If you are seriously considering an Alaska cruise in 2027, fall 2026 is not too early to book. The major cruise lines already have their 2027 Alaska seasons on sale, which means travelers can compare ships, routes and cabin categories now instead of waiting until spring. Booking early matters most if you want a particular sailing date, cabin type, Glacier Bay itinerary or Alaska cruisetour. If you are flexible about all of those things, waiting gives you more room to watch pr

A Viking Mississippi River cruise is designed more around history, culture and destination-focused touring than high-energy onboard entertainment. For travelers who enjoy learning about the places they visit, that can be a strong fit. Two TripMatters clients, Sue and Dan, recently returned from a Viking Mississippi sailing and called it one of the best cruises they have taken. They especially valued the educational aspect of the trip, the service onboard and the variety of ex

Cody, Wyoming, is worth considering for a girls’ getaway built around outdoor activities, Western history and shared experiences rather than a resort stay. For TripMatters Travel Advisor Roxanne Walters, it became the setting for a milestone-birthday weekend with friends. Their trip included river rafting, horseback riding, shopping, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Nite Rodeo, a Wild West gunfight performance and a chuck wagon cookout. The variety gave the group

An around-the-world trip can combine cruises, flights and hotel stays instead of following one ship’s itinerary. Start with the destinations that matter most, then choose the transportation and time on land that make those visits worthwhile. The challenge is not adding more stops; it is making the whole journey work. Roxanne Walters, a TripMatters travel advisor, is developing this kind of trip for a solo traveler hoping to spend three to four months abroad. His wish list inc

Switzerland can make a rewarding vacation without a single day on the ski slopes. Scenic train journeys, mountain viewpoints, spa stays, regional food and local traditions offer a different way to experience the Alps, particularly in summer and autumn. Switzerland Tourism highlights those experiences across Graubünden, where destinations such as St. Moritz and Davos offer considerably more than winter sports. Switzerland Tourism For Pamela Thornburgh, a TripMatters travel adv

Choosing a boutique hotel in Paris starts with more than finding an attractive room. The neighborhood needs to work with your plans, the actual room category needs to fit your needs, and the hotel’s services should make your stay easier. A beautiful lobby cannot compensate for a room that is too small or a location that sends you across the city several times a day. Esprit Saint Germain offers a useful example of what to examine. The Paris Tourist Office describes it as a fiv

Based on Marilyn Vincent’s recent trip with Tauck on the Douro river A Tauck Douro river cruise is worth considering if you want a trip built around guided experiences, regional food and wine, and coordinated travel rather than simply a comfortable cabin on a scenic river. The important comparison is not only between ships. It is between the experiences included in each itinerary and how much of the planning you want handled for you. For Marilyn Vincent, a TripMatters travel

Based on a client experience shared by TripMatters Travel Advisor Ileana Weingart. Full-service travel planning can include much more than choosing hotels and buying flights. For a recent TripMatters client visiting Vienna, Oslo, Bergen, Edinburgh and Dublin, it meant coordinating transportation between destinations, selecting five hotels, arranging transfers, handling flight-seat requests and staying in contact throughout the journey. It also meant having someone to call whe

With insights from Marilyn Vincent, TripMatters travel advisor. Low water can change a European river cruise without canceling the entire vacation. Depending on the affected stretch and the operator’s alternatives, travelers may change ships, travel between certain destinations by motorcoach, or follow a revised itinerary. Tauck’s published river-cruise guidance specifically identifies ship changes and ground transportation as possible responses to water levels that prevent a

Thailand can work as a land vacation, a Southeast Asia cruise, or a combination of both. For many first-time visitors, the best trip depends less on how many places they can fit in and more on which parts of Thailand they actually want time to experience. If Bangkok and Chiang Mai are priorities, spending several nights on land gives those destinations room to breathe. If you also want to see Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia or Singapore, a cruise can make the larger Southeast Asi

Patagonia is not one destination. It spans a vast area across Argentina and Chile, with glaciers, mountain towns, national parks, lakes and long distances between the places travelers most often want to see. That is why one of the most important Patagonia planning decisions is not which hotel to book. It is deciding which part of Patagonia belongs in this trip and which parts should wait for another one. When is the best time to visit Patagonia? For Argentine Patagonia, the c

Southern Spain is one of those destinations where the way you travel matters almost as much as the places you visit. Seville, Granada and Málaga can be combined into a land itinerary, experienced through Mediterranean and Iberian cruise ports, or split between a cruise and several nights on land. The right choice depends on whether you want to unpack once and sample several destinations or spend more time inside Andalusia itself. For many travelers, the best answer is not str

When should you visit the Vienna Christmas markets in 2026? For the widest selection of Christmas markets, late November through about December 20 is the best time to visit Vienna in 2026. Vienna's major Christmas markets do not all open on the same day. Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz open first on November 6. Rathausplatz, Am Hof, Karlsplatz and Spittelberg open November 13, while the Christmas Village at Maria-Theresien-Platz does not open until November 20. Several tr

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