After more than 20 years of helping travelers explore the world, we’ve seen travel trends shift many times. But if there’s one thing that’s truly defining 2026 travel, it’s this: people aren’t just going somewhere—they’re going deeper.

Imagine drifting from one storybook town to the next, wrapped in lights, laughter, and the scent of mulled wine. That’s the magic of a Christmas Market river cruise.

River cruising feels like time finally agreeing to slow down. There’s no packing and unpacking, no frantic train schedules, no crowds rushing to the next sight. Your floating boutique hotel glides into new towns while you sleep — and you wake up already there. . .

There’s a moment just before the sun rises in Africa when the world seems to pause.
The air is cool, the sky pale and waiting, and every sound — every whisper of the grass — feels important. You sip coffee from a tin cup, and the quiet isn’t empty; it’s full.

Then, the horizon blinks — gold light spilling over the plains — and life begins to move again. . .