Range Volume 12

By

E G Y P T / I N D I A / M O Z A M B I Q U E / PA N A M A

AUSTRIA ON HIGH Join the spring ski party celebrating Alpine traditions.

V OL U M E 1 2

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

POOL DAYS. PARTY NIGHTS. ENDLESS WOWS. Get ready to go big on bold and take your vacation to the ultimate level across our entire fleet — where every journey leads to the world’s Ultimate Destinations SM. Chase the sunshine from the award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay to the brand-new Royal Beach Club SM Paradise Island in Nassau, and keep the adventure going with island-hopping escapes across the Caribbean. Feel the rhythm and set your sights on sun-soaked thrills at the soon-to-open Royal Beach Club SM Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico in 2027. From sunrise over turquoise waters to starlit nights packed with endless entertainment, this isn’t just a getaway — it’s the ultimate adventure.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

Perfect Day Mexico

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details.

*Images and messaging may include artistic renderings. All ship features, experiences are subject to change without notice. ©2025 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 25022654 • 11/03/2025

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details.

What’s Inside

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SKY LAGOON (HOT SPRING); SLAWEK KOZDRAS (GOING PLACES).

Going Places

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From our Editorial Director

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Contributors

In Brief

13 What’s new and notable in the world of travel.

Packing List

18 Hotel-chic essentials to upgrade and extend your next stay.

Roundup

20 Soak in the world’s most spectacular hot springs.

Will Travel For

23 A pilgrimage to a fêted butter maker in Saint-Malo, France.

Interview

On the Cover Skiing is just the start at Austria’s Lederhosen Wedel Festival, where guests pull on traditional leather breeches and dirndls to match the sunshine and mild mountain weather.

Photo by Kari Medig

24 Environmentalist Emily Penn sails the high seas, studying oceanic plastic pollution with an all-women crew.

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Where Next

Skis, Schnapps and Lederhosen

28 Writer Jennifer Malloy joins a spring ski festival in Austria’s Ziller Valley, where hundreds gather to revel in the nation’s enduring mountain culture.

Redefining the Art of Vacation

36 With thrilling itineraries across Alaska, Asia and beyond, Holland America Line invites guests to “Savour the Journey.”

Six Places to Visit in 2026

40 Six destinations, countless firsts: These spots, from an underrated Caribbean haven to an ancient wonder in the Middle East, demand a place in your travel plans.

Another Side of India

48 In the heart of India’s Golden Triangle, three local projects prove the country’s story goes far beyond its monuments.

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A Perfect Day In

58 From Romanesque architecture to the renowned cheeses and wines of the Emilia-Romagna region, here’s how to experience Parma at its best.

Try This

65 Set off for an island picnic in southern Mozambique.

Port of Call

66 Everything you need to plan your pre- or post-cruise stay in Panama City.

Inspired Itineraries

71 Exclusive offers from Ensemble cruise and tour partners.

Outtake

80 One more moment in travel.

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PHOTOS: BUENA VISTA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES (FEATURES); COURTESY OF AI DUE PLATANI (WHERE NEXT).

Features

Join us on our elegant ships for the voyage of a lifetime PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS.

2 Q U E E N S T R E E T E A S T 2 0 TH F L O O R TORONTO, ON M5C 2G7 EDITORIAL Editorial Director (on leave)

PROOFREADER Diane Carlson

Dominique Lamberton Acting Editorial Director

Andrew Elkin

PRODUCTION Senior Director, Brand & Marketing

Publisher

Jeff Willner President

Valerie Lenoir

Michael Johnson

Robert Liwanag

Marketing Manager, Direct Mail & Range

Contributing Editor

Julia Maher

Shahla Lalani

Katie Sehl

Printer

Managing Editor, Digital

Mi5 ART Creative Design Director

SALES Senior Director, Partnership Marketing & Engagement

Stefanie Sosiak Photography Director

Danielle Clement

Lori Morgan CONTRIBUTORS Waheeda Harris, Jessica Huras, Jennifer Malloy, Kari Medig, Renée Morrison, Caitlin Stall-Paquet, Ming Tappin RESEARCHERS Tara Dupuis, Corinna Reeves

SVP, Marketing SVP, Operations

Kristina Boyce SVP, Member Relations

Daniel Finkel VP, Destination & Specialty

Ian Elliott VP, Cruise

Rachel Grogan

Director, Partnership Marketing (Land)

VP, Member Relations

Franca Iuele

Mark Stubbert

Senior Account Manager (Cruise)

Jocelyn Saldana Account Manager, Cruise Partner Relations

Nicole Baker

COPY EDITOR Christopher Korchin

Read more Range online rangetravel.com

What is Ensemble?

Ensemble is a leading travel organization comprised of top-tier travel agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. As a valued client of one of our member agencies, you gain access to exclusive perks, amenities and experiences as well as expert advice and exceptional customer service from the foremost authorities in the travel industry. ensembletravel.com

Range (Volume 12). All rights reserved, Ensemble Travel Ltd.

Sustainable Practices Range is printed and distributed with Mi5 Print and Digital, a sustainable business partner and Earth-friendly printing company. Range is printed on Inspira text and cover and is a 100-percent sustainable sourced product. All fiber is sourced under a zero-deforestation commitment, produced using materials from rapidly renewable tree plantations. Inspira is fully PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, one of the world’s largest forest certification systems) chain of custody-certified.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the permission of the publisher. Range is published on behalf of Ensemble Travel Ltd. member agencies.

TICO: #50022140 | CST: 2141530-70 Registration numbers vary by agency.

Advertising and marketing inquiries can be sent to marketing@ensembletravel.com.

For editorial inquiries, please email range@ensembletravel.com.

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SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

E X P E R I E N C E T H E U N R I VA L E D

WE INVITE YOU TO EMBRACE THE JOURNEY By definition, Grand Voyages aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises® are longer, more immersive experiences.

More dazzling ports to explore, more exotic flavors to try, more lifelong friendships to make. But rest assured, our all-inclusive hospitality never wavers. Every moment aboard your ship will prove the extraordinary difference a caring, attentive crew makes as your impeccable suite feels more like home with every glorious sunrise.

Your mind, body and spirit will be free to embrace the journey.

CRUISE IN ALL-INCLUSIVE, UNRIVALED LUXURY

™

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS

YOUR WORLD INCLUDED TM All Specialty Dining

Shipboard Gratuities Unlimited WiFi plus choice of: Complimentary Wine & Beer or Shore Excursion Credit

The OCEANIA CRUISES® Difference Follow your wanderlust and explore more than 600 destinations around the globe aboard the small, designer-inspired ships of Oceania Cruises. With food

THE FINEST CUISINE AT SEA®

at the heart of everything we do, you’ll enjoy The Finest Cuisine at Sea® and

AWARD-WINNING ITINERARIES

memorable culinary experiences at every turn. Curated for seasoned travelers,

SMALL SHIP LUXURY™

our diverse collection of touring options features unique adventures that invite you to discover the ultimate in destination experiences. Throughout it all, we know that where you feel welcome, you feel at home. Wherever you choose to sail, you’re much more than our guest – you’re like family.

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details.

PHOTO: NASKADEMINI.

Go All In Two summers ago, on the way to a hotel on the far side of Portugal — a place my family had talked about going for years — we stopped for lunch at a restaurant I’d read about in a hotel review online. It was across the road from the bullring in the quiet town of Montemor-o-Novo. No one there spoke any English, none of us spoke Portuguese, but my 11-year-old daughter forged a connection with the waitress using a translation app. We ended up having the best meal of our trip, from many great ones. After ordering what felt like everything on the menu, we paid up, exchanged gratitude via several newly acquired phrases and continued to our destination.

Breaking the ice that day set the tone for our trip, and maybe all our future travels: A bit of extra effort can be extra rewarding. This issue of Range is filled with tales of people going above and beyond to make their voyage even more memorable. This is certainly true for writer Jennifer Malloy, who dons a dirndl to connect with Austria’s ski culture high up in the Tyrolean Alps (page 28). While touring the famous sites of India’s Golden Triangle (page 48), Range digital managing editor Robert Liwanag finds that a handful of social enterprises have a monumental impact on his journey. And on page 24, you can read our interview with explorer Emily Penn, who changed her life’s course after sailing across the world. Now she sails the seas to gather data and shed light on oceanic plastic pollution.

The best travel memories are built on transcendent experiences like these. For anyone planning their next great journey, we have six more directions to suggest, from south-central Vietnam to the Great Pyramids of Egypt (page 40). No matter how far you travel, make sure you go the distance. 

Andrew Elkin Acting Editorial Director

We’re online!

Find more immersive stories, plus expertly curated travel guides and exclusive offers, at rangetravel.com

@RangebyEnsemble

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Contributors

Jennifer Malloy

Waheeda Harris

WRITER

WRITER

Home base Calgary, Alberta My trip of a lifetime would be to Pakistan, where my brother moved last year. I would love to run the Karakoram half-marathon with him and spend time with his running group, the Margalla Trail Runners.

When I’m not writing for Range, I’m a part-time high school teacher with an incurable case of wanderlust that’s taken me to new corners of the world for publications such as The Globe and Mail, AFAR, Travel + Leisure and National Geographic.

Skis, Schnapps and Lederhosen — page 28

Kari Medig P H OTO G R A P H E R Hometown Fernie, British Columbia Home base Nelson, British Columbia The trip that changed me was a hike to Everest Base Camp when I was 19, following the old route climbers took in the 1950s. That’s where I realized how exciting and meaningful travel could be.

When I’m not shooting for Range, I work for editorial and commercial clients like National Geographic, Outside and Patagonia. But I can most often be found with my fouryear-old son at our local ski hill.

Skis, Schnapps and Lederhosen — page 28

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Hometown Kamloops, British Columbia Home base Toronto, Ontario My trip of a lifetime would be to retrace the steps of my ancestors from South Africa to India and Indonesia. My father started our family-tree research and I’ve become obsessed with genealogy.

When I’m not writing for Range, I contribute stories on design, travel, food and culture to a wide range of publications, while also taking time to explore Toronto’s neighborhoods for bakeries and decor.

Port of Call: Panama City — page 66 PHOTOS: STEVE OGLE (KARI MEDIG).

Hometown Cranbrook, British Columbia

ALWAYS INCLUDED BY ATLAS Expedition Guides + Enriching Experiences, L’OCCITANE Amenities, Unlimited Wines + Spirits, Gratuities, and More

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS.

Book yourself a vacation you’ll glow about.

Experience an unforgettable escape on Norwegian Luna™, the newest ship in the Prima Plus Class. Inspired by her sister ship Norwegian Aqua™, she’s thoughtfully designed to make every phase of your vacation shine. Stretch out under the sun at Infinity Beach, take a moonlit stroll along Ocean Boulevard and discover wide-open outdoor spaces that match your every mood, even when they change with the tides. And when night falls, the energy rises with entertainment that spans rock anthems, cirque-style acrobatics, family-friendly shows and dance parties that feel like a festival at sea — all designed to keep the glow going long after sunset.

©2025 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ships’ Registry: Bahamas and USA 2800900 10/25

Syd Norman’s Presents: A Tribute to Eagles™

Infinity Beach

Latin LIVE!™

TEXT: ANDREW ELKIN. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GOVERNORS’ CAMP COLLECTION.

GOING PLACES

EARTH-FRIENDLY

Wild Ride Guests at Governors’ Mugie House, a luxury safari retreat on the Laikipia Plateau in central Kenya, come primarily for the chance to see the iconic animals of the African savanna. Now wildlife lovers can get even closer, rolling out on quiet electric-powered mountain bikes that enable eye-level encounters with the local wildlife and double down on the meaning of “eco-friendly.”

A support vehicle drives ahead to scout out potential threats, letting riders focus on spotting the Mugie Five: the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, the common beisa oryx, Jackson’s hartebeest and the striped hyena. Remember to look both ways at the zebra crossing.

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GOING PLACES

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IN BRIEF

African Heritage Gains Ground Of the 26 nations not yet represented on the UNESCO World Heritage List, 11 are in Africa — but that’s set to change. Last year, Sierra Leone earned its first designation with the Gola-Tiwai Complex, home to the critically endangered African forest elephant, while Guinea-Bissau joined with the biodiverse Bijagós Archipelago (pictured). These, plus two others, bring the continent total to 154, accounting for just over 12 percent of the 1,248 sites recognized worldwide. By 2027, seven more African countries are expected to submit their first nominations.

