Beyond the Horizon is a travel podcast that explores cruises, destinations, and the real experience of discovering the world through immersive storytelling and expert insight. Each episode takes you deeper into how places truly work, from navigating iconic cities to understanding the details that transform a trip into something unforgettable, so you can travel smarter, explore with confidence, and experience more wherever the journey takes you. aeriacruises.substack.com
Golden light dancing over the Baltic, cobblestone streets echoing with centuries of history, and a city spread across islands like a perfectly scattered constellation... welcome to Stockholm. 📄 READ THE WHOLE DESTINATION GUIDE In this episode, we take you deep into Sweden’s capital with a refined, insider perspective, far beyond the postcard version. Inspired by my full guide to Stockholm, this journey is designed to help you experience the city the way a seasoned traveler, or a well-connected local, would. We begin in Gamla Stan, where narrow medieval alleys lead you toward the grandeur of the Royal Palace. From there, we move into the cultural depth of Djurgården, home to the iconic Vasa Museum and peaceful waterfront paths. You will follow a curated flow of the city, from vibrant neighborhoods like Södermalm to elegant boulevards and hidden cafés, all designed to maximize your time while keeping that sense of discovery alive. Stockholm is also a lifestyle. Think refined Nordic cuisine, minimalist design, and memorable dining experiences at places like Restaurant Adam/Albin. We also cover the best time to visit, how to move efficiently between islands, and the subtle details that turn a good trip into something exceptional. Because Stockholm is not just a destination, it is a rhythm, a feeling, a quiet kind of luxury that stays with you long after you leave. Yvan Junior BlanchetteTravel & Cruise SpecialistÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com 📞 1-888-460-3388🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Edinburgh is unlike any other European capital. Its medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, coexist in an extraordinarily compact space. The castle looks down over everything from a volcanic plug 340 million years old. And Greyfriars Kirkyard holds the real grave of Tom Riddle. In this episode, we explore the city in depth: the neighbourhoods (Old Town, New Town, Leith, Stockbridge), the essential sites (Castle, Holyroodhouse, Arthur’s Seat, National Museum, Royal Yacht Britannia), Edinburgh’s connection to the Harry Potter universe (George Heriot’s School, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street), and the stories no one tells you before you go (the Balmoral clock that runs three minutes fast, the brigadier penguin at the zoo, the alcoholic elephant that once lived in the castle). We also cover restaurants, hotels, day trips to the Highlands and the Borders, the best time of year to visit, and how Edinburgh fits into a broader Scotland or British Isles itinerary. The full article accompanying this episode is available Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com 📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com #Edinburgh #Scotland #Travel #podcast #BeyondTheHorizons #AERIAVoyages #HarryPotter #visitscotland #ScotlandTravel #travelguide This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Canyon Spirit is America’s answer to the Rocky Mountaineer experience. It comes from the same company. Daylight only. Glass-dome coaches. All meals, all beverages, and all storytelling included in the fare. No sleeping cars because darkness is precisely what the train was designed to eliminate. And the American Southwest rolling past the windows all day long through landscapes that genuinely cannot be seen any other way. We cover the full guide, including: The origin story: Rocky Mountaineer’s Armstrong Collective applied its Canadian Rockies formula to the American Southwest, launched as Rockies to the Red Rocks, and rebranded as Canyon Spirit for the 2026 season with expanded routes and its own distinct identity The glass-dome design: single-level coaches with dome windows curving from the side walls to the roof, so canyon walls rising hundreds of metres above the train and ridgelines overhead are visible from your seat without standing or moving. When the train runs through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River, the canyon does not appear beside you. It surrounds you. The routes in 2026: Denver to Moab in two days through Glenwood Canyon and into Utah’s red rock country, or Denver to Salt Lake City in three days continuing through canyon country to the Wasatch Mountains. Both directions available, weekly departures April through November. The three package tiers: Signature Rail for the train and mid-journey hotels only, Signature Rail and Stay adding hotels at the journey endpoints, and Signature Rail and Beyond adding curated national park excursions including guided programmes through Utah’s Mighty 5 Signature vs Premier: all-inclusive seat-delivered meals and beverages for every guest at the Signature level, with the Premier upgrade unlocking a private lounge car with paired wines, signature cocktails, a dedicated Host, and an exclusive outdoor viewing area What is included in every fare: all meals, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, gourmet snacks, Host storytelling, luggage handling, motorcoach transfers, and mid-journey hotel stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab. Gratuities for onboard crew included. Moab as the centrepiece destination: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks within 45 minutes, Colorado River rafting, red rock hiking in every direction, and a town whose scale feels proportionate to the landscape around it The Reba McEntire partnership: a brand alignment around American storytelling and the spirit of exploration. She does not appear on the train. How Canyon Spirit compares to Rocky Mountaineer, Amtrak’s California Zephyr, and VIA Rail’s The Canadian, and for whom the daylight-only glass-dome formula is the right call Canyon Spirit is not efficient transport. Denver to Salt Lake City by air takes two hours. Canyon Spirit takes three days by design. The guests it suits best are those who see that not as a trade-off, but as the entire point. