of the unusual natural limestone formations as we carry on our coastal tour to other sandy stretches.

For cruisers, in winter the unspoiled blue waters,

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untamed beaches and the freshest seafood dishes are ready to tantalize any taste bud on the compact island of tropical Cozumel. The most important cruise destination in Mexico, Cozumel ensures sun-seeking vacationers who want to kick back get to sample a full spectrum of activities, dining and entertainment.

Visitors will find evidence of a rich history of the great Mayan civilization at the ruins of San Gervasio

INFO TO GO Cruise ships including those from luxury Crystal Cruises and global cruise company Royal Caribbean International offer enriching shore excursions with authentic, local experiences in and around Cozumel.

INTRIGUING ISLAND:

Mayan arch at San Grevasio (top), dolphins performing tricks (middle), and Deepblu diving (bottom) PHOTOS: © JURIS DIDRIHSONS | DREAMSTIME.COM, © IVANSABO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © DEEPBLU

and the fertility temple of El Cedral, considered the island’s first Mayan sacred site. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, this island swath of whitesand beaches earns the accolades of the Mexico Tourism Board as “the place in Mexico to receive the first sunrays.”

Blessed with a great marine biodiversity ideal for diving, Cozumel boasts a ribbon of coral reef framed by white-powder beaches.

The setting offers a slice of marine paradise: Think dreamy, undulating landscapes framed by warm azure waters and rich tropical foliage that add endless ecotourism opportunities by both land and sea to this sun-kissed tropical mix.

Off the coast of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, by the water’s edge in a shallow submerged platform, a pod of dolphins performs tricks, smacking their fins in the water and squealing with sounds like laughter. It is time for my dolphin encounter. I exchange looks with my other half as I take my instructions and wait for my cool dolphin moment.

“When they come at you, assume the dead man float and let the dolphins push you straight up in the air,” says our instructor. On cue, tickling sensations from a pair of them hit my heels, thrusting me fast and furious across the warm water. Before you know it, I’m flying up, up and away, standing above the sea with arms stretching spread-eagled like Leonardo DiCaprio’s in the film Titanic. It was an unforgettable experience. For the wet and wild encounter, it’s best to wear a swimsuit under cover-ups and sun protection and bring a change of clothes.

On cruise day, the island’s main city of San Miguel morphs into cruise central. With the arrival of cruise passengers, expect downtown to get busy.

Diners head to the restaurants. Shoppers explore the scads of souvenir shops. The atmosphere turns electric as local musi-

LODGING

BLUE DIAMOND LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL With unparalleled views of the sea and surrounding jungle, this adults-only resort playground features Mayan cenote-themed suites and diversions like an 18-hole golf course, fitness center, spa and Champagne breakfasts or morning yoga.

Carretera Federal 307 Km. 298.8, Playa del Carmen $$$$ GRAND HYATT PLAYA DEL CARMEN RESORT The only international fullservice beachfront resort in Playa del Carmen’s Mamita’s Beach boasts plunge pool or swim-up pool options, a cenote spa, fitness center with lap pool, beachfront infinity pools and a variety of dining venues.

1a Ave. Esquina Calle 26, Playa del Carmen $$$$ THOMPSON BEACH HOUSE Experience an upscale bohemian vibe in relaxing Mexican surrounds at this luxury boutique beachfront property on the fabled Riviera Maya, a short walk from Playa del Carmen’s bustling Quinta Avenida.

Calle 12, Playa del Carmen $$$$

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cians play impromptu Mexican tunes and pedestrians stroll through the square and marina.

At Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park, cruise guests strut to lively salsa music at a dance class and later refresh by the crystal-clear waters in this classic Caribbean moment.

Families seek out the Buccaneer’s Bay area helmed by a pirate ship, where water sprays and animal slides await. Other families venture off to the natural wonders of Faro Celerain Eco Park, aka Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, the largest ecological reserve in Cozumel. Home to coastal dunes, mangroves, reefs, lagoons and its historic lighthouse museum, the favorite pastimes are snorkeling and relaxing.

For more sand and surf time, cruisers snag the all-inclusive day pass, Resort for a Day, to one of seven resorts in Cozumel. It’s the easiest way to eat, drink, play and relax on limited time. Spot sun worshippers sprawling on a beach with a refreshing drink, sampling seasonal menu items as their significant others sport snorkeling gear and dip into the azure sea while the kids find Nemo at one of the resort pools.

Other cruise passengers head along the Riviera Maya to the mainland city of Playa del Carmen, a charming beach town of shops, beach and more fun. The famous pedestrian boulevard dubbed Fifth Avenue runs parallel to the sea. Meanwhile, we join other outdoor adventure seekers donning wet suits for a spectacular cenote encounter. A massive cavern of fresh turquoise water drips in sharp skewers of stalagmites and stalactites through a secret subterranean river. We push farther and farther, deeper and deeper, swimming between tight crevices with only the deep snorkel sounds to keep us company during this underwater quest. Later, by a stunning beach, we join a group of snorkelers directing their masks into the coral reef, seeking colorful fish and turtles.

But it’s back at Cozumel where the world of Jacques Cousteau awaits. The renowned oceanographer once described Cozumel as the best place in the world for scuba diving, and it continues to rank among the world’s best.

Deepblu, a dive trip booking platform, organizes a quad of amazing dive tours for cruisers in Cozumel.

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UNDERWATER QUEST:

Snorkeling in a cenote in Riviera Maya

PHOTO: © MORENO NOVELLO | DREAMSTIME.COM

DINING

CASA MISSION Dining by candlelight at this colonial-style hacienda is a favorite pastime; the other is dining on the Mexican and seafood dishes with a musical trio performing Mexican classics.

Av. 55 between Av. Juárez and Calle 1 Sur, San Miguel de Cozumel $$–$$$ LA CHOZA COZUMEL A favorite hole-in-the-wall frequented by locals and tourists located near San Miguel’s central square, this popular restaurant is known for its traditional Mayan flavors and seafood.

Calle 10 Norte 216, San Miguel de Cozumel $$ EL MUELLECITO, CANTINA MARISQUERÍA This sports bar/brewery features sunset dining in a casual atmosphere, located on the upper level of this popular ocean strip.

Melgar & 11th Avenue, San Miguel de Cozumel $$–$$$

“If you always dream to see the underwater world, here we offer you the opportunity to dive in the most beautiful coral reef formations and crystal waters. Cozumel reefs offer you lots of colorful fish and amazing coral reef formations. You just need a couple of hours to be able to feel the best sensation of your life!” laughs Iris Chen, affiliate marketing manager, describing tours available with Deepblu, the fastest-growing social network for divers and ocean enthusiasts.

Ready to tackle the second-largest coral reef system on the planet, scuba divers off Punta Sur plunge into a marine biosphere paradise at Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, diving past schools of eagle rays, barracuda and toadfish swimming in clusters in a stunning chamber known as the Cathedral.

In Cozumel, the riveting scenes are bound to leave you breathless.

s ack p l ume y Coz variet in a astal for o of c unters m o enco ges, fr s a all an ruin g n y Ma charmi s and h town d n c bea iving a r o to d keling r sno good ed n n eve fashio old-rt fun. reso

lgbtq+

Out on the Water Set sail on the LGBTQ+-friendly seas. BY MARK CHESNUT

OCEAN ADVENTURE: Olivia Travel

PHOTO: © OLIVIA TRAVEL

LIFE ON THE OPEN SEAS has become an exceedingly welcoming experience for LGBTQ+ travelers as cruise operators of all sizes and specialties devise unique options around the globe.

To stay on top of all the possibilities, Tzell Travel Group, an international agency specializing in upscale and business travel, has a team dedicated to the LGBTQ+ cruise market.

Gregg Kaminsky, cofounder, R Family Vacations, a Tzell affiliate focusing on vacations for LGBTQ+ families and their friends, proves an industry guru when it comes to cruising for LGBTQ+ travelers.

“There are two types of LGBT cruises: groups and full-ship charters,” he explained. “Both are really amazing experiences.

It’s all about traveling with like-minded people with some great entertainment and programming. The two biggest companies are Atlantis Events — where I was VP for seven years — and Olivia Travel. Atlantis is for gay men, and Olivia is for the lesbian community.”

Those two companies — which include RSVP Vacations, an Atlantis-owned brand — may be the biggest players in the field, but alternatives continue to grow. R Family, for example,

will host an LGBTQ+ group cruise aboard the new Celebrity Edge, as well as an Out on the Seine itinerary aboard a Uniworld ship, both in 2019.

Additional options include GaySail, which specializes in sailing cruises for gay men in Europe, Latin America and Asia; and the Katarina Line, a Croatian small-ship cruise line offering seven-day Adriatic gay cruise packages.

Nearly every so-called mainstream cruise line also touts its own LGBTQ+-friendliness. So how can travelers make the right choice? Jeff Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel, the travel insurance company, offered advice: “Research your cruise line’s LGBTQ-friendliness,” he said. “Most companies will self-promote if this is the case because they likely want to advertise that they are welcoming to all travelers, but outreach to a cruise line’s representative or a travel agent would be a good first step to learn more.” He added travelers should also verify if the planned ports of call are LGBTQ+-friendly. “Even when cruising on a ship with the friendliest, most welcoming environment, ports of call in foreign countries can be a different matter,” he said.

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port update

Coming and Going Passengers at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal enjoy world-class facilities in a hip New York neighborhood. BY ERICH MARTIN WHEREAS AIRPORTS ARE A MEANS TO AN END — and often a business-related end — cruise terminals often represent the beginning of a vacation with a major focus on leaving behind the stressors of everyday life.

