Savvy Traveler
Our best advice, written on the way back.
Trip reports, ship reviews, deals worth your attention, and the occasional rant. From Phil and Erin, who go first.
October 2, 2026
Explora's October Private Sale: 186 Voyages, Unpublished Discounts, Gone October 31
Explora Journeys has extended unpublished discounts to us on 186 voyages, from this month through September 2028: the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska, Asia, the Amazon and more. We can't print the number. We can put it in your quote, if you ask by October 31.
October 2, 2026
Swan Hellenic Flash Sale: Antarctica This Season From $9,900, Plus $300 to Spend On Board
September 30, 2026
Explora Club, Explained: The Tiers, the Status Match, and the MSC Back Door
September 30, 2026
The Ultimate Guide to Explora Journeys: A European Hotel That Happens to Float
September 30, 2026
Why Seasoned Luxury Cruisers Are Switching to Explora Journeys (and Who Shouldn't)
September 28, 2026
Why We Never Book Hotels on Booking.com (and What $42 Bought Us in Budapest)
September 26, 2026
The Solo Tax Is Real. Here's How We Get Solo Travelers Out of It.
September 24, 2026
The Multigenerational Trip, Planned So Nobody Cries: A Guide for Grandparents, Parents and the Kids
September 23, 2026
HX's 1896 Cabin Just Won Expedition Initiative of the Year. You Can Sleep in It for a Night.
September 22, 2026
How Much Does Ship Size Matter in Antarctica, Really?
September 22, 2026
The Ultimate Guide to HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions): Basecamp Ships, Real Science, and the Poles
September 21, 2026
The Online School Behind Our Business Insider Story
September 18, 2026
Atlas Ocean Voyages Is Running a Travelzoo Sale. We'll Match It, and Make the Phone Call.
September 18, 2026
How Rough Is the Drake Passage, Really?
September 18, 2026
Quiet 2027 Savings on National Geographic-Lindblad — and Yes, There's a Clock
September 18, 2026
Oceania's Fall Sale: Up to 40% Off, and the Good Stuff Is Still Included
September 18, 2026
Scenic and Emerald Reopened the Unpublished-Rate Window: 365 Sailings, Through November 4
September 16, 2026
Antarctica Travel Insurance: What's Actually Required + How to Save Without Skimping
May 8, 2026
MV Hondius Hantavirus: What the Headlines Got Wrong About Oceanwide + Expedition Cruising
April 5, 2026
How Much Does an Antarctica Cruise Cost? A Real-World Breakdown
April 4, 2026
You Missed Galápagos Peak Season. Or Did You?
April 3, 2026
You Missed Antarctica. Here's What to Do About It.
April 2, 2026
Which Antarctica Cruise Brand Is Right for You? The No-Fluff Comparison Guide
April 1, 2026
Expedition Cruise Prices Are Going Up — and Here's Why That's Actually Good News
March 4, 2026
Scenic Eclipse Antarctica Review: Is the World's First Discovery Yacht Worth It?
February 25, 2026
Greenland Expedition Cruises: The High Arctic's Most Spectacular (and Most Overlooked) Frontier
February 24, 2026
The No-BS Guide to Luxury Kimberley Expedition Cruises (From Someone Who's Actually Done the Homework)
February 21, 2026
HX vs. Hurtigruten: Scouting the Rebrand (And Which One You Actually Want)
February 20, 2026
Crystal Cruises Limited-Time Savings: Up to 45% Off Select Summer 2026 Voyages
February 20, 2026
Getting Married in Antarctica: The Ultimate Guide
February 16, 2026
Silversea Alaska: Is the Ultra-Luxury Price Tag Worth it in the Last Frontier?
February 11, 2026
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Offering $300 Onboard Credit on Select 2026 Voyages
February 8, 2026
Worldschooling with ILA: Why This Online Private School is Our Ultimate Travel Hack
January 31, 2026
Enjoy Absolutely Massive Savings on Scenic and Emerald Yacht and River Cruises Through March 1, 2026
January 31, 2026
Swan Hellenic Quietly Releases Deeply Reduced 2026 Expedition Fares
January 25, 2026
Why the UAE Is the Ultimate Three-Act Luxury Journey
January 24, 2026
Why Hobby-Led Holidays Are the Biggest Travel Trend of 2026
January 23, 2026
Why a Cruise May Be the Best Way to See the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse
January 22, 2026
Aman’s First Yacht, Amangati, Is Now Open for Bookings — And It’s Unlike Anything at Sea
January 21, 2026
Atlas Ocean Voyages Launching the Largest Expedition Sailing Yacht in the World
January 21, 2026
Aurora Expeditions is offering up to 35% off select expedition voyages
January 20, 2026
Not Your Typical Cruise: Why Smaller Ships Are Having a Moment
January 19, 2026
How to Earn and Use Airline Points Without Wasting Them
January 15, 2026
Inside Crystal Symphony: A Considered Comeback, Not a Flashy Reinvention
January 14, 2026
Using AI for Travel Planning? Read This Before You Book Anything
January 9, 2026
Sleeping on Ice: Our Night at Québec’s Hôtel de Glace
December 22, 2025
Traveling India: Where History, Heart, and Humanity Collide
December 20, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Seabourn: Ultra-Luxury Ocean and Expedition Cruising
December 12, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Silversea Cruises in 2026: Italian Luxury + Global Expeditions
November 24, 2025
Is the W Punta Cana the Coolest Adults-Only All-Inclusive in the Caribbean?