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Canyon Spirit is America’s answer to the Rocky Mountaineer experience. It comes from the same company. Daylight only. Glass-dome coaches. All meals, all beverages, and all storytelling included in the fare. No sleeping cars because darkness is precisely what the train was designed to eliminate. And the American Southwest rolling past the windows all day long through landscapes that genuinely cannot be seen any other way. We cover the full guide, including: The origin story: Rocky Mountaineer’s Armstrong Collective applied its Canadian Rockies formula to the American Southwest, launched as Rockies to the Red Rocks, and rebranded as Canyon Spirit for the 2026 season with expanded routes and its own distinct identity The glass-dome design: single-level coaches with dome windows curving from the side walls to the roof, so canyon walls rising hundreds of metres above the train and ridgelines overhead are visible from your seat without standing or moving. When the train runs through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River, the canyon does not appear beside you. It surrounds you. The routes in 2026: Denver to Moab in two days through Glenwood Canyon and into Utah’s red rock country, or Denver to Salt Lake City in three days continuing through canyon country to the Wasatch Mountains. Both directions available, weekly departures April through November. The three package tiers: Signature Rail for the train and mid-journey hotels only, Signature Rail and Stay adding hotels at the journey endpoints, and Signature Rail and Beyond adding curated national park excursions including guided programmes through Utah’s Mighty 5 Signature vs Premier: all-inclusive seat-delivered meals and beverages for every guest at the Signature level, with the Premier upgrade unlocking a private lounge car with paired wines, signature cocktails, a dedicated Host, and an exclusive outdoor viewing area What is included in every fare: all meals, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, gourmet snacks, Host storytelling, luggage handling, motorcoach transfers, and mid-journey hotel stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab. Gratuities for onboard crew included. Moab as the centrepiece destination: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks within 45 minutes, Colorado River rafting, red rock hiking in every direction, and a town whose scale feels proportionate to the landscape around it The Reba McEntire partnership: a brand alignment around American storytelling and the spirit of exploration. She does not appear on the train. How Canyon Spirit compares to Rocky Mountaineer, Amtrak’s California Zephyr, and VIA Rail’s The Canadian, and for whom the daylight-only glass-dome formula is the right call Canyon Spirit is not efficient transport. Denver to Salt Lake City by air takes two hours. Canyon Spirit takes three days by design. The guests it suits best are those who see that not as a trade-off, but as the entire point. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Rocky Mountaineer has won the World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train award eight times. It travels by daylight only. Every kilometre of the Canadian Rockies rolls past glass-dome windows while passengers are awake and seated. There are no sleeping cars because darkness is precisely what Rocky Mountaineer was designed to eliminate. And in 2026, one of its most beloved routes may be operating for the very last time. We cover the full guide, including: The fundamental design: why a flight covers the same distance in under two hours and Rocky Mountaineer takes two to three days by design, and why the guests who understand that distinction before booking are the ones who describe the experience as one of the best of their lives GoldLeaf vs SilverLeaf: the bi-level glass-dome coaches with rotating seats and a dedicated lower-level dining room versus the single-level panoramic dome with seat-delivered meals, and how to decide which one fits your travel style and budget The four routes in 2026: First Passage to the West through the Fraser Canyon and the Spiral Tunnels to Banff, Journey through the Clouds to Jasper via the Yellowhead Pass and Mount Robson, the new Passage to the Peaks running exclusively in June and July between Banff and Jasper for the first time, and the Rainforest to Gold Rush through Whistler, the Cariboo, and northern BC The Rainforest to Gold Rush closure: Rocky Mountaineer announced on March 30, 2026, that this route will not operate in 2027 and is not in the 2028 schedule. CN Railway is discontinuing operations on the trackage the route depends on. If this route has ever been on your list, 2026 is almost certainly your last opportunity. Circle Journeys: combining First Passage to the West and Journey through the Clouds into a four-day rail experience that crosses the Rockies twice from different directions, connected by the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper What is and is not included: all onboard meals, beverages, Host commentary, luggage transfer, motorcoach transfers, and the overnight hotel in the intermediate city. Hotels in Vancouver, Banff, and Jasper at journey start and end booked separately. How Rocky Mountaineer fits into a Canadian Rockies itinerary: Vancouver before, Banff and Jasper after, and the Icefields Parkway as the overland connector that makes the Circle Journey the most recommended structure in the market How Rocky Mountaineer compares to Canyon Spirit, VIA Rail’s The Canadian, the Belmond Royal Scotsman, and the Glacier Express The train does not move quickly. That is the point. The Fraser Canyon appears within two hours of Vancouver. The Spiral Tunnels loop through the mountain. Mount Robson generates its own weather system and is cloud-covered on most days. Seeing it clearly is considered a notable piece of luck. The Rainforest to Gold Rush will not run in 2027. 2026 departures are available now. