Live Your Lush Life - Travel! Hello, ! Welcome to this week's newsletter. There are moments in life that feel like an eclipse—rare, powerful, and unforgettable. This past month, our family witnessed one of those moments: my daughter Ciara walked across the stage at the University of Toronto to
receive her Juris Doctorate from Canada’s top law school. 💙⚖️ After years of dedication—through late nights, high-pressure exams, and pandemic-era pivots—she earned every step of this journey. She missed her undergrad convocation due to COVID, so this milestone felt especially meaningful. To be there as a family—with Bill, Ceili (who’s just beginning her own creative chapter at TMU), Nick and his wonderful parents, and Ciara’s closest law school friends—was a full-circle,
heart-overflowing kind of day. 💐 (I even created a reel: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EcoxkmEbM/ ) In true Ciara fashion, she didn’t pause for long. June 4: Wrote the first bar exam June 11: Graduated law school June 18: Wrote the second bar exam June 22: Began
cycling around PEI to raise money for childhood cancer research 🚴♀️ She’s my real-life mix of The Paper Chase meets The Pitt—intense, resilient, and passionate. I can’t wait to celebrate with her properly on our family vacation soon. 🦚
🎉 Canada Day & Big Things Worth CelebratingThis weekend, as we mark Canada Day, I invite you to pause and reflect on your own “big things.”
What have you been working
toward?
What’s your version of walking across that stage, or completing the last leg of a long climb? Whether it’s a personal milestone, a long-awaited trip, or simply choosing rest and joy in a busy season—those moments deserve celebration. And sometimes, when things align just right, we get to experience something extraordinary…
🌘 On the Horizon: The Next Total Solar EclipseSpeaking of once-in-a-lifetime moments, here’s something
to dream about: on August 12, 2026. We’ve rounded up 16 sailings that will be in prime position for one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. While landlubbers can view the celestial pas de deux in four places – Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal – accessibility, weather conditions, and spectator demand make a sighting from sea ideal. Want a front-row seat to nature’s most powerful show?
Check out my guide:
👉 How to Get a Front-Row Seat to Next Year’s Total Solar Eclipse Because just like graduations, reunions, and big personal wins—some things in life are too rare to miss.
Happy Canada Day to you and yours. 🇨🇦
May you find your moment to celebrate, your path to persevere, and your
light—just waiting to shine through. #ProudMomMoment #CanadaDay2025 #UofTConvocation #WomenInLaw #NextChapter #FamilyMilestones #LiveYourLushLife #AskSheila #SolarEclipse2024 #CelebrateBigMoments
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🌍 This Week’s 4 Travel CornersEach week, we bring you insights from four inspiring corners of the travel world—designed to spark ideas, fuel your wanderlust, and keep you in the loop on what’s possible next: River Cruise Corner – Explore the best of river cruising with itinerary highlights, ship spotlights, and insider tips. Adventure Travel Corner
– From safaris to polar expeditions, get inspired by journeys that push the boundaries of exploration. Wellness Travel Corner – Discover retreats, resorts, and experiences that help you relax, recharge, and reconnect. Come Travel With Me Corner – Join one of my upcoming hosted group trips and experience the world with fellow curious, like-minded travelers—crafted and guided by me. Where will your next
corner of the world be? Let’s find out together. 1. River Cruise Corner - Celebrate 60 Years of The Sound of Music on the Danube …and follow every rainbow to Salzburg in 2025It’s a milestone year for musical lovers and European adventurers alike: 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of The
Sound of Music. And if the hills have ever called to you, this is the year to answer. From the Mirabell Gardens to the mountaintop where Maria sang “Do‑Re‑Mi,” Salzburg is honouring this legendary film with a year-long lineup of events, exhibitions, and immersive experiences. And you can pair it all beautifully with a luxury river
cruise along the Danube. (And yes, that's me singing on the steps of Mirabell in the video above.) Click the link to read more: 🎼 What’s Happening in Salzburg?🌄 Discover the Do‑Re‑Mi Trail in Werfen🚢 Sail the Danube
with Uniworld🦚 The Lush Life Difference🎵 Let’s Make 2025 the Year You Sing Again 2. ⛳ Adventure Travel Corner: Where Luxury Travel Meets the FairwayFor many of my clients, adventure doesn’t always mean hiking up a mountain or diving into the ocean—it sometimes starts with a perfect swing on a
world-class golf course. If you love to travel with your clubs, then let’s elevate your game in every sense of the word. Whether it’s teeing off on the legendary greens of St Andrews, cruising through Europe with golf concierge service, or catching the Open Championship in style—golf travel has never been so seamlessly integrated with
luxury. Click the link to read more about a few curated experiences that blend championship-level play with unforgettable settings, including: 🚢 Cruise Through Europe & Golf Along the Way🇵🇹 How to Hike, Golf, and Surf Your Way Across Portugal🇦🇺 Great Golf Down Under🏆 See the Open in Style: PerryGolf x Azamara🏌️♂️ The St Andrews Experience🦚 Your Swing, Elevated 📩 Ready to tee up your dream trip?