ON TREND

For Love of the Game Casinos are no longer the main draw on the Strip. As gambling revenues dip, Las Vegas is going all in on sports — from hockey in the desert to a new ballpark at the Tropicana. The odds are in the city’s favor: In 2024, Americans took nearly 205 million sports-related trips, according to the Sports Events and Tourism Association.

Globally, sports tourism now accounts for 10 percent of all travel spend, with nearly half of fans crossing borders to catch a match, per Expedia. With the Winter Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup on deck, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year.

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TEXT: KATIE SEHL. PHOTOS: SIEMPREVERDE2/GETTY IMAGES (ON THE RADAR); ANNA-SULLIVAN/UNSPLASH (ON TREND).

ON THE RADAR

GOING PLACES

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IN BRIEF

CRUISE NEWS

TEXT: KATIE SEHL. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ACCOR GROUP (CRUISE NEWS); COURTESY OF YUNI BEAUTY (TRAVEL SIZE); ILLIYA VJESTICA/UNSPLASH (COMING SOON).

The Next Wave This year’s ship launches reflect the ever-deepening variety of cruise offerings — from epic ocean voyages to intimate waterway retreats. Legend of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruises) and Norwegian Luna (Norwegian Cruise Line) headline the megaship category, while Explora III (Explora Journeys) debuts as the line’s first LNG-powered vessel. Offering yacht-style cruising, Emerald Kaia (Emerald Cruises) and Orient Express Corinthian (Accor; pictured left) lead the boutique segment, while AmaKaia and AmaSofia (AmaWaterways) broaden the river-cruise scene.

TRAVEL SIZE

Fresh on the Fly No shower? No sweat. Yuni Beauty’s body wipes let you towel off on the go — no rinse required. What makes them more than moist towelettes? They swap harsh chemicals for natural ingredients that cleanse, deodorize and moisturize — including plant-derived mevalonic acid, known to boost collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Oversized yet compact, these biodegradable wipes pack big impact with minimal waste.

Shower Sheets, US$26, yunibeauty.com

COMING SOON

Blockbuster Destinations WUTHERING HEIGHTS ENGLAND The moors are bleak in Emily Brontë’s tragic love story and dark and brooding in Emerald Fennel’s retelling, filmed partially in Yorkshire Dales National Park, not far from the Brontë Parsonage Museum, which occupies the writer’s former home.

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THE ODYSSEY GREECE Film locations for Christopher Nolan’s latest map an odyssey far beyond Greece, from Iceland to Scotland and Morocco. The key site is Favignana, a Sicilian island scholars identify as one of the real-world settings Homer describes in the ancient epic.

MOANA HAWAII Shooting for the liveaction adaptation of Disney’s animated musical Moana wrapped in Pōka‘ī Beach Park on the leeward coast of Oahu, near Honolulu, where scenes like Moana’s Polynesian outrigger canoe journey were brought to life.

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GOING PLACES

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IN BRIEF

MUST-HAVE

As writer Henry David Thoreau once said, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” Draw Your Adventures, the latest illustrated guide from Samantha Dion Baker, shows you how to capture both, whether you’re on the trip of a lifetime or a run to the passport office.

Inside, she shares her go-to travel art kit and offers prompts to help you put your sightseeing to paper. “Inevitably, you’ll remember those moments on a deeper level,” she writes.

Draw Your Adventures: Making Art to Celebrate Everyday Experiences and Travels Near and Far, US$16.99, penguinrandomhouse.com

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

3 New Bikepacking Routes GOLDEN GRAVEL TRAIL, USA Adventure Cycling Association’s 50thanniversary route takes riders on a tour of off-road Americana, through the Ozark hills, the Great Plains and tumbleweed deserts, covering 3,700 miles across eight states, from the Pacific Coast to the Mississippi River.

ROUTE OF CARAVANS, MOROCCO It’s been more than 10 years since the southern half of this legendary dirt traverse debuted, and less than two since the much-anticipated northern tier completed the cross-country route, taking riders over high alpine passes through the Atlas Mountains on its way to Tangier.

GRLLA COAST TO COAST, SCOTLAND Pedal past Roman hillforts, medieval towers and foggy lochs on this coast-tocoast, 110-mile trail

by Scotland-based, German-born route designer Markus Stitz.

Ride between Easter and late October to catch the water bus across Loch Lomond.

CRUISE NEWS

Anchors Ashore Royal Caribbean Cruises rules the waves with the world’s largest ships, but the brand’s ambitions reach far beyond the shoreline.

Set to open this summer, Royal Beach Club Santorini will be the company’s first land venture in Europe, offering cruise passengers a day on the Greek isle with private coastline access and excursions to Oia and Fira. The experience follows the debut of its first beach club in Cozumel, Mexico, joining a growing collection of land destinations, including Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, and, opening this January, the southernmost hotel on earth, the Cormorant at 55 South in Chile.

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TEXT: KATIE SEHL. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE (MUST-HAVE); MARKUS STITZ (NEW AND NOTEWORTHY); COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP (CRUISE NEWS).

Make Your Own Memento

CRUISING ELEVATED On an Avalon cruise, the greatest luxury is freedom – the freedom to wake up to a world of possibilities, the freedom to personally design your days of discovery, and the freedom to pursue your passions at your desired pace. Avalon goes beyond the one-size-fits-all itineraries and traditional sightseeing of other cruise lines to offer engaging new ways to see the Old World.

T H E AVA L O N D I F F E R E N C E : Personalized Experiences

Open-Air Balconies

Choose from Classic, Active, or Discovery excursions to tailor your onshore adventure to your interests.

Avalon Panorama Suites offer 200-squarefoot luxury with beds facing the wall-towall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.

Dining Flexibility

Smaller Ships, Bigger Experiences

Regional delights, familiar favorites, and world-class wines — all with flexible venues and seating times.

Award-winning Suite Ships® average just 150 guests with a 3:1 guest-to-crew ratio, ensuring personal attention at every turn.

Unexpected Extras

Effortless Elegance

Enjoy complimentary bikes, walking sticks, Fitbits and more from your onboard Adventure Host.

Experience relaxed luxury where top-tier service and the expertise of our Cruise Directors & staff combine with a laidback, yet sophisticated, ambiance.

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details.

GOING PLACES

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PACKING LIST

Goods to Go

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Throw Pillow

Kaya Jam

Silk Sleep Mask

Keep the sun shining wherever you go with this pillow designed by Mare Studio for Ace Hotel Athens, woven and hand-embroidered in Greece from 100% cotton.

Sun Throw Pillow, Ace Hotel Athens, US$398

Try the kaya toast, slathered with a thick layer of this local concoction of coconut milk, eggs and fragrant pandan leaves, then bring home a jar to share. Available only in Singapore.

Raffles Signature Kaya Jam, Raffles Singapore, S$15

Chain-stitched by hand for the Marfa, Texas, hotel and campground El Cosmico, this mask will get you through the nights until the property reopens in 2027.

El Cosmico Sleep Mask, Far West Collective, US$98

Three-record Set

Birch Doorstop

Travel Backgammon

Recreate a Soho House mood in your own home, any time of day, with this collection of soothing sounds, lively reggae and soul classics, and contemporary uptempo tracks.

Morning Noon Night Triple Colored Vinyl, Soho Home, US$65

This wedge, made from offcuts created in the making of the Fogo Island Inn furniture collection, resembles a saltbox house like those seen all around Newfoundland.

Doorstop, Fogo Island Workshops, US$55

Inspired by the color palettes of sister hotels Il Pellicano, Mezzatorre and La Posta Vecchia, this set lets you transport their playful charm wherever you go.

Backgammon Set, ISSIMO, US$752

RANGE BY ENSEMBLE

TEXT: ANDREW ELKIN.

Make the suite life your everyday with these design-forward hotel souvenirs.

GAL ÁPAGOS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS.

GOING PLACES

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ROUNDUP

Soak It All In Jungle, swamp, town, lagoon — four springs that soothe and surprise.

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COSTA RICA

CANADA

Los Perdidos Springs

Liard River Hot Springs Park

Follow the Heliconia Walk, a tropical rainforest path, to reach a hidden oasis of seven steamy pools known as the Lost Springs, or Los Perdidos Springs, in La Fortuna. Found on the lush grounds of the Springs Resort & Spa, these thermal waters flow through a subterranean network that also bubbles up in eight of the 12 terraced pools of Las Lagunas, located steps from the hotel, which sits near the foot of the Arenal Volcano. For kids less keen on relaxation, there’s the Monkey Slide. For everyone else, the swim-up bar and the slow rhythm of the jungle.

Near Historical Mile 496 on British Columbia’s stretch of the Alaska Highway lies an unlikely tropical valley, nestled within a boreal spruce forest. Liard River Hot Springs are the second largest in the country — Fairmont Hot Springs are the largest, Miette Hot Springs likely the hottest and Banff Upper Hot Springs the highest. What makes Liard special is the system of swamps (not rivers or creeks) its thermal waters pour into, giving rise to a warm microclimate where orchids, yellow monkey flowers and ostrich ferns sway against an otherwise snowy backdrop.

RANGE BY ENSEMBLE

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA (COSTA RICA); GUNTER MARX/ALAMY (CANADA).

By K atie Sehl

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF INSIDE JAPAN TOURS ( JAPAN); COURTESY OF SKY LAGOON (ICELAND).

GOING PLACES

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ROUNDUP

JAPAN

ICELAND

Kinosaki Onsen

Sky Lagoon

Tattoos get you turned away from most onsens in Japan, but Kinosaki’s seven mystic bathhouses embrace a more relaxed attitude. With a one-day pass, yukata-robed bathers can hop around the small, willowy town and wade into the waters of happiness, prayer, beauty, luck, fertility, safety and friendship.

There are some customs to observe, starting with a visit to Onsenji Temple to give thanks to Dochi Shonin, the Buddhist monk who, legend says, unearthed the springs in 717 CE after praying for the sick for 1,000 days. Another? Bathing in the buff.

Infinity pours out under the midnight sun from the invisible 246-foot-long edge of one of Iceland’s newest lagoons — only 13 minutes by car from Reykjavík. Here, the seven-step Skjól Ritual, rooted in Icelandic bathing traditions, starts with a soak overlooking the ocean, the president’s residence at Bessastaðir and, on clear days, the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Inside the turfhouse, open your pores in a lucent sauna (step three) with a view framed by Iceland’s largest single-pane glass window. Finish with a krækiber elixir made from lava-field crowberries.

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Five Oceans

Twenty-One Rivers

#1 for Rivers #1 for Oceans*

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor to plan your next vacation.

CST# 2052644-40

*Ocean ship size category: 500-2,500 guests.

Seven Continents

GOING PLACES

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WILL TRAVEL FOR

SAINT-MALO, FRANCE

Butter by the Sea A pilgrimage from the Left Bank to Brittany’s briny shores.

By K atie Sehl

PHOTO: SLAWEK KOZDRAS.

A brick of butter presents a dilemma for the traveler, particularly in warm weather.

One must either have the appetite to consume it in its entirety, or a fridge in their near future. I had neither as I observed some form of supermarket debauchery unfold in the dairy aisle of La Grande Épicerie de Paris, where the social media set preened for a take and taste of Maison Bordier butter, piled neat like bars of gold.

Fortunately, I did have plans to head to the sea.

The scene in Saint-Malo, at the artisan butter-maker’s flagship shop, carries a coastal breeze. In front of the Brittanyblue facade, a kerchiefed border collie sits on guard for her human. She’s done this before. Inside, a man weighs a creamy slab then slaps it with two ridged wooden paddles until it holds the shape of an ingot with grooves. Here, butter is first churned by hand and salted the old-fashioned way.

As it is kneaded, it weeps: a metaphor for its slow release of excess water.

It’s the sort of pampering you’d expect to find on a spa menu. Before choosing a flavor — among them, seaweed, yuzu, black truffle, buckwheat and lemon olive oil — I ask for a lick of the original. “Weep” is the word for what it does on the tongue, too. Or, as the French expression goes: fondre en larmes. Melt into tears. 

Make it a cake

Take it home

Where to try it

Brittany’s signature pastry, Kouign Amann, means “butter cake” in Breton, and Maison Bordier’s handmade take on the decadent treat is all that and then some.

In Paris, La Grande Épicerie will vacuum seal your loot for one euro at checkout.

La Maison du Beurre Bordier 9 rue de l’Orme 35400 Saint-Malo, France

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INTERVIEW

PHOTO: EMMANUEL LUBEZKI.

GOING PLACES

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GOING PLACES

Emily Penn

INTERVIEW

Q&A

With eXXpedition Travel Limited, ocean advocate and skipper Emily Penn leads voyages that expose the immense scale of plastic pollution — and inspire action in their wake.