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Rocky Mountaineer has won the World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train award eight times. It travels by daylight only. Every kilometre of the Canadian Rockies rolls past glass-dome windows while passengers are awake and seated. There are no sleeping cars because darkness is precisely what Rocky Mountaineer was designed to eliminate. And in 2026, one of its most beloved routes may be operating for the very last time. We cover the full guide, including: The fundamental design: why a flight covers the same distance in under two hours and Rocky Mountaineer takes two to three days by design, and why the guests who understand that distinction before booking are the ones who describe the experience as one of the best of their lives GoldLeaf vs SilverLeaf: the bi-level glass-dome coaches with rotating seats and a dedicated lower-level dining room versus the single-level panoramic dome with seat-delivered meals, and how to decide which one fits your travel style and budget The four routes in 2026: First Passage to the West through the Fraser Canyon and the Spiral Tunnels to Banff, Journey through the Clouds to Jasper via the Yellowhead Pass and Mount Robson, the new Passage to the Peaks running exclusively in June and July between Banff and Jasper for the first time, and the Rainforest to Gold Rush through Whistler, the Cariboo, and northern BC The Rainforest to Gold Rush closure: Rocky Mountaineer announced on March 30, 2026, that this route will not operate in 2027 and is not in the 2028 schedule. CN Railway is discontinuing operations on the trackage the route depends on. If this route has ever been on your list, 2026 is almost certainly your last opportunity. Circle Journeys: combining First Passage to the West and Journey through the Clouds into a four-day rail experience that crosses the Rockies twice from different directions, connected by the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper What is and is not included: all onboard meals, beverages, Host commentary, luggage transfer, motorcoach transfers, and the overnight hotel in the intermediate city. Hotels in Vancouver, Banff, and Jasper at journey start and end booked separately. How Rocky Mountaineer fits into a Canadian Rockies itinerary: Vancouver before, Banff and Jasper after, and the Icefields Parkway as the overland connector that makes the Circle Journey the most recommended structure in the market How Rocky Mountaineer compares to Canyon Spirit, VIA Rail’s The Canadian, the Belmond Royal Scotsman, and the Glacier Express The train does not move quickly. That is the point. The Fraser Canyon appears within two hours of Vancouver. The Spiral Tunnels loop through the mountain. Mount Robson generates its own weather system and is cloud-covered on most days. Seeing it clearly is considered a notable piece of luck. The Rainforest to Gold Rush will not run in 2027. 2026 departures are available now. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
In 1928, Antonio Mantegazza began ferrying passengers across Lake Lugano in a rowboat. He had no way of knowing he was founding what would become the most awarded tour operator in North America. Nearly a century later, Globus operates 304 itineraries across six continents and sends more than 500,000 travellers on guided vacations every year. What it does well has not fundamentally changed since the rowboat: it takes the full logistical complexity of international travel, solves it completely on the client’s behalf, and hands them a vacation where the only decision left is what to order for dinner. We cover the full guide, including : The Tour Director: not a contracted guide per departure but a full Globus employee who travels with the group for the entire tour, manages every transition, and whose tenure with the company is often measured in decades. One guest review from 2026 mentions a Tour Director who had been with Globus for 42 years. VIP access and the Happy Line: priority entry at the Vatican Museums, the Louvre, the Uffizi, the Acropolis, and dozens of other high-traffic monuments where general admission queues run two to four hours. By conservative estimate, a Globus guest recovers the equivalent of one full day of their trip that a self-planned traveller spends standing in line. The seven travel styles in 2026: Classic for the broadest destination coverage at the best value, Small Group Discovery at 15 guests for boutique access and private experiences, Choice Touring where guests select from a menu of included activities on key days, Undiscovered for repeat travellers ready to go somewhere genuinely different, Escapes for off-season departures with single supplements waived on most itineraries, Independent by Globus for self-guided travel with full Globus logistics support, and Private Tours for families and groups who want the Globus infrastructure without sharing it What is and is not included: all accommodation in centrally located 4-star hotels, all ground transport, Tour Director and Local Guide services, VIP access, porterage, daily breakfast and a proportion of dinners. Most lunches and some dinners at the guest’s own choice. Flights, insurance, and gratuities not included. The Globus family of brands: how Cosmos, Monograms, and Avalon Waterways relate to Globus, and why combining a Globus land tour with an Avalon river cruise in a single booking is one of the most recommended European itinerary structures How Globus compares to Cosmos, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Tauck, and G Adventures, and which profile of traveller each one serves best Globus has been solving the complexity of international travel for nearly a century. The rowboat is long gone. The result is the same. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise SpecialistÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
