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One of the world’s top river cruise lines is ready to make bigger waves: Emerald Waterways is building a luxurious new ocean-going ship, the Emerald Azzurra, that will set sail in the Mediterranean in 2021. The newly built vessel will have room for just 100 passengers and styling akin to a megayacht. That smaller size will enable the ship to access ports of call not typically visited by cruise ships in the Adriatic, along the coast of Northern Africa, the Red Sea, and around the islands of Greece, according to the company....

Grab a daiquiri and enjoy an island vacation from your couch. Let’s face it: Jetting off to Aruba sounds extra nice right now. While we’re all staying home in order to do our part to combat the spread of coronavirus, it’s easy to feel the pangs of wanderlust. Courtesy of Aruba Tourism Authority Luckily, the Aruba Tourism Authority has a number of ways to enjoy the island’s culture and natural beauty all from the comfort of home....

This port city is home to all things hip, cool, and delicious—so the best things to do in Barcelona are culturally rich, maybe even avant-garde. For example, you’ll instantly recognize the work of Barcelona’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. Visit his houses, Casa Batlló or Palau Güell, and spend time admiring his magnum opus: the unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral. His work can also be found in the iconic Park Güell....

Disney CEO Bob Iger just announced that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the long-awaited 14-acre Disney theme park expansion, will open at Disneyland Resort on May 31, 2019. A second, near-identical version of the Star Wars land will open three months later at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on Aug. 29, 2019. That means in just 13 weeks, young padawans and hopeful Jedis will finally be able to drink a glass of blue milk and create their own personalized lightsabers in a realistic, immersive Star Wars land — and with everything we’ve seen from our behind-the-scenes tour, it’ll be tough to wait even that long....

Even though, the future of travel may still be largely up in the air, Americans are starting to think about vacations again. With summer months approaching, states beginning to reopen economies, and national parks increasing public access, most travelers are looking to fly domestic, according to Expedia data shared with Travel + Leisure. The travel site found that eight out of the top 10 most searched for destinations for flights for July through December were located in the U....

Perhaps the biggest hurdle to turning in your passport application (or renewal) is getting the required passport photos. It’s not something you do every day. In fact, you really only have to do it once a decade. Also, there are a lot of rules to remember. The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World But rather than asking your friend to take a photo (and hope it’s right) or trying a passport photo selfie, opt instead to have the photo taken professionally at a pharmacy....

Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. I’ve had my eye on Dominica for years. After living on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Belize, and traveling extensively through the islands, I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s one of those destinations that rarely comes up in social circles or pops up on lists, which heightened its appeal....

The winter gods are smiling on skiers and riders for the 2021/2022 season. On Thursday, Mammoth Mountain in California announced it will open a full two weeks earlier than planned thanks to a little early snowfall from Mother Nature. Courtesy of Sammy Deleo While the mountain had planned to open on November 13, it is now expected to open on October 29. This is only the 10th October opening in the mountain’s history....

Bring the outdoors indoors, in the most luxurious way. The Memphis Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee sits along the Mississippi River, celebrating the city’s Egyptian namesake as it is shaped like the old pyramids. Now the home of Bass Pro Shops, the pyramid is also home to a unique hotel, Big Cypress Lodge. Courtesy of Big Cypress Lodge The elevated wilderness-inspired hotel is perfect for some “city glamping.” Chances are, you’ve tried glamping (luxurious camping) but this experience allows you to enjoy the feeling of “roughing it” in the great outdoors while also enjoying luxurious comfort inside....

In a typical year, thousands of people would be making plans right now to flock to Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England for its annual summer solstice celebration. However, as you are already very well aware, this year isn’t very typical. This year, English Heritage announced it would not be holding an in-person event. But fear not pagans and travelers alike, because they have a plan to bring the celebration to you....

