In March 2016, my two traveling companions, Mary and Elaine, and I flew from San Francisco to Paris to embark on a Grand Circle Travel (GCT) river cruise from Normandy to Paris. This was my sixth trip with Grand Circle (Boston, MA; 800/221-2610, gct.com) — the third river cruise — and all have been excellent and reasonably priced. 

I’ve discovered that people develop great loyalty to this travel company. For two travelers in our group this time, it was...

Shortly after Hurricane Harvey hit my hometown on Aug. 25, 2017, I decided to leave Austin, where I had gone to ride out the storm, and returned home to check my house and get clothes, before continuing with my plans to join my brother Charles and his wife, Jean, for a transatlantic crossing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, departing Sept. 7.

It turned out to be good therapy for me, since there was little water supply and no electricity at home and my friends had scattered...

Due to increased tensions following the region’s declaration of independence and Madrid’s subsequent move to take control of Catalonia’s administration (see p. 2), travelers to this region are, as of press time, being advised to “exercise caution” because of the possibility of continued protests by large crowds.

After visiting the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, I was intrigued by the variety in the artist’s work and the mediums he...