In 1928, Antonio Mantegazza began ferrying passengers across Lake Lugano in a rowboat. He had no way of knowing he was founding what would become the most awarded tour operator in North America. Nearly a century later, Globus operates 304 itineraries across six continents and sends more than 500,000 travellers on guided vacations every year. What it does well has not fundamentally changed since the rowboat: it takes the full logistical complexity of international travel, solves it completely on the client’s behalf, and hands them a vacation where the only decision left is what to order for dinner. We cover the full guide, including : The Tour Director: not a contracted guide per departure but a full Globus employee who travels with the group for the entire tour, manages every transition, and whose tenure with the company is often measured in decades. One guest review from 2026 mentions a Tour Director who had been with Globus for 42 years. VIP access and the Happy Line: priority entry at the Vatican Museums, the Louvre, the Uffizi, the Acropolis, and dozens of other high-traffic monuments where general admission queues run two to four hours. By conservative estimate, a Globus guest recovers the equivalent of one full day of their trip that a self-planned traveller spends standing in line. The seven travel styles in 2026: Classic for the broadest destination coverage at the best value, Small Group Discovery at 15 guests for boutique access and private experiences, Choice Touring where guests select from a menu of included activities on key days, Undiscovered for repeat travellers ready to go somewhere genuinely different, Escapes for off-season departures with single supplements waived on most itineraries, Independent by Globus for self-guided travel with full Globus logistics support, and Private Tours for families and groups who want the Globus infrastructure without sharing it What is and is not included: all accommodation in centrally located 4-star hotels, all ground transport, Tour Director and Local Guide services, VIP access, porterage, daily breakfast and a proportion of dinners. Most lunches and some dinners at the guest’s own choice. Flights, insurance, and gratuities not included. The Globus family of brands: how Cosmos, Monograms, and Avalon Waterways relate to Globus, and why combining a Globus land tour with an Avalon river cruise in a single booking is one of the most recommended European itinerary structures How Globus compares to Cosmos, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Tauck, and G Adventures, and which profile of traveller each one serves best Globus has been solving the complexity of international travel for nearly a century. The rowboat is long gone. The result is the same. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise SpecialistÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
G Adventures was not a tour operator that developed a social conscience along the way. It was built around one from the beginning. When Bruce Poon Tip co-founded the company in Toronto in 1990, maxing out two credit cards because no bank would lend him the money, his founding conviction was specific: that travel done correctly could distribute wealth more equitably than almost any other human activity. Thirty-five years later, it is the most successful adventure travel company in the world. And it just produced the two most successful product launches in its own history back to back. We cover the full guide, including: The founding story: the first trip ever offered was a homestay with an Amazonian family in Ecuador. It is still in the catalogue today. That continuity is the model. The Chief Experience Officer: not a contracted guide per departure but a full G Adventures employee who lives in the destination, knows it as a community, and sets the social tone of every departure as much as the logistics The twelve travel styles in 2026: Classic for the widest destination range at the best value, Geluxe for active adults who want genuine adventure and a genuinely comfortable hotel at the end of the day, Solo-ish designed exclusively for solo travellers with a female CEO on every departure, National Geographic Journeys with its Storyteller and upgraded accommodation, National Geographic Signature launching for 2027 at a true luxury level, Roamies for the 18 to 35 hostel-social crowd, Active, Local Living, Marine, Wellness, Family Journeys, and 18 to Thirtysomethings What is and is not included: accommodation, ground transport, CEO services, listed activities and a proportion of meals. Flights, travel insurance, most lunches and many dinners, optional activities, and gratuities not included. The meal model is deliberate: the freedom to eat independently is considered part of the experience. The Ripple Score: the only metric in the industry that shows, on every tour page, what percentage of money spent stays in the local economy. An industry first and a meaningful basis for comparison that did not previously exist. Planeterra: 100-plus community social enterprises globally, from weaving cooperatives in Cusco to female-run taxi services in Delhi, built to generate their own income rather than depend on donations. 90 percent of G Adventures travellers visit a Planeterra project on their tour. How G Adventures compares to Intrepid, Contiki, Trafalgar, and Exodus, and which travel style fits which traveller profile The company turned down a $100 million acquisition offer during the 2008 recession. Its founder became the first person in the travel industry appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 34 years. The first trip it ever sold is still in the catalogue. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise SpecialistÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
