Walnut Grove Cruise & Ltd Travel Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tulum's brand-new international airport – plus the inauguration of a tourist train in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula – are opening up fresh travel opportunities to explore Tulum and beyond. NEW: FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TULUMNot too long ago, Tulum was a tiny beach town of mangroves, powder-white beaches on crystal-clear waters and Mayan ruins on a cliff over the Caribbean sea.... read more

Get ready for a decade of vacations with ‘new ship smell!’ And get set to soon book your place on one of three brand-new classes of ships that will change the world of cruising. Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises have together announced they’ve ordered the next generation of cruise ships. It’s the biggest ‘new build’... read more

Small-ship luxury cruise line Windstar is growing! Two new ships will be added in the next two years to its motorized and sail-powered fleet of 6 unique vessels, growing its fleet by a third! The 2 new ships are both motorized, and the first to launch will be a newbuild, Star Seeker, which will mark the first newbuild in Windstar’s ‘Star’... read more

Every generation of new ships builds on the successes of their forbearers – and adds a few new surprises! In the case of the new Emerald Kaia, the third of Emerald Cruises’ mega yachts, there are some new, standout features that will make you start planning your next warm-water, yacht-style cruise!  Emerald Cruises, the sister cruise line of the Scenic Eclipse... read more

Spring has sprung and cultures the world over celebrate the season of fresh color and new life. It’s not all about bunnies, lambs, chicks, eggs, chocolate and spring flowers. Here are just a few different traditions that inspire us to travel in the springtime: Climb a Mayan Pyramid on the Spring Equinox in MexicoSpring officially begins on the Spring Equinox, usually... read more

They call the Seychelles the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’, and Emerald Cruises is doubling down on exotic wilderness with a never-before cruise tour that combines once-in-a-lifetime explorations of the Seychelles and an African safari.  If you have to look up the Seychelles on a map, you’re not alone – and Emerald Cruises’ new cruisetour may be the best and only... read more

It’s a balancing act – French style! Indulgence meets outdoor activity in the south of France on our Emerald river cruise on the Rhone and the Saone. The south of France has a legendary way of life, and a river cruise is one of the best ways to experience it all. That includes its wine, cheese, chocolate, olives, fine cuisine and... read more

If you’ve already enjoyed a Perfect Day at Coco Cay, you’re ready for the next exclusive Royal Caribbean International beach club experience, opening in 2026. Royal Beach Club Cozumel will mark the first of the cruise line’s private beach destinations in Mexico. The world’s largest cruise line, with the world’s largest ships, including the recently-inaugurated Icon of the Seas, has revealed... read more

All-new cruise itineraries being pioneered by Viking in 2024 offer guests one-of-a-kind access to China in a way that’s never been available before for international visitors, including rarely-seen Chinese coastal sea- and landscapes, exclusive ports of call, as well as iconic cities like Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.The new voyages range from 10 to 20 days, operating from September to... read more

There’s a real man behind the legend that gets us wearing green every March 17th. And you can go beyond modern St. Patrick's Day ‘shenanigans’ to revisit the life of St. Patrick on a journey connecting places in Northern Ireland where his story became a legend that thrives to this day among the Irish and millions of people around the... read more

Wildlife photography safaris have never been more popular, as constant advances in technology make incredible image capture more accessible to ordinary travelers. One study of millions of wildlife photos on a photo-sharing website has revealed which countries’ creatures are the subject of the most snaps – indicating the best places to go to photograph some of the planet’s most photogenic... read more

The lush, terraced rice fields of Bali are iconic symbols of this legendary Indonesian island, lending inspiration to the pools of one resort. Surrounded by inviting greenery and nestled in the heart of Bali's exclusive beach enclave of Nusa Dua in the southeast part of the island, Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort invites guests to experience unmatched tropical escape in “the... read more