Journeys With Heart Stories

5 Little-Known Facts about Africa's 'Big Five' Animals

'Safari'. It's a Swahili word simply meaning 'journey'. But for travel lovers, the word 'safari' ignites our imaginations of exploring vast Sub-Saharan landscapes and encountering majestic creatures in their natural environment .Africa's 'Big Five' list dates from a time when human/animal encounters ended badly for the animal. The Big Five were the hardest to hunt on foot and therefore the most valued trophies.Today, the Big Five remain essential African animal encounters on safari to capture through your camera lens. Here are some things you...

What Happens to Worn-Out Hotel Sheets? A Good News Story

How many times can your hotel sheets be slept in once, then washed, and slept in again before they're too worn to use one more time? We don't know.But we do know that there's now a better end story for used sheets than landfill or being tied together to form an escape route out the back window in a romantic comedy. Westin Hotels has decided that there's more to their famous 'Heavenly Bed' sheets than thread count. In fact, their...

7 Reasons to Cruise Canada and New England on Seabourn

One of the greatest natural spectacles in the world is the unmatched explosion of colorful foliage that takes place in Eastern Canada and the North-Eastern US every autumn. And it's best experienced by cruise ship. Our cruise on the Seabourn Quest navigated the St. Lawrence from Montreal with calls at Quebec City, Canada's Maritime provinces, then along the Eastern Coast. Watch this video for our cruise tour and review.And here are my top 7 reasons you'll want to add a...

Preserving the World's Heritage: One Cruise Line's Partnership with UNESCO

There are over a thousand World Heritage Sites in 167 countries. Places in the world of such extraordinary cultural or natural wonder, that UNESCO has dedicated itself to preserving them for the ages… and travelers dedicate themselves to discovering them for themselves. One cruise line has partnered with UNESCO to help achieve both goals. Seabourn's ultra-luxury cruises sail to all seven continents. It has a unique ability to bring travelers to many of the world's UNESCO treasures. In fact, over...

If You Think Bigger is Better, You'll Love the New Largest Ship at Sea

March 31st 2018 was a red-letter day in marine lore. Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas set sail with her first group of passengers. It marks the 25th ship of the fleet – and the largest passenger cruise ship ever built. 5518 guests sail on this architectural marvel of a ship that's 3 and a half football fields long and 2/3 the height of the Eiffel Tower! Like other ships in its Class, the aft of the Symphony of the...

Start 2020 Off Right - Take a World Cruise!

Ringing in the New Year doesn't just turn a page on the calendar; it launches another season of World Cruises.If you don't know what your travel plans are for 2020 yet, imagine yourself on an epic journey. Celebrating one of life's milestones. Or spending the coldest months of the year being pampered on board your favorite cruise line while you collect dozens of ports and see corners of the world you may never otherwise travel to. Back in the golden age of cruising,...

5 Reasons To Give An Ovation To Luxury Cruising's Newest Ship

Applause, champagne, and celebration for the Seabourn Ovation. The fifth ship in Seabourn's fleet has her naming ceremony May 11, 2018, officially joining the line's award-winning Odyssey-class ships. The launch of the Ovation is the finale of Seabourn's current expansion plans. Now, the five Seabourn ships: Ovation, Encore, Quest, Sojourn and Odyssey, represent one of the most modern and consistent fleets in ultra-luxury cruising. Like her sister ships, sailing on the Seabourn Ovation is like sailing on a private yacht...

10 Tips When You Travel To Amsterdam From A Monograms Local Host

There's nothing better when you travel than having a friend in town to give you the insider tips only a local would know. Most of us don't have friends everywhere on our travel bucket lists. But we do have Monograms.Monograms tours take the best elements of traveling on your own – and the best parts of traveling with a tour. The secret sauce is the Monograms Local Host. They meet you and transfer you and from the airport, port, or...

Video: Play for a Day on Holland America Line's Caribbean Private Island

Think only the super rich and celebrities get the privileges of private islands?Guests aboard Holland America Line cruises in the Eastern Caribbean can get a taste of private island lifestyle too.HAL's private island is Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, and it's the featured port of call on the Oprah Winfrey Girls' Getaway cruise.BestTrip.TV has already been to this fantasy private island port of call, to share some of its highlights with you.Can you picture yourself there, too?