The result seems to be less of a focus on amenities important to business. On the NYCruise website, you will be hard-pressed to find any information on WiFi connectivity or other amenities someone might need to work. When you’re going on a cruise, you’re probably trying to disconnect.

The Brooklyn Terminal joins the Manhattan Terminal as the prominent cruise terminals in New York City. Across both, hundreds of thousands of passengers are served each year.

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal opened in April 2006. In that year the terminal served 40 different ships and received a number of accolades from cruise lines and cruise magazines, including Princess Cruises naming the terminal Cruise Terminal of the Year, and Porthole Cruise Magazine naming the terminal the Best New Homeport. In 2011 the terminal received a number of other Cruise Insight accolades including Most Efficient Terminal Operations, Best Turnaround Port Operations, Most Improved Port Facilities, Most Efficient Port Services and Best Destination Experience. With all of the recognition over its years of operation, it is easy to see why the Brooklyn Terminal is so popular among visitors.

The terminal features 200,000 square feet of flexible space, giving cruise lines the ability to organize themselves and provide passengers the chance to stretch their legs and relax before their cruise begins in earnest.

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is located in the Red Hook neighborhood of the city, packed with things to do for New Yorkers who don’t get to Brooklyn much and out-of-state visitors getting ready to embark on a cruise. The neighborhood backs up against the water, giving it a culture that fits in well with a cruise terminal.

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Guests who arrive for their cruise early, be it hours or days, find plenty to do in Red Hook to pass the time and learn about the local culture. Local food and drink, including whiskey and oysters, are prevalent along with a bustling local art scene. When you’re finished taking in the culture, the terminal is just a short trip away, for the real start of the journey.

Anyone who has been in more than a single airport knows each one is different. They are shaped by their cities, countries and the people who travel through them regularly. In this way, cruise terminals are similar. Even the Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals, part of the same port, are easily identifiable from the outset. Both are urban and play host to hundreds of cruise departures each year, but the newer Brooklyn Terminal is separated from the busiest parts of New York, even if only marginally. The terminal allows guests to experience the local New York and Brooklyn culture before whisking them away to relax on the high seas.

NAUTICAL DEPARTURE:

Queen Mary 2 ocean liner docked at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal PHOTO: © ZHUKOVSKY | DREAMSTIME.COM

BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL nycruise.com

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9–5 | CAPE TOWN

GT Members Section Captivating Cape Town

passed through in 2016 — its busiest year yet.

Arranging a car service in advance proves the best way to get into town. Services like Centurion Tours and Citi Hopper greet you at the terminal and run about 270–360 South African rand ($20–27), depending on the number of passengers in the vehicle.

Uber is also thriving in Cape Town, so consider hailing a ride with the app if your smartphone works in South Africa. The Uber X service costs R146–189 ($11–15), while the more luxurious Uber Black should cost about R249–324 ($18–25).

The 20- to 30-minute ride (depending on traffic) along the highway takes you past some of South Africa’s infamous townships. Although the center of Cape Town is home to fewer than 435,000, the metro area boasts a population of more than 3.7 million.

Many live in these makeshift towns consisting of informal housing, a remnant from the days of apartheid, prohibiting non-whites from living in the city center.

Cape Town, though, is quickly moving on from those unfortunate days. As you approach the downtown area, you’ll immediately recognize the faces of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu currently installed on the façade of the Civic Centre. On a clear day, you’ll also spot the flat-topped Table Mountain in the background.

Suitable hotels are scattered around the Central Business District and along the waterfront, but the 12-story Townhouse Hotel offers an excellent option for business travelers with its downtown location near City Hall and South Africa’s Houses of Parliament. It boasts seven meeting rooms that accommodate up to 425 people, with its largest holding 300.

While your hotel likely includes full breakfast, you might want to organize a morning meeting offsite. Taxis don’t roam Cape Town’s streets, however, so use Uber or ask the concierge to arrange transportation for you. Hemelhuijs, a chic café by Chef Jacques

he new GT app is This cultural crossroads provides endless opportunities for entertaining clients. BY MEREDITH BETHUNE

JOHANNESBURG MAY HAVE THE REPUTATION as South Africa’s business capital, but Cape Town still offers plenty to those traveling for work. The Mother City, as it is commonly known, with its spectacular waterfront setting crowned by the famous Table Mountain, hosts conferences that attract visitors from around the world.

You’ll likely arrive at Cape Town International Airport, the second-busiest in South Africa and the thirdbusiest on the entire continent. Located just 12 miles from the city center, it experienced tremendous growth since opening in 1954. More than 10 million passengers

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health

Healthy Living on the High Seas Your next cruise could change your life.

IF YOU ARE A TRAVELER WHO LIKES to cruise, try something different — a healthy living cruise. Many travelers associate cruise vacations with unhealthy activities such as excessive drinking, partying and all-you-can-eat buffets served around the clock. This has been the stereotype for cruising for many years. However, the tide is turning for cruises as many travelers now look for healthier alternatives.

More than 42 million Americans are considered conscientious healthy lifestyle consumers; they take care of themselves, eat well, stay active and seek new experiences and healthier vacations.

Health-conscious cruising is a fairly new concept, but the number of specially themed wellness cruises is on the rise, with nearly every premium and luxury cruise line launching its own wellness program.

Offerings include everything from spa treatments to meditation and yoga classes to healthy cuisine. Many cruise lines design sports-related shore excursions, from hiking to cycling to kite-surfing and mountain biking, with the healthy lifestyle traveler in mind.

On a traditional cruise, you travel with thousands of people, but many of the smaller ships promoting wellness accommodate fewer guests to meet passengers’ healthier lifestyle needs. They give the voyager more cabin space and individual activity space for personal discovery on board and continue the active lifestyle ashore. Smaller vessels can reach places

BY MARY B. GALLAGHER, RN, MSN, CCRN

the mega-ships cannot. They navigate to get active guests closer to the unspoiled reefs, hidden waterfalls and hiking trails not usually found near larger ports of call.

A new cruise line dedicated 100 percent to sports, fitness and wellness, Blue World Voyages plans to transform three 900-passenger ships into 350-passenger vessels, with healthy culinary programs, onboard fitness activities and shore excursions designed to appeal to a growing number of active mid-life travelers.

The ships will provide high-quality equipment with the supervision passengers need to achieve the ultimate adventure, whether it’s snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, golfing, taking photos or just sampling the best food and drink the locals serve. An app will help passengers find that special local cuisine or attraction. Since these ships tend to stay later in each port, you have more time to enjoy yourself on shore.

The top level will become a Spa Deck for relaxation and meditation. There, amenities include a therapy tub, spa pool, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and a solarium. For the ultimate sybaritic experience, 12 private Bali beds allow guests to sleep under the stars and wake up to a butler-served breakfast.

An entire deck devoted to sports and fitness features a spacious training gym; pro-style batting cages; golf, soccer and hockey simulators; spinning and TRX studios; yoga classes and more. Perhaps

the most eye-catching amenity: a platform that descends from the side of the ship to create a sea-water lap pool with a safety net to protect swimmers from the surrounding sea life.

Passengers also have access to a healthy juice bar.

For travelers who love golf, Blue World Voyages will offer two golf-only cruises yearly, devoting an entire deck to sports activities including two golf simulators, a putting green, pro shop and a teaching pro. This golfer’s voyage of a lifetime will travel to golfers’ paradises such as St. Andrews in Scotland and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. Passengers can bring their own golf clubs or use the ship’s equipment.

Dining is an important part of the overall cruise experience. Blue World Voyages will serve delicious and nutritious cuisine while focusing on good health. In each port, chefs will seek out the best local fresh ingredients for farm-to-table and sea-to-table menu choices. Executive Chef Tim Andriola, who worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the United States including Chez Panisse, Charlie Trotter’s and Tra Vigne, specializes in farm-to-table cuisine.

Whether you choose a cruise line offering wellness-themed voyages or a company devoted solely to an active, healthier lifestyle, make a healthier change with a getaway designed to better your mind, body and spirit.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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STAND UP FOR US ALL

Clinical trials bring us closer to the day when all cancer patients can become survivors.

Clinical trials are an essential path to progress and the brightest torch researchers have to light their way to better treatments. That’s because clinical trials allow researchers to test cutting-edge and potentially life-saving treatments while giving participants access to the best options available.

If you’re interested in exploring new treatment options that may also light the path to better treatments for other patients, a clinical trial may be the right option for you.

Speak with your doctor and visit StandUpToCancer.org/ClinicalTrials to learn more.

Sonequa Martin-Green, SU2C Ambassador Photo Credit: Matt Sayles Stand Up To Cancer is a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

U by Uniworld Uniworld offers boutique river cruises in destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia.

The cruise line’s 118-passenger MS River Ambassador (top left) entered service in 1993. Its sister ship, the 132-passenger MS River Baroness (bottom left) launched in 1997.

In 2017 both ships were refurbished for Uniworld’s sister line, U by Uniworld. The new brand, tailored for millennials, offers fewer price inclusions

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in comparison to standard Uniworld deals. Both riverboats now feature all-black hulls, a gym, main lounge, rooftop bar lounge, coffee bar, DJ booths and two dining venues (main full-service restaurant and a light menu at the rooftop lounge). Onboard activities include silent discos and bartending classes.

Both U by Uniworld ships launched on April 14, 2018. River Ambassador, now The A ship (top right), operates on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.

River Baroness, remade as The B ship (bottom right), cruises France’s River Seine.

