What's the secret to a truly stress-free holiday?
That means excellent quality food and drink, of course – it's got to be restaurant standard and cater to all tastes – but also onboard enrichment experiences of the highest calibre. The great beauty of cruising has always been that not a second is wasted. Savvy travellers get to explore a rich and rewarding variety of exotic, off-the-beaten track locations, but instead of spending half their holiday stuck in motorway traffic, they're honing their swing in the golf net, or sipping on a cocktail on the upper deck as they travel from destination to destination.
When they're onshore they want genuinely immersive experiences that get them under the hood of a destination: think cellar tours of local vineyards or speedboat cruises to hidden beaches. Done right, a high-end all-inclusive cruise is the ideal form of slow travel, offering a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence, proper pampering and a thrilling sense of discovery.
The world's most luxurious fleet
First among equals when it comes to the new era of luxury cruising is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers more than 170 different itineraries visiting over 550 ports of call worldwide. Each of the six ships in their fleet is opulently appointed with beautifully designed communal areas and a huge array of amenities, but none of them has a capacity of more than 746 guests, ensuring space and freedom for all aboard.
The all-suite accommodation means that the private spaces are similarly roomy, each having a private balcony and marble bathroom. And service is always impeccable with a crew-to-guest ratio that's nearly one-to-one, meaning that the team can always go that mile extra for all travellers.
Across the ships, the food is uniformly excellent. As well as Regent's signature Compass Rose restaurant, with its daily changing menu of bistro classics like lobster bisque and New Zealand lamb chops, the different ships also feature a range of speciality dining venues. These include Prime 7, a New York-style steakhouse, Pacific Rim with its pan-Asian menu (be sure to try the miso black cod), and fine-dining destination, Chartreuse, where the chefs turn out sophisticated plates of upscale French cooking like Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Seared Foie Gras.
With a number of long cruises on their roster, Regent has made sure that each of its ships is akin to an ultra-luxury, boutique floating hotel with an incredible variety of things to do during the day and top-level entertainment at night. There are courts for paddle tennis and bocce, and the onboard spa offers a range of exclusive bespoke treatments. The ships host talks by experts in their field and cooking lessons are also available on some of the ships at the culinary arts kitchens where visiting chefs guide guests in how to make wow-factor dishes that relate to the ports of call. In the evening, the Constellation Theatre hosts lavishly staged productions from a team of Broadway choreographers and artists.
Destinations that match the onboard luxury
Of course, none of this onboard luxury would mean much if the destinations weren't up to scratch, but Regent's superbly curated itineraries are up there with the very best. Its week-long trips include culture-packed European tours like Glories of Iberia which sails from Barcelona to Lisbon, and thrilling frontier explorations such as the Great Alaskan Adventur e from Whittier to Vancouver.