G Adventures was not a tour operator that developed a social conscience along the way. It was built around one from the beginning. When Bruce Poon Tip co-founded the company in Toronto in 1990, maxing out two credit cards because no bank would lend him the money, his founding conviction was specific: that travel done correctly could distribute wealth more equitably than almost any other human activity. Thirty-five years later, it is the most successful adventure travel company in the world. And it just produced the two most successful product launches in its own history back to back. We cover the full guide, including: The founding story: the first trip ever offered was a homestay with an Amazonian family in Ecuador. It is still in the catalogue today. That continuity is the model. The Chief Experience Officer: not a contracted guide per departure but a full G Adventures employee who lives in the destination, knows it as a community, and sets the social tone of every departure as much as the logistics The twelve travel styles in 2026: Classic for the widest destination range at the best value, Geluxe for active adults who want genuine adventure and a genuinely comfortable hotel at the end of the day, Solo-ish designed exclusively for solo travellers with a female CEO on every departure, National Geographic Journeys with its Storyteller and upgraded accommodation, National Geographic Signature launching for 2027 at a true luxury level, Roamies for the 18 to 35 hostel-social crowd, Active, Local Living, Marine, Wellness, Family Journeys, and 18 to Thirtysomethings What is and is not included: accommodation, ground transport, CEO services, listed activities and a proportion of meals. Flights, travel insurance, most lunches and many dinners, optional activities, and gratuities not included. The meal model is deliberate: the freedom to eat independently is considered part of the experience. The Ripple Score: the only metric in the industry that shows, on every tour page, what percentage of money spent stays in the local economy. An industry first and a meaningful basis for comparison that did not previously exist. Planeterra: 100-plus community social enterprises globally, from weaving cooperatives in Cusco to female-run taxi services in Delhi, built to generate their own income rather than depend on donations. 90 percent of G Adventures travellers visit a Planeterra project on their tour. How G Adventures compares to Intrepid, Contiki, Trafalgar, and Exodus, and which travel style fits which traveller profile The company turned down a $100 million acquisition offer during the 2008 recession. Its founder became the first person in the travel industry appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 34 years. The first trip it ever sold is still in the catalogue. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise SpecialistÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Peru is the only country in the world where you can stand among Inca stones assembled without mortar, descend into a cloud forest that same afternoon, and sit down that evening in one of the best restaurants on the planet. None of that is an exaggeration. We cover the full guide, including: The regions: Lima and its cliffs above the Pacific, Cusco at 11,150 feet with its Inca foundations beneath Spanish colonial buildings, the Sacred Valley from Ollantaytambo to Pisac, Machu Picchu in the cloud forest at 7,970 feet, the Amazon around Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos, and Lake Titicaca at 12,500 feet with its floating reed islands The experiences not to miss: Machu Picchu at sunrise before the crowds arrive, the four-day Inca Trail to the Sun Gate, the Macaw Clay Lick at Tambopata where hundreds of scarlet macaws descend onto the riverbank at dawn, a tasting menu dinner at Maido, Central, or Astrid y Gastón, and Sacsayhuamán above Cusco with its 125-ton limestone blocks fitted to perfection The food: Maido in Miraflores named the world’s best restaurant in 2026, Central named the world’s best in 2023, La Mar for lunch ceviche with no reservation needed, and the covered markets of Cusco for the three thousand potato varieties native to Peru The honest logistics: why Machu Picchu tickets sell out months in advance at tuboleto.cultura.pe, why Inca Trail permits are gone up to six months before departure, and why 24 to 48 hours of acclimatization in Cusco is not a suggestion but a necessity When to go: May through October for dry and reliable conditions, May and September to October as the best compromise between weather and crowds, and the rainy season for those who want the Andes empty and green Seven days covers the essentials. Ten days adds Lake Titicaca or the Amazon. Fourteen days begins to do justice to what the country actually contains. Peru systematically expands to fill whatever time you give it. The most satisfied travelers are those who resist the urge to cover everything and choose instead to go deeper into fewer places. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Peru is the only country in the world where you can stand among Inca stones assembled without mortar, descend into a cloud forest that same afternoon, and sit down that evening in one of the best restaurants on the planet. None of that is an exaggeration. We cover the full guide, including: The regions: Lima and its cliffs above the Pacific, Cusco at 11,150 feet with its Inca foundations beneath Spanish colonial buildings, the Sacred Valley from Ollantaytambo to Pisac, Machu Picchu in the cloud forest at 7,970 feet, the Amazon around Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos, and Lake Titicaca at 12,500 feet with its floating reed islands The experiences not to miss: Machu Picchu at sunrise before the crowds arrive, the four-day Inca Trail to the Sun Gate, the Macaw Clay Lick at Tambopata where hundreds of scarlet macaws descend onto the riverbank at dawn, a tasting menu dinner at Maido, Central, or Astrid y Gastón, and Sacsayhuamán above Cusco with its 125-ton limestone blocks fitted to perfection The food: Maido in Miraflores named the world’s best restaurant in 2026, Central named the world’s best in 2023, La Mar for lunch ceviche with no reservation needed, and the covered markets of Cusco for the three thousand potato varieties native to Peru The honest logistics: why Machu Picchu tickets sell out months in advance at tuboleto.cultura.pe, why Inca Trail permits are gone up to six months before departure, and why 24 to 48 hours of acclimatization in Cusco is not a suggestion but a necessity When to go: May through October for dry and reliable conditions, May and September to October as the best compromise between weather and crowds, and the rainy season for those who want the Andes empty and green Seven days covers the essentials. Ten days adds Lake Titicaca or the Amazon. Fourteen days begins to do justice to what the country actually contains. Peru systematically expands to fill whatever time you give it. The most satisfied travelers are those who resist the urge to cover everything and choose instead to go deeper into fewer places. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 📖 LEARN MORE 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