PHOTOS: © U BY UNIWORLD

past & present

www.taiwan.net.tw

trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2018

THE TRAZEES p. 8 CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCES p. 22 HOW SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPES TRAVEL HABITS p. 28 BUCKET-LIST TRIPS TO TAKE NOW p. 34 BEST WEEKEND TRIP DESTINATIONS p. 40 WORLD'S MOST ICONIC TRAVEL SIGHTS p. 46

THE TRAZEE BOOK

www.taiwan.net.tw

from the editorial team ®

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL

INSPIRING TRAVEL WELCOME TO THE THIRD ANNUAL EDITION of The Trazee Book! Over the past 12 months, trazeetravel.com brought traveling millennials everything they need to explore the world in an informed way.

Now we are excited to bring the tips our readers crave to the printed page as we present the 2018 The Trazee Book.

For some readers, the Trazee Travel web publication broadens horizons about what kind of travel is possible.

For others, the in-depth articles about ANIMAL KINGDOM: LGBTQ+-friendly destinations, guides Erich Martin exploring Rafiki's Planet Watch at Walt Disney World explaining how to spend a day in PHOTO: © ERICH MARTIN far-flung cities on a budget and niche product overviews make travel simpler and more convenient than ever.

As someone who has always had an interest in travel, reading the tips, tricks and other recommendations on the website made me realize global travel is possible if you know where to look for information. The book you hold in your hand will open your eyes to millennial travel as it stands now and where it is going in the future. Inside these pages we recap the 2018 The Trazees awards, go in-depth on cultural immersion experiences, examine how bloggers view social media in the travel landscape, look at some bucket list-worthy trips you should take now, and much more.

The Trazee Book brings the passion behind trazeetravel.com to life and represents a physical manifestation of our staff’s love of travel. As millennials, we know better than anyone what people in our age group are looking for. And that’s one of the reasons we recently redesigned the look of trazeetravel.com to fit the habits, needs and wants of this generation. Be sure to check out the new look!

As a recent addition to the trazeetravel.com team as assistant editor, I am incredibly proud to help bring The Trazee Book to life. Take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy the millennial-relayed advice, compiled by travelers like you.

kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor ANGELIQUE PLATAS angelique.platas@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor ERICH J. MARTIN erich.martin@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Content Producer DEBRA BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Editor at Large HOLLY RIDDLE holly.riddle@globaltravelerusa.com

ART Art Director TRACEY CULLEN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor VANCE PICCIN

WRITERS KRISTY ALPERT JACK GUY CARLEY WADE

ete bios, For compl a.com travelerus al ob gl visit

CIRCULATION Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD, TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI Research Consultant SHARON STERNE ADVISORY BOARD Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE, COO MICHAEL KIELY, President CARLOS CAPPUCCIO, Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD, Deputy Vice President Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON, Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN DOHERTY, Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN, Vice President Special Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK, Secretary MARK LANE, Research

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POSTMASTER: Please send changes of address to Global Traveler, 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067

TRAZEE TRAVEL 2018 trazeetravel.com

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JOURNEY ON! IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME you to our third The Trazee Book! We are elated to continue to provide millennial readers this fabulous print edition of our Trazee Travel content. Recently re-launched with a brand-new design, the trazeetravel.com website continues to highlight the hottest topics and trends in travel.

This edition of The Trazee Book focuses on topics important to millennials, such as cultural immersion and bucket-list trips, and discusses how social media shapes our travel habits.

Most millennials use social media as a tool to connect, and I am no exception.

I’m fortunate to have friends and family all over the country and a few in other parts of the world. This digital connection allows me to keep in touch and SEIZE THE DAY: Stephanie Makowski finding time to enjoy the beach share my experiences with them through PHOTO: © STEPHANIE MAKOWSKI photos. Trazeetravel.com offers an inspirational reference for my circle. The content is easily shared and sparks daydreams of my next journey with those I love.

Speaking of traveling with those you love … Bucket-list trips are of great importance to me. Having your closest friends in different geographic regions means you must find time to make memories with them. My recommendation: Visit trazeetravel.com and review this edition of The Trazee Book, select a trip you have always wanted to take, choose a friend or two and hit the road!

As millennials, we think there is always another day or other opportunities to watch that sunrise, but it is important to remember to relish these years of fresh starts, firsts and chances to make memories. Take the vacation day and post the out-of-office email message.

See all life has to offer with those who matter to you. As the poet Dylan Thomas once said, “Do not go gentle into that good night.”

I cannot wait to see what our generation of millennials accomplishes down the road.

To better prepare for our future, we must nurture our present with new challenges, dreams and travels.

Wherever your next journey takes you, I’m certain The Trazee Book will inspire your choice of destination. Cheers!

® ®

ADVERTISING Publisher/CEO FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER tel 267 364 5811 ext 200 | fran.gallagher@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Vice President RICHARD T. EVANS tel 267 364 5811 ext 203 | dick.evans@globaltravelerusa.com Executive Vice President, Associate Publisher CARLY ALLEN tel 267 495 6287 | carly.allen@globaltravelerusa.com Director of Sales MARIE EDWARDS tel 610 742 4783 | marie.edwards@globaltravelerusa.com Account Executive STEPHANIE MAKOWSKI tel 267 364 5811 ext. 211 | stephanie.makowski@globaltravelerusa.com Advertising Coordinator ANDREW RISCH tel 267 364 5811 ext 201 | andrew.risch@globaltravelerusa.com Sales Planner YASSER OGANDO tel 267 884 1650 | yasser.ogando@globaltravelerusa.com Intern AUDREY LEE intern@globaltravelerusa.com

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CORPORATE OFFICE 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067 tel 267 364 5811 | fax 267 364 5796

contents

Trazee Travel 2018 34

8 ¡Olé!

Trazee Travel cheers on the 2018 winners of The Trazees.

34 Why Wait?

Now is the time to take the bucket-list trip of your dreams.

22 Through New Eyes Explore destinations from different perspectives with a cultural immersion experience.

40 Great Getaways Discover the best weekend jaunts to suit your style.

28 Well-Connected Wanderlust How does social media shape the travel habits of millennials?

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46 Wonders to Behold Iconic landmarks across the globe continue to fascinate visitors.

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FX E X P R E S S

ON THE COVER

P U B L I C AT I O N S , I N C .

trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2018

THE TRAZEES p. 8 CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCES p. 22 HOW SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPES TRAVEL HABITS p. 28 BUCKET-LIST TRIPS TO TAKE NOW p. 34 BEST WEEKEND TRIP DESTINATIONS p. 40 WORLD'S MOST ICONIC TRAVEL SIGHTS p. 46

THE TRAZEE BOOK COVER PHOTO: © MYKOLA KRAVCHENKO | DREAMSTIME.COM

Global Traveler and Globility are registered trademarks of Global Traveler magazine and of its parent company, FXExpress Publications, Inc. Global Traveler is not affiliated with any commercial interests within the travel industry. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor can the publisher accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited articles, photographs or other material.

AAM member 04-0361-2. AAM audited circulation 111,517. ISSN 1551-7187 ©2017 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

© GLENN NAGEL | DREAMSTIME.COM

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PHOTOS: © JOE ORMONDE | DREAMSTIME.COM, © JOE SOHM | DREAMSTIME.COM, © WITHLOCALS.COM,

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An

urban resort in Los Angeles offering luxurious accommodations, California French dining, newly redesigned bar with live entertainment, spacious meeting rooms, complimentary high-speed internet, spa and salon services, fitness center and more.

SOFITEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS | 8555 BEVERLY BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 | 310-278-5444 WWW.SOFITEL-LOS-ANGELES.COM

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¡Olé!

Trazee Travel cheers on the 2018 winners of The Trazees.

BY KIMBERLY KROL PHOTOS BY RIGHT LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

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IN AUGUST THE FXEXPRESS PUBLICATIONS, INC. team took to San Diego, California, to attend the annual Global Business Travel Association convention on behalf of our family of brands, including Global Traveler, Trazee Travel, WhereverFamily and FX Excursions. As GBTA celebrated 50 years, we celebrated the fourth annual The Trazees, hosting an award ceremony and celebration for the winners and for our esteemed clients and friends.

Overlooking the city of San Diego and savoring impressive sunset views, the University Club Atop Symphony Towers hosted the night’s festivities and helped us honor those deemed the biggest names in the world of millennial travel. For the fourth year, GT’s sister web publication, trazeetravel.com, awarded the best and brightest in travel according

to the all-important 18–35 travel segment. Acceptees from a number of renowned travel brands were in attendance to represent their companies.

Trazee Travel is a one-stop resource for millennial travelers with news, tips, reviews and more updated daily. Ballots ran online December 2017–March 2018. To commemorate the web publication’s fourth anniversary, trazeetravel.com unveiled a fresh new website design in October but with the same mission: to deliver everything travel, from A to Z. As one of the night’s sponsors, Ontario International Airport, in Ontario, California, awarded one lucky winner two round-trip, premium-economy tickets on China Airlines to Asia. The night’s other sponsors included the United Explorer Card by Chase, United Airlines and Turkish Airlines Corpo-

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rate Club. Mert Dorman, senior vice president, corporate marketing and distribution channels, Turkish Airlines, accepted the night's Publisher's Recognition Award for exemplary service to business travelers.

To bring a bit of Mexican flavor to the night’s festivities, Mariachi San Marcos, featuring band leader José Arellano, played mariachi music throughout the night, with guests dancing — and singing — along. According to many, Mariachi San Marcos was one of the best and most authentic mariachi bands they saw during their time in San Diego.