By Caitlin Stall-Paquet

B

—

ound for an architecture job in Australia, Emily Penn chose to travel by sea instead of flying — an environmental decision that would alter her course for good. Midway, 800 miles from the nearest shore, she spotted a toothbrush bobbing in the waves, then remote islands awash in plastic waste, and finally, oceanic trash heaps like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

A few years later, Penn took a blood test. It revealed that 29 of 35 banned toxic chemicals were in her body, many traced to microplastics, the now infamous particles scattered across the headlines. These toxins affect reproductive hormones and can be passed on during pregnancy and breastfeeding. “I realized that plastics pollution is quite a female-centered issue,” says Penn. “So why not tackle it with women?”

She traded blueprints to pursue life at sea, cofounding eXXpedition, which runs marine research expeditions with an all-women crew. After a five-year pause, partly due to Covid-19, voyages will kick off again in April under a new banner — this time inviting travelers along for the ride. On board, groups of 10 or so women will conduct research, share stories and figure out their role as change-makers once back on solid ground.

Range How does welcoming travelers on eXXpedition voyages contribute to the mission?

Emily Penn We gather data to help decision-makers, politicians and businesses make better choices. We also tell stories through social media and filmmaking, like our documentary X Trillion. Plus, the people who join our expeditions undergo deep transformation: At sunset on deck, dolphins leaping at the bow, we have conversations about how we’re going to change the world. These moments fuel participants for the next part of their lives.

R Why do you sail with such a wide range of women, including many non-scientists?

EP Our science shows that plastic pollution in the ocean comes from hundreds of different sources, so it needs hundreds of solutions. We address that by bringing together people from diverse sectors, backgrounds and countries to solve their piece of the problem and tackle it from a different angle. That’s why our crew is made up of scientists, artists, teachers, designers, industry leaders, policymakers, journalists and parents. When we get applications, we try to shape each team to have a real diversity of skills.

R Have you seen the experience change someone’s path?

EP We had one girl who was a packaging designer, creating graphics for laundry detergent and such. Towards the end of the trip, she said, “I can’t decorate plastic for a living anymore.” She went home, quit her job, set up a sustainable-design consultancy, and she’s now doing something completely different. Those are the bits I love.

R How do you fight plastic waste on board?

EP Through our purchasing: We buy in bulk, bake from scratch, use refillable soap containers and have a water maker that makes saltwater potable — so no plastic bottles.

We also encourage participants to avoid bringing things that need to be disposed of. On small islands or in remote areas, there often aren’t facilities for that. We also created an online platform, Shift, which provides hundreds of plastic-waste solutions.  Read the full interview at rangetravel.com.

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Explore the world, one dream destination at a time Set sail with Princess and encounter extraordinary moments at sea and ashore, each one an experience unlike any other.

Dream destinations become reality with Princess, where one-of-a-kind activities & world-class excursions are part of every journey. Every day at sea or ashore brings a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, complemented by world-class dining, elevated hospitality and the ease of travel with the Princess® MedallionClass® experience. The world is yours to explore… discover it all with Princess.

CARIBBEAN

Set sail into the heart of the Caribbean with Princess, blending luxury, exploration and effortless elegance.

Discover every corner, from the sun-kissed sands of the Eastern Isles to the rich rhythms of the West and the untouched Southern coastlines. Explore white sand beaches, crystal-clear seas and lush jungles. Adventure one day, unwind the next. Whether you’re drawn to hidden harbors, vibrant cultures or tranquil luxury, we take you there and turn your dream Caribbean vacation into reality.

ALASKA

You’ve seen pictures and heard stories, but nothing prepares you for Alaska’s raw beauty. Mountains tower over ice-blue waters, glaciers stretch for miles and wildlife thrives in untouched wilderness. On a single journey, you may witness ice walls breaking off into the sea, whales breaching and bald eagles soaring overhead. Onshore, fall for charming frontier towns, feel glacier ice underfoot and spot bears fishing for salmon. For more than 55 years, Princess has turned visits into experiences that linger, showing why in Alaska, the extraordinary is everyday.

MEDITERRANEAN

Follow your heart to legendary lands you’ve only dreamed of visiting. Experience the culture and cuisine of cities like Sicily, Marseille, Istanbul and Venice. Walk ancient ruins in Rome and Athens, admire Santorini’s Red Beach and explore the art of the Vatican Museum or the whimsy of Barcelona’s architecture. Princess’ Local Connections program immerses you in each region through local experts: lunch with a sculptor in Naples, a soap-making workshop in Marseille or cooking Norman cuisine near Paris. Set sail and fall in love with everything Europe on an unforgettable cruise or cruisetour.

With Princess, turning your travel dreams into reality is effortless. Unpack once, settle into unparalleled comfort and wake up to new wonders each day. Every moment, every destination, every journey is curated to create memories that last a lifetime. Your extraordinary voyage begins the moment you step aboard.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS. ©2025, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. Princess®, MedallionClass®, Ocean®, and the Princess logo are trademarks of Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Ships registered in Bermuda.

Skis, Schnapps

B y J e n n i f e r M a l l oy — P h o t o s by K a r i M e d i g

Finding kinship at Austria’s folkiest spring ski festival, high up in the Tyrolean Alps.

and Lederhosen

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ABOVE Writer Jennifer Malloy poses in an Austrian dirndl: bodice, skirt and apron.

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The mountain huts are as popular as the slopes on spring ski days; schnapps (and fries) fuel the festivities; a reveler claims his spot in the sunshine; a popular figure in the local community, Josef Steinberger holds court in the Arena Stadl mountain hut.

OPENING SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT The Lederhosen Wedel festival invites skiers to celebrate Austrian Alpine tradition and to ski wearing dirndls and leather breeches.

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t’s tradition to stick the lid on your nose.” I’m staring at the frothy, clear liquor in the bottle before me, standing with four strangers I met moments ago. We bang the miniature bottles against the palms of our hands and, adhering to custom, affix the caps firmly to our noses.

Then we begin to chant: a low, repetitive hum of the German word zum, meaning “together.” The rhythm builds — zum, zum, zum, zum, zum, zum, zum, zum — growing louder, pitching higher, until we crescendo in a whooping holler. We thrust the tiny flasks of Berliner Luft schnapps into the air and drink.

The glass glints against an alpine backdrop, the air sizzles with the smell of frying Wiener schnitzel, and the notes of an accordion mingle with the sharp crack of a Goaßlschnalzer, a Bavarian whip-cracker.

The rhythmic snap is said to drive the last of winter away, and the crowd answers the call with a cheer that echoes through the valley.

Earlier this morning, before I joined the heaving swell of the festival, I had unpacked a borrowed dirndl, the traditional women’s outfit of Alpine Austria. As I ran my hands over the soft cotton, admiring the sky-

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blue color and the decorative embroidery adorning the apron, a quiet thrill ran through me. Slipping it on — tightening the bodice, smoothing the skirt — I felt myself click into the rhythm of the event, as if the outfit itself were an invitation. By the time I board my first ski lift of the day, I am stepping into something larger than myself. And as I make my way through the festival crowd, I feel the tug, the welcome, the sense of being folded in.

This feeling of togetherness is at the heart of the Lederhosen Wedel Finale, held high up in the Zillertal, or Ziller Valley, of the Tyrol region — the cradle of Austrian ski culture. Wedel refers to a skiing technique, and on this April weekend I join hundreds of festivalgoers wearing dirndls, lederhosen and ski boots to celebrate winter’s end and spring’s arrival.

In this setting, four strangers in skis and breeches turn into fast friends. Borders blur, nations unite and language barriers slip away like skis on a steep slope.

“We are united by a sport,” says Max Sprenger, one of the servers at Arena Stadl, the highest mountain hut in the valley, where we’re gathered. Perched at 7,874 feet (2,400 meters) of elevation, the cozy

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wood-framed retreat combines rustic charm with sweeping views of the surrounding glaciated peaks, connected by more than 50 lifts and cable cars. The outdoor patio has been transformed into a lively dance floor bordered by hay bales where giggling girls in rainbow-colored dirndls pose for photos.

“You meet people from all over the world, and we live the Austrian custom of skiing by spending time together,” Sprenger says, gesturing to the boisterous crowd around us. “It’s a big family, full of passionate people who keep coming back, even if they live far away.”

The Lederhosen Wedel festival started in 2013 as a spirited warm-up to Gauder Fest — one of the country’s oldest folk festivals — which attracts more than 30,000 revelers to the town of Zell am Ziller on the valley floor. Today’s joyful tribute to the Austrian Alpine spirit is happening on the snowy slopes above.

The day begins with a parade of skiers, dressed in old-timey garb, at the base of Zillertal Arena, a vast ski area that reaches from 4,100 up to 8,200 feet (1,250 to 2,500 meters) above sea level.

In the Ziller Valley and in Austria, skiing isn’t just sport — it’s deeply embedded in the local and national

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culture. Children learn to ski almost as soon as they can walk, and local clubs foster lifelong devotion.

Schools close for ski days and shut down for a week on the peaks each winter. “It’s a tradition. Everybody skis,” says Christian Daum, part of the Gauder Fest organizing team. He’s just taught his own three-yearold daughter, he proudly tells me.

I’m wrapped in sky-blue fabric, and the skirt of my dirndl swishes awkwardly against my rigid ski boots.

The crowd is a kaleidoscope of color: cleavage-baring Dirndlblusen (blouses), Schürzen (aprons) of pale blue, soft yellow and muted pink, and neatly braided hair.

The party spreads up and down the slopes. Nearby, women in dirndls with white veils and tiaras celebrate what Austrians call Poltern, or bachelorette parties.

Folk music blares from Bluetooth speakers carried by men in gingham shirts, gilets and lederhosen. A group beside me hauls a case of beer up the lift stairs and pops the tops with celebratory flair before loading into the gondola with me.

I catch another cable car and ski down to a chairlift, then up and down again, making my way to another of the Zillertal’s lively mountain huts. A blur of skirts

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ABOVE Goaßlschnalzer Stefan Berghammer performs a Bavarian whip-cracking dance.

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The observance of tradition takes all forms at the Lederhosen Wedel festival; the town of Zell am Ziller, seen from the slopes above; the Arena Stadl hut is well-stocked in anticipation of the spring skiing party; cousins Johannes and Sebastian Roder show off their Alpine style.

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ABOVE Arena Stadl band member Thomas Marcher poses with his baritone horn.

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Ski boots don’t stop revelers from storming the dance floor; skiers breaking their fast at the Keuzwiesenalm mountain hut; Firn is the soft, slushy snow common to spring ski conditions; an elevated ski breakfast of sausage and pretzel, served at 5,000 feet.

and braids zips past me. The day is warm, and skiing without snow pants or a winter coat is thrilling, if slightly nerve-racking: What if I take a tumble? The hem of my skirt floats and swirls around my legs and my apron flutters in the wind as I pick up speed. The outfit transforms every turn into a dance, my skirt billowing in rhythm with the slopes.

After another icy run — it’s not yet warm enough for Firn, the soft, slushy snow that forms atop the ice — I arrive at the Kreuzwiesenalm mountain hut, already swarming with revelers. A man in a dinosaur costume storms the dance floor while a couple twirls beneath a backdrop of snowy peaks. The owner’s son, a young boy dressed in pint-sized lederhosen, opens beers for the crowd. Platters of eggs, speck, crusty bread, mountain yogurt and jam-filled doughnuts are served alongside beer, white-wine spritzers and schnapps.

I snag a cup of rich espresso and inhale the scent of freshly ground beans against the crisp Alpine air.

For young people, the pastime extends beyond the slopes. “It’s a mixture of skiing and après-ski,” says student Lea Rahm. “A little more of the après-ski,” laughs her friend Laura Rampl. Austria’s take on

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slopeside culture — glühwein and all — is renowned for Gemütlichkeit, the warm, happy feeling you get when connecting with friends. “It’s really about the people,” says Rahm.

Indeed, the laughter, shared meals and music bring people together in a way that I haven’t experienced at other ski resorts. Skiing may bring them here, but I sense that it’s the relationships that form in its wake that keep people coming back. A group from Bavaria tells me it’s the relaxed atmosphere that makes genuine connection possible. This is a place where conversation flows freely — when people aren’t dancing, that is.

A live band starts playing a popular folk tune; there’s hooting, hollering and clapping. The dance floor fills with swirling skirts and embroidered shorts.

The energy is contagious. On the sidelines, men use spoons to drum rhythms on their leather-clad thighs.

I step onto the floor. My movements are clumsy in ski boots, but no one notices. I stomp, twirl and let the music take me. My blue dirndl flares with every spin.