A cardiac arrest in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A potential bill of $150,000 USD. And zero dollars out of pocket. The difference between the two is a single decision made before boarding. We cover the full guide, including: The FICAV: what it actually is, what it covers, and what it does not. A financial safety net that protects your investment if you don’t receive the services you paid for. Not your health, not your life, not a medical evacuation. The credit card: useful for minor inconveniences, dangerously insufficient for a serious emergency. Medical coverage caps that fall short, exclusions for pre-existing conditions, limits of 15 to 21 days of travel, mandatory full payment with the card, and reduced or nonexistent coverage past a certain age. Michel’s story: a helicopter evacuation over the open ocean, coordinated by his travel insurance provider within hours. Transport, coast guard, hospital, family communication back in Quebec. Michel had one thing to do: recover. The five questions to ask before every trip: what is your maximum medical coverage, are your pre-existing conditions covered, what is the maximum duration guaranteed, did you pay with the right card, and does your travel agency hold a Quebec OPC permit. The FICAV protects your money. Travel insurance protects your life. The credit card covers the rest. The three are not interchangeable. Michel is probably somewhere out on the water right now. He got a second chance. Partly because of the doctors. Partly because of the right decision he made before he left. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE AVAILABLE SOON… Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com 📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
A cardiac arrest in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A potential bill of $150,000 USD. And zero dollars out of pocket. The difference between the two is a single decision made before boarding. We cover the full guide, including: The FICAV: what it actually is, what it covers, and what it does not. A financial safety net that protects your investment if you don’t receive the services you paid for. Not your health, not your life, not a medical evacuation. The credit card: useful for minor inconveniences, dangerously insufficient for a serious emergency. Medical coverage caps that fall short, exclusions for pre-existing conditions, limits of 15 to 21 days of travel, mandatory full payment with the card, and reduced or nonexistent coverage past a certain age. Michel’s story: a helicopter evacuation over the open ocean, coordinated by his travel insurance provider within hours. Transport, coast guard, hospital, family communication back in Quebec. Michel had one thing to do: recover. The five questions to ask before every trip: what is your maximum medical coverage, are your pre-existing conditions covered, what is the maximum duration guaranteed, did you pay with the right card, and does your travel agency hold a Quebec OPC permit. The FICAV protects your money. Travel insurance protects your life. The credit card covers the rest. The three are not interchangeable. Michel is probably somewhere out on the water right now. He got a second chance. Partly because of the doctors. Partly because of the right decision he made before he left. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE AVAILABLE SOON… Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com 📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Exoticca is not a tour operator. It is not a booking platform. It is the company digitizing the last category of travel that nobody had gotten around to digitizing yet: the complex, multi-destination international package tour. Flights, hotels, transfers, guided excursions, and daily breakfast, bundled into a single real-time price, booked online in a single transaction. Founded in Barcelona in 2013. 75% of its business now comes from North America. And a 14-day Egypt tour including international flights starts at under $2,200 per person. We cover the full guide, including: The model: direct negotiation with airlines, hotels, and local ground operators at volume, assembled into fixed itineraries priced in real time, at rates most independent travelers cannot match booking the same components separately SmartFare: the proprietary AI platform launched in 2025 that processes 6.5 million individual flight options daily, optimizing for price, routing quality, connection risk, and arrival time, and powering the Best Price Guarantee The three hotel categories: Charm for destination-focused travelers, Superior for a meaningful comfort upgrade, and Luxury for the most polished properties available within the framework, all within the same itinerary structure What is and is not included: international flights, domestic flights where applicable, all hotels, daily breakfast, ground transfers, guided tours, and entry fees included. Meals beyond breakfast, gratuities, travel insurance, and seat selection charged separately. Flex Cancellation: $99 per person, cancellation for any reason up to 30 days before departure, full refund in travel credit. For any trip over $2,000 per person, it is the first thing to add. The destination catalogue: 430-plus itineraries across five continents, anchored by Peru as the most popular single destination, with particularly deep programming in Egypt, Japan, South Africa, and the Galápagos Group sizes averaging 12 to 15 people, three tour formats from fully escorted to self-guided, and a 24/7 multilingual support app as the operational hub for the trip itself How Exoticca compares to Gate 1, G Adventures, Intrepid, Trafalgar, and EF Go Ahead, and for whom the bundled-with-flights model is the right call The package tour was invented two centuries ago and had not changed. Exoticca is changing it. The price points are real. The logistics are real. And Machu Picchu is still Machu Picchu. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Exoticca is not a tour operator. It is not a booking platform. It is the company digitizing the last category of travel that nobody had gotten around to digitizing yet: the complex, multi-destination international package tour. Flights, hotels, transfers, guided excursions, and daily breakfast, bundled into a single real-time price, booked online in a single transaction. Founded in Barcelona in 2013. 75% of its business now comes from North America. And a 14-day Egypt tour including international flights starts at under $2,200 per person. We cover the full guide, including: The model: direct negotiation with airlines, hotels, and local ground operators at volume, assembled into fixed itineraries priced in real time, at rates most independent travelers cannot match booking the same components separately SmartFare: the proprietary AI platform launched in 2025 that processes 6.5 million individual flight options daily, optimizing for price, routing quality, connection risk, and arrival time, and powering the Best Price Guarantee The three hotel categories: Charm for destination-focused travelers, Superior for a meaningful comfort upgrade, and Luxury for the most polished properties available within the framework, all within the same itinerary structure What is and is not included: international flights, domestic flights where applicable, all hotels, daily breakfast, ground transfers, guided tours, and entry fees included. Meals beyond breakfast, gratuities, travel insurance, and seat selection charged separately. Flex Cancellation: $99 per person, cancellation for any reason up to 30 days before departure, full refund in travel credit. For any trip over $2,000 per person, it is the first thing to add. The destination catalogue: 430-plus itineraries across five continents, anchored by Peru as the most popular single destination, with particularly deep programming in Egypt, Japan, South Africa, and the Galápagos Group sizes averaging 12 to 15 people, three tour formats from fully escorted to self-guided, and a 24/7 multilingual support app as the operational hub for the trip itself How Exoticca compares to Gate 1, G Adventures, Intrepid, Trafalgar, and EF Go Ahead, and for whom the bundled-with-flights model is the right call The package tour was invented two centuries ago and had not changed. Exoticca is changing it. The price points are real. The logistics are real. And Machu Picchu is still Machu Picchu. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Cape Town is hemmed between a flat-topped mountain and two oceans. Where you eat, where you hike, where you watch the sunset, all of it decided by the mountain and the sea. And beneath that landscape, one of the most complex and creatively alive cities on the African continent. We cover the full guide, including: The neighborhoods: Bo-Kaap and its painted houses above the City Bowl, De Waterkant’s cobbled Victorian lanes, Woodstock and the Old Biscuit Mill as the engine of Cape Town’s creative culture, the Atlantic Seaboard from Sea Point to Camps Bay, and the Constantia valley with South Africa’s oldest wine estates The experiences not to miss: Table Mountain by cable car or Platteklip Gorge on foot, Robben Island with a guide who was imprisoned there, the Cape Peninsula drive through Chapman’s Peak and Cape Point to the 3,000-strong African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, Kirstenbosch on a summer Sunday evening, and the Zeitz MOCAA in the converted grain silo at the Waterfront Day trips: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek in the Winelands, whale watching at Hermanus between June and November, the West Coast wildflowers in August and September, and the Garden Route east toward Knysna and Tsitsikamma When to go: autumn is the finest season. Summer is beautiful and expensive. Winter brings whales, empty mountains, and dramatically lower prices. Spring brings fynbos blooms and warming light. Where to eat: The Test Kitchen for the finest tasting menu in South Africa, Biesmiellah in the Bo-Kaap for authentic Cape Malay, Harbour House in Kalk Bay for line fish straight off the boat, and the Neighbourgoods Market on Saturday mornings Practical details: rental car logistics, Uber after dark, load shedding and what it actually means for your trip, tipping culture, and why Robben Island must be booked weeks in advance How Cape Town connects to a broader South Africa itinerary, from Kruger and the private game reserves to the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape Three days covers the essentials. A week begins to do it justice. The mountain will be there every morning. The light on it changes every hour. Build in time for nothing in particular, and Cape Town will fill it generously. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Cape Town is hemmed between a flat-topped mountain and two oceans. Where you eat, where you hike, where you watch the sunset, all of it decided by the mountain and the sea. And beneath that landscape, one of the most complex and creatively alive cities on the African continent. We cover the full guide, including: The neighborhoods: Bo-Kaap and its painted houses above the City Bowl, De Waterkant’s cobbled Victorian lanes, Woodstock and the Old Biscuit Mill as the engine of Cape Town’s creative culture, the Atlantic Seaboard from Sea Point to Camps Bay, and the Constantia valley with South Africa’s oldest wine estates The experiences not to miss: Table Mountain by cable car or Platteklip Gorge on foot, Robben Island with a guide who was imprisoned there, the Cape Peninsula drive through Chapman’s Peak and Cape Point to the 3,000-strong African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, Kirstenbosch on a summer Sunday evening, and the Zeitz MOCAA in the converted grain silo at the Waterfront Day trips: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek in the Winelands, whale watching at Hermanus between June and November, the West Coast wildflowers in August and September, and the Garden Route east toward Knysna and Tsitsikamma When to go: autumn is the finest season. Summer is beautiful and