“The stunning views across the city of San Diego served as the perfect backdrop to celebrate another successful GBTA and the

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fourth annual The Trazees event. We thank the University Club Atop Symphony Towers for helping us honor the night’s winners. Each year, trazeetravel.com delivers all the need-to-know information for travelers ages 18–35, and we were pleased, once again, to acknowledge the travel providers that, year after year, deliver wonderful travel experiences to this demographic. It was a wonderful evening with the industry’s best and brightest,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc. The 50th Global Business Travel Association convention welcomed more than 7,000 travel professionals from all over the globe. The 51st convention will take place next year in Chicago.

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GRAND GATHERING:

1. Guests gathering at the University Club Atop Symphony Towers 2. Awards ready to be distributed 3.Sponsor poster 4. Sponsor poster 5. Mariachi San Marcos with band leader José Arellano 6. Turkish Airlines’ Flying Chef 7. Atif Elkadi, deputy executive officer, Ontario International Airport 8. Frank Reilly, member, Global Traveler Globility Board; Eric Chiang, member, Global Traveler Globility Board 9. Eugenia Fregoso, national account manager, Grupo Posadas and Sara Jurado, manager, international consortia and crew, sales, Grupo Posadas, celebrating her raffle win 10. Joanna Baskin, corporate business travel and consortia director, Posadas, joins Mariachi San Marcus for a song.

11. Laura Gallagher collecting business cards for the Ontario International Airport ticket raffle 12: Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 13. Guests celebrating with a toast

TRAZEE TRAVEL 2018 trazeetravel.com

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1. Marlene Sanau, vice president, sales, North America, South African Airways

4. Ellen Hardaway, senior marketing manager, Chase Bank Credit Cards

7. Edward Malone, area director, North America, Aruba Tourism Authority

9. Mariela Pesci, senior key account manager, Meliรก Hotels & Resorts

2. Rafael Lizarraga, vice president, business travel, Grupo Posadas

5. Steven Chang, manager, passenger section, EVA Air

8. Michael Covey; managing director, program, premier and air redemption; United Airlines

10. Deborah Mahoney, regional manager, Qatar Airways; Cassandra Kerr, manager, global corporate key accounts, Qatar Airways

3. Caroline Borawski, head of sales, Norwegian Air

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6. Daniel Florence, chief operating officer, Sixt

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2. Anthony Potts, global corporate sales manager, oneworld 3. Pamela Simmons, manager, concessions marketing, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 4. Jeff Etherington, director of sales, community marketing, Alaska Airlines

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1. Kyle Mabry, vice president, managing director, Western division, American Airlines

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5. Marcelo William Bottini, general manager, USA and Canada, Aerolineas Argentinas; Ricardo Fernandez, regional sales manager, Aerolineas Argentinas 6. Carlos Paneiro, vice president, sales, North & Central America, TAP Air Portugal 7. Andre van den Ber, chief operating officer, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Tanja Dik, director, consumer products and services, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

8. Brad Shih, director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau 9. Mert Dorman, senior vice president, corporate marketing and distribution channels, Turkish Airlines, flanked by Turkish Airlines’ flight attendants and Flying Chef

1. Benedetto Mencaroni Poiani, regional manager, North America, Alitalia; Dragan Drobnjak, sales manager USA, Aeroflot Russian Airlines; Marcelo William Bottini, general manager USA and Canada, Aerolineas Argentinas; Angus Wheeler, sales director, North America, Aeroflot Russian Airlines 2. The Grupo Posadas team celebrates its win with Carly Allen, associate publisher and executive vice president, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 3. The Millennium Hotels and Resorts team joins the festivities.

4. Sara Jurado, manager, international consortia and crew, sales, Posadas; Atif Elkadi, deputy executive officer, Ontario International Airport

America, TAP Air Portugal; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Jessica O’Keefe, director of sales, Egyptair

5. Ellen Hardaway, senior marketing manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Bridget Blake, marketing manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Michael Covey, managing director, program, premier and air redemption, United Airlines

7. The Alaska Airlines team celebrating their wins

6. Carlos Paneiro, vice president, sales, North & Central America, TAP Air Portugal; Ana Paula Coelho, corporate sales manager, TAP Air Portugal; Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, North

9. Angelique Platas, associate editor, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Kimberly Krol, editor in chief, FXExpress Publications, Inc.

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8. Amy Sarto, head of marketing communications and development, Singapore Airlines; Pablo Alberti, global account manager, Singapore Airlines

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE te l C h a in Favo ri te Ho E as t e dl id M e in th Address Hotels + Resorts

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport PHOTO: © NADEZDA MURMAKOVA | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE: American Airlines PHOTO: © AMERICAN AIRLINES

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA: Alaska Airlines PHOTO: © ALASKA AIRLINES

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE 1. American Airlines 2. United Airlines 3. Asiana Airlines 4. Delta Air Lines 5. Qatar Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE 1. aa.com 2. united.com 3. delta.com 4. jetblue.com 5. southwest.com

FAVORITE BUDGET AIRLINE 1. Norwegian 2. WOW air 3. JetBlue 4. Southwest Airlines 5. Frontier

FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE 1. oneworld 2. Star Alliance 3. SkyTeam

FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM 1. United MileagePlus 2. American Airlines AAdvantage 3. Delta SkyMiles 4. Alaska Mileage Plan 5. JetBlue TrueBlue

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN SOUTH AMERICA 1. Aerolineas Argentinas 2. LATAM Airlines 3. Avianca 4. Aeromexico 5. Copa Airlines

FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE 1. Airbus A380 2. Airbus A350 3. Boeing 777 4. Boeing 787 5. Airbus A330

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FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Alaska Airlines 2. Delta Air Lines 3. United Airlines 4. American Airlines 5. JetBlue

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE 1. TAP Air Portugal 2. Brussels Airlines 3. Austrian Airlines 4. Turkish Airlines 5. British Airways

WINNERS’ CIRCLE te l C h a in Favo ri te Ho E as t e dl id M e in th Address Hotels + Resorts

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN ASIA: Incheon Airport PHOTO: © TEA | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA 1. South African Airways 2. Ethiopian Airlines 3. Air Seychelles 4. Kenya Airways 5. Air Namibia

FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE 1. Alaska Airlines 2. Lufthansa 3. TAP Air Portugal 4. American Airlines 5. Delta Air Lines

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN ASIA 1. Incheon Airport 2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport 4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan 5. Osaka Kansai International Airport

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Qatar Airways 2. Emirates 3. Royal Air Maroc 4. Saudi Arabian Airlines 5. EL AL Israel Airlines

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD 1. Incheon Airport 2. Munich Airport 3. Singapore Changi Airport 4. Hamad International Airport, Doha 5. San Francisco International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN EUROPE 1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 2. Munich Airport 3. Vienna International Airport 4. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 5. Rome Fiumicino Airport

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN ASIA 1. EVA Air 2. Asiana Airlines 3. China Airlines 4. Korean Air 5. Hong Kong Airlines

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 3. Denver International Airport 4. San Francisco International Airport 5. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Hamad International Airport, Doha 2. Dubai International Airport 3. Abu Dhabi International Airport 4. Bahrain International Airport 5. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina

TRAZEE TRAVEL 2018 trazeetravel.com

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE te l C h a in Favo ri te Ho E as t e dl id M e in th Address Hotels + Resorts

FAVORITE LIFESTYLE HOTEL CHAIN: Moxy PHOTO: © MOXY

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL:

ME Miami

PHOTO: © ME MIAMI

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL: Element New York Times Square West PHOTO: © ELEMENT NEW YORK TIMES SQUARE WEST

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPS AND DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN THE MIDDLE EAST Dubai Duty Free PHOTO: © ANTONELLA865 | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE AIRPORT DINING 1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Hamad International Airport, Doha 4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol FAVORITE AIRPORT SHOPPING 1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 2. Denver International Airport 3. Dubai International Airport 4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 5. Hamad International Airport, Doha FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPS 1. Dubai Duty Free 2. Hamad International Airport, Doha 3. Incheon Airport 4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 5. Hong Kong International Airport

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FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Dubai Duty Free 2. Hamad International Airport, Doha 3. Abu Dhabi International Airport 4. Bahrain Duty Free 5. Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL 1. Element New York Times Square West 2. Hotel Zaza, Dallas 3. Moxy New Orleans 4. COQ, Paris 5. Aloft Brooklyn FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Aloft Hotels & Resorts 2. Kimpton Hotels 3. Canopy by Hilton 4. Hyatt Place 5. EVEN Hotels

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL 1. ME Miami 2. Moxy London Excel 3. INNSIDE New York NoMad 4. Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle 5. The Logan, Philadelphia FAVORITE BOUTIQUE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts 2. Canopy by Hilton 3. Curio by Hilton 4. Kimpton Hotels 5. EVEN Hotels FAVORITE LIFESTYLE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Moxy 2. W Hotels 3. Indigo Hotels 4. Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts 5. Canopy by Hilton

WINNERS’ CIRCLE te l C h a in Favo ri te Ho E as t e dl id M e in th Address Hotels + Resorts

FAVORITE COUNTRY:

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND BlueSmart

Ireland PHOTO: © JOE ORMONDE | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE Royal Caribbean International

FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE 1. andaz.hyatt.com 2. intercontinental.com 3. marriott.com 4. westin.com 5. hilton.com

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO 1. Fiesta Americana 2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 3. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts 4. Westin Hotels & Resorts 5. W Hotels

FAVORITE COUNTRY 1. Ireland 2. Mexico 3. Spain 4. South Africa 5. United Kingdom

FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD 1. Radisson Rewards 2. IHG Rewards Club 3. Hilton Honors 4. Starwood Preferred Guest 5. Marriott Rewards

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Address Hotels + Resorts 2. The Ritz-Carlton 3. Marriott International 4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 5. Jumeirah International

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY 1. Seoul 2. Bangkok 3. Singapore 4. Dublin 5. Hong Kong

FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL 1. Element Hotels 2. Sofitel Hotels & Resorts 3. Hilton Hotels 4. Marriott International 5. Starwood Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION 1. Aruba 2. Greece 3. Napa Valley, Calif.

