Chronological Archive

Travel Stories

Every edition of Travel Stories with Gina Renee, in order — dispatches, journals and long-form travel writing from the road.

22 editions

2026

22 editions

No. 22River CruisesSeptember 19, 2026

Can You Take a River Cruise With Limited Mobility?

Can someone who uses a cane, walker, or occasional wheelchair take a European river cruise? Sometimes, but an elevator is only one part of the answer. Gangways, motorcoaches, cobblestones, excursions, and the traveler’s individual abilities all need to be considered before booking.

4 min read

September 2026

Lloyd and I sitting on the Sky Deck, enjoying the scenery as we sail by.

No. 21River CruisesSeptember 16, 2026

My Husband Thought He Would Be Bored on a River Cruise. Here's What We Actually Loved About Avalon.

Before our first Avalon river cruie, Lloyd was nervous. He thought he might get bored. River cruising was different from the ocean cruises we knew, and neither of us had experienced this style of travel before.

1 min read

September 2026

Travelers in an Airport at a Service Desk

No. 20Travel TipsSeptember 10, 2026

Travel Insurance Is Not a Magic Refund Button

One ordinary Saturday, I was talking with clients and preparing to leave the next morning for a cruise. Within hours, I was being transported to the hospital—and by that night, I was septic. Travel insurance could not prevent the emergency, but it protected us from losing the money invested in a trip we could no longer take. That experience is why I discuss travel insurance with my clients today.

3 min read

September 2026

Me enjoying the beautiful view of Santorini.

No. 19Travel TipsSeptember 9, 2026

Have You Ever Wondered How I Travel?

What do you absolutely not want? It may sound like an unusual way to start planning a vacation, but the answer tells me a lot. Here's how the way I travel shapes the way I help my travelers find the trip that's right for them.

6 min read

September 2026

One of my favorite parts of hosted travel: you can be part of the group without having to do everything as a group.

No. 18CultureSeptember 8, 2026

Is a Hosted Group Trip Right for You?

Hosted travel doesn’t mean doing everything together. It means having support when you want it, freedom when you don’t, and someone in your corner along the way.

2 min read

September 2026

June 2025 4 Hosted Group Travelers visiting while in port in Juneau in front of NCL Encore

No. 17CruisesSeptember 7, 2026

You Can Come by Yourself: What Solo Travelers Should Know About Joining a Hosted Group

Waiting for someone to travel with can mean waiting for years. A hosted group can give you the confidence to finally say yes, even when you’re coming on your own.

5 min read

September 2026

Dad, Kynlie and Mom Friday Night Lights watching their Great Granddaughter, Kynlie Renee'

No. 16Hidden GemsSeptember 6, 2026

Under the Friday Night Lights

For 65 years, our family's Friday nights have been filled with football games, marching bands, drill teams, booster clubs and generations showing up for one another. Sometimes we don't realize we're creating a legacy while we're living it.

2 min read

September 2026

Three cabins in this group were solo occupancy. You wouldn't know which ones—and that's exactly the point.

No. 15Travel TipsAugust 28, 2026

Traveling Solo Doesn’t Mean Traveling Alone

Having your own cabin and traveling alone aren’t necessarily the same thing. Solo travelers can have independence, privacy and their own space while still enjoying the connection and community that come with the right cruise, tour or hosted group.

6 min read

August 2026

No. 14ItalyAugust 26, 2026

Sorrento Made Me Want to Linger

Sorrento, Italy, was one of those places that made me want to slow down and stay awhile. From the sweeping Bay of Naples views to the charming streets, it’s a destination I would happily return to.

1 min read

August 2026

Aerial view of Lokrum Island and the historic walled city of Dubrovnik along Croatia’s Adriatic coast.

No. 13CultureAugust 24, 2026

The Curse of Lokrum Island

When Benedictine monks were forced from their island home, legend says they left behind a trail of melted wax—and a curse upon anyone who tried to possess Lokrum.

1 min read

August 2026

Luxury small ship sailing along Croatia’s Adriatic coast.

No. 12CruisesAugust 24, 2026

Croatia: What If the Ship Became Part of the Story?

What if experiencing Croatia wasn’t about choosing the biggest ship or the most amenities? I’ve been exploring a different way to sail the Adriatic—18 cabins, a small group, quiet coves, nights at anchor and a journey where the ship itself becomes part of the story.

