🌟 Travel in 2026 — A Year to Savor, Discover & Reconnect

2026 isn’t just another year on the calendar — it’s the perfect moment to lean into joy, reconnect with yourself and the world, and travel with deeper meaning.

Whether you’re dreaming of gliding through European vineyards on a river cruise, exploring icy frontiers on an expedition voyage, or savoring local cuisine in a lantern-lit street market, this is your year to say yes to experiences that nourish, inspire, and awaken.

Here’s what’s trending — and why now is the time to start planning:

🌈 1. Travel That Awakens the Senses

2026 is all about feeling your destination — the textures, sounds, scents, and flavors that stay with you long after you return.

👉 Think: the citrusy spray of Sicilian lemons, the velvet of a handcrafted Turkish rug, the taste of Rioja on your tongue in a Spanish vineyard.
(Sourced from: Virtuoso – Inspire All Your Senses See Inspire all your senses)

🌟 2. Come Find Your Joy in 2026

Joy has become its own travel currency. Virtuoso’s 2026 travel outlook highlights how people are chasing experiences that feel meaningful, uplifting, and deeply personal — whether that means a wellness journey, a return to nature, or a culturally immersive escape. For some, joy is found on a serene river cruise through Europe’s vineyards; for others, in moments of discovery beneath the Antarctic ice.

👉 The goal isn’t just travel — it’s joyful travel.
(Source: Virtuoso — Come Find Your Joy in 2026 See Come find your joy in 2026)

🚀 3. Travel Trends We’re Loving (and Booking!)

🎬 Set-Jetting: From Emily in Paris to The Crown, travellers are chasing their favourite scenes across the globe.

🍷 Culinary Immersion: Food is the soul of a culture. Clients are craving port tastings in Portugal, market strolls in Vietnam, and vineyard lunches in Tuscany.

🌍 Expedition Cruises: From Antarctica to the Arctic, these once-in-a-lifetime journeys are for those who want wild beauty, up-close wildlife, and meaningful science-led discovery.

🎉 Celebration Travel: Big birthdays. Big anniversaries. Big life moments. Private villas, yachts, river cruise charters — we’re planning unforgettable ways to mark milestones.

🛳️ World Cruises & Long Voyages: Interest in extended journeys is booming. If you’ve dreamed of a 90-day world cruise or a Grand Voyage, 2026 is your year.

🧘‍♀️ Wellness & Solo Travel: Whether it’s forest bathing in Japan or a solo suite on the Danube, self-care travel is thriving — and solo doesn’t mean alone.

💚 Sustainable & Purposeful Travel: From eco-lodges to regenerative itineraries, clients are asking: how can I travel and give back?

See Top Travel Trends for 2026 | Sheila Gallant-halloran

💰 4. Book Early, Save More

Many premium land tours and cruises are offering up to 15% savings for early booking. Plus, it locks in your preferred date and best cabin — especially important for popular river cruise dates, wellness retreats, or peak wildlife seasons.

(Source: Virtuoso – Save on 2026 Tours See https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/promotions/18343869/big-travel-sale-save-on-2026-premium-tours )

✨ What This Means for You

2026 travel isn’t about doing more — it’s about feeling more. People are embracing travel that:

• Speaks to their senses
• Nourishes their spirit
• Connects them to people and place
• Creates joy and lasting memories

Whether you’re dreaming of a river cruise through Europe’s iconic waterways, an expedition cruise to the poles, a wellness escape to recharge, or a land tour rich in local culture — now is the time to start shaping that journey.

Ready to Discover Your 2026?
Let’s turn your travel dreams into a thoughtfully crafted experience — one that fills your senses, feeds your joy, and expands your world.

🔹 Pre-Consultation Survey:

🔹 Schedule a Consult

Warmly,
Sheila Gallant-Halloran
Virtuoso Cruise Icon | Aussie & New Zealand Specialist
www.lushlife.ca

Sheila Gallant-Halloran | www.lushlife.ca | ✉️ sheila@lushlife.ca

🌍 This Week’s 4 Travel Corners

Each 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 - Dreaming of Christmas Markets 2027?

There’s something truly magical about Europe during the holidays — twinkling lights, steaming mugs of glühwein, artisan stalls, and the scent of roasted chestnuts in the air. And the best way to experience it all? A Christmas Markets River Cruise along the Rhine!

