Judy Koutsky

Cruising has long been a favorite mode of travel. But as travelers focus more on where they are going, less on how they’re getting there, a new breed of traveler is finding that smaller ships with fewer passengers, more active excursions that focus on nature, and environmentally friendly practices are the experience they’re really after. Welcome to expedition cruises. Wondering what they are and how they differ from an ocean cruise or a river cruise? Read on for our primer. Size and flexibility…

When my son was 10, I took him on an adult cruise—a meditation cruise to Mexico that I knew would not have other kids on board. We were sailing with Uncruise, a line that specializes in adventure and off-the-beaten-path experiences—but for adults. Not only was he going to be the only child on the ship, but he’s not the best eater and I knew there would be no kid’s menu; I also knew there wasn’t a kid’s club or kid-specific programming (the cruise does plenty of active-adventure excursions that a…

I’m an avid cruiser, and as one, I’m also a bit of ship news junkie: which one has just launched and what makes it stand out (maybe it has on-board go-kart racing or ziplining, or a restaurant from a famous chef. But lots of travelers don’t feel the need to be up on the latest developments on board. For them, the ship, and its newest upgrades, aren’t the most important part of the trip, it’s mostly a means of getting from here to there. Think you might be in that camp? Don’t sweat it—sometimes t…

Antarctica has been on my bucket list since I first became a travel writer in my early twenties. I’ve managed to hit all the continents—some, like Africa, dozens of times—but Antarctica always escaped me. It’s not an easy place to reach—the cost and travel time needed for such a trip kept the destination at bay for many years. This year I had the opportunity to explore the great white continent on an Antarctica cruise. And while I often travel with my husband or one of my boys, ages eight and 10…

My kids love Disney World. If it were up to them, we would go there every summer (and every spring break, and winter break...). While I love that the Disney theme park continues to hold interest and fun for my high-energy eight- and 10-year-old boys, I personally wanted to try someplace new; a trip where we could be active, see a new destination—and still somehow have that Disney sensibility and allure. Finding a tour that appeals to adults and kids is not easy. What I hadn’t realized was that D…

As the third most popular cruise destination, Alaska is on a lot of families’ travel wish lists. I toyed with the idea of bringing my son on one, because the data was so convincing: According to the recent cruise travel trends report by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise trade association, families that cruised with kids under the age of 18 reported a 9 out of 10 satisfaction rate, and travel agents are reporting an increase in requests for adventure tra…

You’ve heard it everywhere from CNN to the New York Times: Stress and anxiety levels in kids have reached such an all-time high, many schools are teaching mindfulness and meditation in the classroom to help combat the effects. With kids on overload from too many activities and commitments, meditation offers them the chance to slow down and quiet the mind. My son, Jack, started learning these calming practices in his (progressive) preschool, but by fourth grade, I thought it would be good for a r…

There are still a plethora of countries free of the mosquito-born virus. While Zika reached its peak in 2016, the virus is still out there and continues to pose risks to pregnant women and couples looking to become pregnant. With each warning about the dangers of the Zika virus, it may be tempting to postpone your trip to Central or South America, or the Caribbean. But keep those vacation days blocked off on your calendar: All three locales are home to at least some countries not currently affec…

A once-in-a-lifetime trip to see mountain gorillas in the wild of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

But at least everyone knows the Statue of Liberty is in New York, right?