RTE-Travel Talk

Thinking about taking a world cruise? In this episode we compare Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Holland America Line to help you choose the best world cruise for your travel style, budget, and bucket-list dreams.

Dreaming of taking a world cruise?

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Annette Stellhorn and Kristen Smith of Accent on Travel to compare three of the most talked-about world cruise options:

✅ Viking Cruises

✅ Regent Seven Seas Cruises

✅ Holland America Line

We cover:

🌍 What is a world cruise?

💰 Which offers the best value?

🍷 Which is best for luxury travelers?

📚 Which is best for enrichment & destinations?

🚢 Which line is best for first-time world cruisers?

🧳 Practical realities like visas, luggage, health care & logistics

📍 How to choose the right world cruise for YOU

If you’ve ever wondered whether a world cruise is worth it — this episode is for you.

Trying to compare river cruise lines? In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken speaks with Uniworld’s Senior VP to explain what makes Uniworld different and how it compares to other luxury river cruises.

River cruising continues to grow in popularity — but not all river cruise lines deliver the same experience.

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Adena Wilson, Senior Vice President of Global Sales for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, to explore what makes Uniworld one of the most distinctive names in luxury river travel.

From their boutique-style ships and fully all-inclusive experience to their destination-inspired design and personalized service, Adena explains why so many guests return to Uniworld again and again.

They also discuss:

✔️ What “all-inclusive” really means on Uniworld

✔️ Who Uniworld is best suited for

✔️ How river cruising compares to luxury ocean cruising

✔️ Their immersive shore excursions and culinary program

✔️ Uniworld’s 50th Anniversary celebrations

✔️ New ships launching in 2026 and 2027

✔️ Cruise-and-rail journeys and Luxury Gold land programs

✔️ The biggest misconception about Uniworld

If you’re researching river cruises, planning a European trip, or just curious about how luxury river travel works, this episode will give you a clear insider perspective.

If you’ve already explored the Mediterranean or Caribbean and are wondering “where do I go next?”—the Canary Islands might be exactly what you’re looking for.

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Sarah Green of Accent on Travel to explore one of Europe’s most underrated destinations.

From volcanic landscapes and year-round perfect weather to luxury cruises, land stays, and unique itinerary combinations, the Canary Islands offer a completely different kind of travel experience—without the crowds of traditional European hotspots.

🌍 What You’ll Learn in This Video:

Where the Canary Islands are and how to get there

Why they’re a great alternative to crowded European destinations

Best cruise options (Windstar, Star Clippers, Ponant & more)

How to combine the Canaries with river cruises and land stays

What to expect in Tenerife (landscapes, food, culture & more)

When to visit and what kind of traveler this destination is perfect for

🚢 Featured Travel Styles:

Small ship cruising

Tall ship sailing

Expedition cruising

River cruise + land combinations

Independent land stays

Colombia is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new destinations in river cruising.

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken Lawrence sits down with Neil Dudley, Business Development Manager for AmaWaterways, who recently sailed the Magdalena River in Colombia himself, along with Barb Chamberlain of Direct Travel, a top-selling AmaWaterways travel advisor.

Together they explore what makes this brand-new river cruise experience so unique.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What it’s really like sailing the Magdalena River

• The difference between Wonders of Colombia and Magic of Colombia itineraries

• The new AmaWaterways ships built specifically for this river

• What excursions and experiences guests can expect along the way

• Wildlife, birdlife and cultural encounters

• What surprised experienced river cruisers the most

• Safety considerations for travelers visiting Colombia

• The best time of year to take this cruise

• Who this itinerary is best suited for

AmaWaterways worked directly with local communities along the Magdalena River to develop ports, excursions and cultural experiences that give guests an authentic look at Colombian life.

If you’ve already cruised the rivers of Europe and are looking for something truly different, this might be one of the most immersive river cruise destinations in the world today.

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, host Ken Lawrence sits down with Antarctica specialist Nanci Ott of Tinker Travel to answer the most common questions travelers have about visiting the most remote continent on Earth.

From the silence and scale of Antarctica to the realities of sailing the Drake Passage, Nanci shares insights from her experience helping travelers plan life-changing expeditions to the White Continent.

If Antarctica has ever crossed your mind as a possible adventure, this conversation will help you understand what the experience is really like.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Antarctica feels quieter and more peaceful than most cruises

• What Antarctica actually feels like once you're there

• Why wildlife encounters feel so personal

• How comfortable modern expedition ships really are

• The emotional moments that surprise travelers

• The truth about sailing the Drake Passage

• What a typical day in Antarctica is really like

• Small onboard comforts that matter most

• Why photos never capture Antarctica’s true scale

• How the Antarctica landing rules work

• What determines how many landings you actually get

• And whether you should try the famous Antarctic Polar Plunge

Antarctica isn’t just another cruise destination — it’s an experience that many travelers say changes how they see the world.

