Over the last several years, Jewish Life Television Host Brad Pomerance has headlined the network’s global travel series Air Land & Sea, where the JLTV team voyages around the world to uncover the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people near and far. Brad is now hosting a ten-day journey to Poland in October 2023 which will include visits to Krakow, Lodz, Lublin, and Warsaw, and one of Brad’s ancestral hometowns, Chmielnik. Noted Polish Historian Dr. Tomasz Cebulski, a highly-respected expert in the history of Polish Jewry, will join Brad during the entire voyage. Travelers will not only discover the history of the Jews of Poland, but will meet Polish Jews that are helping to revitalize Polish Jewry today. Participants will meet members of Krakow’s Jewish community who are supporting Ukrainian refugees displaced after last year’s Russian invasion. Brad invites you to consider joining him on this trip. For more information visit Jewish Heritage Travel in Poland – http://jltv.jhtravel.org.

Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways announced three new opportunities for guests to celebrate the African and Black diaspora on the rivers in 2024. Due to the overwhelming demand for the first-ever Soulful Epicurean Experience on the Rhône River in France embarking August 24, 2023, two new June departure dates have been announced for that itinerary. The special journeysinclude the Colors of Provence cruise plus three nights in Paris. Also added for 2024 is a Soulful Epicurean Experience in Egypt onSecrets of Egypt & The Nile itinerary starting in Cairo on May 17, 2024. The unique experiences available during the cruise and land packages invite travelers to discover and celebrate important aspects of Black history and culture unique to each country. “We are fortunate to work with many travel advisors in the Black community who advised and encouraged us to develop these special interest cruises celebrating Black history and culture,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “As our first Soulful Epicurean Experience cruise in France scheduled for 2023 sold out almost immediately, we are proud to give our global family additional opportunities in 2024 to celebrate and appreciate the diverse Black heritage found in France and Egypt.” For the first time ever, AmaWaterways’ is pairing its Soulful Epicurean Experience with its fascinating 11-night Secrets of Egypt & The Nile river cruise and land package starting in Cairo on May 17, 2024. In addition to the seven-night river cruise onboard the splendid 72-passenger AmaDahlia, guests will enjoy three nights pre-cruise and one night post-cruise in Cairo. The seven-night river cruise onboard AmaDahlia sails roundtrip from Luxor visiting Edfu, Aswan, Esna, Kom Ombo, and Qena and includes daily immersive tours and onboard experiences that shine light on the country’s vast African history and its regional delicacies. Guests also have the one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit a Nubian Village and meet the wonderful people who continue to carry the traditions of their ancestors that once ruled Egypt. AmaWaterways’ Colors of Provenceriver cruise itinerary is set to welcome guests again in 2024 for the Soulful Epicurean Experience which will start or end (depending on the departure date) with a three-night land package in Paris, where many famous Black artists, writers and entertainers made history. While exploring the City of Light, travelers will dive deep into Black culture during a specially curated Josephine Baker excursion and a “Black History of Paris” city tour before embarking on the award-winning AmaKristina for an incredible seven-night journey through the South of France. Both 2024 Soulful Epicurean Experience sailings offer authentic experiences and excursions that celebrate Black history and heritage. On top of the warm, personalized onboard service and locally influenced dining for which AmaWaterways is known, guests can look forward to enjoying nightly entertainment alongside like-minded guests who share a passion for discovering Black culture.  For more information or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise, contact your preferred Travel Advisor, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com.

At Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik and Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, part of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels collection in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the whole month of March is dedicated to women. Included in the offer is a two night stay for two people in a superior room with a balcony overlooking the sparkling Adriatic Sea, complimentary daily breakfast, access to the hotels’ wellness and spa facilities, complimentary wi-fi, and free parking. To highlight and celebrate International Women’s Day, ladies are also given the choice of one complimentary service during their stay. Options include a bottle of wine upon arrival and daily breakfast serviced in the privacy of one’s room, spa voucher at the onsite Energy Clinic Wellness & Spa, or a guided tour of Dubrovnik Old Town. The ancient port city of Dubrovnik is a dream destination in March due to its privileged climate, cultural heritage as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, crystal blue sea and beautiful coastline – all without the summer crowds. The city is known for its rich history and culture, stunning architecture, and picturesque landscapes. For more information, visit https://www.adriaticluxuryhotels.com/.

