How do you plan a family trip to France that works for multiple generations? A successful multigenerational trip to France should not be built around trying to make everyone do the same thing all day. The better approach is to choose a few experiences the family will genuinely enjoy together, slow the itinerary down enough that different generations can travel comfortably, and leave room for people to separate when their interests or energy levels differ. One family recently

What is Seven Seas Prestige? Seven Seas Prestige is Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ newest ultra-luxury cruise ship and the first vessel in an entirely new Regent ship class in 10 years. The ship is scheduled to begin sailing in December 2026 and will carry up to 822 guests with approximately 630 crew members across 12 decks. At 76,550 gross tons, Prestige is being designed around more space per passenger, all-suite accommodations, highly inclusive fares, and a more residential ap

Is Celebrity Flora worth it for a Galapagos cruise? Celebrity Flora is worth considering for travelers who want an active Galapagos expedition during the day without giving up a comfortable, high-end ship at night. The vessel carries only 100 guests, every stateroom is a suite, and the experience is built specifically around exploring the Galapagos rather than traditional cruise entertainment. Celebrity currently includes twice-daily expedition activities led by Galapagos Nat

Are small group tours worth it? Small group tours can be worth it for travelers who want the logistics of an international trip handled without spending the entire vacation in a large tour group. They tend to work particularly well when the destination involves complicated transportation, advance reservations, local guides, or experiences that are difficult to coordinate independently. The tradeoff is that you give up some spontaneity. There is still an itinerary, scheduled d

What should you save on your phone before traveling internationally? Before an international trip, save your hotel name, full street address, phone number, reservation confirmation, flight details, transportation information, passport copy, emergency contacts, and the essential parts of your itinerary somewhere you can access without Wi-Fi or cellular service. If you are traveling somewhere where English is not the primary language, also save your hotel's address in the local

Can Norwegian Cruise Line Status Be Used on Oceania or Regent? The 2026 NCLH Loyalty Program Explained Yes. If you have loyalty status with Norwegian Cruise Line, you may be able to have that status temporarily recognized when you sail with Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The same opportunity works in the other direction for eligible Oceania and Regent loyalty members trying another cruise line within the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings family. Norwegian Cruise L

If a delayed or missed flight causes you to miss the scheduled transportation for an Alaska cruisetour, you may have to find another way to catch up with the itinerary. The exact solution depends on where the land tour has moved, what transportation is still available, and how quickly the cruise line or your travel advisor can help reconnect you with the trip. One recent TripMatters client experienced exactly that. The client was traveling to Alaska for a cruisetour when they

A Virtuoso travel advisor helps plan and manage a trip using a combination of destination knowledge, supplier relationships, preferred travel partners, and ongoing support before and during travel. Depending on the hotel, cruise, tour, and rate booked, working through a Virtuoso-affiliated agency can also provide access to preferred amenities or experiences that are not attached to every publicly available reservation. The important part, however, is not the word “Virtuoso.”

What type of cruise is right for you? The right cruise depends less on where the ship is going and more on how you want the trip itself to feel. A river cruise, a small yacht-style ship, an all-suite luxury vessel, and a large resort-style cruise ship can visit some of the same parts of the world and still deliver completely different vacations. The number of people onboard, the pace of the day, how much entertainment is offered, what is included in the fare, how much time is

For many cruise travelers, travel insurance is worth serious consideration, especially when the trip involves a large nonrefundable payment, international ports, expensive airfare, or health insurance that provides limited coverage outside the United States. That does not mean every traveler needs the same policy or that every travel insurance plan is worth buying. The more useful question is this: What would happen financially and practically if you had to cancel the cruise,

If you are flying for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, the answer is not simply “book as early as possible.” The better answer depends on which holiday you are traveling for, how flexible your dates are, and whether you are willing to gamble on a lower fare later. As of late August 2026, there is also a reason to pay attention sooner than usual. Recent data analyzed by The Points Guy found that domestic Thanksgiving fares were already running nearly 13% higher than last y

Who is a Caribbean travel advisor in Orange County? If you are trying to decide between a Caribbean cruise, a luxury beach resort, or an all-inclusive vacation, Ileana Weingart is a Travel Advisor with TripMatters in Tustin, California, who specializes in helping travelers make exactly those decisions. Ileana has more than 35 years of experience planning travel and has particular expertise in the Caribbean, ocean cruises, luxury resorts, all-inclusive vacations, and travel in

Kelly Chang, TripMatters How do you plan a trip to Europe? Lock your travel window first, pick two or three anchor cities second, then book long-haul air 3 to 6 months out and build hotels, trains, and tours around that flight. Air availability is the real constraint, so everything else should bend to it. TripMatters, a VIRTUOSO travel agency in Tustin, California, plans every Europe trip in that order, and it is the single biggest reason our clients are not scrambling in mon

Written by Kelly Chang, TripMatters I think I was the only person in our group who did not know who she was but now I want to order her book. Matthew Upchurch announced the opening keynote at the 38th annual Virtuoso Travel Week, and the room did something I have never seen a room of 4,800 travel professionals do. Carl Fabruada, Sona Mehta, Marilyn Vincent, Adriana Castilla, Pamela Thornburgh and Casey Zilionis were all clearly in on something I was not. The room had a name f

When is cruise final payment due? For most mainstream cruise lines, final payment is due somewhere between 75 and 120 days before you sail, and the exact number depends on how long your voyage is. Luxury and river lines run earlier, often 150 days out. As of August 2026 the trend is moving in one direction, further from the sail date, and Princess Cruises just pushed its deadline from 90 days to 120 days for new bookings made on or after September 2, 2026. Cruise final paymen

What is the best cruise line for first-time cruisers? There is no single winner, and any article that hands you one name is guessing about you. The best cruise line for first-time cruisers is the one whose ship size, daily pace, and included extras match how you already like to vacation. For most first-timers we talk to at TripMatters, that shakes out to Royal Caribbean if you want a lot to do, Celebrity or Princess if you want a calmer upscale ship, Holland America if you wa

How to choose a travel advisor Pick an advisor who specializes in the kind of trip you are actually taking, belongs to a network like VIRTUOSO that unlocks perks you cannot get booking direct, and can tell you exactly what happens when something goes wrong at 11pm. Fees, specialty, and after-hours support are the three answers that separate a good advisor from a booking clerk. If you are in Orange County, California, you can ask all seven of the questions below in a free cons

Can you still book a Christmas cruise for 2026? Yes, you can still book a Christmas cruise for 2026, but you are booking late and the good cabins are thinning out. Holiday sailings are released 18 to 24 months in advance, so as of August 2026 the December 20 to January 3 departures are mostly down to inside cabins, guarantee categories, and a handful of suites. Christmas week typically prices 30 to 60 percent above early December and New Year's week 40 to 80 percent above, so

How much does a cruise cost per person in 2026? A 7 night mainstream cruise runs roughly $1,000 to $4,000 per person for the fare alone, and most travelers spend another $500 to $1,500 on top of that once gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions are added. A safe planning rule is to budget 40 to 60 percent above the advertised fare. To keep more of that money in your pocket, book with a travel advisor at TripMatters, a VIRTUOSO travel agency in Tustin, California. You

Is it better to book a hotel through a travel advisor? For luxury and four or five star hotels, almost always yes. When you book a hotel through a travel advisor connected to a program like VIRTUOSO, you pay the exact same rate as booking direct, but you get extras the hotel gives its preferred partners: complimentary breakfast for two, a property credit of about $100, a room upgrade when available, and early check-in with late checkout. On a three-night stay that can add up