Join us for a deep dive into U.S. history and culture aboard the 185-berth American Splendor, on a voyage up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Memphis. Enjoy the distinctive architecture of the French Quarter, the gorgeous homes of the Garden District, and the renowned National WWII Museum. Then cruise upriver visiting the Creole cottages and lush landscapes of Bayou country; the city of Natchez, where architectural grandeur reflects the prosperous Steamboat Era of the early 1800s; and Vicksburg, where a 47-day Civil War battle raged before control of the Mississippi River was taken by the North. Conclude in Memphis.

Geyser basins and snow-covered landscapes await in the winter wonderland of Yellowstone. Winter is a fantastic time for wildlife watching and your guide will take you to the best spots to see bison, elk, bighorn sheep, and possibly even one of the resident wolf packs. Special snow coaches transport us over the closed roads of Yellowstone to Old Faithful. Try out a pair of snowshoes if you like or simply walk the boardwalks right from the lodge.

Journey through Vietnam, where natural beauty, sacred rituals, and cultural wonders come together on an exceptional 14-day expedition that includes a 7-night cruise from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Hanoi. This program features guest speakers Kim Phuc, famously photographed as a child in 1972 Vietnam; Nick Ut, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who took that iconic image; and Jim Laurie, a TV news correspondent during the Vietnam War. Enhance your experience with the Siem Reap and Cambodia Pre-Program Option.

Experience Madagascar, a thousand-mile island boasting an impressive variety of spectacular landscapes from pristine coral reefs and coastal mangroves to virgin rain forests and native groves of Baobab trees. Geographically isolated for millions of years, nearly all of Madagascar’s animals and plants are found nowhere else on Earth, including nearly 100 varieties of lemurs. Visit Reunion Island, a paradisiacal French outpost, and discover its white-sand beaches and spectacular dormant volcanoes. Conclude on the island of Mauritius.

Walk across Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge and through the doors of Little Rock High School. Meet with 16th Street Baptist Church bomb survivor Carolyn McKinstry, Bloody Sunday foot soldier Annie Pearl Avery, and many others. Experience the Memorial for Peace and Social Justice in Montgomery and meet with staff at the Equal Justice Initiative.

Cruise from the Habsburgs’ imperial capital of Vienna to the captivating Black Sea. Explore seven countries over nine nights aboard the exclusively chartered Amadeus Star, followed by two nights in Romania’s elegant capital of Bucharest. Cruise through the Iron Gates and discover the eastern Danube River Valley. Visit the ancient land of Bulgaria, the young territories of Serbia and eastern Croatia, Hungary’s fabled Puszta (plains), and the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated castles, palaces, and squares of Budapest. Optional Vienna Pre‑Program and/or Transylvania Post‑Program extensions. 

Absorb Croatia’s remarkable history and unspoiled Dalmatian coastline on this captivating 15-day journey. Travel from Zagreb to Ljubljana to charming Opatija and on to beloved Dubrovnik. Enjoy the fascinating history and Mediterranean atmosphere of the alluring Istrian Peninsula. Optional 4-day/3-night extension to the Balkan gem of Montenegro.

Cruise the five Great Lakes from Milwaukee to Toronto, visiting islands and towns rich in history and natural splendor. Delight in the Victorian character of Mackinac Island; visit Sault Ste. Marie, known to Native Americans as the “Gathering Place”; and witness the thunderous power of Niagara Falls. Optional extensions to Milwaukee and Toronto.

Join distinguished scholars, Karen Armstrong and John Prevas, on this remarkable journey that takes in Istanbul, the Greek islands, coastal Turkey, and Cyprus, and ends in Athens. Experience Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara, the storied ruins of Troy and Chios' 11th-century Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni. Marvel at stunning Ephesus, one of the world’s great archeological sites. On Patmos see the cave where St. John received visions of the Apocalypse, and in Rhodes wander in one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. Call at the ancient Lycian capital of Xanthos and the Hellenistic complexes at Perge and Aspendos before disembarking in Cyprus and flying to Athens for two nights.

Enjoy a seven-night cruise along the intimate waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. See Amsterdam’s iconic canals, stroll amid the brilliant tulips at Keukenhof Gardens and relish an extraordinary and rare exhibition of Vermeer’s paintings gathered from around the world at the Rijksmuseum. Take in Bruges’ wonderfully preserved Gothic gems and Antwerp’s impressive medieval old town. Explore Kampen, rich in Hanseatic history, and the laid-back seaside harbor town of Veere. Optional trip extensions in Amsterdam and Antwerp.