Cruise loyalty programs can feel confusing — and many travelers wonder if it’s really worth staying loyal to one cruise line just to earn perks.

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with cruise expert Lola Vassiliadis of Cruise Holidays of Oakville and Lawrence Park to break down how cruise loyalty programs actually work in the real world.

Together they explore:

• How loyalty programs work on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas

• When loyalty perks start to deliver real value

• Why some cruisers stay loyal — and why others don’t

• How cruise line “family” relationships can let you carry status between brands

• Practical advice for choosing the right cruise strategy for your travel style

If you’ve ever wondered whether cruise points really matter — or whether they should influence your next cruise choice — this episode will help you decide.

If you’re planning a Danube river cruise and trying to decide between Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, and Riverside Luxury Cruises, this episode of RTE-Travel Talk breaks it all down for you.

Joined by river cruise specialist Christy Fitzharris of Wheels Up Travel Co., we compare these three popular river cruise lines side-by-side — looking at:

• Cabin sizes and ship capacity

• Crew-to-guest ratios

• Inclusions (excursions, beverages, gratuities)

• Onboard amenities and specialty dining

• Luxury vs contemporary experience

• Real per-person per-night cost comparison

• Itinerary differences on the Danube

We also explore who each cruise line is best suited for — from first-time river cruisers to travelers seeking a higher-touch luxury experience with butler service.

If you're considering a 2026 or 2027 Danube sailing, this breakdown will help you better understand what you're paying for — and which river cruise line might be the best fit for your travel style.

Thinking about a Tauck River Cruise? In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Annette Stellhorn of Accent on Travel and Lora Schapiro from Tauck to explore what truly sets Tauck River Cruises apart from other premium and luxury river cruise lines.

We dive into:

• What “distinctively inclusive” actually means

• Why Tauck may cost more — and where the value really shows

• Exclusive early-access experiences (like Monet’s Garden before the crowds)

• Small group touring ratios and personal service

• Cabin sizes and suite space compared to competitors

• Who Tauck is best suited for — and who it may not be for

• Common misconceptions first-time Tauck guests have

• How Tauck blends luxury land touring with river cruising

Tauck has been creating travel experiences for 100 years — and their river cruises reflect that heritage. With an average of just 104 guests onboard, dedicated Tauck Directors, and immersive shore experiences, this isn’t just river cruising — it’s a carefully choreographed journey.

If you’ve been comparing Tauck vs Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, or other luxury river cruise lines, this conversation will help you decide which experience truly fits your travel style.

Star Princess review and comparison with Holland America’s Rotterdam — real onboard insights, dining, entertainment, Princess Plus value, and who each ship is truly right for.

Is the brand-new Star Princess really five stars — or is the hype getting ahead of reality?

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Vickie Meeuwsen from Cruise & Travel Experts, who sailed on Star Princess during one of her very first voyages. She shares real-world insights into what the ship actually feels like once you’re onboard — from The Sphere and The Dome to dining, entertainment, stateroom comfort, and the Princess Plus package.

And because many travelers are comparing ships before booking, we also put Star Princess side-by-side with Holland America’s Rotterdam, another premium cruise favorite.

In this episode, we cover:

✔ First impressions of Star Princess

✔ The Sphere & The Dome explained

✔ Dining strategy & specialty reservation tips

✔ Spellbound by Magic Castle (the speakeasy experience)

✔ Princess Plus – is it worth it?

✔ Who Star Princess is best for

✔ Rotterdam vs Star Princess – vibe, demographics & entertainment

✔ Insider booking tips

If you’re researching Princess Cruises, Holland America, or trying to decide between these two premium ships — this episode is for you.

AmaWaterways is redefining the Africa safari experience by combining luxury river cruising aboard the Zambezi Queen with iconic land safaris across Southern and Eastern Africa for 2026 and 2027.

Africa is one of those destinations that changes you — and in this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, we explore why AmaWaterways’ Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruises are leaving such a lasting impression on travelers.

Host Ken Lawrence is joined by Todd Ney, Product Manager at AmaWaterways, and Barb Chamberlain of Direct Travel to break down AmaWaterways’ newest Africa itineraries for 2026 and 2027. These journeys uniquely combine a boutique wildlife river cruise aboard the Zambezi Queen with immersive land safaris and luxury lodge stays across Southern and Eastern Africa.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What makes AmaWaterways’ Africa program different from traditional safaris

• Why the Zambezi Queen is often the emotional highlight of the journey

• New and expanded itineraries including Kenya, Namibia, Kruger National Park, and Victoria Falls

• Who these trips are best suited for — and who often returns to Africa again and again

• Real client reactions and common misconceptions about cost, comfort, and accessibility

Ken also shares his own firsthand perspective on iconic destinations like Amboseli and the Maasai Mara, offering valuable insight for travelers considering Africa for the first time.

If Africa has ever been on your bucket list — or if you’re wondering whether a river cruise and safari combination is right for you — this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to decide.