3 min read

August 2026

No. 11GreeceAugust 20, 2026

Would You Drink Tree Tears?

On the Greek island of Chios, mastic trees produce tiny drops of fragrant resin known as “tears.” They've been treasured for generations, used in foods and traditions — and eventually transformed into a uniquely Greek liqueur called Mastiha.

2 min read

August 2026

Ancient Hawaiian style petroglyph carvings across a volcanic lafa field beside the coast, representing the story of Pu'uloa on Hawaii Island.

No. 10CultureAugust 17, 2026

Mystery Monday: 23,000 Carvings in a Hawaiian Lava Field. But Why?

More than 23,000 images are carved into an ancient Hawaiian lava field. But thousands of the smallest markings reveal a beautiful story about newborn babies, ancestry, and a hope families have shared for centuries.

2 min read

August 2026

Gina Renee smiling during a private group event aboard Norwegian Encore, reflecting on growth, confidence and discovering what comes next.

No. 9August 17, 2026

The Departure Gate - I Will Not Make Myself Smaller

Sometimes growth makes other people uncomfortable. That doesn't mean we're supposed to stop growing—or make ourselves smaller to keep everyone else comfortable.

3 min read

August 2026

1st image Gina Renee cooking beside large stockpots in the commercial kitchen where she built her catering business over more than 14 years.

No. 8August 17, 2026

The Room That Changed

Sometimes the places that once defined us change completely. But what they taught us comes with us into whatever comes next.

4 min read

August 2026

Layered Duck Fart shot with coffee liqueur, Irish cream and whisky on a rustic bar with an Alaska mountain view in the background.

No. 7AlaskaAugust 13, 2026

What Is a Duck Fart in Alaska?

Planning an Alaska cruise or vacation? Here's one quirky little Alaska tradition you might spot on the drink menu — the famous Duck Fart.

2 min read

August 2026

Norwegian Prima Summer 2028 Galveston cruise infographic showing a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Cozumel, Roatán, Harvest Caye and Costa Maya.

No. 6CruisesAugust 12, 2026

Texas Cruisers, We Just Got Another Summer Option, And We Needed It

Norwegian Prima is coming to Galveston for Summer 2028. Here's why this new 7 night cruise option is especially good news for Texas cruisers.

2 min read

August 2026

Traveler wearing a billed baseball cap under a rain jacket hood during a rainy Alaska cruise port day.

No. 5AlaskaAugust 11, 2026

The Alaska Packing Tip Nobody Tells You

A simple Alaska packing trick I learned from experience: why a billed baseball cap under your rain jacket hood can make a windy, rainy port day so much more comfortable.

1 min read

August 2026

Misty Southeast Alaska landscape with an otter and mysterious humanlike figure representing the Kushtaka, the Land Otter Man of Tlingit tradition.

No. 4AlaskaAugust 10, 2026

The Kushtaka: Alaska’s Mysterious Land Otter Man

Alaska is known for glaciers, wildlife and breathtaking scenery—but its stories run much deeper. Discover the Tlingit tradition of the Kushtaka, the mysterious “Land Otter Man” said to move between the human world and the wild.

2 min read

August 2026

Illustration of Thessalonike as a mermaid rising from the moonlit Aegean Sea beside a sailing ship

No. 3CultureJuly 31, 2026

Is There Really a Mermaid Legend in Greece?

Greek folklore says Thessalonike, the half-sister of Alexander the Great, became an immortal mermaid — and for centuries sailors answered her one question to cross the Aegean safely.

5 min read

July 2026

A glass of ouzo turning cloudy white beside a carafe of water, olives and feta on a seaside taverna table in Greece.

No. 2CultureJuly 30, 2026

Why Does Greece's Most Famous Drink Turn White?

If you've ever watched someone pour water into a crystal-clear glass of ouzo, you've probably had the same reaction I did… "Wait… what just happened?"

4 min read

July 2026

White volcanic rock formations at Sarakiniko Beach on Milos, Greece, with turquoise Aegean water.

No. 1BeachesJuly 29, 2026

What Greek Island Looks Like the Moon?

When someone tells me they're planning a trip to Greece, I can almost predict the first two islands they'll mention...

1 min read

July 2026

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