TRAVEL INSPIRATION

Thinking about a Douro River cruise? Here’s what the experience is really like, including the scenery, pace, excursions, best time to go, and the pros and cons to consider before booking.

Planning a trip to Portugal? Explore Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, Algarve and more, with practical advice on how long to stay, how to get around, and how to put the right itinerary together.

How much walking is there on a river cruise? Learn what to expect from cobblestones, hills, excursions and activity levels on a European river cruise.

Planning your first river cruise? Here are 10 common mistakes first-time river cruisers make, and what I recommend doing instead.

Discover what makes a Magdalena River cruise in Colombia so different, from intimate ships and local communities to wildlife, culture and life along the river.

Discover what makes a Mekong River cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam so unique, from the temples of Angkor and Phnom Penh to riverside villages and everyday life along the Mekong.

Why one of the world's biggest cruise brands is entering Europe's rivers, and why it matters. Artist's rendering of Celebrity Compass, one of five purpose-built ships scheduled to launch Celebrity River Cruises beginning in 2027. When Celebrity Cruises announced it was launching its own river cruise line, the headlines were exactly what you would expect. Celebrity enters river cruising. Five new ships announced. Bookings are now open. It was exciting news, but once the initia

Concerned about low water levels on the Rhine or Danube? River cruise specialist Lena Arcedo explains what low water really means, how cruise lines adapt, and what travelers should expect before their European river cruise.

A Mekong River cruise is one of those trips that’s hard to explain with a single headline. It’s not “castles and cathedrals,” and it’s not a floating resort week. It’s a front-row seat to daily life along the river: markets, temples, countryside, and small moments that feel memorable without needing fanfare. It’s also a different kind of planning than Europe. Weather matters more. Packing is different. And the “feel” of the days is shaped by culture, heat, and the pace of the

Packing for a river cruise is one of those tasks that feels like it should be easy… until you remember you’ll be in multiple towns, the weather can change its mind midday, and Europe’s sidewalks have a long-standing relationship with cobblestones. The good news is you can pack lighter than you think. The key is choosing a few high-impact items that keep you comfortable day after day — especially on walking tours. Here’s the approach I recommend, with seasonal tweaks that make

Best Time for Tulip River Cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium Tulip season river cruises sound wonderfully straightforward: visit the Netherlands in spring, see a sea of color, take your photos, eat something flaky and delicious from a bakery, repeat. The tricky part is that tulips don’t work on a set schedule. They respond to weather, and spring can arrive early one year and drag its feet the next. That doesn’t mean tulip cruises are a gamble. It just means the smartest p

When Is the Best Time to Take a Rhine River Cruise? A Month-by-Month Guide When someone asks me the best time to cruise the Rhine, what they’re really asking is: When will I be comfortable? When will it be pretty? And will I be elbow-to-elbow with half the planet in every town square? Fair questions! The Rhine runs through places that are beautiful in multiple seasons, but the feel of your trip changes a lot depending on when you go. Spring can be crisp and fresh. Summer can

Choosing your first river cruise is exciting… and slightly maddening. Rhine and Danube itineraries can look almost interchangeable online: charming towns, guided walks, markets, good food, and a ship that does the unpacking for you. But once you’re actually on the water, they can feel different in a way that’s hard to spot from a brochure. A simple way I explain it is this: many classic Rhine itineraries lean toward that “storybook riverbank” feeling - compact towns, vineyard

Introduction Travelers have been marveling at Egypt's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years—even the ancient Greeks and Romans...

Belgium makes a perfect introduction to Europe. It's especially good for first-timers who might be overwhelmed by all there is to see in...

Germany is a country of contrasts, made even more interesting by its mingling of new and old. Turn back time with a cuckoo clock, then...

Prague: It's hard to think of a European city that has become so popular, so fast as Prague, where essential historic sights include...

Budapest: The Danube River divides the city into two parts - the hilly Buda and the low-lying Pest, together presenting one of Europe’s...

From cosmopolitan cities, beautiful scenery and an array of outdoor activities, Switzerland has everything anyone could ever want....

When I think of France I imagine the Eiffel Tower and crisp baguettes in bicycle baskets pedaled by beautiful dark haired women in polka...