3. 💆♀️ Wellness Travel Corner: Iceland – Where Fire, Ice & Wellness MeetThere’s something about Iceland that calls to the soul. Maybe it’s the primal energy of volcanoes and glaciers. The silent majesty of fjords. The steaming geothermal pools. Or perhaps it’s the way the Icelandic people blend tradition, nature, and innovation into daily life—and wellness into every journey. Whether you want to soak in
the Blue Lagoon, cruise past iceberg-studded fjords, or drive through mystical lava fields to meditate beside a waterfall, Iceland offers wellness for the body, mind, and spirit. Click the link to read more about: 🛳️ Set Sail for Wellness: Azamara’s Iceland Intensive Voyage🌊 Seabourn’s North Iceland Fjords💦 4-Day Spa & Wellness Escape in Iceland🚗 Snæfellsnes & North Iceland Self-Drive (8 Days)🍽️ Wellness Through
Food: Reykjavik Culinary Tour🔥❄️ Fire, Ice & the Blue Lagoon: Our Most Popular Tailor-Made Tour🦚 The Lush Life Lens4. Come Travel with Me Corner -✨Along the Nile 🌟 Travel With Sheila: Secrets of Egypt & the Nile
📅 Nile Cruise Dates: November 21–28,
2026
🚢 Aboard the elegant AmaDahlia
📍 7-night Nile cruise (Luxor to Luxor) + 4 nights in Cairo Nile Ritz-Carlton 🛬
Complimentary Airfare - This sailing includes roundtrip economy airfare, but you can also choose to upgrade to business class. (Promo can disappear at any time.) 📆 Itinerary & Details - View the full day-by-day itinerary here:
🔗 Secrets of Egypt & the Nile – 2026 Itinerary 🚨 Availability Alert - I’m currently holding two Category CA cabins (French balcony) for a couple of days. If you miss this opportunity, the only chance to join later would be if someone else cancels. 💸 Sample Pricing (Per Person, Double Occupancy): Category CA: C$12,134 plus Intra-Egypt Air: C$699 . (Solo
traveler options available) 📩 Let’s Make It Happen - This journey is one for the history books—and I’d love for you to be part of it. Ready to reserve? Let’s chat today to hold your cabin. ✨ Four Directions of Travel InspirationEach edition of our newsletter brings you four curated travel insights to spark your wanderlust and keep you in the know. Here’s what to expect: In the Spotlight - From client journeys to industry features, see how Lush Life Travel is creating memorable adventures—and making headlines along the way. Virtuoso Travel Inspiration –
Handpicked features from Virtuoso Life, Virtuoso Traveler, or Virtuoso Insight—ideas that transport you. Elevate Your Stay – A weekly look at standout hotels from our preferred partner network, plus the VIP perks you receive when booking with Lush Life Travel. Exclusive Offers – Special promotions and insider access available only through Lush Life Travel, a proud affiliate of Direct Travel and top Virtuoso producer. This section is your one-stop compass for ideas, upgrades, and exclusive opportunities—all designed to help you live your lushest travel life. 5. 💬 In the Spotlight - Connecting, Learning & Leading at #TMPToronto This week, I travelled to Toronto to attend the Travel Market Place Canada conference—an annual gathering of top travel professionals, innovators, and supplier partners from across the industry. It was a terrific day
of reconnection and inspiration, packed with forward-thinking conversations, fresh ideas, and face-to-face meetings with some of my most trusted partners in luxury, river, and adventure travel. 🚢 River Cruise Standouts 🌍 Expedition & Adventure Experts 🚆 Land & Rail Partners Every time I attend an event like #TMPToronto, I’m reminded why these relationships matter: they help me craft even more personalized, seamless, and unforgettable experiences for my clients. 🦚 When I say I work with the best in the business, I mean it—and I travel to stay connected with them, so you can travel better.