Longer trips include four-week Legendary Journeys from Athens to Montreal, and fully immersive explorations of the Arctic. Long or short, these itineraries are all underpinned by a commitment to taking guests right to the heart of a destination with the kind of bespoke onshore activities and expert-led insights that mean on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage, adventure is guaranteed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Primark's 90p summer holiday essential will help you pass every hand luggage liquid check without even buying miniatures
PACKING for a holiday is not an easy task, especially for us women. Many of us want to save money by only using carry-on luggage, but it can cause a crisis for many of us. 3 3 Not only do we have to squeeze in multiple outfits, there's also the issue of trying to fit all of your toiletries in. And if you are just using carry-on luggage the task will be even harder thanks to the liquid limit being just 1 litre. Each product has to be 100ml or less and to make matters worse, it has to fit in one of those tiny plastic bags the airport provides, and limit it to one bag per passenger. That leaves many of us having to choose which of our daily essentials make the cut, from leaving your favourite shampoo at home to ditching your foundation for the week. Too many times we have been caught out by the liquid limitations and had to throw away a face cream or shower gel before making it through security. Fortunately, Primark has offered a solution to ensure all of your toiletries fit. The budget-friendly retailer is offering a pack of four silicone travel jars for just £4.50. Each jar costs just 90p and means you won't have to leave your favourite beauty buys behind or fork out for miniature editions. The jars come in four different sizes, meaning you can use the smaller one for foundation and the bigger one for body cream. The silicone material also makes them bendable so they can be squeezed into the plastic bag with no problems. Primark launches new range of cabin bags on wheels - they're approved by all budget airlines & there's matching carry-ons too It also means that these jars can easily be washed and cleaned out in preparation for your next holiday. PRIMANIA It's not the only holiday buy Primark shoppers are going wild for. The bargain retail giant has super-sized the floral trend with its oversized hibiscus print co-ord. The cropped mesh top is priced at just £8 while the matching midi skirt will only set you back £12. And fashion fans have insisted the cowl neck cut and loud print are a throwback to the 90s, while the lightweight material is perfect for the sunshine. Both pieces are available in sizes XXS to XL and come in black or pink with a red floral pattern. And fashionistas have already been going wild for it, as one gushed: "Lovely for a night out." "I need one for hols", wrote a second. Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
Finextra
an hour ago
- Finextra
What Is Vibe Coding? A Beginner's Guide to the Coding Movement You Can't Ignore: By Raktim Singh
What does it mean to "vibe code"? Why Gen Z Is Changing the Way We Program Programming used to entail spending long hours staring at black-and-white terminals and fixing syntax problems in silence. Now, a new movement called Vibe Coding is changing the way the next generation interacts with code. This isn't simply a cool trend on TikTok. Vibe Coding is a big change in culture. It changes how coding looks and feels in the age of AI, low-code tools, and learning that is led by creators. In this post, we'll talk about: • What is Vibe Coding? • How it got started and why it's so popular • How it may be used in real life • The positive and negative sides of Vibe Coding • Who should think about it • What skills, tools, and mentality are needed? • This refers to the implications for tech businesses and their hiring strategies. So, what does it mean to vibe code? Vibe coding is the art of writing code that feels natural, creative, collaborative, and entertaining. It mixes: • Music or background noise while working • Beautiful code environments (such as custom themes, VS Code + AI copilots) • Conversation starters through tools like ChatGPT/Gemini • Community coding (through livestreams, Discord, GitHub co-sessions) • Quickly making prototypes with AI tools that don't need codes • Learning by changing a code that already exists instead of starting again It's coding with flow. With mood. With a vibe. You could say it's the opposite of "boring" or mechanical programming. It can change, look appealing, and raise dopamine levels, and AI often helps it. How did vibe coding get started? Three cultural elements came together to create Vibe Coding: 1. The rise of AI copilots, like Codeium, GitHub Copilot, and Replit Ghostwriter Coding used to require writing everything from scratch, but now it means organizing, prompting, and modifying ideas made by AI. 2. People who make content and livestreams Creators streamed their coding sessions on sites like YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, using lo-fi tunes, interesting UI designs, and laid-back commentary. Gen Z and millennial students connected. 