Walnut Grove Cruise & Ltd Travel Blog

Interest in global "Blue Zones" is stronger than ever. The regions in the world where people live much longer and healthier lives compared to the global average are not just inspiring people to take a hard look at the overall wellness of their lifestyle – they are even inspiring people’s travel plans!  “Blue Zones” is a term first coined by researchers... read more

Princess Cruises’ newest ship isn’t just an engineering marvel. Sun Princess launched in February, 2024, another member of the “Love Boat” fleet – with a slew of celebrity partnerships enhancing guests’ onboard dining and drinking experiences, in addition to her advanced design, technology and craftsmanship. Eye-Catching AdvancesThe 4,300-guest Sun Princess debuts new experience venues including The Dome, a ground-breaking geodesic, glass-enclosed... read more

St. Martin is re-staking its claim as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with a splashy new eatery and the return for the 4th year of what’s become a signature gastronomic event in the region.  The French half of the dual-nation island of St. Martin and Dutch Saint Maarten is home to Grand Case, a seaside town with a long, idyllic... read more

Discover – or renew – your love of train travel, and take advantage of one of the most sustainable forms of travel to explore in depth a destination renowned for its eco-sensibilities and spectacular scenery. Great Journeys of New Zealand, part of the country’s KiwiRail, has designed new rail tours allowing visitors to step off the beaten ‘track’ and explore both... read more

There’s a whole world of river cruising beyond beloved European rivers. Have you dipped your toe in the waters of exotic river cruising yet? Well, new ships on two of the world’s most fabled waterways give you more options to see sail into the heart of the ancient treasures of Egypt and unparalleled natural richness of the Amazon on your... read more

Health is its own reward, but a hotel company has teamed up with one of the biggest brands in fitness to give members points for staying fit while on the road – and make it easier than ever. Hyatt and Peloton’s new partnership is breaking new ground for those who take their wellness goals seriously – even while they travel. Travelers benefit... read more

All eyes were once again on the coast of Normandy as the 80th anniversary of D-Day was marked on June 6, 2024 by the UK, US, Canada, and France. The surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied soldiers on the shores of France in 1944 was described by Winston Churchill as “the most complicated and difficult” military operation in world history. Despite... read more

Thinking pink for your next tropical vacation? Barbie has landed in the Bahamas! Fans of the world’s most famous doll with her own entertainment franchise can immerse themselves in her vivid universe in one of the most famous resorts in the islands.  Through a new, exclusive partnership, Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation has become a technicolor reality in Atlantis. It’s the first... read more

The legendary Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond train, captures the essence of ultra-luxury train travel’s history and modern opulence like never before, with revamped interiors, a new culinary curator with two Michelin stars, and eye-opening, one-of-a-kind journeys through Malaysia. NEW DESIGN AND ELEVATED ONBOARD EXPERIENCESThe revamped Eastern & Oriental Express reflects both the heyday of luxury train travel and the... read more

Regency romance has returned to our screens and reminded us to plan trips to Britain to fulfill our own Bridgerton-inspired fantasies. Season 3 of the wildly-popular and genre-bending Netflix series has introduced yet another romantic relationship among a member of the tight-knit family of Georgian-era aristocrats – and more real-life historic locations around England. The country’s quintessential Regency period location is... read more

May 23 is World Turtle Day, to celebrate and protect what may be the planet’s most captivating reptiles. Here are some of the best places to see turtles in the wild – and some tips to help protect turtles and tortoises in ways their own protective hard shells can’t.  World Turtle Day is the brainchild of the non-profit organization American... read more

It’s a dog’s life when it comes to traveling with man’s best friend. More and more people consider their canine companions something they can’t leave home without – even when traveling internationally. But new rules for both American pooches returning home, AND pets of visitors coming into the U.S. will mean dog owners have more hoops to jump through. The new... read more

Rome’s iconic history, culture, and ‘dolce vita’ come to life in its green spaces, and one of the city’s luxury hotels is letting guests immerse themselves in some of its legendary gardens and access private villas guided by local horticultural experts. Imagine visiting the renowned Borghese, Vatican and Tivoli gardens as well as some of the Eternal City’s private homes with... read more

Of all the creatures of the oceans, seahorses may be one of the most magical and endearing. And now, a new maritime preserve in the Caribbean with the densest population of seahorses in the world has been designated to protect this weird and wonderful fish. Seahorses are indeed fish! But they are unique among fish species, with that distinctive upright posture,... read more

Have you heard? The ultra-luxury hotel company is taking to the seas. In anticipation of its debut, the new cruise line is unveiling the incredible, ground-breaking, multi-story glass 'funnel' and other suites guests will call home, as well as the first 10 voyages of the as-yet unnamed new small ship.  Inaugural Season Voyages: Caribbean Waters and Mediterranean SeasThe first of the Four... read more

The Olympic torch has arrived in France, en route to the Games, less than three months away. The once-every-four-year sports extravaganza is not the only international sporting event in Europe in the summer of 2024: the European Football Championships will dominate life in 10 German cities in the weeks leading up to the Olympics in next-door France. And it’s not too... read more

For many people, a visit to the bridge is a highlight of any cruise. When you get to visit the bridge while your ship is underway on a scenic sailing, or holding position in one of the world’s picturesque waters, that’s even better. But maybe the best bridge visit is when you can meet the captain and hear the perspectives... read more

It’s historic travel news: in what the country’s tourism board is calling a “unique experiment,” the famous canal city of Venice, Italy, is implementing what it labels “a daily access fee.” The controversial ‘visitor’s tax’ takes effect April 25 after years of debate and delay. The move is a pilot project that officials hope will ease the pressures of “over-tourism” in... read more

Looking for a luxury, all-inclusive, nature-forward beach resort experience in a mostly-undiscovered destination? Sandals has opened the doors of its newest resort – with a view down a 300-foot pool straight to the pristine blue sea off the shores of the Eastern Caribbean destination of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. ‘Vincy,’ as it’s affectionately called by those in the know, is... read more

Including the largest paddlewheel river cruise ship in the USA! American Cruise Lines has a unique approach to cruising: U.S. itineraries only, on river ships and with a river-cruise approach to coastal cruising using an innovative fleet of small ships of their own design. The appetite for cruising on American rivers and in domestic waters on coastal routes just keeps growing,... read more