Travel Codex

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is for those with the desire to explore the world on small ships in small groups and go beyond the typical cruise ports and destinations. With a dedicated fleet of expedition vessels, Lindblad goes both where the large ships do, but mostly far beyond. With National Geographic’s partnership, Lindblad Expeditions is expedition […] Read the rest of this article at Why I love National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.

Cathay Pacific is returning to Seattle, coming back to Seattle after ending service during Covid. The oneworld airline has confirmed it will resume nonstop flights between Hong Kong and Seattle beginning March 30, 2026. It’s great to see another route finally being restored. Cathay Pacific first launched in March 2019 before being sidelined by the […] Read the rest of this article at Cathay Pacific Restarts Seattle Service.

I’ve been to Antarctica multiple times, on multiple ships, with multiple operators. That context matters because Antarctica has a way of separating marketing from reality very quickly. There’s a lot of opinions out there from people who have been once. I am fortunate enough to have multiple times in the last 3 years and have […] Read the rest of this article at Aurora Expeditions Antarctica Sylvia Earle Review.

If you hold the Citi Strata Premier and transfer ThankYou Points to hotel loyalty programs, there’s an unwelcome change coming to Hotel Transfer and point values. Citi has announced a devaluation of ThankYou Points transfers to Choice Privileges and I Prefer, effective April 19, 2026. While the notice arrived via a routine “program update” email, […] Read the rest of this article at Citi Devalues ThankYou Points for Hotel Transfers.

Vancouver is one of the most expensive hotel markets in North America. The city is beautiful, but hotel costs are high. Yet nearly every year we see the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association bring travelers promotions to help take the sting out of the stay. Offering pre-paid gift cards so you can shop, eat, drink and […] Read the rest of this article at Stay in Vancouver And Get A$500 Prepaid Mastercard.

Hawaiian Airlines is making another visible move toward its long‑anticipated integration with Alaska Airlines, rolling out self‑service bag‑tag kiosks and quietly nudging passengers away from printed boarding passes altogether. They are adding much needed technology to the Hawaiian Airline experience. (Although I can’t say Alaska tech is that great!) Beginning later this month, passengers traveling […] Read the rest of this article at Hawaiian Airlines Pushes Self‑Service Bag Tags & Eliminates B

Qatar Airways is inching back into the airspace map after Trump’s ridiculous war in Iran. Where Emirates has a partial reopening, Qatar is being much more scripted. The nearby US Military base in Qatar is making Qatar more cautious than the UAE. Still, make no mistake, this is a highly constrained, provisional restart, not a […] Read the rest of this article at Emirates & Qatar Airways Restart Limited Flights.

Explora Journeys is one of the few “new luxury” cruise brands and it actually feels luxurious once you’re onboard. The ships are stunning! The ships are really design-forward ships, all-suite accommodations, and a calm, resort-like vibe that’s noticeably different from traditional cruising. There are no inside rooms, only balcony rooms and above. Everything is included. […] Read the rest of this article at Explora Journeys: Private, Below‑Market Fares. Up to 20% Off.

Let’s get to the point, everyone is talking about Antarctica and South Georgia. After all it’s hot right now! Even Nicole Kidman went to Antarctica recently and posted about it. People want to see the 7th continent. From being a checkmark on your bucket list to seeing penguins and whales there are lots of reasons […] Read the rest of this article at Deal: Antarctica from $8,000 & South Georgia from $14,000!.

Moments of unrest test more than just infrastructure, government or security. They test values. In recent days, parts of Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, have experienced disruptions following government actions against cartel activity. While headlines focus on the unrest itself, a quieter but far more meaningful story has been unfolding on the ground: hotels stepping up […] Read the rest of this article at Hyatt Inclusive Collection Puerto Vallarta Goes Above & Beyond During Unrest.

Seabourn has confirmed that it will end its expedition submarine program at the conclusion of the current Antarctic season in early March 2026. The news came via a letter to travel advisors, citing low guest participation, operational complexity, and increasingly restrictive regulatory requirements. Wait, more regulatory requirements? Shocking! Actually not really. If you’ve been paying […] Read the rest of this article at Seabourn Is Ending Its Expedition Submarine Program.

For many travelers port days and time off the ship matters just as much as the the ship. You can have the best cabin, the best dining, the best service onboard but if you waste your time ashore on overpriced, overcrowded excursions, it drags down the entire cruise. Cruise lines make excursions easy. They also […] Read the rest of this article at New: Project Expedition’s Cruise Shore Excursion Search.

Alaska Airlines used to be different. The former CEO Brad Tilden loved elite customers and treated them better than the 1x flyer. Elite customers was Brad’s bread and butter and he ensured that elite customers felt special and were taken care of. Upgrades went to elite guests before sold. Every time. No matter what. Ben […] Read the rest of this article at Is Alaska Airlines Limiting Elite Upgrades to 72 hours?.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is clearly trying to move upmarket. The press releases are glossier, the language is more “boutique,” the pricing is firmer, and the hardware roadmap is screaming aspirational luxury. Just check out the new Atlas Adventurer if you don’t believe me. And yet… the real story isn’t that Atlas is becoming more premium. […] Read the rest of this article at Atlas Ocean Voyages Is Moving Upmarket But So Is Everyone Else And That’s the Problem.

Swan Hellenic has quietly released a slate of last‑minute reduced expedition fares for 2026 for travel in March, April and May to some awesome destinations. While the savings are real, they also tell a bigger story about where expedition cruising is headed and where it’s no longer going. These offers span Antarctica, South America, South […] Read the rest of this article at Deal: Antarctica, Africa, Greenland, Patagonia and more. Expeditions from $4,000!.

Atlas Ocean Voyages has confirmed plans for a major leap forward with Atlas Adventurer, a newbuild expedition sailing yacht set to debut in late 2028. Ordered by parent company Mystic Invest Holding and currently under construction in China, the ship will become the world’s largest expedition sailing yacht. Atlas wants to redefine what sustainable luxury […] Read the rest of this article at Atlas Ocean Voyages Unveils ‘Atlas Adventurer”.

If a small ship expedition cruise is on your radar in 2026, Aurora Expeditions is offering a compelling incentive ONLY to my clients. Save an extra 10% off the public price on select sailings to Svalbard, Greenland, Norway, and Antarctica! Plus every booking comes with a $250 per person onboard credit (A perk of using […] Read the rest of this article at Deal Alert: Aurora Expeditions Svalbard, Greenland’s Northern Lights, Antarctica or South Georgia.

Last month, I flew American’s inaugural flight on the A321XLR in Premium Economy. Recently, I boarded the swanky new plane again, this time to experience American A321XLR Business Class. The verdict: the Flagship Suite is a nice seat, but with a few notable flaws, and the consistently inconsistent service that plagues AA these days. American […] Read the rest of this article at Review: American A321XLR Business Class Flagship Suite, JFK to LAX.

Let’s address the obvious question upfront: Why use a travel advisor when you can book a cruise or tour online The short answer? Because booking direct rarely gives you the best experience or the best value. Can you do it, yes, but what when things go wrong? Don’t be a small fish in a big […] Read the rest of this article at Always Utilize A Virtuoso Travel Advisor for Cruises and Tours.

During our trip to India, we had quite a varied need when it came to hotels. A good part of the trip took us to some really rural parts of Tamil Nadu. Needless to say, you take what you can find when traveling in those areas. We did end up spending several days in Chennai, […] Read the rest of this article at Review: Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Cathedral Road Chennai.