Travel & Tourism

Miami – September 18, 2026 -- Royal Caribbean has named retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson as godmother of its newest ship, Legend of the Seas, ahead of a naming ceremony set for November 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The ceremony lands on Veterans Day for a reason

Legend of the Seas will arrive in Fort Lauderdale this November following its debut summer season in Europe. Royal Caribbean chose Veterans Day for the naming ceremony to honor Gen. Robinson alongside veterans, active-duty service members and military families connected to the cruise line.

Robinson spent 37 years in the Air Force and became the nation's first female combatant commander, later leading both NORAD and NORTHCOM. "I have seen the importance of bringing people together in pursuit of a shared purpose, and Legend creates those same connections for families and loved ones," she said.

Miami – September 18, 2026 -- Oceania Cruises has opened sales for 12 individual segments of its new ship Oceania Aurelia's inaugural 180-day Around the World voyage, letting travelers book portions of the trip ranging from 10 to 19 days instead of committing to the full journey.

The complete voyage departs Miami in January 2028 and touches six continents, with overnight port stays in Papeete, Bora Bora, Sydney, Bali, Tokyo, Bangkok and Mumbai. Nearly 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites fall within reach across the itinerary, alongside thousands of small-group shore excursions.

St. Petersburg – September 18, 2026 -- AI use for trip planning has surged over the past year, but travelers remain wary of letting algorithms make actual decisions, according to new survey data from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth.

AI adoption for trip planning has more than doubled since last year

The share of travelers who said they never use AI to plan trips fell from 63.1% last year to 27.6% this year. Nearly one in five travelers, 18.7%, now say they use AI to help plan every trip they take.

Gen Z shows the most skepticism toward AI in travel

Despite being widely seen as the most tech-savvy generation, only 38.0% of Gen Z respondents strongly agreed that AI is integral to how they travel. That compares with 55.7% of Gen X, 52.7% of Millennials, and 45.5% of Boomers. Gen Z also posted the highest rate of strong disagreement at 31.0%, versus 24.6% for Millennials, 21.2% for Boomers, and 18.4% for Gen X.

Houston – September 18, 2026 -- Travel insurance provider Travel Guard, part of Zurich Cover-More, has opened entries for its annual World's Unluckiest Traveler contest, offering a $10,000 grand prize to the traveler with the most disastrous vacation story.

Entries open September 15 and close October 5

Residents of the U.S. and Canada can submit a video or photo along with a written account of their travel mishap during the three-week entry window. Travel Guard judges will narrow submissions down to eight finalists, set to be announced on the contest website on October 26, 2026.

Public voting determines the winners

The eight finalists will then compete for votes from the public through November 9, 2026, with finalists encouraged to promote their entries on social media. The submission with the highest vote count wins the $10,000 grand prize, while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers by vote total will also receive prizes.

Needham, Mass. – September 17, 2026 -- Tripadvisor has released its 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants, ranking eateries and culinary experiences that fall among the top one percent of listings on the platform based on diner reviews collected between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Fogón Asado in Buenos Aires tops the global Fine Dining list.

The Argentine restaurant, known for its interactive open-fire asado tasting experience, claims the No. 1 worldwide spot. In the U.S., Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands, North Carolina, takes the top title for its Northern Italian menu and wine cellar.

Four new categories track how travelers eat while exploring.

Alongside longstanding lists like Casual, Date Night, Hidden Gems and Vegan & Vegetarian, Tripadvisor added Food Tours, Cooking Classes, Wine & Beer Tours, and a "Viral Right Now" category for socially trending food spots.

Dallas – September 17, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines kicked off its Week of WOW sale, offering up to 40% off base fares for flights booked by Sept. 17 for travel between Oct. 5, 2026, and March 3, 2027.

Discounted routes include Austin-San Diego and Nashville-Chicago

Nonstop routes on sale include Austin to San Diego, Nashville to Chicago Midway, Denver to San Diego, Seattle to Nashville, and Austin to San Jose, all available now on Southwest.com. The fare discount requires a 21-day advance purchase and applies before government taxes and fees, with restrictions, exclusions, and blackout dates in effect.

Hong Kong – September 17, 2026 -- Luxury Group by Marriott International and Sotheby's have expanded their global partnership into Asia Pacific for the first time, launching a new masterclass series called "The Art of Knowing." The program combines short digital videos with exclusive in-person events, giving hotel guests closer access to rare craftsmanship, collecting, and connoisseurship.

The initiative follows last year's debut of private tours at Sotheby's Maison during Sotheby's Hong Kong's Luxury Week.

Miami – September 17, 2026 -- Windstar Cruises will open three European landmarks to guests after hours in 2027, including a rare evening inside the Tower of London, as part of a free onboard perk called Destination Discovery Events.

Only Three Sailings Get Tower of London Access

The Tower of London event is limited to three 2027 departures: Star Pride's April 29 Tulip Season voyage through Holland and Belgium (event on May 6), Star Pride's May 13 Timeless Maritime Powerhouses of Northern Europe cruise (event on May 17), and Star Explorer's 10-night Christening Voyage circumnavigating Ireland, departing May 23 (event on May 31). Guests will view the Crown Jewels privately, access the White Tower and Battlements, hear stories from Yeoman Warders, and attend a reception in the New Armouries Courtyard.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – September 17, 2026 -- The Magic of Disney Animation, a new collection of interactive experiences, has opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The building echoes Disney Animation's real-world Burbank headquarters

The structure draws its design from the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, and features artwork representing all 65 Walt Disney Animation Studios feature films, including the studio's upcoming 2026 release, "Hexed."

The experience is built on an Emmy-winning short film

The attraction takes inspiration from Disney Animation's Emmy Award-winning short "Once Upon a Studio," with director Dan Abraham working alongside Walt Disney Imagineering's Daniel Handke to shape the project.

Tokyo – September 16, 2026 -- Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo has finalized its lineup of drop-in cultural workshops running from September through December 2026, letting guests craft their own souvenirs on-site without a reservation.

The program includes flower arranging inspired by the mid-autumn full moon and tsumami-zaiku ornamental hairpins

Sessions take place regularly in the Lobby on the 3rd floor of the hotel's Main Tower, part of a series called "Journey into Japan: A Workshop of Cultural Discovery." Each monthly workshop is led by Japanese artists and tied to a seasonal theme, giving participants a finished piece to take home.