It’s a moment of pure belonging — and a moment is all I need. 

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I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Redefining the Art of Vacation By offering longer itineraries and more time in ports of call, Holland America Line helps guests rediscover what it means to slow down and enjoy the trip.

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINE (PREVIOUS PAGE); LISA VAN VLIET/UNSPLASH (THIS PAGE).

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E

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he keys to a memorable vacation are getting away from the daily grind and carving out time to rejuvenate. Yet too often, many of us find ourselves with packed schedules, striving to do too much and often returning home exhausted. Holland America Line invites travelers to try a different approach: to slow down, discover and “Savour the Journey.” More than just a slogan, it’s a vacation mindset that balances relaxation with enrichment — and a driving force in how the cruise line designs itineraries.

“I’m a firm believer that when we build an itinerary, it has plenty in the way of experiences,” says Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s VP of Revenue Planning and Deployment. Grigsby and his team created Legendary Voyages, a collection of multi­ week sailings combining breezy sea days with deeper exploration on shore. The 28-day Legendary Coral Triangle & Great Barrier Reef voyage departing

January 2027, for example, layers adventures in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea with visits to the volcanic isles in the Ring of Fire, where biodiversity and rich Indigenous culture take center stage. Search for endemic primates during a jungle trek on the island of Sulawesi, encounter Komodo National Park’s fearsome dragons or snorkel the pristine coral gardens with manta rays, sea turtles and hundreds of fish species. The rituals and cultural traditions of Papua New Guinea come to life in performances featuring elaborate headdresses, dance ceremonies and other folklore. The voyage takes travelers past Batu Tara volcano, which Grigsby calls “the Stromboli of Asia,” and Krakatau volcano, where one of the most cataclysmic explosions on earth took place in 1883.

Beyond unique experiences, itineraries are also crafted with creativity, such as the 28-day Legendary Glaciers & Volcanoes: Alaska to Hawaii departing

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ABOVE An excursion to Komodo National Park in Indonesia could bring a glimpse of the immense Komodo dragon, found only in this archipelago.

OPPOSITE PAGE The MS Westerdam is dwarfed by Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier.

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and Maizuru — have also been added to the 14-day Circle Japan itineraries that sail almost exclusively in Japanese waters. “We’re always looking at augmenting our port portfolio,” Grigsby says, and introducing less-visited communities means itineraries can still entice seasoned travelers.

Destination-specific lectures, such as the “Asia Up Close”™ presentations on Japan sailings, help prepare guests for insightful excursions on Japanese soil. These explore the nation’s futuristic transit system, its legacy of craftsmanship, and cultural themes that range from the way of the samurai and Zen spirituality to architectural design and baseball.

Closer to home in 2027, Holland America Line will celebrate 80 years of cruising to Alaska. “It’s really where we cut our teeth as a cruise line,” says Bill Fletcher, Holland America’s senior director, Sales Enablement. That long-standing experience gives shape to a robust Alaska program, which features

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINE.

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E THIS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT Takada Castle, in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, is the site of one of Japan’s top nocturnal cherry blossom festivals; a Retreat Cabana, like this one on MS Eurodam, is a perfect setting for observing wildlife and other natural wonders from the deck.

September 2026. This trip cleverly combines two contrasting destinations into a single voyage. “It’s a fun juxtaposition with hot and cold, fire and ice, on the same trip,” Grigsby says.

These extended voyages foster slow travel while at sea and offer quality time in port that enables meaningful discoveries on land. Itineraries developed for Holland America’s 2027–2028 Asia season include overnight stays in six major cities, with 34 hours in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, and Bangkok, and up to 40 hours in Shanghai. The extra time in Ha Long Bay, Grigsby points out, allows visitors to explore beyond the area’s dramatic limestone islets. Excursions to fishing villages, family farms and Buddhist monasteries provide a deeper look into the rural life that a single-day visit would miss. Guests can try local cuisine or simply wander, “getting lost” and experiencing the atmosphere in an unhurried way. Three new ports in central Japan — Hitachinaka, Niigata

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E

Inside Passage cruises and an array of extensive tours into Denali National Park and Preserve, the Kenai Peninsula and Yukon Territory. The offerings remain compelling, including the trailblazing 7-day Great Bear Rainforest itinerary on British Columbia’s northern coast, charting new territory beyond the typical cruise circuit. The itinerary visits communities with deep Indigenous heritage, such as Prince Rupert, and follows the historic route once traversed by coastal steamers during the Gold Rush. Sailing through the serene, forested Grenville and Seaforth channels, the Great Bear Rainforest cruise explores coastline that few have the chance to experience.

The 28-day Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice departing in June 2026 pairs the Great Bear Rainforest with visits to Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Nome. On the longest day of the year, the ship sails to the Arctic Circle to celebrate summer solstice. “We are always looking for ways to differentiate ourselves as the des-

tination cruise line,” Fletcher says. Holland America’s Alaska expertise helps mold itineraries that are equally unique and as rewarding in other regions where nature, wildlife and cultural experiences are front and center. Legendary Voyages also venture to the Amazon, Canada, Iceland, Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands.

A key component of Holland America’s global reach is its fleet of 11 mid-sized ships, all of which can sail through narrow channels to access smaller, less-visited ports, opening the door to off-the-beatenpath experiences. “Savour the Journey” begins at sail-away with Taittinger champagne cocktails and destination-inspired canapés, and the theme continues throughout the voyage with cuisine local to the itinerary. Along the way, there are leisurely sea days to truly indulge in every moment, supported by thoughtful service from the gracious crew. The outcome? Return home rested, inspired and enriched.

That’s vacationing the Holland America way. 

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Ask your Ensemble travel advisor about exclusive amenities on Holland America Line cruises.

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PHOTO: ABDELRHMAN ALLAM/UNSPLASH (PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, EGYPT).

Six Places to Visit

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By Robert Liwanag, Renée Morrison and K atie Sehl

This is the year we return to the moon. The year of the Fire Horse — a rare zodiac mix that gallops in once every six decades. A year when mainland Europe witnesses its first total solar eclipse since the turn of the millennium. When Bulgaria joins the eurozone, Amsterdam hosts WorldPride for the first time and Vienna stages Eurovision for a third. The year “skimo,” a.k.a. ski mountaineering, makes its debut at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina. When three countries — Canada, Mexico and the USA — welcome a record 48 teams for the FIFA World Cup. A year when the United States marks its 250th anniversary, and Botswana marks its 60th. When the world’s largest Guggenheim opens its doors in Abu Dhabi.

So, where will 2026 take you? Whether you’re chasing the action or looking to get away from it all, we have a few suggestions.

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WORLDWIDE

Giza, Egypt

PHOTO: WIRESTOCK/GETTY PHOTOS: MICKAËL A. BANDASSAK. IMAGES (GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM).

By some estimates, it took roughly two decades to pile more than two million stones into the Great Pyramid of Giza some 4,600 years ago. The Grand Egyptian Museum, opened in November 2025, took just as long and may be just as monumental.

Hailed as the fourth pyramid, GEM is the world’s largest archeological museum, with 100,000 artifacts spread across 12 galleries and five million square feet — a footprint larger than the Louvre, the British Museum and Berlin’s Neues Museum combined. It would take 92 days to see it all, at just 30 seconds per artifact, but treasures like the 36-foot-tall, 83-ton red granite statue of Ramses II and items from the tomb of King Tutankhamun deserve longer pause (as does the absence of long-ago looted relics like the Rosetta Stone). Through the grand staircase’s wall of glass, six storeys up, the Sphinx and the Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids come into full view, as do the new electric buses shuttling tourists to the revamped Giza pyramid complex. To see it up close, take the new GEM Touristic Walkway, a desert path linking the museum to the pyramids in under a mile.

DON’T MISS The world’s only suspended obelisk, raised to reveal the royal cartouche of King Ramses II hidden at its base for some 3,500 years.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE Make the trek downriver to the Valley of the Kings, where the colossal tomb of Amenhotep III has recently reopened after a 20-year renovation.

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WORLDWIDE

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

PHOTO: KAT HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES (BEQUIA).

Saint Vincent moved mountains to welcome you. Three, to be exact — cleared to make way for Argyle International Airport, which opened on Valentine’s Day 2017. “People kissed the ground, even proposed to each other,” recalls Marlon Joseph, hospitality officer with the SVG Tourism Authority. The new runway rolled out like a red carpet. Recently it has welcomed more direct flights from Delta Air Lines and Air Canada, to go with openings from Holiday Inn and Sandals (the latter debuting its first-ever two-storey overwater villas) and four more hotel projects on the horizon. In Kingstown’s port, an expansion promises more cruise calls, while the new Bequia Fast Ferries halve sail time to the largest of the Grenadines. Across the nation’s 32 islands and cays — among them the coral-reefed Tobago Cays and Canouan (home to Mandarin Oriental and Soho House’s only Caribbean resort) — sustainability is the focus. “That’s what we’re selling: ecotourism,” says Quency Lewis, a local tour guide. Consider ziplining above Diamond Beach’s black sands, visiting Grenadine Wild Sea Salt’s elysian estate or hiking La Soufrière volcano.

DON’T MISS Cocktails on swings at Bar One, a floating hideaway two minutes by dinghy from Bequia’s majestic Princess Margaret Beach.

WHAT TO EAT Alphonso’s Lobster BBQ on Petit Rameau, Mac’s Pizza and Kitchen’s famous lobster pie on Bequia, and roast breadfruit with fried jackfish wherever you can find it.

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WORLDWIDE

Route 66, USA

PHOTO: KEVIN WEST/UNSPLASH (SANTA MONICA PIER).

PHOTOS: MICKAËL A. BANDASSAK.

Ask any traveler “What’s your favorite stop on Route 66?” and you’ll almost never hear the same answer twice. While much of the modern world chases efficiency and walkability, this historic stretch of blacktop, brick and dirt remains a tribute to the open road and the golden age of the automobile. Stretching nearly 2,500 miles from downtown Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles, Route 66 winds through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Unlike modern highways that bypass small towns, Route 66 runs right through them, inviting travelers to linger at the diners, gas stations and shops that helped turn it into an American icon. Though officially decommissioned in 1985, much of the highway remains drivable a century after it opened.

Take your pick of roadside oddities, from the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, to the nearly 30-foot-tall, Space Raceinspired Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois. And if you’re keener on two wheels than four, the U.S. Bicycle Route 66, introduced in 2018, offers several segments, including a 358-mile stretch between Baxter Springs, Kansas, and St. Louis, Missouri, and a 330-mile route between Santa Monica and Needles, California.

DID YOU KNOW? From neon-lit motels to weathered bridges, more than 250 sites from Route 66’s past now live on in the National Register of Historic Places.

DON’T MISS At the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, 10 Cadillacs have been halfburied nose-first in the desert since 1974. Bring a can of spray paint — visitors are encouraged to add to the evolving art installation.

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WORLDWIDE

Phú Yên Region, Vietnam

PHOTO: PHAM HUNG/GETTY IMAGES (PHÜ YÊN REGION).

If local culture, modern amenities and sun-soaked, uncrowded beaches sound like paradise to you, set your course for Vietnam’s south-central coast. Phú Yên offers 125 miles of under-visited coastline — turquoise-blue swimming coves, lava-formed cliffs and fishing villages unchanged by time. The region’s appeal is rooted in authenticity. Cultural tourism and sustainable agriculture sit at the forefront, with districts rolling out activities tied to traditional livelihoods, from night squid-fishing tours in capital Tuy Hòa to visiting sedge-mat weaving workshops in Phú Tân village. Such riches are matched with polished stay options, and daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have boosted hotel occupancy in the past year.

The much-anticipated Mandarin Oriental Bai Nom is set to open with beachfront villas and a cliff-top spa overlooking a private bay. Nearby, Xuan Dai Bay and the Crystal Holidays Marina Phú Yên are ushering in upscale properties to accommodate visitors without overwhelming the coastline. And Tuy Hòa, with its buzzy markets and seaside promenade, features high-rise hotels and sleek restaurants.

DID YOU KNOW? Phú Yên’s traditional rice-paper making has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.

WHEN TO GO February to August brings the clearest seas and calmest bays, ideal for snorkeling, with Hòn Chùa Islet offering some of the region’s most colorful coral gardens.

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WORLDWIDE

Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi

PHOTO: BUENA VISTA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES (LOUVRE ABU DHABI).

PHOTOS: MICKAËL A. BANDASSAK.