4. Turks & Caicos 5. St. Lucia

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA 1. Riu Hotels & Resorts 2. Westin Hotels & Resorts 3. Sheraton Latin America 4. Sol Meliá 5. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts

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Enjoy this glimpse of recent Cardmember experiences. Visit InsideAccess.com to view current offers for select Chase Cardmembers.

A HANDS-ON, INDIAN-INPSIRED DINNER AT PONDICHERI IN HOUSTON WITH CHEF ANITA JAISINGHANI! Cardmembers had an opportunity to explore the flavors of India during this special evening at Pondicheri hosted by chef and owner Anita Jaisinghani. During a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, guests tasted an array of Indian cuisine and participated in an interactive culinary demonstration while exploring Indian spices. Following the reception, guests were seated for a four-course, wine-paired dinner. Chef Anita offered each guest a selection of recipes from the evening with spices to use at home.

AN EVENING WITH JUSTIN TURNER, LOS ANGELES’ THIRD BASEMAN! Cardmembers had the opportunity to watch Los Angeles take on Houston during a Sunday afternoon home game, followed by a private reception and dinner with starting third baseman Justin Turner at The Palm Restaurant. During a question and answer session, guests asked Justin about his career on and off the field.

Before departing each guest posed for a photo with Justin and received a signed baseball.

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PRIVATE DINNER WITH CHEF JEREMIAH LANGHORNE, JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BEST CHEF MID-ATLANTIC! Awarded Best Chef Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation, Chef Jeremiah Langhorne hosted a memorable evening with a specially curated, summer-inspired menu at The Dabney, his Washington, D.C., restaurant. Cardmembers began with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception featuring creative seasonal libations. All were then seated for a four-course, wine-paired dinner featuring modern American food with regional and historic influences. Throughout the evening guests had an opportunity to watch Chef Langhorne and The Dabney team at work through the open kitchen centered around a wood-burning hearth.

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FAVORITE CRUISE LINE:

Address Hotels + Resorts

Norwegian Cruise Line

PHOTO: © NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION 1. Taiwan 2. India 3. Thailand 4. New Zealand 5. Austria

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY 1. Asheville, N.C. 2. Chicago 3. Rome 4. Paris 5. New York City

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND 1. Samsonite 2. Swiss Army 3. Tumi 4. Delsey 5. TravelPro

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE 1. Norwegian Cruise Line 2. Royal Caribbean International 3. Carnival Cruises 4. U by Uniworld 5. Princess Cruises

FAVORITE EVENT AROUND THE GLOBE 1. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, N.M. 2. Rio de Janeiro Carnival 3. Oktoberfest 4. Full Moon Parties 5. South by Southwest

FRIENDLIEST CITY 1. Atlanta 2. Copenhagen 3. Chicago 4. Nashville, Tenn.

5. Denver, Colo.

FAVORITE CREDIT CARD 1. United Explorer Card by Chase 2. American Express Green 3. American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles 4. Venture Card from Capital One 5. Chase Ink

FAVORITE RIDE SHARE 1. Lyft 2. Juno 3. Uber 4. Curb 5. Via

FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION 1. Bangkok 2. Nashville, Tenn.

3. Barcelona 4. London 5. Las Vegas

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FAVORITE CAR RENTAL COMPANY 1. Sixt 2. Hertz 3. National Car Rental 4. Avis 5. Enterprise

2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

Best Beaches ___________________________________________________________________________

Best River Cruise Line __________________________________________________________________

Best Historical Attractions, Domestic __________________________________________________

Best Cruise Line Entertainment _______________________________________________________

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PLEASE MAIL THE COMPLETED SURVEY TO Kevin Ryan, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, 1800 JFK Blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Or fax to 215 545 4810 Or vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/leisureballot Name Street Address City

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Through New Eyes Explore destinations from a different perspective with a cultural immersion experience.

FACE TO FACE:

Local people help a tourist apply thanaka (a cosmetic paste made from ground bark) in Mandalay, Myanmar.

PHOTO: © CHOKCHAI SUKSATAVONRAPHAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

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BY JACK GUY

THESE DAYS IT’S TRENDY TO BE A TRAVELER rather than a tourist. People are looking for meaningful experiences that let them get under the skin of a destination, rather than a whirlwind bus tour that ticks off the major sights.

Cultural immersion experiences play a big role in this ‘The only true voyage of discovery … would be trend, and the term covers a huge range of experiential travel options allowing you to surround yourself with not to visit strange lands but to possess other local culture. eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes For those with time to spare, popular cultural immersion experiences include volunteer or study of another, of a hundred others, to behold the abroad programs, where you can live alongside locals hundred universes that each of them beholds …’ while contributing to a project or learning a new skill.

Language programs are particularly common, and the Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time longer you stay, the more you learn.

That said, you don’t have to spend weeks or months abroad to immerse yourself in a different culture; you can also do it on a holiday, a daytrip or even over just a few hours.

The idea is to share an authentic experience with local people, whether you end up teach-

trazeetravel.com TRAZEE TRAVEL 2018

ing English to Korean students for a year or learning how to cook traditional Mexican meals with a local chef in an afternoon.

Over the last few years, social media increasingly influenced travel trends. With just a few clicks you can find out exactly where that amazing beach is, which hotel your friends stayed at and a whole lot more, depending on how much they like to share. As a result, travel experiences have become a lot more visible and, dare we say, less unique.

Taking their own version of the most famous Instagram shots in a destination is the opposite of what certain travelers believe defines travel. They appreciate a more personal, unique experience that can’t be reduced to a series of photos in famous spots. These travelers drive demand for cultural immersion experiences. It might sound slightly elitist to expect every trip to be so personal and unique, but one can’t deny it’s a trend in an age where personalization rules.

However, cultural immersion goes beyond simply making sure

you’ve got some unique photos to show off. It’s a different kind of travel that means not just being somewhere new but seeing things from an altered perspective. When you take the time to see the world through someone else’s eyes, it’s impossible not to feel more empathy for them and appreciate the different context of their lives. As a result, it’s a great way of breaking down stereotypes and improving cultural sensitivity.

There are also myriad benefits in terms of personal growth, which is why cultural immersion experiences are so popular among young students. Working or studying abroad for an extended time forces them away from their comfort zones and into new situations that help to build confidence and resilience. Of course, this applies to any age group.

If you’re interested in learning a new language, cultural immersion is the way to go. Communicating in your target language every day — and perhaps living with a local host family — helps you make rapid progress compared to trying to pick something up

WARM WELCOME:

Local experience in Visina fishing village in Romania PHOTO: © ELENAPHOTOS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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ZOOMING IN:

Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City PHOTO: © WITHLOCALS.COM

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during a one-hour class after work. After all, when you are fully immersed, you have to learn if you want to communicate.

Having language skills brings further benefits in terms of establishing meaningful relationships with others and encourages further cultural appreciation. Plus, cultural immersion is a two-way street, so in talking to your new friends you will be able to enlighten them about your own culture. Not only will locals potentially learn about people from around the world, they should also benefit economically if you are careful to travel in an ethical way.

You should consider a number of things before you travel to get the most out of a cultural immersion experience. Making a list of goals you want to achieve through your experience — whether it’s learning to salsa or simply eating a specific delicacy with a local — helps to make your journey a conscious one. At the same time, read up on local customs so you can be culturally sensitive.

In general terms, a good cultural immersion experience is about authenticity, not appropriation. Going to a community

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festival taking place even if visitors aren’t there is completely different from watching a staged performance of music and dance put on entirely for tourists’ benefit. Food, festivals, clothes and holidays are all likely distorted when tourists are around. It might be difficult to find something completely authentic, but living in a place and hanging out with locals makes it much more likely.

Failing that, choose a reputable tour operator if you’re short on time.

When you’re on your trip, it’s important to see things as they are, not as you thought the culture would be. You are there to see the reality of local life, not a tourist-friendly version. It might not all be glamorous, but that’s the point. You’re experiencing the everyday and appreciating subtle cultural nuances by getting into the headspace of a local. No one parties every day, and it’s unlikely ordinary life will conform to your stereotyped preconceptions of a place.

If you want to find a cultural immersion experience, there are a number of ways to do so. Think about niche travel agents who put together bespoke packages for individual clients, or

go one step further and use an agency like Trufflepig, which hires “non-guide” guides to show travelers around a destination of their choice. You might find yourself on a food tour of Rome with a local chef or a vineyard tour of Mendoza with a master sommelier. Instead of traveling with a tour guide who does a different itinerary every day, you’ll be spending time with people who really know their stuff.

If you don’t want to book a whole trip, try a portal like Withlocals, which lists local guides in a selection of cities you can browse and book for a cultural immersion experience.

