The Cruise & Vacation Authority

06/09/2026

Barcelona is a fantastic city. Many cruises depart from Barcelona. We recommend at least 2 full days in Barcelona before you depart on any cruise.

06/08/2026

We started our journey in , Spain. This city is about a 3 hour train ride to Barcelona. I do recommend visiting Valencia as it has some great architecture and wonderful cafes. It is also less crowded than many European cities.

06/05/2026

Recently, I went on for the 1st time. This cruise departed from Barcelona and ended in Nice. I was really impressed with the . The ship was in great shape, the public areas were spacious and very comfortable. The cabins were your typical cruise ship cabin. The service on the ship was excellent and the food was really good as well. I highly recommend to those that prefer a smaller ship that is focused on the itinerary. tends to stay on port longer than most cruise lines and they even overnight at some of the ports.

I'll be posting pictures of some of the great sites we saw on this cruise to the coast of France.

06/02/2026

Danube river cruises worth planning a whole trip around
By Ambia Staley
1. spans four countries on its Melodies cruise
AmaWaterways operates as many as 37 itineraries on the Danube, including the seven-night Melodies of the Danube, which sails from Budapest to Vilshofen, Germany. The voyage covers four countries — Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany — and is available on seven of the line’s ships. A daylong tour from Linz, Austria, extends the itinerary into a fifth country, the Czech Republic, visiting the fairy-tale town of Cesky Krumlov.

2. Avalon goes from Nuremberg to Budapest over eight days

Avalon Waterways’ eight-day The Legendary Danube itinerary sails from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, passing through Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The itinerary is available on several of Avalon’s Suite Fleet vessels through December, which includes the line’s Christmas market-themed sailings during the holiday season. After an overnight and a full day in Nuremberg, the ship sails to Regensburg, one of Bavaria’s most picturesque medieval towns. Guests can choose between a guided tour of Regensburg’s colorful Old Town, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or a bike tour to the nearby Walhalla monument, an impressive national tribute to distinguished Germans built by order of Bavaria’s King Ludwig between 1830 and 1842.

3. Viking passes Iron Gate gorge into Serbia and Hungary
Viking’s 11-day Passage to Eastern Europe itinerary runs from Bucharest, Romania, to Budapest, covering five countries on the adults-only longships that define the line. The itinerary includes destinations that standard Danube cruises do not: from the Bulgarian port of Ruse, guests can explore the city independently or take a full-day excursion to the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo and the small village of Arbanasi. The Vidin stop includes a visit to a beautiful medieval fortress and options for wine tasting, or a cooking demonstration at a nearby home to learn how to prepare Bulgarian banitsa, a phyllo pastry filled with spinach, cheese, or grated pumpkin.

4. Riviera Travel loops Budapest past Wachau and Dürnstein
Riviera Travel’s eight-day Blue Danube River Cruise departs and returns to Budapest in a round-trip format, available on five ships through the end of October 2026. It is one of the line’s most popular itineraries. After departing Budapest, the ship stops at Esztergom, one of Hungary’s oldest towns and the site of the country’s largest cathedral, the Esztergom Basilica, where guests take a guided tour before an afternoon at sea heading toward Bratislava.

5. Uniworld stretches a Prague-to-Belgrade cruise to 17 days
Uniworld’s Danube Grandeur and Prague itinerary extends the standard Danube cruise format significantly: 17 days in total, from Prague to Belgrade, Serbia, available from July to October. The trip includes two evenings at a luxury hotel in Prague and 14 evenings aboard the ship, with 13 days of excursions across seven countries: Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia.

6. Tauck Bridges sends families to a Viennese palace evening
Tauck Bridges, the family-oriented branch of the Tauck travel company, offers a seven-night Danube itinerary from Vilshofen or Straubing, Germany, to Budapest, available in June and July. The cruise is built around exclusive family-friendly events and activities that Tauck arranges specifically for the itinerary: an “Imperial Evening” with dinner and dancing at the baroque Palais Pallavicini in Vienna, “Sound of Music” karaoke and marzipan-making sessions in Passau, and a scavenger hunt in Bratislava.

05/13/2026

This is a great cruise line. GIve us a call to book this once in a lifetime voyage 770 952 8300

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuts the new Ginori Terrace aboard Evrima, featuring Italian-inspired design, décor, cocktails, and dining spaces.

04/07/2026

A new cruise trend lets travelers sail rivers and seas together
Windstar Cruises is launching itineraries that combine river and ocean cruising without switching vessels.
Nathan Diller
USA TODAY
If you’re torn between an ocean and river cruise, why not take both?

Windstar Cruises is leaning into river-to-ocean voyages, allowing guests to explore both kinds of waterways without changing vessels.
Guests can choose from a range of itineraries, with a number of 2027 departures aboard Windstar’s newest yacht, the 224-guest Star Explorer, debuting in December. Those include the eight-night Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal sailing through the Garonne and Gironde rivers, the coast of Spain and more, and a 10-night Ireland Circumnavigation, where passengers can explore the River Lee and take in cliffs from beyond the shoreline.