Picture this: You spend the morning among priceless ancient wonders at the Louvre, the afternoon immersed in modern and contemporary art at the Guggenheim and the evening tracing the history of the planet across billions of years inside the soaring Natural History Museum. If that sounds like a whirlwind tour of Western Europe, think again: You will soon find all three institutions — and more — at the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi. Situated on an island in the north of the capital, the project broke ground in 2009 and is scheduled for completion in 2026 with the opening of the Guggenheim. Covering nearly one square mile and carrying a multibillion-dollar price tag, it’s a testament to Abu Dhabi’s global vision. Take the Abrahamic Family House, opened in 2023.

Designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, it brings together a mosque, a church and a synagogue, plus a fourth space consisting of a forum and raised garden. Off-white concrete, towering columns and dappled sunlight combine to create a space for reflection and dialogue.

WHEN TO GO Several sites are already open, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, which uses light projectors, water and scents to create multisensory art installations.

COMING SOON Set to open in 2026, the fourth and largest Guggenheim museum — designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry — will comprise 11 striking cone-shaped structures.

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WORLDWIDE

Sacred Valley, Peru

PHOTO: CHRISTIAN DECLERCQ/GETTY IMAGES (CHOQUEQUIRAO).

High in the Andes, the heart of the Inca world is beating louder than ever. In early 2025, Inca sites other than Machu Picchu saw a 14-percent rise in visitors, a surge driven as much by new access as renewed curiosity in the valleys and slopes once inhabited by the Inca people.

Infrastructure is leading the way, with Peru’s cable-car project set to rewrite the map over the coming years, most notably at Choquequirao, Peru’s “other Machu Picchu,” where a 6.6-mile system will slash the journey from a multi-day trek to a 20-minute ride. Links planned for Waqrapukara, Urubamba and Collpani Grande–Viscachani will make other less­ visited sites much more accessible.

Luxury rail is already reshaping the journey: Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train offers refined service between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and the Belmond Andean Explorer’s sleeper-train routes are drawing rail travelers to the highlands through Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca.

Adventure seekers can hike to remote Espíritu Pampa, a jungle-shrouded “last Inca city” where excavations are unearthing the site’s storied past. Peru has always appealed to those willing to journey a little farther. That journey is slowly becoming easier, but the reward is just as rich. 

DON’T MISS Weave-dying demonstrations in Chinchero, where master artisans work with alpaca fiber and natural dyes from plants, then show off intricate weaving techniques.

WHERE TO STAY Boutique hillside lodges in Urubamba such as Sol y Luna and Inkaterra Hacienda blend traditional warmth with modern Andean design.

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Another Side of India

W o r d s a n d P h o t o s by R o b e r t L i w a n a g

An all-women cab service, a children’s shelter and a café run by acid-attack survivors invite visitors to see the country beyond its monuments.

INDIA

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ust after 5 a.m., the line outside the Great Gate of the Taj Mahal is already hundreds deep. We’re all here for the same reason: to see the iconic Mughal-era mausoleum at sunrise. In 1632, Emperor Shah Jahan ordered its construction to honor his late consort, Mumtaz Mahal. “It’s a famous symbol of love, but also of power and history,” says Raghu Rathore, a guide with G Adventures, a small-group tour company that blends adventure travel with social responsibility.

And it doesn’t disappoint. The sheer scale and artistry of the complex are awe-inspiring, but what lingers is the overwhelming stillness of the tomb itself, where guards strictly forbid photographs and a low hum resonates beneath the soaring dome.

While the Taj Mahal is the centerpiece of our itinerary, we’re also exploring corners of India that most travelers never see. During our journey, we connect with a range of community-based enterprises supported by Planeterra, a key partner of G Adventures.

These projects are entirely owned and operated by locals, designed to uplift and empower communities

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while also enriching visitors’ experiences. Planeterra supports initiatives in more than 78 countries, and seven in India alone. Our days may be filled with tuk-tuk rides, wild macaques and the vivid haze of Holi powders, but these grassroots initiatives allow us to experience another dimension of even the most iconic places.

Responsible travel has been gaining real momentum. In a 2025 report from Booking.com, 53 percent of travelers said they are now conscious of travel’s impact on communities and the environment, while 69 percent want to leave places better than they found them. But what does responsible travel actually look like in a country as vast and complex as India — home to both the world’s fourth-largest economy and the lowest gross domestic product per capita among G20 nations? Booking a homestay or hiring local guides are meaningful choices, but perhaps it truly starts with refusing the glossy postcard ideal and embracing a deeper, messier and far more meaningful version of a beautiful place.

LEFT TO RIGHT Salman from Salaam Baalak Trust guides visitors through Central Delhi, where there is an abundance of religious street art, including depictions of Kali, the Hindu goddess of time, death and female empowerment; Islamic, Indian and Persian influences merge to create the Taj Mahal’s revered symmetrical design.

OPENING SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT Just outside Jaipur, the lavish Amer Fort climbs four levels, each with its own expansive courtyard; Nataraja, depicting the Hindu god Shiva as a dancer, is among the many exquisite statues and artworks that adorn Amer Fort.

INDIA

Cruising through the nearempty streets of Delhi past midnight, I hadn’t considered that a simple cab ride could bring about something so transformative.

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WOMEN WITH WHEELS Three days earlier, I touched down in Delhi — the first stop on northwest India’s Golden Triangle, a storied tourist circuit that includes Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur. At the airport, I meet Ipshita Kamra, the Delhi city chief for Women With Wheels, a social enterprise that provides women from marginalized communities a path behind the wheel. She leads me to Lalita, dressed in a teal and pink kurta with matching trousers, who will drive me to my hotel near India Gate, the city’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A lifelong Delhi resident, she was among the first women to claim her seat in the program when it launched in 2008.

To many Westerners, an all-women cab service might seem like a novelty. In India, it’s a matter of safety and independence. Unfortunately, the country continues to struggle with entrenched gender inequality: In the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, India ranks 129th out of 146 countries. Further, more than half of Indian women aged 15 to 29 are neither employed nor enrolled in school, and over 90 percent of working women have jobs with limited job security, protections or benefits.

Now, the network has trained and provided employment for more than 5,000 women across India.

Cruising through the near-empty streets of Delhi past midnight, I hadn’t considered that a simple cab ride could bring about something so transformative. Through a partnership with Baton Transport, a European trucking firm, 18 drivers from Women With Wheels now command 40-foot tractor-trailers across Europe, navigating roads through Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Lalita, once an expert of Delhi’s streets, now drives international routes.

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SALAAM BAALAK TRUST DELHI “Any trip that starts in New Delhi must begin with a walking tour,” advises Rathore. He’s correct. In the neighborhood of Paharganj in Central Delhi, our guides, Kajal and Salman, lead us through a vision of India I couldn’t wait to experience — what Rathore affectionately calls an “organized mess.” The honking is constant, food stalls spill into the streets and timeworn colonial-era buildings twist into a maze.

Beiges and grays dominate the cityscape, punctuated by bright splashes of color: pink teddy bears for sale in a shop, saris drying on balconies and a stray rickshaw.

At one crossing, Salman laughs and says, “Here’s your Indian stoplight,” simply raising his hand. A row of motorcycles halt, and we walk on.

Our walking tour is an activity provided by Salaam Baalak Trust Delhi, a nonprofit offering shelter and support to unhoused and working children in the capital. Established in 1988 by Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, the organization has provided shelter to over 42,000 children, supported the literacy of more than 89,000 and distributed 9.7 million meals to date. What’s more, it also delivers services like music classes, mental-health programs and even classes in self-defense.

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Our guides know Salaam Baalak Trust and the streets of Central Delhi like the backs of their hands.

Through the organization’s City Walk initiative, young adults like Salman and Kajal hone their communication skills by guiding strangers around the city they know best. Salman came to the Trust in 2010 after losing his father and becoming homeless in Delhi with his mother and sister. Now, he dreams of Bollywood stardom. “I’m very proud to tell my story,” he says. Kajal’s goals are more modest, but no less life-changing. A longtime member of the Trust, she arrived at age seven after her parents sought to shield her from a stressful home life. After signing up for a course in aviation, hospitality and travel management, she is now a guide at G Adventures, leading visitors like me through the Golden Triangle and beyond.

Kajal and Salman’s stories are all too common.

Whether due to the death of a parent or a flood that destroys a home, many children arrive in Delhi with nothing. At first, they might find work at a tea stall, but often they’re targeted by gangs and drawn into stealing or begging. For girls, the dangers are even more specific: Many are runaways escaping abuse. “In a few places, girls are still seen as burdens to be shed

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LEFT TO RIGHT When in Noida, sip chai and pick up unique souvenirs at Sheroes Hangout, a café run by acid-attack survivors; locals once fetched water for temples and households at Panna Meena ka Kund, a 16th-century stepwell a short distance from Amer Fort.

PHOTO: IMAGO/JAVED DAR/ALAMY.

INDIA

INDIA

as early as possible, so child marriages and dowries remain common,” says Kajal. Alone and vulnerable in the city, some are coerced into sex work. Kajal points out that GB Road, the city’s main red-light district, sits near the New Delhi Railway Station.

Our tour around Delhi wasn’t always comfortable, but it wasn’t meant to be. For every simple sensory delight, from the sight of modaks (sweet dumplings) at a restaurant to the sound of Indipop echoing down an alleyway, we also confronted stark economic disparities. But this isn’t poverty tourism. There are no tricks or scripts, just stories from the heart. In its own way, this walk is as rewarding as seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time. Both experiences open windows into India’s diverse realities.

Salaam Baalak Trust Delhi has provided shelter to over 42,000 children, supported the literacy of more than 89,000 and distributed 9.7 million meals.

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SHEROES HANGOUT On a nondescript street, just a half-hour walk from India’s most famous landmark, sits a small café of great significance. In Agra, Sheroes Hangout is operated entirely by acid-attack survivors — women who were targeted by assailants seeking to punish, control or silence them. Instead, these women have reclaimed their lives. Inside, the café is filled with books, paintings, saris and the strong aroma of chai, while the menu follows a pay-what-you-can model. In all, around 50 survivors work at three Sheroes cafés in Agra, Lucknow and Noida. Visitors can grab a seat and unwind with arts and crafts or have their hands decorated with henna by one of the talented women working there.

Opened in 2014, Sheroes campaigns for Stop Acid Attacks, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about acid attacks and providing crucial support to survivors. “The idea was to create a safe, inclusive and dignified space that went beyond charity,” says co-founder Ashish Shukla. “We wanted survivors to lead their own narratives, interact confidently with the public and earn a livelihood with pride.” On this particular afternoon, we meet four of them — all wearing matching T-shirts that read “My beauty is my smile.”

One of them is named Rukaiya.

In 2002, at just 14 years old, Rukaiya was attacked by her sister’s brother-in-law — a man whose marriage

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INDIA

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INDIA

LEFT TO RIGHT Amer Fort’s yellow sandstone, naturally weathered, stands out in every corner of the complex; Hawa Mahal (“Wind Palace”), an enduring symbol of Jaipur, features 953 windows to circulate air and let royal women look out over the streets in privacy.

proposal she had refused. At the time, her family’s financial constraints and her age prevented them from pursuing legal action. It wasn’t until 2023 that her case was finally filed. By 2025, compensation had begun.

Due to the easy availability of acid, it’s estimated that around 300 acid attacks take place in India each year. And they are not always related to familial disputes. As we share tea, the women tell us about Yeto, attacked at age three in a random act of violence in Agra, and Geeta from Meerut, who was working in a shop when two unidentified boys on a motorbike threw acid on her face before speeding away.

There’s something quietly revolutionary about Sheroes Hangout. Here, survivors are celebrated, not pitied. As many cultures around the world still sometimes shroud trauma in silence, this café gives those accounts a place to be heard. But it’s also a refuge — a space where the healing power of stories stands alongside the soothing comfort of tea and coffee, served with a smile.

There’s something quietly revolutionary about Sheroes Hangout. Here, survivors are celebrated, not pitied.

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My journey ends in Jaipur with two more landmarks.

First, the majestic Amer Fort, its once-bright yellow walls now faded with time. Then, on the morning of my departure, I take a leisurely stroll through the city before stopping at Hawa Mahal, the red sandstone palace that resembles a honeycomb. As I soak in the scene, I realize India has gifted me something I look for in all of my travels: a new perspective. One that sees beauty not just in palaces, but in the survival and perseverance of its people. I came to India for the monuments, but I leave thinking of women steering their futures on the road, young adults leading the way through the streets and survivors building new lives in a café filled with community, warmth and chai.

At the Taj Mahal, Rathore told us that Shah Jahan, after being overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and exiled to a prison cell in Agra Fort, spent his final years gazing longingly at the monument to his lost love. “That’s the legend, anyway,” he admitted. “It’s probably not true.”