Another option is Eat With, which focuses on culinary experiences like sharing a meal with locals in their homes. You’ll also find a huge selection of experiences on Go Overseas, a company that provides a searchable database even though it doesn’t run any of

TAP INTO CULTURE:

Bike tour in Valencia, Spain (above); and a tour at Juan Bousquet Vineyard in Argentina (left) PHOTOS: © WITHLOCALS .COM, © SCOTT BIALES | DREAMSTIME.COM

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LOCAL FLAVOR:

Ramsay Food Tour in Bangkok (above), and Portuguese home dinner in Lisbon (right) PHOTOS: © WITHLOCALS .COM

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the trips itself. Or look for local cooking and language schools where you can pick up a new skill.

While all of these businesses can place you in situations of cultural immersion, the result really depends on you and how open you are to new experiences. To truly benefit, you will need to engage with the culture from a new perspective. For example, booking a language course in Brazil doesn’t automatically mean you will come home fluent in Portuguese. To get the most out of your experience, you will have to do homework and actively participate in the language-learning process.

It’s as much about a change of mentality as anything else, so try it on your next trip. Leave the tourist restaurants behind in favor of a local meal, and you might come away with a full belly, a new friend and a different perspective on your destination of choice.

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Well-Connected Wanderlust

BEFORE THE DAWN OF SOCIAL MEDIA, travelers received ideas for their vacations and adventures directly from travel agencies. Upon the desk of a local agent, visitors could expect to find pamphlets and brochures extolling the virtues of faraway and exotic lands. On the walls hung posters showcasing beautiful vistas. Once the agent and traveler decided on a destination, the planning began.

Technically, the role of travel agents remains the same in 2018 as it was in the age before social media and the internet as a whole took over. Agents still know the market inside and out. They can still give customers ideas on destinations as well as provide booking assistance.

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A constant connection to social media means prospective travelers will always have access to new ideas and exciting adventures.

Millennials make up one of the chief adopting groups using social media for travel inspiration. Roughly aged 18–35, this group largely came into maturity when social media was taking off. Websites like MySpace began to connect people as early as 2003. Before long, Facebook and other applications like Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter changed the way groups communicate. Not surprising, then, that social media has come to play an important role in how, why and where millennials travel.

PHOTO: Š ROSSHELEN | DREAMSTIME.COM

How does social media shape the travel habits of millennials? BY ERICH MARTIN

where the tour group gets lots of free time to explore destinations, to “Comfort,” slower-paced tours offering more luxury accommodations.

According to Bailey, millennials are often on the lookout for adventure travel as well as travel experiences that will have a lasting impact.

As a result, millennials often opt for the cheaper option with Intrepid as a way to really get to know the destination and the locals.

“In 2017, Intrepid Travel saw a 22 percent increase in millennial travelers globally, as an increasing number of this generation is looking to our company for a sustainable, experience-rich holiday.

Often-misunderstood destinations, like Turkey and Africa, nearly doubled in bookings from 2016 to 2017, highlighting this generation’s desire to look beyond headlines and make judgments for themselves,” Bailey said.

In order to connect with millennials and other travelers, Intrepid Travel makes a point of staying active and engaged on Facebook and Instagram. The brand focuses on storytelling to evoke feelings of inspiration and wanderlust in the travelers, Bailey said. As a result,

PHOTO: © AHIDDEN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Scrolling through Facebook walls, Twitter feeds and Instagram timelines always presents the user with a bevy of potential destinations. Bloggers and friends just wrapping up a trip to Nicaragua, South Africa or Hong Kong readily drown out the posts detailing the monotony of daily life. It is easy to come across a destination or experience you want to add to your bucket list.

“When booking a trip, we find millennial travelers often reference a certain destination or locale they’ve seen on social media and want included in their next adventure,” said Megan Bailey, director of sales and customer experience, Intrepid Travel, North America.

In a recent social media post, Intrepid Travel accounts highlighted Chefchaouen by posting a video of the Moroccan city. Following the video, social media users who follow Intrepid Travel’s feeds inundated the tour operator with questions about which trips and tours went to the specific city, Bailey said.

Intrepid Travel operates small group tours all over the planet.

These tours come in a variety of levels, ranging from “Basix,”

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MOROCCAN MAGIC:

Intrepid Travel social media posts highlighted Chefchaouen as a city to visit.

PHOTOS: © INTREPID TRAVEL

users begin to interact directly with the brand through social media.

“The customer journey for the millennial traveler often starts on social media, where other demographics are more likely to land on Intrepid Travel’s homepage through Google search or other platforms,” Bailey said.

The customer journey is not the only thing to begin on social media. Inspiration and information-gathering also largely happen on social media.

“Instead of flipping through a guidebook or reading top destination round-ups online, millennials actively seek crowdsourced information through real-time conversations on social media channels,” Bailey said. For many millennials who are inspired this way, specific destinations and

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Kydd will use social media to crowdsource information, however.

“I love checking out photos and information about places I am heading and will check out a hostel’s social media presence, typically to see the amenities and menus,” she said.

“I still travel the way I want to regardless of social media. I’m not constantly taking selfies or going out on literal limbs to get amazing pictures for social media.” For her, the focus is much more on enjoying and absorbing the experience.

“I have always been a picture-taker, but even with social media, and as a blogger, I do not stop everything to get that shot,” Kydd said.

The typical traveler might not think the same way. A simple scroll through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest will reveal photos of selfies by waterfalls, poses in front of mountains and, more likely than not, some dangerous positioning all in the name of a social media presence.

“I think people do get inspired through social media posts, and the great thing about widespread dissemination of the unknown is that people can increase their awareness of the unknown,” Kydd said.

“When social media is used for true inspiration and sharing, it is a beautiful and powerful tool. When it is used for one-upmanship and narcissism, it’s gross. Traveling the world is an amazing privilege that most humans don’t get, so treat every destination with the attention and respect it deserves, and experience the world as much as you can,” Kydd said, urging travelers to post on social media after their trip is complete.

PHOTO: © VITALIY MATEHA | DREAMSTIME.COM

experiences are not set in stone. Those travelers simply want a culturally immersive trip, Bailey explained. Although social media inspires travelers to go to destinations they never thought to travel to before, it fails to instill the need for travel to specific destinations.

For those who make travel blogging their livelihood, social media represents an entirely different component of traveling and staying connected with an audience.

Emily Kydd, 33, has blogged about her travels since she was 21. In the past two years, she has taken to blogging about her adventures more formally through her website, seehertravel.com. In that time, Kydd garnered a sizeable following on social media, with more than 8,000 Twitter followers; nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram; and nearly 1,000 Facebook followers.

“I would say social media is important, as a blogger, as it is the easiest way to keep folks up to date without writing a full blog,” Kydd said.

Further, Kydd argues, an over-hyping of social media can make travelers portray their adventures in ways that never really happened, noting picture-perfect setups and “modelesque” images do not capture what travel is truly about.

As a travel blogger, Kydd’s audience might expect her to find all of her destinations on her own. Her pictures are the ones to inspire others to travel to remote destinations, one might think. While Kydd is not immune to the siren song of travel social media, she has only ever been affirmatively swayed to a particular destination once: a beer spa in Iceland.

Why Wait?

Now is the time to take the bucket-list trip of your dreams. BY KRISTY ALPERT EVERYONE HAS ONE. THAT DREAM list of destinations you want to see with your own two eyes, those experiences you want to savor with your own five senses, and those exotic flavors you want to taste with your own tongue before life passes you by. Whether you call yours a bucket list, a retirement list or prefer to keep your list unnamed, having a list of dream travel experiences inspires and motivates you throughout your

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day-to-day life. It’s much more interesting to file reports for work while dreaming of sipping mint tea in the souks of Marrakech, and time flies during long commutes to the office while imagining yourself test driving a Maserati along the winding roads of the Italian Alps.

Unfortunately, all too often these dream trips rarely become realities. A recent study commissioned by luggage provider Victorinox found 76 percent of Americans expressed a strong desire to travel more frequently than they were currently, but a lack of finances or simply feeling unprepared and ill-equipped prevented many from taking their first steps. Although money can be a limiting factor to travel, only in extreme cases will it truly prove a hindrance to taking a dream trip. Waiting until you have enough money, enough time or enough [fill in the blank] often results in a missed opportunity when it comes to travel.

Having the physical stamina to trek through the Impenetra-

MOROCCAN MARKET:

Marrakech souk PHOTO: Š DANIEL M. CISILINO | DREAMSTIME.COM

ble Forest in Uganda to see the silverback gorillas is more attainable now than it will be for many in decades to come, and some of the world’s more rare and mystical destinations are quickly changing due to climate change or other natural factors. The truth is, there is never a perfect time to travel — something will always come up, and there will always be an excuse to put a trip on hold. Fortunately, this current travel climate of discounts, airfare sales and reward points makes this year the ideal time to take a dream vacation and start turning those travel dreams into realities. From wine tasting in Europe to snagging an early ticket to Machu Picchu, here are the top five bucket-list trips to take now.

WINE TASTING IN FRANCE Plane tickets to Europe have never been more affordable, thanks to budget airlines like WOW air and Level, but travelers can even score tickets as low as $400 for a round-trip ticket to Europe during exclusive airfare sales on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Once there, the next step is deciding upon a wine region. Red wine fans will love the complex and robust flavors of Burgundy (book a tour with Maison Joseph Drouhin for the ultimate

immersion into this legendary wine region), while those who prefer rosé or white wines shouldn’t pass up the delicate flavors of Provence. Looking to celebrate? Head to Reims in the heart of the Champagne region to learn the art of making and sabering a bottle of Champagne.