November 17, 2025
Black Friday & Cyber Monday Travel Deals for 2025: The Best Luxury & Expedition Offers of the Season
November 12, 2025
The Hidden Cost of Budget Cruises (and Why Luxury Can Actually Save You Money)
November 9, 2025
Why Norway’s Fjords Are the Ultimate Immersive Cruise Destination in 2026
November 8, 2025
Uniworld’s New “Super Ships”: A Deep Dive into the Next Generation of Luxury River Cruising
November 7, 2025
How the “One-Stop Security” Program Could Transform Your Airport Layover Game
November 6, 2025
There’s a New Checked-Luggage Scam: What Every Traveler Should Know
November 6, 2025
Save $2,000 Per Person on Uniworld’s 2025 Holiday River Cruises Sale
November 5, 2025
Is the $895 Amex Platinum Annual Fee Still Worth It for Travelers?
November 5, 2025
The Best Christmas Cruises for 2025: Sail Into the Season in Style
November 5, 2025
How Ultra-Luxury Cruises Became the Hottest Thing in High-End Travel
November 4, 2025
Inside the Grand Egyptian Museum: Egypt’s New Cultural Epic
November 3, 2025
HX Expeditions Black Friday Sale: Save Up to 40% on Epic Adventure Voyages
October 14, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Swan Hellenic: Cultural Expeditions & Boutique Luxury
July 28, 2025
Save 10% on Viator Tours & Local Experiences (Plus Stack an Extra $50 Back with Amex)
July 25, 2025
Seabourn’s Antarctica Cruise Sale Offers Patagonia, South Georgia, and Antarctica from $9,399/Person
July 21, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Saving Big on Summer Travel
July 17, 2025
The Secret Platinum Status That Costs $1 Million—Inside Marriott’s Luxury Residential Playbook
July 15, 2025
Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which Mid-Tier Luxury Card Wins in 2026?
July 15, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Silversea Cruises: What to Know Before You Sail
June 25, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Adventure Cruising
May 27, 2025
Why Cruises Are the Ultimate Multi-Generational Family Vacation
May 27, 2025
Seabourn vs Lindblad: Which Antarctica Cruise is Best for You?
May 25, 2025
How to Use Amex Points Toward Bucket-List Cruises
May 25, 2025
Expedition Cruise Line Comparison: HX, Atlas, Scenic & More
May 25, 2025
Best Small Ship Galápagos Cruises for 2025
May 25, 2025
Luxury Antarctica Cruises: What You Really Get for the Price
May 24, 2025
Sail in Ultra-Luxury: Scenic Eclipse Yacht
May 23, 2025
Cruise Hacks: How to Maximize Your Amex Card with Seabourn and Holland America
May 22, 2025
Unlock VIP Perks Without the Elite Status: Dive into Hyatt Privé
May 21, 2025
Emerald Cruises Is Having a Major Sale—Here’s Everything You Need to Know
May 14, 2025
Why You Should Book Your Antarctica Cruise Way in Advance (Like, Yesterday)
May 13, 2025
United Airlines Introduces Polaris Studio: An Upgrade to Business Class
May 12, 2025
Unlock 100K Membership Rewards Points with the American Express Gold Card
May 9, 2025
Big News on the Water: National Geographic & Lindblad Expeditions Launch European River Cruises
April 30, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Atlas Ocean Voyages: Yacht-Style Expeditions
April 26, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Scenic Ocean Cruises: The World’s First Discovery Yachts
April 14, 2025
From Sampler Platters to Soul Feasts: Why Slow Travel is the Glow-Up Your Adventures Deserve
April 12, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Emerald Yacht Cruises: Affordable Superyacht Luxury
March 17, 2025
Discover the Magic of Nile River Cruises: An Unforgettable Journey Through Egypt’s Timeless Waterway
March 15, 2025
Why Using a Travel Planner Makes More Sense Than Ever in the Age of DIY and AI Travel
March 9, 2025
Marriott Expands Luxury Safari Offerings in Kenya
March 1, 2025
Embark on the Ultimate Journey: How to Visit Antarctica on Luxury Cruise Expeditions
February 25, 2025
A-Rosa Cruises’ Sena is Revolutionizing River Cruising for Families and Kids
February 24, 2025
Discover South Africa: A Journey Through Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Big Game Safari Adventures
January 10, 2025
Antarctica, Part 3: Avalanches, Icebergs, and the Polar Plunge of Doom (and Glory)
December 11, 2024
Our First Landing Day in Antarctica: Penguins, Volcanoes, and a Thousand-Year-Old Cocktail
December 7, 2024