The stories I witnessed, though, are. 

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TRIPS OF A LIFETIME When you plan your Celebrity cruise with your Ensemble travel advisor you can expect personalized service, experienced and knowledgeable travel experts and when booking a veranda or above enjoy an exclusive $100 shore excursion credit per stateroom.

Please contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details *Offer applies to 4-night and longer itineraries that depart Jan. 1st, 2026 through Open Deployment. Bookings must be made between Jan. 1st, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2026.

Offer excludes Galapagos sailings. Offer is $100 Onboard credit “OBC” per stateroom for standard Verandas, Infinite Veranda, Concierge, AquaClass and Suites. Offers are applicable to new individual bookings and to staterooms in non-contracted group bookings, which must be named and deposited. Guests’ stateroom folios will be credited with an OBC. OBC has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Offer excludes interior and oceanview staterooms. Offer is not combinable with Exciting Deals, Net, TA Rates, Interline, or Galapagos sailings rates. Offer is combinable with prevailing group rates, group x, and onboard bookings. Single occupancy bookings are eligible for the Offer. Refer to Cruise Ticket Contract for additional terms and conditions. Celebrity reserves the right to cancel the Offer at any time, correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions, and change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. For more details, Please contact your Ensemble travel agent for more details. Nothing Comes Close is a registered trademark of Celebrity Cruises. ©2025 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador. 1863750

TEXT: ANDREW ELKIN. PHOTO: RUSTYNESS OTIEINNAKZC/UNSPLASH.

WHERE NEXT

Panama City, Panama The cobblestone streets of Casco Antiguo, Panama City’s old town, date to 1673 when the city was rebuilt five miles from the original settlement, destroyed by pirate Henry Morgan during a raid two years prior. The “new” location has proven more secure. Today, Panama City is both a global business hub, watching over marine traffic transiting between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and a haven for nature lovers, with a rainforest in the city center home to numerous hiking trails and more than 200 bird species. For more on what to do during a stay in the city, turn to page 66.

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A P E R F E C T DAY I N

Parma I TA LY

The culinary capital of Emilia-Romagna combines Romanesque grandeur with leafy parks, lively trattorias and epicures who treat every meal as an occasion.

B y J e s s i c a H u ra s

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PHOTO: GIZEM/PEXELS.

P

arma may be best known for cheese and ham, but its appeal runs far deeper than the deli counter. Situ­ ated in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, midway between Milan and Bologna, Parma is often overlooked in favor of its flashier neighbors — and that’s exactly its advantage. Life moves at an unhurried pace down wide, walkable streets, past landmarks that are rarely crowded. Here, food sets the daily rhythm — one measured in courses, not hours. Eating is approached with the same reverence as music or art: every bite rooted in history, every sip a reflection of the surrounding countryside.

And, like a good meal, Parma is a city that invites you to linger, to slow down and savor each moment and every mouthful.

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A P E R F E C T DAY I N

01 01 Piazza Garibaldi, the city’s main square, from above. Below it lies an ancient Roman forum.

02 In the aging warehouse at Azienda Agricola Bertinelli, owner Gianni Bertinelli taps into a centuries-old cheesemaking tradition.

03 From the nave, the frescoed ceiling of Cattedrale di Parma seems to open into a sky of angels and clouds.

OPENING PAGE Parma’s neoclassical facades are predominantly yellow, with pops of pink and other pastel tones.

PHOTOS: GUVEN OZDEMIR/GETTY IMAGES (01); COURTESY OF AZIENDA AGRICOLA BERTINELLI (02); WEN CHEN/UNSPLASH (03).

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Morning It’s barely 8 a.m. when I arrive at Azienda Agricola Bertinelli, a family-run dairy farm and Parmigiano Reggiano producer located a short drive from Parma’s city center.

The day is only beginning, but inside the caseificio (cheese factory) the air is already thick with the sweet scent of milk. Ilaria Bertinelli, whose family has run the dairy farm since 1895, hands me a blue cap, smock and shoe covers before leading me onto the production floor.

Steam rises from copper vats the size of hot tubs as cheesemakers plunge paddles into bubbling milk, coaxing the curds to take shape. The company grows its own feed, raises its own cattle and produces every wheel of its Parmigiano Reggiano on site, then serves it in the adjoining restaurant, Hosteria. Only a handful of dairies still run on this “farm-to-fork” model, as Bertinelli calls it. “We believe that Parmigiano Reggiano is a lifestyle — not just a product,” she says.

In the aging room, thousands of wheels are stacked floor to ceiling, each stamped with a dairy code and date. This isn’t your grocery-store Parmesan. Like Champagne in France, true Parmigiano Reggiano can only come from a designated region in

northern Italy, encompassing Parma and surrounding areas. At the restaurant, I taste the results — nutty 12-month, creamy 24-month and crystalline 36-month wedges — paired with a glass of Lambrusco, a light, sparkling red wine (another regional specialty). It’s only 9:30 a.m. and I’m starting to share Bertinelli’s conviction that Parmigiano Reggiano is a way of life.

Belly full, I make the 20-minute drive to downtown Parma. In Piazza Garibaldi, the city’s animated main square, locals idle over cappuccinos and cornetti at shaded café tables while scooters buzz past the ochre-hued Palazzo del Governatore, its clock tower chiming on the hour. I walk a few blocks north to the Cattedrale di Parma, its sculpted Romanesque facade rising with solemn grandeur. Inside, Antonio da Correggio’s 16th-century fresco of the Assumption of the Virgin fills the cathedral’s soaring dome, draw­ing clusters of tourists who look skyward. Next door, the 13th-century Baptistery — an octagonal masterpiece of pink Verona marble and intricately sculpted portals — remains a centerpiece of the city’s skyline and a touchstone of its long artistic legacy.

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Are you craving something beyond the ordinary? Our adults-only Alaska voyages deliver raw beauty and bold adventure — from glacier-carved fjords to forests teeming with wildlife.

But it’s not just where we go — it’s how we go. Our unique 7-night Thursday departures mean you’ll explore ports on less crowded days, giving you a more relaxed, intimate experience ashore.

And with a range of longer sailings — 9, 10, or even 12 nights — you’ll have time to fully immerse yourself in Alaska’s rugged charm and the coastal allure of British Columbia. Plus, everything you need is already included — from essential drinks and WiFi to group fitness classes and all dining at over 20 incredible eateries — so you can simply relax and savor the kid-free adventure.

P LE ASE CO N TAC T YOUR E N S E MB LE TR AV E L ADV I S OR

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PEPÈN (04); AGF SRL/ALAMY (05); ATLANTIDE PHOTOTRAVEL/GETTY IMAGES (06).

A P E R F E C T DAY I N

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04 Pepèn’s famous Spaccaballe — a pork panino as bold in name (“ball breaker”) as it is in flavor.

Afternoon By lunchtime, the fullness from my atypical breakfast of cheese and wine is starting to fade, so I head to Pepèn, a no-frills sandwich shop tucked just off Strada della Repubblica. Inside the wood-paneled space, customers crowd shoulder to shoulder, waiting for their turn to place an order at the glass counter. I go for the hearty house specialty, the Spaccaballe: savory roast pork layered with mayonnaise, ketchup, lettuce and tomato on a crusty roll. For the adventurous, Pepèn also serves the panino pesto di cavallo crudo, a local favorite made with raw horsemeat and grilled zucchini. I take my sandwich outside to the cluster of bistro tables lining the sidewalk.

Fortified, I head to the 16th-century Palazzo della Pilotta, a sprawling former palace that now holds four of Parma’s most important museums and cultural institutions. Inside, I make my way through the Teatro Farnese, a remarkable baroque theater completed in 1618 for royal ceremonies and lavish court performances. Crafted almost entirely from wood and stucco to resemble marble, it was nearly destroyed during World War II. What stands today

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05 Inside the Galleria Nazionale, a trove of art within the Palazzo della Pilotta.

06 Teatro Farnese once hosted plays, pageants and even mock naval battles on a flooded stage.

is a meticulous reconstruction, faithful to the original design — an amphitheater of pale timber arches and tiers that feels at once monumental and fragile. A visitor beside me raises her phone, panning to capture the improbable sweep of the place.

Admirable, though I doubt any photo or video could do it justice.

I continue into the Galleria Nazionale, housed within the same complex, for a definitive look at Italian art from the Middle Ages through the 18th century.

Highlights include works by the influential, mononymous 16th-century painter Parmigianino, as well as La Scapigliata, a haunting, unfinished portrait attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

Craving something sweet, I head to Gioelia Cremeria for a midafternoon gelato. Now an international chain with outposts in six countries, the original shop opened in Bologna, just an hour’s drive from here. With a scoop of pistachio in hand, I stroll over to Parco Ducale, Parma’s elegant public park. Once the private retreat of the city’s dukes, today it’s a laid-back expanse of fountains, gravel paths and chestnut trees where university students stretch out on the grass and couples walk hand in hand.

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A P E R F E C T DAY I N

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Pre-dinner stroll complete, I make the short drive to Ai Due Platani, a beloved trattoria in the hamlet of Coloreto. The dining room is classic countryside: checkered tablecloths, shelves lined with cookbooks and wine, and trays of fresh pasta paraded from the kitchen with casual confidence. I start with torta fritta — salty, crispy dough squares begging to be draped with delicate ribbons of local ham, which arrive on another plate — then move on to a Parma classic: tortelli di erbetta stuffed with ricotta and greens, then finished with butter and a dusting of Parmigiano.

Back in downtown Parma, I end the night at Vineria Giramondo, a cozy wine bar pouring organic and natural wines that offer a taste of Emilia-Romagna’s terroir.

At night, it’s dim and welcoming, with bottles stacked on shelves that climb up to the ceiling. I sip a final glass of Lambrusco and snack on more Parmigiano — because in Parma, days begin and end with cheese. 

07 On checkered tablecloths at Trattoria Ai Due Platani, handmade tortelli are served plump with seasonal fillings.

08 At Vineria Giramondo, the tables fill as quickly as the bottles empty.

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W H E R E T O S TAY GRAND HOTEL DE LA VILLE

Set just outside Parma’s historic center, Grand Hotel de la Ville offers a modern base with easy access to the city’s cultural and culinary highlights. Rooms are sleek and understated, with warm wood finishes and plenty of natural light. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar, but the real draw is the location: peaceful and well-positioned for exploring both the city and its surrounding food region.

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF AI DUE PLATANI (07); COURTESY OF VINERIA GIRAMONDO (07); COURTESY OF GRAND HOTEL DE LA VILLE (WHERE TO STAY).

Evening

That moment

when you unlock the world with a single suite key.

Open the door to the incomparable value of all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruising on Seabourn. You’ll feel right at home in our intimate, yacht-like atmosphere, pampered by intuitive, personalized service. Ensconced in your spacious ocean-front suite, you can explore all seven continents, savor gourmet dining that rivals the finest restaurants in the world, and enjoy complimentary premium wines and spirits. All with the added benefit that you only have to unpack once.

Please contact your Ensemble Travel Advisor for more details.

All-inclusive | Ultra-luxury Cruises & Expeditions | Intuitive Personalized Service

Why cruise when you can Cunard

®

Beneath the shimmering skies of Norway, Cunard® invites you to witness the Northern Lights as only we can – wrapped in timeless elegance and warmth that lingers long after the glow fades. Each day reveals another wonder – each evening, another opportunity to dine, reflect, and be still in the beauty of it all. This is not simply a voyage to Norway – it is a journey into the extraordinary, elevated by Cunard’s heritage of grace and discovery.

Norway & Northern Lights 12 nights  Roundtrip London Oct 13, 2026  H626 Balcony Fares from $3,472* This voyage includes an Ensemble exclusive Shore Experience, a welcome aboard cocktail party, and the knowledge of an experienced Ensemble Host. *Fares are based on category Balcony BE on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares for other dates may vary. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise-only, based on double occupancy, and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth guests. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group, or past guest discount, including onboard credits. Offer is not transferable and is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older and receive this offer. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Please refer to your Travel Advisor for terms, conditions, and definitions that apply to all bookings. Offer may combine with other offers such as group Onboard Credit, limited-time offers, and Military benefits. © 2025 Carnival plc. Ships’ Registry: Bermuda. The Cunard logo and logotype and Queen Anne are registered trademarks of Carnival plc, an English company trading as Cunard. All rights reserved in the United States and other countries.

Please contact your Ensemble Travel Advisor for complete details.

WHERE NEXT

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TRY THIS

A Castaway Picnic on a Desert Island Forget survival mode — this daytime escape comes with white tablecloths, skewers and spicy cocktails.