✨ I’m hoping to finalize a group sailing for November 2027 this week, and I’d love to know if you’d like to join us. These trips are a beautiful way to kick off the festive season — slow, scenic, cozy, and filled with old-world charm.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Let me know how many people would be in your party if you're interested. It’s a perfect trip to do with friends, siblings, or your favorite travel buddy.

🎥 Want a sneak peek? Here’s a little video from my last Christmas Markets group cruise back in 2019:
 

👉 Watch on YouTube

Let’s make your 2027 sparkle with mulled wine, music, and memory-making moments aboard a festive Rhine river cruise.

📩 Email me at sheila@lushlife.ca if you'd like early details.

— Sheila.

2. Adventure Travel - Why Polar Bears and Penguins Will Never Be Friends… 🐧🐻‍❄️

Spoiler alert: polar bears and penguins live on opposite ends of the Earth. But there is one ship that connects their worlds…

Earlier this year, I sailed aboard Le Commandant Charcot — the world’s most advanced polar vessel, capable of reaching places almost no other ship can. We’re talking multi-year Antarctic ice, PC2 ice rating, and the kind of pristine wilderness most people will only ever dream about.

It was ice by day, Alain Ducasse cuisine by night. A true unicorn of expedition travel.

Fast-forward to a dinner I hosted at the Fairmont Château Laurier with some of my favourite expedition insiders. Over glasses of wine and glacial trivia (yes, sea ice vs. glacier ice was debated), one voyage stopped us all in our tracks:

🚢 A 61-day circumnavigation of Antarctica, departing in 2028.

That’s right — a full lap of the White Continent. Very few ships can even think about attempting this, but Charcot can. She's the real deal: expedition by day, champagne and caviar by night.

This is why I love what I do — turning "maybe someday" dreams into real-world itineraries that stretch to the edges of the Earth.

So, would you cruise to Antarctica?

Drop a ❄️ or 🐧 if it’s on your bucket list. And tag someone who needs to know that polar bears and penguins will never meet — except in your travel daydreams.

✨ Let’s make that daydream a reality.

— Sheila

3. Wellness Corner - You’re Popping Champagne Wrong – Here’s the Safe Way

Champagne corks can shoot out at 55 mph — and yes, people die every year from popping bottles the wrong way. 😳 

Tony Soljan, a third-generation winemaker from Soljān Estate Winery in New Zealand, shares the pro method for opening sparkling wine safely and with respect. 

He uses the méthode traditionnelle (just like Champagne), but since it’s made outside France, it can’t legally be called Champagne. 

Here’s Tony’s expert method: 

✔️ Chill the bottle 

✔️ Keep the wire on 

✔️ Thumb on cork 

✔️ Twist the bottle, not the cork 

✔️ Listen for a whisper, not a pop 

🎯 Save this tip for your next celebration — and tag a friend who needs to learn this before NYE.

4.  🌟 Travel With Me: A Journey Home to Newfoundland — Fall 2026

Let’s reserve your suite and create unforgettable memories together. 

✨ Four Directions of Travel Inspiration

Each 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.   🌟 CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: River Cruising Memories & Raves

📩 Let’s Start Planning Your Bucket List Journey:

🔹 Pre-Consultation Survey:

🔹 Schedule a Consult

Sheila Gallant-Halloran | www.lushlife.ca | ✉️ sheila@lushlife.ca

Additional info: exclusive perks 

VIP’ing You at My Preferred Hotel Programs and 

💡 Still Wondering Why Book with an Advisor?

This week, we feature 

THE DOLLI at Acropolis | Virtuoso

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: South Africa

SMALL OCEAN CRUISE Partner of the week: Azamara

RIVER CRUISE Partner of the week: Ama Waterways

EXPEDITION CRUISE Partner of the week: Ponant Expeditions

TOUR PARTNER of the Week: Insight Vacations
HOTEL of the week: Six Senses Kyoto
LUXURY experience of the week: African Travel - In Footsteps of Mandela

I have some offers and information on all these weekly partners. Click the button to see more. 

📩 Let’s Start Planning Your Bucket List Journey:

🔹 Pre-Consultation Survey:

🔹 Schedule a Consult

Sheila Gallant-Halloran | www.lushlife.ca | ✉️ sheila@lushlife.ca