Travel Dispatch: Another Luxury Hotel Brand Sets Sail

July 11, 2026

A town with mostly white buildings lines a calm blue body of water. People sit at outdoor cafes along the waterfront, with boats docked and pulled ashore.

Crete was among the stops on the itinerary on the Four Seasons I’s seven-night cruise from Athens to Istanbul. Camille McOuat for The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

This week we published the last article in our Revolutionary Journeys series, with a story about Nancy Ward, a Cherokee woman who helped broker peace between white settlers and her tribe during the War for Independence. Nancy left behind a contested legacy, with some people considering her a hero, while others call her a traitor. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series and found it illuminating and insightful.

We also published a new City Guide this week, this time turning our attention to our own hometown, New York. With 8.5 million people and five boroughs, it could take weeks to scratch the surface of this diverse, resilient and ever-changing metropolis, but we think this new baedeker provides all you need for your first visit — or your return.

And there’s so much more:

Luxury hotel brands are getting into the cruise business and we tested out the Four Seasons I ship on a Mediterranean itinerary. We also take a look at the new basic business class fares some airlines are offering (Delta announced its version of basic business this week). What do you get, and is it worth considering?
A writer rented a lodge in Scotland with a group of 27 and then hired the well-known Sikh-Scottish chef, Tony Singh, to cook a special dinner for the crowd. Could the haggis pakora live up to her dreams? And in Vienna, we offer a local’s tour of the often-lavish public pools. Perfect if you’re stuck in a heat wave.
Europe’s new biometric entry/exit system has led to hourslong lines at some airports, with passengers missing flights. But the E.U. says it won’t suspend it even as the summer-travel crowds grow. Passports with President Trump’s likeness in them became available on Monday. We were at the Washington passport office to see who showed up for their first day on offer.
Our 36 Hours column visits the Italian city of Lecce, a beautifully preserved Baroque city in Puglia (perfect for a weekend break from the coast). And our Tripped Up column helps out a man whose rental car company charged him for gasoline he never used.

Finally, Barcelona has become synonymous with overtourism, but the city’s recently appointed commissioner for sustainable tourism says he is planning to change things. The new message: “Not one tourist more.”

Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

An Insider’s Guide to 6 of Vienna’s Splendid Public Pools

Whether you’re looking to do laps in the pool or lounge in the shade beneath towering lindens, these swimming spots are a perfect way to beat the summer heat.

By Martin Fritz Huber and David Payr

A large, white multi-deck ship resembling a large yacht sails on blue water, under a blue sky with clouds. A rocky outcrop is in the foreground.

Four Seasons Sets Sail, Private Butlers and All

Luxury hotel brands are getting into the cruise business. A Mediterranean itinerary offered a taste of what at times seemed like a mega-yacht experience.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu and Camille McOuat

An illuminated stone gate with an ornate facade glows against the night sky.

Matteo de Mayda for The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours in Lecce, Italy

In sun-drenched southern Italy, this immaculately preserved Baroque city is far more than a fetching fossil.

By Seth Sherwood and Matteo de Mayda

A woman wearing a T-shirt with the illustration of a Native woman stands holding a fence.

Revolutionary Journeys

Hero or Traitor? The Legacy of a Revolutionary-Era Cherokee Woman.

In 1776, Cherokee leaders looked for ways to navigate a foreboding future. Nanyehi, a.k.a. Nancy Ward, is venerated and reviled for her choice.

By Ellen Barry

Children play with colorful ribbons while people lounge on the sunlit lawn of Sheep Meadow with tall glass skyscrapers rising beyond the trees.

Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

Travel 101

Your Guide to New York City

From the top attractions to the most frequently asked questions, our guide has all you need to plan your next visit.

By Julie Besonen

Emily Whitney for The New York Times

9 Courses, 27 Friends, 216 Wine Glasses: A Fantasy Feast in Scotland

A writer engaged the Sikh-Scottish chef Tony Singh to prepare a luxurious dinner at a Highlands lodge she’d rented. Would the haggis pakora live up to her dreams?

By Helene Cooper and Emily Whitney

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

A busy market entrance with a colorful metal and stained-glass archway has the words La Boqueria included on the signage. Many people walk past market stalls and in and through the entrance.

Edu Bayer for The New York Times

Q&A

Barcelona’s New Message: ‘Not One Tourist More’

As the commissioner for sustainable tourism, José Antonio Donaire’s job is to diminish the impact of the nearly 16 million annual visitors to the Catalan capital. Here’s what he’s planning.

By Lisa Abend

A photo of a business class seat on a plane has a seat with a table and a window.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto, via Associated Press

How to Lie Flat for Less: A Guide to Basic Business

Delta is the latest U.S. airline to introduce stripped down, luxury-class fares. What do you get for your money, and is it worth it? What you need to know.

By Victoria M. Walker

Sami Aldawood, a man with a visible smile, holds an open U.S. passport that displays an illustration of President Trump. Mr. Aldawood is wearing a dark blue collared shirt and black sunglasses.

Eric Lee for The New York Times

Trump Passports Debut, Delighting Some and Dismaying Others

The Washington Passport Agency started issuing the limited-release documents with President Trump’s image on Monday, catching a few applicants by surprise.

By Gabe Castro-Root

An illustration of a traveler wearing brown pants and a light, long-sleeved shirt. The person has a gas pump hose with a green filling nozzle tangled around one leg. There is a gray rolling suitcase next to the traveler.

Matt Blease

Tripped Up

Help! I Refueled My Rental Car, but Enterprise Charged Me Anyway.

A traveler to Germany returned his vehicle with slightly more gas than it had when he picked it up. So why was he billed $131 to fill up the tank?

By Seth Kugel

A line of white and gray border control kiosks with glowing screens. Several people stand in front of them, appearing to register or check in.

David W Cerny/Reuters

Europe’s New Entry/Exit System Is a Mess, and It’s Not Going Away

E.U. leaders rebuffed a plea from the aviation industry to pause the biometric checkpoints, which have caused long lines and missed flights. Summer travelers beware.

By Christine Chung

Feedback, thoughts, tips? Email the Travel desk at travel@nytimes.com.