OUTFITTER

andBeyond

Under a canopy of indigenous forest, andBeyond Benguerra Island Lodge welcomes guests to a tropical slice of paradise off the coast of mainland Mozambique.

DURATION

By K atie Sehl

Two to three hours is typical, though guests can stretch the picnic to a full day. Most leave wishing they had planned to stay longer.

WHEN TO GO

Castaway Picnics are a year-round affair, but southern right whales visit the archipelago from June to December and migrating humpbacks can be glimpsed July to October.

UPGRADE

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANDBEYOND.

If you’re going to be stranded, do it in style: Bring a masseuse or masseur, or enlist a choir to make the escapade all the more special.

It starts on a skiff skimming the crystal shallows off Benguerra Island and ends with a decadent chocolate brownie. “It’s spectacular,” says Riaan Venter, regional manager for Southern Africa with luxury experiential travel company andBeyond, of the brownie. The boat ride, while only 10 minutes long, is spectacular, too. Called Tsai, as in tsai tsai, which means “firefly” in the Tswa language local to Mozambique, the vessel glides across one of the largest marine reserves in the Indian Ocean — past flocks of flamingos, pods of dolphins and bales of turtles. On a lucky day, the rare manatee-like dugong, known as a “sea cow,” may even float to the surface.

From there, Tsai leaves its passengers on the isolated north point of the island and disappears into the endless blue horizon. Fortunately,

there’s a canopy nearby shading a white-clothed table and chairs, chilled wine, grilled calamari skewers, fresh fruit, pastries and, of course, brownies. The setup is what andBeyond calls its Castaway Picnic, offered to guests staying in the thatched cabanas and casinhas of its lodge on Benguerra Island. Benguerra is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, less than 10 nautical miles from mainland Mozambique.

The daytime picnic, popular among couples and families, gives drifters a taste of total seclusion, in the lap of luxury. It’s a fantasy made real — and to taste: Swap calamari for chicken and lime with housemade piri piri, or wine with signature chili pina coladas spiced with Mozambique pepper. When you’re stranded by choice, or otherwise, every detail counts. 

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Contact your Ensemble travel advisor to book this experience.

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PORT OF CALL

FAST FACTS

Panama City

Currency Panamanian balboa (PAB) / US dollar

Language Spanish and English

Marvels of engineering and wonders of nature backdrop a pre- or post-cruise stay in the city at the intersection of the Americas.

Tipping 10%–15%

Temperature Average daily highs range from 90°F/32°C in January to 86°F/30°C in June.

By Waheeda H arris

PANAMA CITY

TRIVIA

History Panama City became the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas in 1519, six years after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reached the Pacific Ocean.

Transportation

P

anama City thrives at the edge of global commerce and pure wilderness, with a striking urban core and unparalleled biodiversity — it’s one of only five spots on the planet where you can witness the migrations of more than a million birds.

Marvel at the twisted F&F Tower, nicknamed El Tornillo (“The Screw”), get close to nature on the Amador Causeway, where nearly four miles of scenic pathways invite you to run, cycle or walk along the city’s Pacific shores, and tour the cafés, boutiques and clubs — prime spots for people- or bird-watching. The Panama Canal remains the main attraction, welcoming almost a million visitors a year to tour its Miraflores Locks. The nearby old town, Casco Antiguo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a trove for fine dining, shopping and colonial-era architecture.

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The 50-mile (80-kilometer) Panama Canal — connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans — opened on August 15, 1914, capping a 10-year construction project.

Food In 2017, Panama City was named the first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in Central America through the efforts of chef Elena Hernández, founder of the Panamá Gastronómica food festival.

CRUISE SHIP ILLUSTRATION: CLAIRE M c CRACKEN. PHOTO: ALEX PAGLIUCA/UNSPLASH (TRIVIA).

PANAMA

WHERE NEXT

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PORT OF CALL

E AT T H I S

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF GALERIA DE ARTE INDIGENA (THE SOUVENIR); JESH/PEXELS (CAN’T MISS); COURTESY OF DUNDU FISH (EAT THIS, TOP); CARLOS MENDEZ/ADOBE STOCK (EAT THIS, BOTTOM); DIEGO CERVO/GETTY IMAGES (IF YOU’RE UP FOR A DAY TRIP); COURTESY OF VILLA ANA 1928 (INSIDER TIP).

THE SOUVENIR

Created by Wounaan and Embera women artists of the Darién Rainforest, these handcrafted baskets are traditionally woven from palm leaves. Galería de Arte Indígena in the city’s Casco Antiguo neighborhood offers a wide selection of sizes and motifs, each basket reflecting the artisan’s inspiration, as well as patterns and symbols of the rainforest.

CAN’T MISS

El Biomuseo The colorful Biomuseo, Frank Gehry’s first design in Latin America, celebrates the ecosystems of Panama with interactive naturalhistory exhibitions, aquariums, sculptures and murals. The surrounding Park of Biodiversity details the country’s rich flora and fauna.

Guacho de Mariscos The rice-based stew, slow-cooked with onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro and seafood stock, is stuffed with octopus, shrimp, squid and mussels. Top the steamy bowl with a spoonful or two of sofrito, a sauce of aromatics and herbs cooked in olive oil.

Carimañolas Take a break for a cold drink and this crispy street snack, a deep-fried fritter made from mashed yucca and filled with ground chicken, potatoes or cheese.

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I F YO U ’ R E U P F O R A DAY T R I P

Isla Taboga A 30-minute ferry ride from Panama City brings you to Isla Taboga, a.k.a. the Island of Flowers. Hike the hour-long trail through the rainforest to the top of Cerro de la Cruz or visit the village’s flower-lined streets, beachfront bars and its historic church, Parroquia San Pedro de Taboga.

INSIDER TIP

Villa Ana 1928 Make a reservation at this restored private home in the Casco Antiguo historic district, celebrating the Jazz Age of the 1920s. The four-storey townhouse features a dining room, art gallery, speakeasy and rum and cigar lounge. A device-free policy adds to the atmosphere: Guests are asked to store phones in locked pouches for the evening.

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PORT OF CALL

Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo DID YOU KNOW?

Parque Natural Metropolitano

Panama City is the only world capital with a rainforest within its urban borders: the Parque Natural Metropolitano. Known as the PNM, the 573-acre green space features dry and humid tropical forests, with numerous trails for walking and bird-watching. Don’t miss the fish and turtles in the Jicotea Lagoon.

Historic Spanish, French and American design influences shine alongside a collection of archival photography, contemporary art and sculpture. Set within the remains of a 17th-century Jesuit site, this 88-room boutique hotel features five restaurants, a rooftop bar and a courtyard lush with bougainvillea and fruit trees.

DRINK LIKE A LOCAL

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The annual four-day Carnival precedes Lent in February or March. Lively parades feature lavishly costumed queens and masked devils, while locals and visitors beat the heat in mojaderas — festive water fights where everyone gets soaked. The Burial of the Sardine, an old Spanish tradition, winds up the party just before sunrise on Ash Wednesday.

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Chicheme Look for street vendors hawking this palatepleasing combination of maize, milk, sugar, cinnamon and cloves, which can be enjoyed hot or cold. A sweet treat any time of day, chicheme is rooted in Panama’s Indigenous culinary traditions.

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La Coralina Island House This laid-back wellness resort sits on the edge of the Caribbean Sea in Bocas del Toro, one hour by plane from Panama City. With 23 guestrooms and eight villas, the intimate beach oasis welcomes travelers to savor seasonal cuisine, indulge in nature-derived spa treatments or join a small-group retreat for custom yoga, meditation and holistic healing practices.

Ask your Ensemble travel advisor about exclusive amenities at these properties.

PHOTOS: ZDENE MACHACEK/UNSPLASH (DID YOU KNOW?); EYEEM MOBILE GMBH/GETTY IMAGES (MARK YOUR CALENDAR); MABELIN SANTOS/GETTY IMAGES (DRINK LIKE A LOCAL); COURTESY OF HOTEL LA COMPAÑIA CASCO ANTIGUO (WHERE TO STAY); COURTESY OF LA CORALINA ISLAND HOUSE (WHERE TO STAY).

W H E R E TO S TAY

Glacier Bay, Alaska

DISCOVER ALASKA’S HIDDEN WONDERS WITH AZAMARA

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Alaska’s majestic landscapes with Azamara Cruises. Azamara’s small ships navigate narrow passages and dock in lesser-known ports—bringing you closer to Alaska’s hidden wonders. Enjoy immersive shore excursions, longer stays in port, and curated experiences that go beyond the expected.

Book select 2026 Alaska cruises now and receive an exclusive $200 Onboard Credit—your key to indulgent spa treatments, specialty dining, and more.

TO BOOK, CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Onboard Spending Credit (OBC) is in U.S. dollars, has no cash value, is not redeemable for cash, not transferable and will expire if not used by 10:00 pm on the last evening of the cruise. OBC is valid for new individual FIT bookings only made in Club Oceanview staterooms or above under Price Program “Amenity ENS”. OBC will be applied at time of booking. Offer is not available to Groups. Singles pay 200% receive the full stateroom amount. Offer is not combinable with other OBC offers. Offer is not applicable to Restricted Price Programs such as CUG, COV, LMV, Net, Interline, or Travel Agent Reduced Rates. Offers are subject to change and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain Restrictions apply. Canada Agencies: This offer is not valid for bookings made through a Tour Operator. For additional details please refer to the Cruise Ticket Contract for additional terms and conditions or contact your Ensemble travel professional. ©2025 Azamara. Ships registered in Malta.

You Deserve an Ensemble Experience Upgrade your travels with Ensemble, a leading North American organization of top-tier travel agencies. Enjoy access to exclusive perks, exceptional amenities and extraordinary experiences, on land and at sea.

CONNECT WITH YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ADVISOR TODAY.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF EXPLORA JOURNEYS.

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Inspired Itineraries Discover a range of exclusive offers only available when you book with your trusted Ensemble advisor — from romantic resort stays on the Caribbean to immersive adventures on the Adriatic and beyond.

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Azamara Cruises

Discover Alaska, Explore Europe!

HUBBARD GLACIER, ALASKA

Azamara Cruises returns to Alaska in summer 2026 — journey through glacier-carved fjords, vibrant coastal towns and untamed wilderness. Plus, discover new European itineraries with late and overnight stays, all with the signature comforts of Always Azamara — drinks, gratuities and more included.

Alaska Cruise: Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait & Ketchikan

Best of the Mediterranean Cruise: Villefranche, Florence & Palamos

Norway Intensive Cruise: Olden, Trondheim & North Cape

11 NIGHTS

11 NIGHTS

18 NIGHTS

D AT E : May 21, 2026 S H I P : Azamara Pursuit

D AT E : May 22, 2026 S H I P : Azamara Quest

D AT E : June 27, 2026 S H I P : Azamara Quest

ITINERARY Whittier, Alaska ê Valdez, Alaska ê Hubbard Glacier, Alaska (cruising) ê Haines, Alaska ê Icy Strait Point, Alaska ê Sitka, Alaska ê Ketchikan, Alaska ê Klawock, Alaska ê Day at Sea ê Nanaimo, British Columbia ê Victoria, British Columbia ê Vancouver, British Columbia

ITINERARY Nice, France ê Corsica, France ê Villefranche-sur-Mer, France ê Santa Margherita (Portofino), Italy ê Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy (overnight) ê Day at Sea ê Marseille (Provence), France ê Sète, France ê Palamos, Spain ê Mahon (Menorca), Spain ê Barcelona, Spain

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom

ITINERARY IJMuiden (Amsterdam), Netherlands ê Day at Sea ê Rosendal, Norway ê Olden, Norway ê Molde, Norway ê Ålesund, Norway ê Day at Sea ê Svolvær (Lofoten), Norway ê Trollfjord, Norway ê Tromsø, Norway ê Honningsvåg, Norway ê North Cape, Norway ê Alta, Norway ê Harstad, Norway ê Bodø, Norway ê Trondheim, Norway ê Day at Sea ê Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland ê Oban, Scotland ê Dublin, Ireland (overnight) ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom

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From US$4,039 | CA$5,429

From US$4,889 | CA$6,929

From US$7,689 | CA$10,339

per person (Veranda), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Veranda), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Veranda), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Collette

Handcrafted Journeys, Designed for Culture

SENSO-JI TEMPLE, TOKYO

From Japan to Greece to the South Pacific, Collette’s guided tours are carefully curated to immerse you in the heart of each destination.