04/02/2026

Inside Norwegian Luna: First Look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Newest Ship
by Sarah Kuta

Now sailing from Miami, the 3,565‑passenger Norwegian Luna is the 21st ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.
At 1,056 feet long and 156,000 gross tons, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna are 10 percent larger than the line’s original Prima Class ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

And while the sister ships are nearly identical, the company’s leaders did make a few subtle changes for Norwegian Luna based largely on guest feedback. They added extra seats in the buffet, installed staircases to help guests more easily navigate between levels, made technological enhancements to some of the games on the Luna Midway and created a new open-air hangout spot called Horizon Park, just to name a few.
The lunar theme is also unique to the vessel. California-based street artist ELLE, who is also the ship’s godmother, brought the moon vibes to life with “La Luna,” a purple and blue celestial-themed motif on the ship’s bow. The color palette and design is repeated throughout the vessel, including in many of the staterooms.
With 1,809 total staterooms, Norwegian Luna offers a wide variety of accommodations—from solo studios and oceanview cabins to spacious family balcony suites.
For travelers looking for a more exclusive experience, Norwegian Luna also offers the brand’s ship-within-a-ship concept, The Haven by Norwegian. Here, guests can retreat to spacious suites, take advantage of personalized butler and concierge service, relax on the private sundeck or take a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the stern. The Haven by Norwegian also has a private lounge and an exclusive bar.

Along with the diverse activities and entertainment offerings available onboard Norwegian Luna, the accommodations were designed with Norwegian’s target market in mind. The brand is primarily hoping to attract premium, multigenerational families made up of grandparents, parents and children who enjoy traveling together but may have different interests and budgets.
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy an array of attractions and activities. Thrill seekers can try out the Aqua Slidecoaster, a cross between a waterslide and rollercoaster, while those looking for a mellower experience can play carnival‑inspired games on the open-air Luna Midway. Retro arcade games take centerstage in the Luna Game Zone, while sports and technology come together in the Glow Court. New for Norwegian Luna is the Moon Climber, a multi‑level obstacle course designed for kids and adults.

03/31/2026

The 10 best cruises for chasing the northern lights in Alaska, according to U.S. News
Find the best Alaska cruises for seeing the northern lights in 2026, with itineraries designed to maximize your chances of aurora viewing.

By
Ambia Staley
Seeing the northern lights is one of the most compelling travel experiences on Earth. The aurora borealis forms when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, producing waves of green, purple, and red light that move across the night sky. Alaska is one of the most popular places in the world to witness this phenomenon, particularly in interior regions such as Fairbanks, which lies directly under the auroral oval, the zone where activity is most concentrated. Clear, dark skies between late August and late April provide the best conditions, with peak visibility often occurring between midnight and 4 a.m., according to U.S. News & World Report.

Cruising offers a structured way to pursue the aurora, but itinerary design matters. Most Alaska sailings run from April through September, with September departures offering a strategic advantage. The autumnal equinox increases geomagnetic disturbances, which can improve aurora activity, while longer nights provide more viewing hours. Cruise lines such as Holland America Line and Princess Cruises recommend this period for the best chance.
1. Holland America Classic Denali Tour
2. Holland America Glacier Discovery Northbound
3. Princess Denali Explorer
4. Princess 10-Day On Your Own Tour
5. Celebrity Cruises National Parks Expedition
6. Norwegian Denali Explorer
7. Norwegian Glacier Bay Tour
8. Royal Caribbean Wilderness Spectacular
9. Royal Caribbean Mountain Panorama Adventure
10. Regent Seven Seas

03/28/2026

Inside the Four Seasons’ first luxury yacht
The inaugural vessel began its maiden voyage last week in the Mediterranean
Marc Shoffman, Tuesday 24 March 2026
The first luxury cruise ship from the Four Seasons hotel chain has made its debut on the water.

The inaugural vessel, Four Seasons I, began its maiden voyage last week in the Mediterranean.

Features include large suites, private plunge pools, high-end food and access to exclusive ports and yacht-only harbours.

In its debut year, the yacht will offer 32 voyages across 52 sailings, exploring 130 destinations in more than 30 countries.

The Four Seasons hotel chain is bringing its luxury experience to the sea

03/27/2026

This New 8-night Luxury Amazon Cruise Lets You Climb Into the Rainforest Canopy and Explore Remote Rivers
Black Tomato’s immersive journey unlocks rarely seen stretches of the Rio Negro with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

By Kathryn Romeyn
Published on March 22, 2026
Imagine ascending 100 feet into the crown of an old-growth tree in the Amazon’s primary rainforest, pausing for a quiet toast in a canopy perch that feels worlds away from everything. Or gliding silently by canoe through a flooded forest so surreal it hardly seems real. These experiences are now within reach thanks to UK-based luxury travel company Black Tomato, which has raised the bar for Amazon exploration with its newly launched charter journey, The Rhythm of Water, offering rare and unprecedented access to one of the planet’s most remote environments.

The journey (available May through November) begins in Rio de Janeiro alongside a private guide and photographer and continues in Manaus Harbor where up to six guests embark on a one-way expedition (the return is by floatplane) on the Amazon River Basin’s Rio Negro in a nostalgic yet upgraded charter boat. Highly sensorial, the eight-night voyage is filled with the songs of native birds, the gentle stirring of leaves, the swing of hammocks, the drift of canoes, and the intriguing natural fragrance of the rainforest.

“The Rio Negro is the starting point, but what this charter actually unlocks are stretches of Amazon rainforest that travelers rarely, if ever, get to see,” Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. In the Brazilian destination, visitors are typically herded to the same accessible areas on fixed routes and timetables. The true beauty of this trip, according to Marchant, is not only accessing usually unreachable pockets of wonder and serenity, but “the freedom to follow the river wherever it leads, to stay longer when something moves you, and yes, to do absolutely nothing at all.”

Aerial view of the Amazon River and Rainforest.
Credit: Black Tomato