WINE ENTHUSIASTS:

Burgundy wine (left), and Champagne tasting in the G. Tribaut vineyard in France's Champagne region (bottom) PHOTOS: © MASSIMO SANTI | DREAMSTIME.COM, © WIKTOR WOJTAS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS:

Ranger and tourists returning from a mountain gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (top), and eco-tourists in a Zodiac observing gentoo penguins in Paradise Harbor, Antarctica PHOTOS: © HEL080808 | DREAMSTIME.COM, © JOE SOHM | DREAMSTIME.COM

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TREKKING FOR SILVERBACK MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA Mountain gorillas only exist in four forests around the world, but the largest population resides in the densely forested hilltops of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. “Mountain Gorilla numbers have increased, according to the last census done earlier this year, which means that the conservation efforts being employed are working,” says Alfred Kamya, director, Let’s Go Travel, in Uganda. Not only are the chances the best they’ve ever been to see these amazing creatures interacting in their natural habitat, but tourism has made a huge impact on the livelihood of the locals, with people in and around Bwindi receiving training in aspects of tourism, and the blossoming market is creating jobs, feeding families and quite literally saving lives in the area. “As of now, Bwindi is still not on the quintessential safari circuit, which means that there is a real intrepid atmosphere about visiting the area and trekking in the forest,” Kamya adds.

“That feeling will diminish as more catch on to this incredible experience, so the time to go is now.” Trekking permits cost $600 per person and need to be purchased well in advance from a company like Let’s Go Travel.

CRUISING TO ANTARCTICA A voyage to the seventh continent consistently ranks No. 1 on many bucket lists as one of the most remote places on the planet. News headlines about climate change drove the urgency for many visitors to make the trip sooner than planned. Fear of the unknown and fear of discomfort remain as major deterrents

WONDER AND AWE:

for many, which is why affordable cruise company Polar Latitudes upgraded its ships to improve comfort and safety with all-suite configurations for 100 passengers, offering exterior views from each room. “Antarctica is a destination people want to see while they can because of the time and expense a voyage takes,” says Jonathan Brunger, general manager, Adventure Life. Some of the activities available on the voyages include kayaking among icebergs and spending a night camping on the ice. One of the more interesting activities with Polar Latitudes is its citizen science initiatives with researchers from organizations like NASA and the Scripps Institute, allowing passengers to participate in climate research, penguin and whale surveys and more.

EXPLORING THE RUINS OF MACHU PICCHU As entrance regulations continue to change for this UNESCO World Heritage site, the future is unclear as to what a visit to these ancient ruins will entail in years to come. In the past,

Machu Picchu view from above (above) and inside (left) PHOTOS: © OLIMAYER | DREAMSTIME.COM, © CRISTINA STOIAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

visitors were free to roam the mystical ruins as long as they pleased for only a small entrance fee. As of Jan.1, 2019, re-entry to the TRAZEE TRAVEL 2018 trazeetravel.com

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VIBRANT VIEW:

The Northern Lights in the night sky over a winter Lapland landscape PHOTO: © NIKOLAY TSUGULIEV | DREAMSTIME.COM

citadel will not be allowed, and stays will be limited to a maximum of four hours for Llaqta de Machu Picchu. When booking tickets for this Incan citadel, consider including a ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain, where visitors are able to enter the citadel an hour earlier to make an hour-long climb up the steep mountain to another Incan ruin offering postcard-worthy views over the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

WATCHING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN AN IGLOO IN FINLAND The Northern Lights are often called “the fickle lady,” as they don’t always show up … even after viewers traveled thousands of miles and spent an equal sum of money to get the chance to see them in person. Finland offers more opportunities to see this natural phenomenon than most other destinations due to its percentage of clear nights and latitude. Northern Lapland offers the chance to see the lights about every other clear night between September and March, while they show up in southern Finland roughly 10–20 nights per year. Although now is as good a time as any to see the lights, scientists predict a surge of aurora activity will likely begin mid-2019, bringing increased atmospheric activity until the solar maximum, likely in 2025.

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g to rdin o c c A net, List. t e k hern Buc Nort e h t g ost seein the m s i ers’ s on us Light m e t s, lar i popu t list e k c ces e bu erien p x e onlin by on wed going follo m o r ing f g the rang seein o t t. ise Egyp a cru n i s mid pyra

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Great Getaways Discover the best weekend jaunts to suit your style.

BY CARLEY WADE

IN BLOOM:

Longwood Gardens PHOTO: © LYUDMILA MENSHOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

rt irpo a d e ct Add dire d n e sa t th way hou g run u ea thro mak hts s g e i l r t f asie Sta e d t e n t e. jau Uni efor end b k r e we eve than 40

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NOT ALL TRAVELERS ARE CREATED EQUAL, which is why not every weekend getaway is the same. Whether you’re looking for your toes in the sand or music to tap your toes to, there are several styles of getaway for the foodie, family, adventurer and more. Here are a few with convenient flights and a plethora of activities — or the opportunity to laze the day away in style.

FOODIE | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Forget the cheesesteak! Some of the country’s most creative and exciting restaurants reside in Philly, thanks to chef-owners drawn to one of the last bastions of affordable rents. Plan ahead to get a spot at Top Chef winner

Nick Elmi’s 22-seat Laurel, or cozy up at his creative cocktail palace, ITV, next door. Stroll through this funky Brooklyn-like neighborhood or stick closer to the area where most of the hotels are, downtown at 13th Street.

There, stick-to-your-ribs fare comes in spades thanks to Chef Marcie Turney and her partner, Valerie Safran.

Their nine restaurants and boutiques turned the area into a trendy village with plenty of people-watching and shopping (try their tucked-away artisanal chocolaterie Marcie Blain).

No weekend is complete without one of James Beard king Michael Solomonov’s outfits and his eye-opening Israeli cuisine at Zahav. Bonus for mushroom lovers and vegetarians: The borough of Kennett Square — where more than half the nation’s crop is harvested — lies less than an hour away and makes a particularly tasty excursion; make sure you plan for an hour or two at Longwood Gardens, the Versailles of Pennsylvania, as well.

Philadelphia is American Airlines’ hub, so plenty of direct flights travel in and out of the East Coast.

BEACH | Bermuda It’s easy to see most of this 21-mile-wide island nation in a weekend and still get a chance to relax at low-key yet high-brow beaches.

This British territory gained some steam recently as a honeymoon spot thanks to its Zika-free shores, but sailors have also buoyed the local economy for centuries, and the 2017 America’s Cup brought a bout of hotel refurbishments that put new shine on the penny. New The Loren at Pink Beach offers chic seclusion — and an unforgettable, three-course, shore-side cabana brunch on Sundays. Fairmont Hamilton Princess’ $100 million renovation included the addition of Marcus Samuelsson’s new Marcus’ (specializing in seafood, of course), and several craft cocktail bars and restaurants tempt visitors all along the capital’s Front Street just a couple of blocks from the hotel.

It’s easy to get around by bus or zipping around via Twizy, cool electric cars with docking stations conveniently spread across the island. One is at the Royal Naval Dockyard, a one-stop shop for anyone with just a couple of days to spare; it houses the National Museum, Bermuda Rum Cake Company & Glassworks, Dolphin

Quest and glass-bottomed boat tours. Whether you’re departing during the day with kids or living it up on a night sailing, each includes a complimentary rum swizzle.

Both Delta Air Lines and JetBlue offer direct flights of less than two hours from Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK).

FAMILY | Washington, D.C. Free is always the right price for families, and many attractions in the nation’s capital — such as the Air and Space Museum, National Zoo and the new-ish National Museum of African American History and Culture — are complimentary. Aim for an April departure and you’ll not only beat the summer heat, but also you might get lucky enough to catch the iconic cherry blossoms. The annual festival celebrating the pink blooms is timed around when they’re best predicted to open (typically mid-March through mid-April) and includes a kite festival, musical acts, fireworks and food trucks.

Stay at the Willard InterContinental just a few blocks from The White House, and in April you’ll not only enjoy some of the city’s biggest rooms (starting at 375 square feet), but you’ll also maximize

SERENE SECLUSION:

The Loren at Pink Beach PHOTO: © THE LOREN AT PINK BEACH

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ROMANCING IN MAINE:

Local lobster, Atlantic seafood and scrumptious fine dining by candlelight await at the White Barn Restaurant (top); and a wellstocked bar and fireplace make for a romantic evening at Earth at Hidden Pond Restaurant (bottom).

PHOTOS: © WHITE BARN RESTAURANT, © EARTH AT HIDDEN POND RESTAURANT

your chances to see Millie the mallard, the hotel’s unofficial mascot who’s fond of laying her eggs in the courtyard. Guests delight at seeing her and her ducklings milling about in spring.

The hotel’s kids’ concierge schedules programming honoring the history of the hotel and 200-year-old property; all youths who check in get sugar cookies in the shape of Millie.

Three airport options and easy Metro transportation to and from them make D.C. an A-plus for parties of three or more.

ROMANTIC | Maine It’s not called Vacationland for nothing, and there are plenty of places to take your “Maine” squeeze on a rustic yet refined getaway featuring the best coastal dining. Kennebunkport’s a hotbed of posh seaside hotels; and if you’re looking for an aphrodisiac, you’re in luck — many feature their own restaurants, so the world is your oyster with bubbly and bivalves sans driving. Earth at Hidden Pond serves up farm-to-fork cuisine, and you can feast outside under the stars just a few feet from where lettuce and heirloom tomatoes are grown before you head back to a cottage nestled in 60 acres of birch forest. Get froufrou with French at Cape Arundel Inn & Resort’s Ocean restaurant, featuring Chef Pierre Gignac’s inspired takes on Maine’s most famous export — lobster — and a coastline feast for the eyes.