Sustainable luxury travel curator Up Norway invites travelers to explore Norway from a gender equality perspective with the launch of their new journey: Tracing Norway’s Super Women. Norway is one of the world’s most gender equal countries, and as travel curators, Up Norway is constantly striving to ensure that equality remains clearly visible on the map. This curated journey offers a historical and geographical adventure that introduces travelers to remarkable stories ranging from the 17th century witch trials in wild Varanger to female empowerment today in a whiskey distillery on the remote island of Fedje. Highlights throughout the 10 day journey (available year round) include Scandinavia’s only Women’s Museum; witchcraft and wildlife at the Steilneset Memorial; king crab fishing with storytelling about strong female characters who historically have served the same roles as men; 100% female-owned Feddie Ocean Distillery; Ekeberg Sculpture Park, acclaimed as one of the world’s top five sculpture parks which features depictions of women and work by female artists; and more. Accommodations also focus on the country’s leading females, including the exquisitely restored boutique hotel Camilla’s House. For more information, visit https://upnorway.com/journeys/tracing-norways-super-women.

Leading river cruise line AmaWaterways announced the debut of A Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River, a unique, first-ever sailing experience paired with its Colors of Provence river cruise. In addition, AmaWaterways is offering a new, specially curated 3-night post-cruise land package in Paris, which commemorates the city’s Black history, heritage and culture. “Following ongoing dialogue between the AmaWaterways leadership team and our valued travel advisor partners in recent years, we identified significant demand for a curated experience that connects Black travelers both to each other and to international destinations rich with African-American history,” said Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways and member of Northstar Travel Group’s Black Advisory Board. “We believe our Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River cruise is the perfect way to celebrate the heritage, traditions and cultures of our global family.” Setting sail on August 24, 2023 from Arles to Lyon, AmaWaterways’ special 7-night Colors of Provence itinerary invites guests to board the award-winning AmaKristina and begin their journey by exploring the cultural history of Marseille. A Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River also takes guests through the beauty of the South of France along the Rhône River to Lyon. The river cruise and land experience concludes in Paris, where many Black artists, writers and entertainers have made history. Unique to this new experience, guests will enjoy guided tours showcasing the region’s jazz, food and wine as well as live musical performances on board and ashore. Included in the package and exclusive to this departure is an excursion honoring Josephine Baker, the first Black woman inducted into France’s Pantheon mausoleum, and a “Black History of Paris” city tour, as well as a 3-night stay at a luxury hotel in the City of Light. On board the elegant AmaKristina, guests can look forward to the warm, personalized onboard service and locally influenced included fine dining for which AmaWaterways is known. The ship also boasts spacious staterooms with AmaWaterways’ signature twin balconies, a Sun Deck walking track, a swim-up bar, a Main Lounge and complimentary bicycles. “As we continue to innovate our offerings, we remain focused on providing vacation experiences that are just as diverse as our loyal family of guests,” added Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “With so much positive attention around cultural awareness in light of Juneteenth, this was the ideal time to launch our Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River cruise, and we look forward to shining a light on the incredible Black history that exists along the beautiful rivers we sail through around the world.” Travelers with pent-up wanderlust who are eager to plan their next vacation can secure this immersive experience by September 30, 2022 to take advantage of AmaWaterways’ special introductory package pricing offer. For the most up-to-date information, visit AmaWaterways.com/Soulful.

AmaKristina October 26, 2023 Sailing will Feature Bilingual Cruise Managers, Daily Tours with Spanish-speaking Guides and Other Distinctive Elements