3. The rise of low-code and GenAI With tools like Bubble, Glide, Replit, Framer, and AI platforms like ChatGPT, LearnML, and Vercel AI SDK, it was easier to make apps, websites, and automations. As these factors came together, a new group of coders emerged. They didn't have to have a CS degree, but they wanted to develop quickly, learn swiftly, and look good doing it. Where Is Vibe Coding Being Used? Vibe coding isn't only about looks; it's being used in a lot of other fields: 1. Indie Hackers and Creative Tech Vibe coding is a quick way for creators and indie developers to make MVPs and landing pages, notably in music, fashion, gaming, and productivity. 2. New businesses and side projects Entrepreneurs are using vibe coding tools like Replit and ChatGPT to make prototypes of AI tools, portfolio sites, bots, and even commercial SaaS products. 3. Hackathons and student projects College students and others in boot camps are learning to code not from books, but by watching YouTube videos, remixing projects, and employing AI helpers. 4. Builders and freelancers Freelancers on Fiverr and Upwork are increasingly utilizing low-code, AI-first workflows to build websites and automate processes, often enhanced by developer setups that prioritize a positive atmosphere. 5. AI and Prompt Engineering Prompt engineers have become integral to this trend, using structured natural language as code to create AI agents, workflows, and tools. ✅ Benefits of Vibe Coding 1. Quick Learning Curve: AI copilots, visual builders, and remixing GitHub projects all help you learn faster. 2. Not as scary It goes against the idea that coding is hard, uninteresting, or exclusively for people who are good at math. 3. Very expressive Vibe coders see code as art and make it their own by customizing themes, adding music, and making it their own. 4. Build first, then think. It promotes experimenting based on curiosity instead of tutorials that are full of theory. 5. Open and welcoming You don't need a degree in computer science. Only Wi-Fi, curiosity, and rudimentary tools. ⚠️ Things to watch out for: Not a profound understanding If you rely too much on AI ideas, you may not understand basic logic very well. Not Being Able to Think Clearly Complex problem-solving can be harder without formal reasoning or data structures. Difficult to Scale or Keep up. Vibe-coded projects might not use the best methods for testing, version management, or making things bigger. 4. Bias in resumes Some employers may not appreciate experience with AI or low-code as much as they should (but this is changing quickly). 👥 Who Should Give Vibe Coding a Shot? Vibe Coding is great for: • Students who want to build portfolios and get internships • Freelancers who want to get things done faster with fewer tools • Non-tech founders who want to make MVPs • Designers and marketers who want to learn no-code and AI skills • Prompt engineers who want to make GenAI workflows But even experienced engineers can benefit from Vibe setups for quick prototyping, testing AI agents, or just taking a break from "serious" coding. Here is what you need to know before starting with Vibe Coding: You can't just plug in and play with Vibe Coding. To do well, you need to know the basics of programming (JS/Python is useful). • A decent code editor, such as Replit or VS Code with extensions • You should know how to use GitHub and understand version control. • AI copilots, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Codeium, are tools that assist with coding tasks. • Tools that don't need a lot of coding, such as Glide, Webflow, Bubble, and • Communities like Discord, YouTube coding channels, and Reddit forums • Have a good taste in music or enjoy relaxing YouTube playlists! How do tech companies benefit from this? Tech firms, especially those that work in edtech, productivity, or tools, can learn a lot from and help the Vibe Coding movement. 1. Finding talent Vibe developers are creative, quick, and they frequently learn on their own. They make live portfolios that are perfect for jobs in product, frontend, no-code, or AI assistants. 2. Rethinking the Developer Experience (DevX) People appreciate GitHub Copilot, Replit, Codeium, and Framer because these tools help users achieve a flow state. Companies should make sure that their APIs, SDKs, and platforms meet the needs of this generation. 3. Improving skills and using internal tools Internal teams can leverage Vibe workflows to teach citizen developers and automate simple activities with low-code and GenAI. 4. Market Positioning Companies that employ vibe coding in their design, documentation, onboarding, and other areas will draw in Gen Z users, creators, and early adopters. How Vibe Coding and AI Are Very Similar AI is what makes Vibe Coding possible. It fuels the tools, makes them easier to use, and lets people interact with code in this new way. This is how: AI is a coding partner, not just a tool. Vibe coders see AI helpers like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Replit Ghostwriter, and Claude as partners, not simply tools. These technologies help with the following: • Functions that finish themselves • Break down complicated code • Offer suggestions for best practices • Fix and improve the logic. • Make boilerplate code or even whole UI layouts. This lets programmers keep their "vibe" going while AI does the hard work. 2. The New Syntax is Natural Language. Vibe developers don't memorize syntax; instead, they write out what they want in simple English and let AI build the framework. Large language models (LLMs) make it possible to go from "writing code" to "prompting code." This means "Make a responsive navbar with a logo and login button" is now easy to turn into usable HTML/CSS in seconds. 