Grand Voyages Weekly Digest

Happy Saturday, Grand Voyagers!

What I've Been Up To This Week:

• Planning last minute Thanksgiving getaways (hello, no cooking or cleaning!) 🦃 

• Booking summer 2026 in Europe... things are selling out 8 months in advance?

• Handling post production travel for two feature films

• Looking ahead to production travel needs for Q1 and Q2 for my new series By Sea 🚢

• Sifting through the best Black Friday deals for Grand Voyages subscribers so I filter out the best of the best for you!

RIVER CRUISING MY FAVORITE NEW MODE OF TRAVEL FROM 2025

I've made no secret that this year I fell in love with River Cruising as a way to see parts of the world best seen by sea. (And that offer exceptional value to see multiple places at once!)

I've personally taken Uniworld's Jewels of the Veneto and Riverside's Rhone River route. Both exceptional experiences!

Why river cruising works:

The intimacy. These aren't massive ocean liners with thousands of passengers. River cruise ships typically carry 100-200 guests, which means genuinely personalized service and the ability to dock right in the heart of cities and towns that ocean ships can't reach.

The ease. You unpack once. Your floating hotel moves with you. Wake up in a new destination each day without dealing with trains, rental cars, or hotel check-ins. Everything from meals to excursions to wine is typically included.

The access. River cruises take you into the heart of Europe, Asia, and South America in ways land travel simply can't match.

Here's what surprised me:

River cruising is having a MOMENT. Travel Market Report just called it "the new luxury travel powerhouse," and honestly? They're right. According to their River Cruise Outlook 2025, river cruising is now one of the powerhouses of luxury travel, driven by soaring client satisfaction and strong repeat business. The average per-person spend on a river cruise is $9,316, and advisors classify river cruise clients as their highest-paying segment.

What really got my attention? The share of advisors successfully upselling a follow-up river cruise has tripled from 4% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. People try it once and immediately want to book their next one. That tells you everything!

On my River 'bucket list' for next year:

The Mekong, Amazon, the Danube, and Christmas Markets.

Black Friday Pro Tip: There's lots of great Black Friday promotions on River Cruises for 2026 (too many to list here!) so just get in touch if you want to chat about it and I'll make some bespoke recommendations for you!

OR… if you're looking for an awesome way to host a group of friends or colleagues, River Cruises are excellent for groups. Get in touch if you want to explore blocking a block of cabins for your group!

SICILY SPRING & SUMMER 2026 THE HOTTEST DESTINATION

Hands down the most popular destination I'm booking for spring break and summer 2026!

If you've been waiting to visit Sicily, wait no more - let's reserve something now (that you can cancel/change later) because the best properties are already selling out. Yes, even 8 months in advance! (Hello White Lotus fans! lol)

Why Sicily is having this moment:

The combination of dramatic landscapes, incredible food and wine culture, rich history, and relatively undiscovered beaches compared to mainland Italy hotspots. Plus, it's more affordable than Amalfi Coast or Tuscany while delivering equally spectacular experiences.

The White Lotus effect is real - but honestly, Sicily has always deserved this attention. The show just finally got everyone else to pay attention to what savvy travelers have known for years.

Why Sicily works:

From the ancient Greek temples at Agrigento to Mount Etna's volcanic landscapes, from Palermo's street food markets to Taormina's clifftop elegance, from baroque towns like Noto to beach clubs in San Vito Lo Capo - Sicily delivers incredible diversity in a relatively compact area.

Here's my guide to Sicily to get the wheels turning and then just drop me an email with the dates you're thinking about and I can give you some specific recommendations based on your preferences.

Black Friday Pro Tip: Belmond and Rocco Forte are offering the best promotions right now.

DEEP LUXURY TRAVEL TREND FOR 2026

This Forbes article says it all and is reflective of what I'm seeing too with clients.

According to the piece, "deep luxury" is the travel trend that will set the tone for 2026. The shift moves beyond material excess - travelers now seek sensory design, resonant rituals, heritage connections, and human-centric service to create experiences that resonate on a deeper emotional level.

In practice:

Storytelling over status. Meaningful connections over Instagram moments. Sanctuary over extravagance.

International visitor spending is forecast to reach $2.1 trillion in 2025, but affluent travelers are now seeking experiences that evoke lasting emotions, prioritizing legacy and innovation over display.

With my clients, this looks like:

Destinations like Chilean Patagonia, St. Barths, Sicily, and even closer to 'home' places like Mexico. Places that offer authentic cultural immersion, not just luxury amenities. Properties that tell stories and create genuine connections with their locations.

It's reflected in how people want to travel - smaller groups, longer stays, deeper engagement with local culture, emphasis on sustainability and giving back to destinations.

TRAVEL SERIES INSPIRATION LONG WAY HOME

If you haven't yet caught the Long Way… series on Apple TV, you can check out the latest one to drop Long Way Home where they take on Northern Europe. I just started it but I loved the last season too Long Way Down from the southern tip of South America.

These guys know how to showcase destinations in ways that make you want to immediately book a trip. The cinematography alone is worth it, but they also capture that sense of adventure and discovery that reminds you why we travel in the first place.

Perfect weekend viewing if you're in travel planning mode!

Until the next adventure,

Stacey

[email protected]