Onboard Obsessions is a new series that explores the can't-miss highlights of the best-loved cruises, from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up.
The volcanic mountain cliffs of Santorini surround me as I lounge on one of the canopied daybeds of The Retreat, a “ship-within-a-ship” aboard Celebrity Apex, the line's newest cruise ship. There are 3,000-plus passengers on board—but from where I sit, it feels more like a hundred-person yacht.
The Retreat is a private hideaway with its own sun deck, pool, lounge, restaurant, and concierge team, reserved exclusively for passengers who pay for a suite or Retreat category cabin. The popular product is only available on Celebrity's Edge class ships (as well as some recently renovated vessels). With modern details and a fresh color palette, the newest additions to Celebrity's growing fleet showcase a creative departure from the line's typical interiors, thanks to partnerships with big-name designers like Kelley Hoppen and Patricia Urquiola.
Back to my sunny relaxation. Most people are on shore today, and the ship is particularly quiet for now. I spend the morning hiking up Santorini's cliffs, fighting my way around hard-working donkeys with more muscles than I will ever have. Once at the summit, I snap some great shots of Apex floating in the water-filled crater below while devouring a hot and cheesy saganaki with pita bread.
The largest Retreat category suites feature luxe living rooms with expansive windows.
On the way back, boarding the ship is a cinch thanks to a dedicated entrance for Retreat guests, and I head back to the lounge where the team takes great care of me while I spend a few hours handling emails.
A breakfast, snack, and evening appetizer spread fills one corner of the lounge; I particularly enjoy the variety of Mediterranean cheeses and olives that change daily. While cuisine aboard the ship is part of the fare, it feels nice to have a corner spot where you can work quietly with the refreshments you need. The staff remember my preferred type of sparkling water accompaniment (two limes please) and favorite glass of wine at sunset. And when sitting by the private Retreat pool, trays of refreshments like popsicles or fruit skewers occasionally appear. Swaying in the swing chairs, cocktail in hand, is the perfect vantage point to watch the sail away. With dozens of canopied daybeds dotting the deck, there's never a need to fight for a spot to sit.
When it comes time for a proper meal, Retreat guests also have access to the exclusive Luminae restaurant, reserved solely for suite passengers. On the menu are dishes created by the line’s Global Culinary Ambassador, two-Michelin starred chef Daniel Boulud, but you
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The valves were opened and more than a thousand workers gathered at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland to watch the “float out” of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas. The nine-hour process — which involves flooding a special dock with more than 92 million gallons of water to push the 250,800-ton mega-ship onto a pier for the final stages of construction — had begun.
Winter weather can be a threat to holiday travel plans, though new data reveals that certain airports and airlines are more prone to delays than others.
The best time to visit Vietnam—one of two fabulous Southeast Asian countries that ranked in the top 10 list of best countries in the world according to Condé Nast Traveler readers—is whenever it (probably) won't rain. Vietnam is a study in bustling street scenes in cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, beautiful natural destinations like Hạ Long Bay, and beaches where you can unwind or party the night away. As such, you'll want the weather to cooperate, no matter which part of the long, coastal nation you end up visiting. To get the inside scoop on the best time to visit Vietnam, I spoke to two of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists: Tisha Neufville of Neufville Travel, and Catherine Heald of Remote Lands, both of whom count Vietnam as a country of expertise in their capacity as travel advisors. Here, they break down when to visit, how long to stay, and where to go for your first time.
The position of park ranger, especially in our national parks, has always been one of authority. There’s the uniform for one thing, which changes with the seasons and weather and varies from park to park, but is invariably best worn ironed with the shirt tucked in. And then there’s the knowledge of the land they maintain, and how best to appreciate and interact with it. As tourists continue to behave moronically, that latter duty becomes an especially serious, potentially punitive one. Which is why, in part, the park rangers have taken their talents online.
For my 33rd birthday, I visited Paris for the 11th time. Why not? There's always a classic touristy must-do that I've yet to cross off my list (Monet's Water Lilies at the Musée de l'Orangerie, for example) or something new-to-me to see in the French capital (an exhibit at Printemps by a contemporary French painter whose work I love). Even after multiple visits, Paris consistently surprises me, offering a side of itself I haven't yet gotten to know. It never stays the same, much like my beloved New York City, where I live. They both pride themselves, I think, on being un-pin-down-able. A running joke: I like my cities like I like my men.
From the latest on a long-awaited biometric border system to prohibitions on pub crawls and the announcements of restricted access to an iconic sight and a host of new flights and cruises, it was a busy month in European travel. If you missed any of the headlines this month, read on to get up to speed on the big stories of October, and be sure to register for the TravelPulse newsletter to keep up to date with the latest news in the travel industry.
Add one more cruise line to the growing list of brands that will offer Alaska sailings in 2026. Following brief stints sailing from New York and Los Angeles, new 2,770-passenger ship Brilliant Lady — the fourth in Virgin Voyages' fleet, set to debut in late 2025 — will offer cruises to the Last Frontier as part of its spring and summer 2026 schedule.
The holiday season is nearly upon us, which means it's time to book those flights to see your parents, in-laws, siblings, family, friends, or even that solo getaway you so desperately need at the end of the year. But before you do, make sure to consider all your flight options because some airports are simply better than others for holiday travelers. To help you find the right ones, MarketWatch conducted a survey of 3,000 Americans to learn more about their holiday travel habits. The team found that 61 percent of respondents plan to travel this holiday season, 36 percent intend to fly for the holidays, and they expect to pay an average of $1,869 on holiday air travel.