Three Magellanic penguins waddled into Chicago’s Shaw’s Crab House restaurant with a serious message: It’s time to cut back on single-use plastics. The trio from the city’s Shedd Aquarium made the visit to support Chicago Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday, April 4, and to highlight Shedd’s program to fight plastic pollution, called Let’s Shedd Plastic. Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez As safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a spike in single-use plastics from takeout packaging, the initiave seeks to lower that number, while also creating a longer-form strategy for cutting back on plastic use....

A pair of U.S. cruise lines will now require a vaccine to board, becoming the latest cruise companies to make the jab mandatory. Starting July 1, the American Queen Steamboat Company and its sister company Victory Cruise Lines will require all guests and crew to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for all sailings, the companies announced on their websites. “The health and safety of our guests, crew members and partners continues to remain our top priority,” John Waggoner, the CEO and founder of American Queen Steamboat Company, told Cruise Critic....

Last year, many parents were forced to put in overtime. Not only did they have to handle Zoom meetings for work, they became at-home tutors while kids took Zoom classes, chefs for every single meal at home — and just, you know, had to handle living through a pandemic. It’s been a hectic 18 months. So, as many kids are finally back in school, the Naia Resort and Spa in Belize is offering a special Zoom Mom Digital Detox package especially for stressed-out moms in need of a few days off the grid....

When it comes to a Super Bowl Sunday spread, celebrity food expert Guy Fieri is all about variety, which, according to him, can ironically be achieved with one item: the slider. “That’s perfect for game day,” the Food Network star told Travel + Leisure. “You can make five different types of sliders, from vegetarian to Philly cheesesteak, to fried chicken, to fried green tomatoes, to pastrami hash, you name it.”...

How good does it feel to discover a hidden gem? Whether it’s something old you tossed to the back of your closet and forgot about or something new you barely thought about once you got it, falling in love with something is a terrific feeling. Since first receiving Baggallini’s Packable Backpack Tote to test out, the unassuming little bag has surprised me on several occasions, charting its path to the top of my favorite items list with each unexpected event....

carry-on bags To buy: amazon.com, from $24 The bag stands out for its sleek, simple design, spacious interior, water-repellent fabric, and, of course, it’s affordability. While the backpack normally retails for the already pretty affordable price of $34, some colors are on sale for as low as $24 right now. The exterior of the bag is made from durable poly-canvas and features a zippered pocket to keep essentials within reach, as well as a side umbrella/water bottle pocket....

Vermont’s Burlington International Airport is the latest airport to begin offering on-site COVID-19 tests. Healthcare delivery company Garnet Health has opened a testing facility at the airport, which will offer rapid COVID-19 tests, ddPCR (Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, and rapid flu diagnostic tests. “We have seen an increase in requests for COVID-19 testing from people traveling in and out of Vermont,” Co-Founder, President,and CEO of Garnet Health, Ryan Ferris, said in a statement this week....

Fans of Lord of the Rings can visit one of its most famed filming destinations: The owners of Deer Park Heights opened the space to visitors so you can live out your Middle-Earth dreams. “It’s such an amazing location and it seems a shame to not share it,” Deer Park Heights owner Mike Mee shared with Lonely Planet upon reopening the park in October 2020 after an 11-year hiatus. “We want to welcome visitors to a great fun, good value family day out for those who want to spend time in the outdoors and with our animals....

In the 2007 Pixar film “Ratatouille,” renowned chef Auguste Gusteau dies of heartbreak after his namesake flagship restaurant loses a star. The animated movie reportedly drew striking comparisons to the real-life story of Bernard Loiseau, a chef whose suicide in 2003 was linked to rumors that his acclaimed Burgundy restaurant, La Côte d’Or, was in danger of losing a Michelin star. This tragedy — and indeed, even the fictional film about a rodent chef — have cemented the Michelin star’s mystique and gravitas....

I chose my wedding date with great care. May 2, 2020 at Flora Farms in San José del Cabo. It had a nice ring to it. Not too hot — once you get toward the end of May, Cabo really starts to heat up. It was a good time of year for my fiancé’s career — he’s a TV writer, they’re usually on hiatus around then. A spring date made it the first wedding of the year, before our guests were met with 2020 wedding fatigue....