At Relais & Châteaux luxury property Grace White Barn Inn & Spa, the restaurant’s tasting menu features rich foie gras, lobster tortellini and

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caviar, all aglow in candlelight. All massage services can be offered as a dual treatment in the Couple’s Spa Suite, or cuddle up in front of the fireplace available in most of the 26 rooms.

It’s just as nice in fall, when you can find some of the country’s best leaf-peeping while driving just 90 minutes up the coastline from Boston’s Logan International Airport.

ADVENTURE | Colorado Some consider being two hours away from civilization adventure enough, but for anyone who grew up watching Billy Crystal, roping a steer is on the bucket list. Broadmoor Resort’s City Slicker Experience offers up just that in the heart of the Colorado wilderness, where 3,200 acres teeming with canyons; wildflowers; pink-granite cliffs; and pine, spruce and aspen surround all-day adventurers learning how to drive cattle like the most experienced ranch hand.

Afterward, turn from rugged to refined in one of just 10 cabins, each with its own fireplace, and communal chef dining. The get-away-from-it-all experience can continue at Broadmoor’s Fly Fishing Camp, with Orviscertified professional guides and its own private five-mile stretch of the Taryall River stocked with rainbow trout and more. Bonus? You can recuperate with a day reveling in luxury at the 779-room main resort, celebrating its 2018 centennial with a number of refurbishments. There’s a spa, a couple of pools, golf and fine dining.

Getting here is easy, too, when you fly directly into Colorado Springs Airport. A Broadmoor shuttle desk sits just in front of baggage claim (one-hour shuttle service is available from the Denver International Airport, too).

DON'T FENCE ME IN:

The Broadmoor provides horseback riding for the true outdoorsman who can’t get enough of the Colorado wilderness (top), and its Orvis-endorsed Fly Fishing Camp offers seclusion and some of Colorado’s best bites on a private stretch of the Taryall River (bottom).

PHOTOS: © THE BROADMOOR

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MUSIC | New Orleans, Louisiana Music is as much a part of life here as jambalaya and po’boys, and there is indeed dancing in the streets almost every weekend. Come with an appetite to party, since some of the best free entertainment is tableside: The saints come marching in — again and again — at jazz brunches throughout the city. Get your fill at some of the most iconic (Commander’s Palace or Brennen’s, or spice it up with the burlesque shows at SoBou) before heading to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

You’ll discover plenty of festivals throughout the year dedicated to what grooves you (Satchmo Summer Fest, Jazz & Heritage, Voodoo, Music & Arts, Blues & BBQ), but the city sparkles with long happy hours and live nightly shows year-round.

Hotels like Monteleone (with its funky carousel bar) and clubs including Preservation Hall and Tipitina’s keep the party going long into the wee hours.

A new airport terminal scheduled to wrap in 2019 will make it even easier to travel here, thanks to more gates and flight options. Plus, a plan to expand the food court with local treats including Café du Monde beignets will have visitors whistling a happy tune.

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ALL THAT JAZZ:

The New Orleans Jazz Museum teaches visitors about the city’s music history (top), and (right) Preservation Hall perpetuates New Orleans jazz.

PHOTOS: © NOLA JAZZ MUSEUM, © F11PHOTO | DREAMSTIME.COM

Wonders to Behold Iconic landmarks across the globe continue to fascinate visitors. BY ANGELIQUE PLATAS BLUE GLOW:

Ice cave at the Vatnajökull Glacier in Iceland PHOTO: © GLENN NAGEL | DREAMSTIME.COM

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WHILE THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY CONTINUES to change, bending to meet the needs of ever-evolving travel trends, one thing remains the same: Iconic landmarks reign supreme. Whether traveling to a destination specifically to visit the must-see locale or just looking for something to see and do on vacation, we’re drawn in by iconic sites.

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Maybe you heard about a must-see destination, or saw the Golden Gate Bridge and steep hills of San Francisco on Full House and decided to make a pilgrimage — either way, word gets around, and we feel wanderlust for culture and FOMO experiences.

Measuring iconic locales to visit can vary person to person, but in terms of most visited, it’s safe to say these landmarks are the world’s most sought-after.

According to airline and hotel booking sites, Iceland is one of the hottest travel destinations of the past few years. Once on the island, visitors flock to its naturally beautiful caves and hot springs. The rising interest in Iceland drove hundreds of thousands to the iconic natural geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon. Last year

alone, more than 700,000 international guests made their way to the lava field for the mineral-rich waters.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, stands out among a slew of icons. Whether its dark history or its famous image provides the allure, the ancient gladiator battleground attracts visitors from around the world to get a look at the ruins.

When a destination is so remote and ancient that droves of visitors threaten its existence just by over-tourism, you know you have an intriguing destination. Insert Machu Picchu, Peru. This South American wonder boasts incredible beauty, scenic hikes, tribal ruins and history — hence the reasons more than 1 million visitors made their way to its mountainside in 2016.

Recently on a slight decline in annual tourist visits, Stonehenge in England still records more than 1 million visitors each year. The historic site dates back to 2,000–3,000 B.C., becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The mysterious allure of the rocks and beautiful surrounding landscape easily captivate tourists.

Barcelona’s vibrant city streets and Gothic architecture attracted visitors for ages. When you see a mosaic tile-covered wall, you know you’re in Barcelona and within view of the Sagrada Família. The towering cathedral was inspired by the surrounding old-world architecture of the city mixed with nature and forward momentum — but most of all, it’s an unbelievable building to behold.

ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS:

Sagrada Família (left), and the Colosseum in Rome (below) PHOTOS: © IVAN ABRAMKIN | DREAMSTIME.COM, © PROCHASSON FREDERIC | DREAMSTIME.COM

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HIGH POINTS:

Christ the Redeemer above Rio de Janeiro (right), and the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens (below) PHOTOS: © RENATO MACHADO | DREAMSTIME .COM, © ADREA | DREAMSTIME.COM

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Zooming aerial shots in movies take in the epic views of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the vantage of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue sitting above the city. While an impressive shot, the white replica of Christ is much more than a dramatic focal point for film. Tourists, religious pilgrims and locals trek the steep climb to its feet each year. While recent statistics report more than 1.8 million visitors recorded annually, nearly 14,000 visitors find their way to the statue on Easter Sunday alone.

Another historical site standing the test of time in more ways than one, the Acropolis of Athens attracts tourists by the millions. The ancient ruins sit atop Greece’s ruggedly beautiful cliffs, offering views in quite literally every direction. While restoration projects have been ongoing for years to preserve and maintain the ancient site, the scaffolding hasn’t deterred tourism. Visitor numbers climb year to year, and experts predict Athens will see a record high by the end of this year — around 4.5 million international guests.

Just the idea of tourists flocking to iconic landmarks in far-off destinations may make you think of the Eiffel Tower, and for good reason. This impressive structure has held the hearts of residents and tourists since it was completed in Paris in 1889.

Perfectly set in the heart of the city, the Eiffel Tower as a focal point has transcended into an icon. The landmark, a universal

symbol of travel, is on many bucket lists, recording 7 million visitors each year.

One of the only iconic destinations seen from space, The Great Wall of China attracts more than 10 million travelers annually. Visitors from all over the world converge on the historic site. Travelers come to witness one of the world’s most impressive manmade structures — stretching more than 13,000 miles — while taking in the natural views. Adventure seekers enter marathon runs and athletic tours along the scenic and thrilling path.

One of the world’s first iconic sites at more than 3,000 years old, the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt, ranks as a top contender. With a 3,023-foot perimeter and standing 480 feet high, the tomb remains a wonder to behold. Nearly 15 million visitors each year trek (or ride camels) through the desert just outside Cairo for a look.

Located on the border of New York and Ontario, Niagara Falls may be the most unexpected yet most visited iconic destination in the world. This massive group of waterfalls includes 6

POWERFUL SYMBOLS:

Niagara Falls (above), and the Pyramids of Giza (left) PHOTOS: © PATRYK KOSMIDER | DREAMSTIME .COM, © ANNA KRIVITSKAIA | DREAMSTIME.COM

million cubic feet of pounding water, spraying visitors in boats seeking a closer peek at the grandness of it all. An astonishing 30 million visitors put on their ponchos and head to the Canadian

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NATURAL OCCURRENCE:

Torres del Paine (above), and Redwood National Park (right) PHOTOS: © JPBARCELOS | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ZRFPHOTO | DREAMSTIME .COM

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and U.S. border each year.

Notice a theme here? The world’s most iconic sites, most visited destinations and bucket list-worthy locales are all steeped in history and culture while surrounded by natural beauty. It’s safe to say this level of fame and allure stemmed from the world’s first iconic landmarks, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Seven Wonders became world-renowned and revered through the rich history and culture surrounding them. With a lineup ranging from the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Colossus of Rhodes to the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, iconic sites used to be commissioned by kings for honor and grandeur. But we have a new list of wonders consisting of more natural features, based on recent travel trends.

Travelers flock to the wild, natural landscapes of our world to see giant, centuries-old trees in Redwood National Park in California or the iconic peaks and dips of Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile. They hike active volcanoes on Hawai’ian islands or take the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway to see Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. They experience a wild safari up close on the Serengeti and South African wildlife reserves or trek up north to view the aurora borealis in its splendor.

Whatever your preference — history and culture or wildlife and nature — there is an iconic locale for you to seek. Interestingly, the oldest sites at the heart of our history and civilization remain the most attractive to today’s society. With all the new structures going up each year and grand openings of bigger and better towers and buildings, it’s comforting to know the natural wonders and ancient manmade icons of the world still hold the most value. It seems time only adds to their interest and fascination for avid travelers.

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