Cultural Treasures of Japan

Exploring Greece and Its Islands

The Complete South Pacific

1 4 D AY S

1 6 D AY S

2 7 D AY S

D AT E : September 6, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

D AT E : September 26, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

D AT E : October 4, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

ITINERARY Tokyo, Japan ê Hakone, Japan ê Matsumoto, Japan ê Takayama, Japan ê Shirakawa-go, Japan ê Kanazawa, Japan ê Kyoto, Japan ê Hiroshima, Japan ê Osaka, Japan

ITINERARY Athens, Greece (overnight) ê Kalambaka, Greece ê Arachova, Greece ê Olympia, Greece (overnight) ê Tolo, Greece (overnight) ê Chora, Greece ê Mykonos, Greece ê Santorini, Greece (overnight) ê Athens, Greece

ITINERARY Melbourne, Australia ê Hobart, Australia ê Adelaide, Australia ê Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia ê Cairns, Australia ê Sydney, Australia ê Auckland, New Zealand ê Rotorua, New Zealand ê Wellington, New Zealand ê Christchurch, New Zealand ê Queenstown, New Zealand

OFFER Save up to US$350 |CA$350 per person

OFFER Save up to US$300|CA$300 per person

Scan for more information.

OFFER Save up to US$500|CA$500 per person

From US$6,499 | CA$8,699

From US$5,999 | CA$8,149

From US$10,999 | CA$14,849

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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73

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Royal Caribbean

Less Planning. More Weekend.

P E R F E C T D AY AT CO CO C AY

Ditch the everyday for a mini-vacay that’s anything but small. This is memory-maxing, luxe-living, all-out adventure — packed into one epic escape. There’s never been a bolder way to sail to The Bahamas.

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Bahamas & Perfect Day

Bahamas & Perfect Day

Bahamas & Perfect Day

3 NIGHTS

4 NIGHTS

3 NIGHTS

D AT E : October 30, 2026 S H I P : Wonder of the Seas

D AT E : November 5, 2026 S H I P : Freedom of the Seas

D AT E : December 11, 2026 S H I P : Utopia of the Seas

ITINERARY Miami, Florida ê Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas ê Nassau, The Bahamas ê Miami, Florida

ITINERARY Miami, Florida ê Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas ê Day at Sea ê Nassau, The Bahamas ê Miami, Florida

ITINERARY Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida ê Nassau, The Bahamas ê Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas ê Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 onboard credit per person

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 onboard credit per person

From US$695 | CA$974

From US$589 | CA$930

From US$655 | CA$981

per person (Oceanview Balcony), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Oceanview Balcony), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Oceanview Balcony), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 onboard credit per person

Scan for more information.

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Explora Journeys

Discover Life at Sea

CARIBBEAN SEA

Life aboard Explora Journeys unfolds in harmony with the ocean: unhurried, effortless, unforgettable. Mornings by the sea, afternoons beside the pool, evenings with champagne under the stars — this is travel shaped by the ocean.

A Journey Through Nordic Discoveries & Geothermal Wonders

A Journey to Adriatic Wonders & Ancient Secrets

A Journey from Shimmering Skylines to the Gulf’s Hidden Gems

8 NIGHTS

7 NIGHTS

7 NIGHTS

D AT E : September 9, 2026 S H I P : EXPLORA III

D AT E : October 12, 2026 S H I P : EXPLORA II

D AT E : December 14, 2026 S H I P : EXPLORA II

ITINERARY Southampton, United Kingdom ê Day at Sea ê Greencastle, Ireland ê Stornoway, United Kingdom ê Day at Sea ê Seyðisfjörður, Iceland ê Akureyri, Iceland ê Reykjavík, Iceland (overnight)

ITINERARY Fusina (Venice), Italy ê Rovinj, Croatia ê Dubrovnik, Croatia ê Brindisi, Italy ê Kotor, Montenegro ê Day at Sea ê Milos, Greece ê Piraeus (Athens), Greece

ITINERARY Dubai, United Arab Emirates (overnight) ê Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ê Manama, Bahrain ê Doha, Qatar êDammam, Saudi Arabia ê Day at Sea ê Dubai, United Arab Emirates

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER Up to US$300 onboard credit per suite

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER Up to US$300 onboard credit per suite

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ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER Up to US$300 onboard credit per suite

From US$7,605 | CA$10,530

From US$5,160 | CA$7,040

From US$3,935 | CA$5,360

per person (OT2). Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (OT2). Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (OT2). Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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75

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Victory Cruises

Seabourn

Sail All Five Great Lakes

Antarctica with Seabourn

Sail from Toronto to Chicago on a 10-night journey featuring Mackinac Island, Niagara Falls and Georgian Bay. Enjoy all-inclusive luxury with enriching excursions, open bars, fine dining and personalized service aboard a boutique small ship.

Antarctica remained hidden for centuries, beyond known maps. Even after discovery, the continent’s remoteness and harsh conditions deterred all but the boldest explorers, preserving its mystery and isolation from the rest of the world.

Ultimate Great Lakes

21-Day Wild South Atlantic & Antarctic Peninsula

10 NIGHTS

2 1 D AY S

D AT E : July 4, 2026 S H I P : Victory II

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D AT E : October 29, 2026 S H I P : Seabourn Venture

ITINERARY Toronto, Ontario (overnight) ê Lake Ontario (cruising) ê Port Colborne (Niagara Falls), Ontario ê Cleveland, Ohio ê Lake Erie (cruising) ê Detroit, Michigan ê Lake Huron (cruising) ê Lake Superior (cruising) ê Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan ê Mackinac Island, Michigan ê Milwaukee, Wisconsin ê Lake Michigan (cruising) ê Chicago, Illinois

ITINERARY Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ê Days at Sea ê Camboriú, Brazil ê Days at Sea ê Montevideo, Uruguay ê Days at Sea ê The Seabourn Falkland Island Experience ê Days at Sea ê The Seabourn Antarctic Experience ê Days at Sea ê Ushuaia, Argentina (overnight)

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 onboard credit per person

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$400 onboard credit per stateroom + 15% savings, 15% reduced deposit and up to US$1,000 onboard credit per suite on select cruises

Scan for more information.

Scan for more information.

From US$4,999

US$13,199 | CA$19,139

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Category V1), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Apple Vacations

Luxury. Adventure. Culture.

A RELAXING OASIS AWAITS

From elevated romance to family adventure and eco-inspired escapes, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, RIU and Xcaret deliver three distinct paths to paradise — each with the comfort, care and connection you expect from an all-inclusive getaway.

Secrets® Moxché Playa del Carmen A L L - I N C LU S I V E

D AT E S : For departures on May 5–7 and June 2–4, 2026 LO C AT I O N : Playa del Carmen, Mexico OVERVIEW Refined and romantic escapes for adults, where Unlimited-Luxury® meets oceanfront elegance. Perfect for couples and honeymooners seeking privacy, pampering and personalized service.

Riu Palace Aquarelle

Hotel Xcaret Mexico

A L L - I N C LU S I V E

D AT E S : For departures on May 4–7, May 14 and June 2–4, 2026 LO C AT I O N : Falmouth, Jamaica OVERVIEW Vibrant stays for every traveler. Enjoy family fun, lively entertainment and modern comfort across sun-soaked destinations worldwide — all with the ease of all-inclusive value.

Scan for more information.

A L L - I N C LU S I V E

D AT E S : For departures on May 9–12, 2026 L O C AT I O N : Playa del Carmen, Mexico OVERVIEW Where culture meets adventure.

Discover immersive eco-luxury surrounded by nature, with unlimited access to Xcaret’s signature parks and authentic Mexican experiences.

From US$4,167

From US$2,489

From US$4,999

Based on 5-night minimum for a Junior Suite Double Tropical View.*

Based on 5-night minimum for a Junior Suite Partial Ocean View.*

Based on the 5-night minimum for a Suite Garden.*

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77

INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Globus

Touring Beyond

V E N I C E , I TA LY

Globus transforms the traditional tour into something smarter, sleeker and more personal. From flexible styles and built-in free time to unexpected moments, Globus tours are for travelers who want the wow, but none of the what-now.

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German Vista

Italian Tapestry

Scenic Ireland

8 D AY S

9 D AY S

1 3 D AY S

D AT E : July 5, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

D AT E : August 1, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

D AT E : September 5, 2026 T R I P T Y P E : Guided Tour

ITINERARY Berlin, Germany ê Potsdam ê Dresden ê Rothenburg ê Neuschwanstein ê Oberammergau ê Munich, Germany

ITINERARY Venice, Italy ê Modena ê Florence ê Siena ê Pienza ê Rome ê Pompeii ê Sorrento ê Capri, Italy

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 excursion credit per person

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 excursion credit per person

ITINERARY Limerick, Ireland ê Galway ê Clifden ê Sligo ê Derry, United Kingdom ê Belfast, United Kingdom ê Carlingford, Ireland ê Dublin ê Kilkenny ê Waterford ê Blarney ê Kinsale ê Glengarriff ê Kenmare ê Killarney ê Adare ê Limerick ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$100 excursion credit per person

From US$2,729 | CA$3,793

From US$3,589 | CA$4,989

From US$4,599 | CA$6,393

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person, based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

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INSPIRED ITINERARIES

Windstar Cruises

Discover travel on a more personal scale

ICELAND

Windstar’s small, elegant yachts welcome just 148 to 342 guests — giving you room to breathe, explore and truly savor every moment. With more time, more space and more freedom, you’ll connect deeply with each destination and enjoy a journey unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Set sail in style with our Wave Offer — enjoy an all-inclusive package with a pre-cruise hotel night, hotel-to-ship transfer, and up to US$2,000 in onboard credit.

Treasures of the Greek Isles

Treasures of Southern Spain & Morocco

7 D AY S

1 0 D AY S

D AT E : September 3, 2026 S H I P : Wind Spirit

D AT E : October 31, 2026 S H I P : Wind Star

ITINERARY Piraeus (Athens), Greece ê Nauplia (Nafplion), Greece ê Mykonos, Greece ê Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey ê Patmos, Greece ê Thira (Santorini), Greece ê Monemvasia, Greece ê Piraeus (Athens), Greece

ITINERARY Barcelona, Spain ê Tarragona, Spain ê Palma de Mallorca, Spain ê Valencia, Spain ê Cartagena, Spain êDay at Sea ê Málaga, Spain (overnight) ê Tangier, Morocco ê Day at Sea ê Lisbon, Portugal

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom + Wave Offer

ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom + Wave Offer

From US$5,899

From US$5,699

From US$3,999

per person (Oceanview Suite 1), based on double occupancy.

Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Category B), based on double occupancy. Fare includes taxes and fees.*

per person (Category B), based on double occupancy. Fare includes taxes and fees.*

Around Iceland 7 D AY S

D AT E : August 3, 2026 S H I P : Star Pride ITINERARY Reykjavik, Iceland ê Heimaey Island, Iceland ê Seyðisfjörður, Iceland (overnight) ê Akureyri, Iceland ê Ísafjörður, Iceland ê Grundarfjörður, Iceland ê Reykjavik, Iceland ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE OFFER US$200 onboard credit per stateroom + Wave Offer

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O U T TA K E

It took 20,000 workers and more than 1,000 elephants to build the Taj Mahal, completed in 1653. The mausoleum attracts over seven million visitors each year, most coming from other parts of India.

“The way it changes color is so spectacular,” says Range editor Robert Liwanag, who took this shot on a humid September day.

“It means every person has a different image of it in their mind.”

PHOTO/TEXT: ROBERT LIWANAG.

Agra, India

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KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Skip the Drake Passage and fly directly to Antarctica, where you’ll step into a realm once reserved for the boldest explorers.

Glide past ancient glaciers on exhilarating Zodiac excursions and follow seasoned Expedition Leaders across polar deserts deep in the Antarctic wilderness. Here, silence carries its own majesty, broken only by the whistle of the wind and the crash of sapphire waves. Amid landscapes carved by ice and time, every moment evokes a deep reverence for nature in its purest form. When the day’s explorations conclude, unwind in unparalleled comfort elevated by the attentive service that defines Silversea. Here’s to following your curiosity to frontiers few will ever know. To embracing the unspoiled beauty of the Last Continent. To Finding More.

THE SOUTHERNMOST HOTEL ON EARTHSM Starting early January 2026, guests embarking on an Antarctica Fly Cruise will begin their Expedition with the signature Silversea hospitality — at The Cormorant at 55 SouthSM in Puerto Williams, Chile.

Contact your Ensemble travel advisor for more details.

PUERTO WILLIAMS, CHILE

Travel Better Thank you for traveling with us in the latest issue of Range by Ensemble. Start planning your next journey — beyond these pages — with your trusted Ensemble travel advisor.