expensive. Winter brings whales, empty mountains, and dramatically lower prices. Spring brings fynbos blooms and warming light. Where to eat: The Test Kitchen for the finest tasting menu in South Africa, Biesmiellah in the Bo-Kaap for authentic Cape Malay, Harbour House in Kalk Bay for line fish straight off the boat, and the Neighbourgoods Market on Saturday mornings Practical details: rental car logistics, Uber after dark, load shedding and what it actually means for your trip, tipping culture, and why Robben Island must be booked weeks in advance How Cape Town connects to a broader South Africa itinerary, from Kruger and the private game reserves to the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape Three days covers the essentials. A week begins to do it justice. The mountain will be there every morning. The light on it changes every hour. Build in time for nothing in particular, and Cape Town will fill it generously. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
AmaWaterways is the most awarded river cruise line in the world. 31 ships. Six river regions. The only river cruise line ever inducted into La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. And a fleet expansion to 50-plus ships by 2032 backed by a private equity investment that is the largest in river cruise history. They also invented the twin-balcony stateroom. Every other major river cruise line has since copied it. We cover the full guide, including: The fleet: European rivers from the Danube to the Douro, the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia, the Chobe in Botswana, the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, and the Magdalena in Colombia, the first luxury river cruise programme ever operated in South America outside the Amazon The twin-balcony stateroom: a French balcony for all weather and a full step-out balcony in the same cabin, originated by AmaWaterways in 2012 and still the best execution of the format on the market AmaMagna: twice the width of any other ship on the Danube, four dining venues, an aft marina with kayaks and Zodiacs, a pickleball court, and staterooms from 355 to 710 square feet, all at a river cruise price point What is and is not included: all meals, The Chef’s Table specialty dining, unlimited wines at meals, the Sip and Sail cocktail hour, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions at three activity levels. Spirits outside mealtimes and gratuities on European sailings charged separately. La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs: the gastronomic society founded in 1248, by invitation only, and AmaWaterways is the only river cruise line ever to receive one The excursion structure: Gentle Walkers, Active Walkers, Late Starters, and complimentary bikes at every port, with more active options per port than any comparable line How AmaWaterways compares to Viking, Scenic, Avalon, and Emerald, and who it is best suited for. The excursion programme does most of the filtering. AmaWaterways invented the design that everyone else copied. The culinary credential is the only one of its kind in river cruising. And the expansion is just getting started. For less than the price of a Starbucks coffee per month, you unlock every full episode, every complete destination guide, and access to the private ÆRIA Traveller Communities. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
Avalon Waterways introduced the Suite Ship in 2011. Every major river cruise line has since introduced a version of it. The Open-Air Balcony, a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that slides open up to seven feet wide, with the bed facing the river, is still the widest-opening window in river cruising. And in 2026, the entire European fleet has just completed a three-year refresh to bring every ship to the same current standard. We cover the full guide, including: The Open-Air Balcony: wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass that slides open seven feet wide in Europe and eleven feet wide on the Mekong, wider than any balcony on any ocean ship at any price point, with the bed positioned to face the river rather than the cabin wall The fleet in 2026: a fully refreshed European fleet with dual Starlink antennas, upgraded fitness facilities, new e-bikes at every port, and redesigned Sky Decks, plus Avalon Alegria purpose-built for the Douro at 30 percent larger than the industry standard in suite sizing Stateroom categories: Panorama Suites at 200 square feet, Avalon Suites at 258, and Royal Suites at 300, all with the Open-Air Balcony on decks two and three What is and is not included: all meals, wines and beer at meals, sparkling wine at breakfast, the nightly Happy Hour with spirits and signature cocktails, specialty coffees all day, Wi-Fi, bicycles and e-bikes, and an average of 22 shore excursions per itinerary. Gratuities and spirits outside Happy Hour charged separately. Avalon Choice: Classic guided tours, Active excursions with cycling, hiking, and kayaking, and Discovery hands-on workshops at every port, the most excursion variety per port of any comparable line The Globus family advantage: pre and post land tours with Globus or Monograms combined in a single booking, a seamless land-and-river structure no standalone river cruise line can replicate How Avalon compares to AmaWaterways, Viking, Scenic, and Emerald, and for whom the Open-Air Balcony is the filter that decides everything else The window opened in 2011 and changed river cruising. In 2026, the fleet that built on it is at its best. 🎧 Listen on your favourite platform * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * YouTube * and more… Learn more 🌐 blog.aeriavoyages.com 🌐 facebook.com/beyondthehorizonpodcast 📄 READ THE FULL GUIDE Plan your trip or cruise with ÆRIA Voyages As a travel advisor, I’m here to turn your ideas into a journey that’s truly yours. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to guide you every step of the way. Yvan Junior Blanchette Travel & Cruise Specialist ÆRIA Voyages 📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com📞 1-888-460-3388 🌐 aeriavoyages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aeriacruises.substack.com
