What’s Included in a Luxury Cruise — And What Isn’t
All-inclusive, half-board, onboard credit, butler service — luxury cruise terminology can be confusing. Here’s an honest breakdown of what you actually get, line by line.
The World’s Most Extraordinary New Cruise Ships: What’s Launching in 2026 and 2027
From Explora III to Orient Express Corinthian, Four Seasons I to Amangati — the most extraordinary new luxury cruise ships launching in 2026 and 2027, and why this is the most exciting moment in ocean travel in a generation.
The Hotel Brands Rewriting Luxury at Sea
Aman, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Ritz-Carlton have brought their legendary hospitality to the ocean. Here’s what it means for how we travel — and why 2026 is the year it all changed.
Our Rajasthani Home Away from Home
At Shahpura Bagh, Rajasthan revealed itself not through grandeur, but through warmth, community, and quiet generosity. What began as a hotel stay slowly became something that felt much more like home.
Chasing Love in the Dark: A Bhutanese Local Opens Up About Night Hunting
After writing about Bhutan’s fading tradition of Bomena, I spoke with Mani, one of Amala’s Bhutanese guides, to better understand the realities behind the stories. Growing up between village and city life, Mani reflects on a custom that now exists somewhere between folklore, controversy, and cultural memory.
Explained: The Night Hunting Tradition in Bhutan
A considered guide to Ladakh covering altitude, timing, landscapes, and practical preparation for a more thoughtful journey in the Himalayas.Hidden beneath Bhutan’s serene image is Bomena, a fading rural courtship tradition where young men once climbed through windows under the cover of darkness in search of romance. Today, the practice exists somewhere between folklore, cultural debate, and a rapidly changing modern Bhutan.
Ladakh, Northern India: What to Expect and How to Prepare
A considered guide to Ladakh covering altitude, timing, landscapes, and practical preparation for a more thoughtful journey in the Himalayas.
Mexico City Through Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
From the cobalt-blue walls of Casa Azul to monumental murals hidden within historic buildings, this journey moves through the Mexico that shaped Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Through art, architecture, markets, and everyday street life, the city reveals a cultural identity that still feels deeply alive today.
Through an Impressionist Lens: Paris, Giverny & Normandy
From quiet mornings in Giverny to windswept cliffs along the Normandy coast, this journey traces the landscapes that shaped Impressionist art. Moving between Paris, Honfleur, and Étretat, it is an experience shaped by changing light, coastal scenery, and places that continue to inspire artists today.
Amala Picks: Our Favourite Hotels in Bhutan
Where you stay in Bhutan shapes the journey as much as the landscape itself. From intimate valley lodges to quietly luxurious retreats, the country’s best properties become part of the experience — places that ground you in Bhutan’s rhythm, culture, and sense of stillness.