3. GenAI Sparks Prototyping and Creativity With AI tools that create code, images, videos, text, and data changes, Vibe developers can build entire applications with minimal effort. This speeds up innovation and experimentation, which is what the vibe movement is all about. 4. AI Makes Vibe Coding Easy to learn. AI makes things fair for everyone. Students, freelancers, artists, and others who don't code can now build: • By changing templates and using tools that ask questions, you can create chatbots, AI agents, portfolio sites, and automation scripts without needing extensive coding knowledge. 5. AI Promotes a "Learn by Doing" Way of Thinking Vibe developers typically learn by working with AI, asking it questions, constructing things with it, and fixing them together. This way of learning by talking is extremely different from using textbooks. AI is not only a tool for vibe coding; it is what makes it happen. Vibe Coding is a mix of coding, creativity, AI assistants, and flow. The Vibe is Real: A Final Thought Coding isn't the end of traditional programming; it's the start of a new coding culture that is more creative, open, and AI-enhanced. It's not about getting rid of developers. It's about giving more individuals the tools they need to code without being afraid and with delight. As AI makes it easier to get started, we may soon see the meaning of "coding" change from typing to coordinated workflows, visual blocks, and conversational purposes. Until then, open your editor, play that lo-fi music, and make something great. The vibe is beckoning.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Planes, trains and more missteps from Labour
Polly Toynbee rightly advocates greener rail travel over the greater environmental damage caused by airliners (Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes – so much for Labour's green agenda, 5 August). Alas, the same government that has authorised a massive expansion of Heathrow airport has also just pulled the plug on completing the electrification of the Midland Main Line from London to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. By my reckoning, this is the third time the scheme has been abandoned partway through. It will ensure that four diesel trains an hour will be plying the route for the foreseeable future, adding to air quality issues and consuming more fossil fuels. The overhead wiring for the electric trains currently ends in the middle of nowhere a few miles south of Leicester. New trains being built for the route are bi-mode – that is, equally capable of operating on diesel or electric power. It's all a huge waste – and more proof that, when it comes to investing in the north, the money always runs WhitehouseSilkstone Common, South Yorkshire Polly Toynbee is correct to assert the advantages of rail versus flying, especially for domestic journeys. She does not mention the big drawback of the current UK rail system – unreliability. I live in Aberdeenshire and have family in Birmingham and London. I have given up on using the train to visit family because on many occasions my train has not reached its destination because of cancellations of connections or driver shortages. I now reluctantly fly to Birmingham and London from Aberdeen. I will return to rail (my preferred option) when I can be sure of reaching my Nick WilliamsAuchenblae, Aberdeenshire Living as I do adjacent to the flight path to Manchester airport, I would of course welcome any reduction in non-essential air travel. But more Eurostar journeys are of little relevance to anyone living outside the south-east because of the cost and time involved in getting to St Pancras. But here's an idea. Now we have an integrated rail network, why not adapt the Interrail idea of allowing the cost of the journey to and from the home station to St Pancras to be covered by the standard Eurostar fare? That would incentivise the use of rail travel to Europe for all of those who currently fly because there is no practical ReardonCheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester Polly Toynbee is so right in her analysis of the case against the Heathrow third runway. If our only hope of stopping them is Boris Johnson indeed lying down in front of those bulldozers, we are Squires St Andrews, Fife International Airlines Group, the owner of British Airways, is implying that the cost of a third runway at Heathrow will be so expensive that it can't be done without public subsidy (Heathrow's third runway 'is going to be empty' if it means high fees, says BA owner, 1 August). As air travel comes bottom in the hierarchy of sustainable transport to meet our climate obligations, and the last thing Londoners need is more plane noise and air pollution, I can't think of a single reason for rescuing this venture, particularly as so many other parts of the UK are in urgent need of investment in better rail Rathbone MSSenedd member for Cardiff Central Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
