Kelly Shea Travels

09/01/2026

Oceania Cruises has marked a major milestone in the construction of its newest ship, Oceania Sonata, as the vessel was floated out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. Featuring 695 rooms and suites, the ship now moves from dry dock to the fitting-out berth, where work will continue on her interiors ahead of her debut in August 2027.

With her exterior structure now complete, work will turn toward bringing Oceania Sonata's interiors and onboard experiences to life. At approximately 86,000 gross tons, Oceania Sonata will be nearly 30 percent larger than Oceania Allura, yet will feature only 90 additional guest accommodations. The ship will offer a serene adults-only environment, with public spaces, including bars and lounges, plus guest suites and rooms. Kelly Shea Oceania Cruises Virtuoso Travel

Oceania Cruises has marked a major milestone in the construction of its newest ship, Oceania Sonata, as the vessel | Featuring 695 rooms and suites, the ship now moves from dry dock to the fitting-out berth.

08/31/2026

They should have done this long ago, if it was feasible. The sound of the engine cranking is SO loud, I'm always surprised the animals don't run for cover! Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

Electric safari vehicles offer benefits like quieter drives and lower emissions, enhancing wildlife experiences for tourists, but conservationists are concerned about potential impacts on animal behavior.

08/27/2026

At the start of this year’s breeding season, which typically spans March to December, there were about 200 nests at Punta San Juan. But when researchers checked on the birds after the fall peak, the penguins had already started to abandon their eggs.

Typically, penguin parents trade off staying at the nest to ensure their eggs or chicks are warm and guarded while the other parent is out hunting. But during El Niño years, food takes longer to find. Eventually, the hungry parent guarding the nest will abandon the post to find food as well.

Often the adults don’t return, choosing instead to resettle closer to more abundant waters. The abandonment of nearly an entire colony and the loss of a generation of penguins can happen in just a few weeks — as it has in Punta San Juan. Dr. Cárdenas is not expecting to see the colony’s numbers rise again until well after the El Niño has ended.

08/26/2026

It's not that the protesters are against tourism and development, either. “We actually want people to come and to invest in our economy,” says Alia. Plenty of good developments have come to Albania in recent years and have made positive impacts on the tourism industry, like new roads and airport expansions that brought new airlines and more direct flights.

But with the good has come the bad. “All of our politicians are corrupt,” Alia continues. “There's all this money coming in, and we don't know where it's coming from. And in the end, there's huge inflation.”

Albanians have seen this type of development before, Alia notes, pointing to a region called the Green Coast, along the country's southern coast near Dhërmi. “It used to be a beautiful area, now it’s full of private villas and resorts that none of the locals can actually go to.”

The Flamingo Revolution continues to raise the question of who benefits from Albania's tourism boom—and what role travelers can play.

08/24/2026

Just what Greece doesn't need, higher priced hotels :-( Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel DiscoverGreece.com

Accommodation prices on the Greek islands have more than doubled since 2019 for autumn stays, as growing demand extends Greece’s tourism season beyond the traditional summer peak.

08/17/2026

The Galerie d’Apollon reopened on July 22 for the first time since thieves broke into the museum on October 19, 2025, and stole eight pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection. Here’s what you can expect inside. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel Musée du Louvre

The Galerie d’Apollon reopened on July 22 for the first time since thieves broke into the museum on October 19, 2025, and stole eight pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection. Here’s what you can expect inside.

08/17/2026

Is fall the new summer when it comes to travel? Virtuoso thinks so. Learn about the trend with Virtuoso’s David Kolner and Misty Belles, straight from Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

Virtuoso projects strong growth for 2026, driven by high-net-worth travelers prioritizing experiences over goods and factors such as generational wealth transfer.

08/16/2026

The first half of summer in Europe has featured a grueling series of heat waves and widespread wildfires, which have burned more than 1.3 million acres across the European Union. The Danube and Rhine rivers hit record lows caused by drought from the prolonged heat waves, upending river cruises and forcing operators to cancel or change itineraries with alternative bus transfers and hotel stays.

Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

Soaring temperatures, widespread wildfires and dried-up rivers are transforming tourism across the continent. Here’s how travelers are responding.

08/13/2026

I just returned from Iceland and Greenland and several of these photos and videos were taken by the National Geographic photographers that accompanied us throughout the journey along with the narrator of this video, naturalist Steve Zeff. This is such a thrill to watch and relive those days of exploration with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Expeditions.

In this Expedition Spotlight, Steve reveals the vast beauty of this dynamic landscape and why traveling here “exemplifies the expedition experience.”

Northeast Greenland National Park is the largest national park in the world, protecting over 375,000 square miles of dramatic peaks, diverse flora, riveting archeological sites and incredible wildlife that includes polar bears and muskox. Like the majority of Greenland, this epic park is dominated by ice which guests of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will discover while exploring among deep-cut fjords and crevasse-laced glaciers. Kelly Shea Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Virtuoso Travel McCabe World Travel

In this Expedition Spotlight, naturalist Steve Zeff reveals the vast beauty and natural wonders found in Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world.

08/12/2026

For all our Crystal fans, read up. They're back and ready to put a smile on your face. Crystal has been waiting patiently in the wings for its chance to shine, collecting fervent brand loyalists along the way. Our clients are excited!

In just a few years, Crystal has brought back its longtime fans and attracted new cruisers with refurbished ships, world-spanning itineraries and legendary service.

Crystal Grace debuts in 2028, a sister follows in 2031, and now a third ship arrives in 2034. All three will be built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Italy.

All three will measure roughly 62,000 gross tons and carry 650 passengers at double occupancy. Unlike the original duo, every accommodation on the new ships will be a suite with a private veranda, and the ships will offer both an Owner's Suite and rooms designed for solo travelers. Crystal has always been known for its service, so the new ships will carry some of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the luxury cruise industry. Virtuoso Travel Kelly Shea Crystal Cruises

Welcome to New in Cruise, our biweekly update on all the latest happenings in the sector. Here's the latest news you can use in cruise: | Crystal went from insolvent to five ships — and it's still capping every one at 650 guests.