In Barcelona, Spain, Casa Vicens (Carrer de les Carolines 18-24, Barcelona), the first significant building designed by post-modern architect Antonio Gaudí, is scheduled to open to the public for the first time on Easter Day (April 16) 2017.
The 4-story house was built from 1883 to 1888 for the Vicens family and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cruise lines P&O Cruises (www.pocruises.com) and Cunard Line (www.cunard.com), both owned by Carnival Corporation, announced on Dec. 6, 2016, that they would be canceling all ports in Turkey during 2017 cruises. Canceled ports would be replaced by stops in Greece or Albania.
A spokesperson for the cruise lines said that the decision was made after taking into consideration advice from the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
In South Australia, visitors can join EP Cruises (phone +61 433 011 665, epcruises.com.au) on their 5-hour “Ocean to Plate” cruise, on which passengers will harvest their food from the waters of Streaky Bay to have it prepared by the onboard chef and served as canapés along with a glass of wine.
Each passenger will be provided snorkel gear for gathering oysters, blue crab or abalone from the ocean floor or a rod and reel to catch tommies, salmon and garfish from the back of the boat.
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo now can be visited on a free, 2-hour English-language walking tour offered by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Tokyo Systematized Goodwill Guides (SGG) Club.
Travel writer (and ITN columnist) Rick Steves has released a rolling travel bag, the Ravenna Rolling Case. Weighing just over 7 pounds and measuring 21"x14"x9", it fits into smaller European overhead bins but can be expanded an extra 2 inches for more storage space.
The main compartment contains two mesh drawstring bags, adjustable compression straps and a removable document pouch. It is available at store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/ravenna-hard-case-luggage at a cost of $189.99. Shipping is free.
The New York Times is offering Student Journeys, educational trips for high school students, with departures starting in summer 2017.
Each journey is based on a current event being covered by the Times, and it will be led by a Times reporter or an expert in the field.
High in the Austrian Alps, above the town of Werfen, lies Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave. It is a dynamic ice cave, with its formations constantly changing, and each year, from May 1 to Oct. 26, visitors can take a 70-minute tour of part of the 40-kilometer cave system, seeing enormous ice formations as well as stalagmites and stalactites of ice.
With the “Love it First Time” satisfaction guarantee, British cruise company Saga (phone +44 1303 771 190, travel.saga.co.uk) is offering a complete refund and airfare home to travelers taking their first ocean cruise with Saga, aboard the Sapphire or Pearl II ships, who are not happy with their trip.
For information on upcoming events in Switzerland plus deals on hotels and transportation as well as help with planning a trip and tips for self-guided tours, visit Switzerland Tourism’s website: www.myswitzerland.com.
Tickets for the 72nd annual Prague Spring International Music Festival, May 12-June 6, 2017, went on sale Dec. 12, 2016.
The 2017 festival opens with a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic. The closing concert will feature modern Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki conducting one of his own symphonies. International orchestras, soloists and small ensembles will hold concerts throughout the festival.