6. Virtuoso Travel Inspiration
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Enjoy this recent edition of Virtuoso Life, Insider's Guide, and Virtuoso Dispatch—packed with award-winning travel inspiration and insights—all complimentary from me to you. Happy exploring! When polar winters make cruising in the Arctic and Antarctica impossible, purpose-built
expedition ships, with their Zodiacs and kayak fleets, head for warmer locales. For the Seabourn Pursuit, that means the South Pacific, with its birds of paradise, teeming reefs, and friendly locals. Writer Jane Wooldridge’s report from New Guinea is below, along with a dispatch from the Capella Sydney, and a visual history of NYC’s LGBTQ+ culture. |
https://e.virtuosoemail.com/a-dispatch-from-the-editors-cruisings-new-frontiers
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Unlock Exclusive Perks for Your Luxury Hotel Stay Did you know booking your luxury hotel stay through me unlocks exclusive perks and amenities? Here’s a sneak peek at how I can elevate your next getaway: See exclusive perks As a Virtuoso luxury advisor, I leverage top-tier programs like Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Bellini Club, Rosewood Elite, and many more to ensure
your stay is nothing short of extraordinary. See some additional detail on these preferred hotels. See VIP’ing You at My Preferred Hotel Programs While I
specialize in river and expedition cruises, as well as bespoke trips to Africa and Australia, I’m happy to book luxury hotels for my clients. Hotel-only bookings are subject to my professional fees, outlined here: Fee Schedule. 💻 For Last-Minute Stays
If you’re planning a quick trip and don’t need VIP services or concierge add-ons, you can self-book luxury properties through my Virtuoso website: Browse & Book Hotels Online. Self-booking waives my fees, but if
additional support or VIP services are required later, standard fees will apply. 💡 Still Wondering Why Book with an
Advisor? This week, we feature: The Reykjavik EDITION The first true global luxury lifestyle hotel brand, EDITION is an unexpected and refreshing collection of individualized, customized, one-of-a-kind hotels. Showcasing the best of dining and entertainment, services and amenities, each EDITION property is completely unique, designed to give guests a curated taste of the locale. Conceived by Ian Schrager in a partnership with Marriott International, EDITION
combines the personal, intimate, individualized experience that Ian Schrager is known for with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott. The Reykjavik EDITION brings the first 5-star modern luxury experience to one of the world’s most sustainable capitals. Located in the historical, scenic heart of downtown Reykjavik by Old
Harbor port, the hotel is a 45-minute car ride from the airport and just steps away from the Laugavegur Street, the city’s vibrant shopping district, and the Harpa Concert and Conference Center. The hotel is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the wonders of the region, with the renowned Blue Lagoon within driving distance and the Northern Lights visible in the city during the winter solstice. The hotel boasts a variety of distinctive food, beverage and entertainment outlets including alfresco dining to enjoy the panoramic views of the waterfront and the city. The Reykjavik EDITION’s sophisticated bedrooms and suites offer spectacular views of the harbor, Mt. Esja and the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier. A destination within a destination, the hotel will match the city’s fun-loving reputation with lively spaces to socialize, work and relax, all under one roof. See more, including VIrtuoso perks I can negotiate on your behalf: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/hotels/16251472/the-reykjavik-edition
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8. Exclusive Offers As the owner of Lush Life Travel, a boutique travel agency affiliated with Direct Travel, I’m delighted
to bring you access to exclusive offers through Direct Travel’s status as one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners. Here are some fantastic opportunities from a few of our favorite travel supplier partners: DESTINATION of the week: Iceland SMALL OCEAN CRUISE Partner of the week: Viking Ocean
Iceland RIVER CRUISE Partner of the week: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Venice and Jewels of Veneto EXPEDITION CRUISE Partner of the week: Lindblad Expeditions: Fire and Ice around Iceland TOUR PARTNER of the Week: Golf Traveller South Africa: Kruger, Cape Town, & Winelands HOTEL of
the week: Hotel Sacher Salzburg LUXURY experience of the week: Ponant Iceland Smithsonian Journeys I have some offers and information on all these weekly partners. Click the button to see more.
Unlock Your Lush Life through Travel
At Lush Life Travel, you’re not just booking a trip—you’re unlocking 20 years of travel expertise paired with 20 years in financial services. My focus on detail, risk management, and a network of trusted relationships ensures your journey is seamless, unforgettable, and uniquely yours. Here’s to creating defining moments and living your lush life through travel!
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