The new Sápmi Experience is an Arctic adventure that offers an immersion into the lifestyles of northern Sweden’s indigenous Sami people with glamping in a Sami lavvu (teepee), newly built and upgraded with the comfort of a luxury cabin. The three-night experience takes place in the Sápmi Nature Camp on the Sjavnja nature reserve in Laponia, a living culture and nature World Heritage Site. The new program, exclusively offered by Off the Map Travel, launches January 2022 and is available through May 2022. Based on timing, guests will have the opportunity to experience either the area’s Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun. Participants will join with the Sami to learn hands-on cooking, reindeer herding, fishing and foraging for berries and herbs. They can also join a wildlife safari to spot moose and don traditional wooden skis for a Sami-guided ski tour with a special Swedish fikaexperience around a bonfire on the ice of a frozen river. The upgraded lavvus attend to the needs of today’s traveler with a solid internal structure, allowing for increased coziness and warmth while maintaining the design, sustainability and culture characteristic of the region and the Sami. Each lavvu sleeps two people and has a double bed, stove, cozy furnishings and en suite bathroom. “This new travel experience offers a chance to get away from it all to experience another world and another culture while not compromising comfort or sustainability,” said Jonny Cooper, Off the Map Travel, designer of the experience. “It’s also perfect for socially distanced travel,” he added. The new accommodation has been created by the founders of the Sápmi Nature Camp in Swedish Lapland whose mission is to create sustainable, personal Sami experiences that celebrate the native Lapland culture, nature and wellness. For more information visit https://www.offthemap.travel/the-sapmi-experience/, call +44 (0) 800 566 8901 or email info@offthemap.travel.

With new experiences and expanded air service, Catalonia is opening its arms to U.S. travelers by offering enticing and inspiring ways to visit the region, from its lively capital, Barcelona, and beyond. Among the new offerings for travelers is The Grand Tour of Catalonia, a website that provides a framework for travelers to customize a visit to the region. Covering close to 1300 miles (or 2000km) along suggested scenic routes, the Grand Tour of Catalonia details the diverse offerings of the region in and beyond the gateway of Barcelona to coastal vineyards, mountain ranges, the beach resorts of Costa Brava, picturesque small towns, ancient monasteries, Roman-era ruins, and, of course, world-famous Cava producers. Travelers who are looking for immersive experiences can choose Grand Tour of Catalonia itineraries based on suggested routes in each region or by interest: vineyards, history, outdoor activities, art, and more.  The site includes not-to-be-missed experiences, such as Solsonès in central Catalonia known for its outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking among the forests, fields, lakes, and mountains; the Cistercian Lands of the great monasteries of the region, including the Royal Monastery of Poblet, resting place of several Catalan kings; the Castell de Gardeny in Lleida which housed the Templar soldiers in the 12^th century; following the Dalí Triangle from his home town of Figueres to the Dalí Theater and Museum, and the azure waters and pristine beaches of the Costa Brava, among many other highlights and detours. The Grand Tour of Catalonia routes and highlights can be found at grandtour.catalunya.com, along with each section detailed in PDFs that can be easily downloaded to help with vacation planning. Because of the breadth and depth of experiences highlighted, the Grand Tour itineraries are ideal for a variety of travelers, from couples to families, wine and food connoisseurs to adventurers and lovers of history and natural wonders. Each route has been meticulously planned along the most scenic roads to allow travelers to detour into small towns and villages. For more information about travel to and within Catalonia visit www.catalunya.com.

Earlier this year, Lithuania Travel presented a new Lithuanian image campaign entitled “Discover Colours You Never Knew Existed.” The campaign invites you to learn about the uniqueness and versatility of Lithuania, the country of untouched natural treasures, distinctive architectural objects, and quirky local gastronomy—a perfect place for all your senses. Baltic Blue and Rye Bread Black? Lithuania is indeed full of quirky shades. What do these colours mean? Kaunas Modernism Grey is the colour of rich history. Hours spent walking around architectural marvels is what makes you touch history, and lets history touch you. Rye Bread Black is the colour of feeling at home. The smell of a freshly baked loaf presented to you by your host. Vištytis: Right by the southwestern country border lies the beautiful Lake Vištytis and a town carrying the same name. The legend says that almost a hundred years ago a local man from Vištytis town harnessed the wind to produce flour. This year, the millhouse has come back to life for a different purpose—to educate the ones interested in the old crafts and to feed the hungry souls with mesmerizing views. Museum of Ancient Beekeeping: Soulful and rewarding friendship between bees and humans is what beekeeping is all about. Learn about this occupation dating hundreds of years back and treat yourself with a unique therapeutic experience. The Museum of Ancient Beekeeping offers aromatherapy in a new and original way: a cozy attic, the scent of bee products, the sound of bees humming. For more information, visit www.lithuania.travel/en.