Luxury Travel

“Luxury travel today is less about scale and spectacle, and more about intimacy, connection and meaning.” Luxury travel has always been about more than beautiful destinations – it’s about the way experiences are shaped, and the meaning they hold long after the journey ends. Increasingly, travellers are seeking smaller, more considered ways to explore the world, whether through intimate cultural encounters, design-led stays or voyages at sea that prioritise discovery over scale. That spirit is at the heart of this issue’s cover story on small-ship cruising, a sector that continues to evolve with remarkable creativity and vision. These ships offer something rare in today’s world: the chance to slow down, immerse in the moment and step closer to the places and people that make travel so special. As always, Luxury…

“This special edition of Luxury Travel spotlights the new wave of luxury cruising, where smaller ships pair hotel-level design and facilities with world-class on-board enrichment and once-in-a-lifetime excursions.” Cruising has long been a mode of travel that can polarise. Mention you’re going on one and you’ll likely get either a flurry of excited questions about the ship, line and itinerary – or a puzzled look and a single word: Why? Often, it’s those who’ve never stepped aboard who balk at this ever popular style of travel. The truth is, the world of luxury cruising is about as far removed from the casinos and waterslides of stereotype as you can imagine – and so seamless and rewarding that it usually takes just one voyage to convert even the most skeptical. Beginning…

RODERICK EIME The sea has been in Rod’s DNA since he took his first cruise at the age of 10. Now, half a century later, he has amassed more than 100 cruises on oceans, seas and rivers aboard vessels of all sizes. His specialisation and expertise in small and expedition ships has won him accolades the world over, and he loves nothing more than to set sail to some uncharted land on a ship of just a few score passengers. Read his cover story on the rise of small-ship luxury cruising (p52). SUSAN GOUGH HENLY Susan Gough Henly divides her time between an old stone farmhouse in Bordeaux and a treehouse on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Fluent in the language and culture of France, she has a deep knowledge of food…

Towering above Bali’s Ayung River, wrapped in mist and banyan branches, Wanakasa (pictured here) is COMO Shambhala Estate’s new crown jewel – a sculptural treehouse of connecting suites made from teak, tiger bamboo and bengkirai-wood columns and suspended in the treetops of Ubud. In design, it’s a magical abode that appears to have been dreamt up by a Balinese forest spirit with an architecture degree. Anchored by a semi-circular infinity pool that curves to the river’s flow 100 metres below, it’s the kind of place where deep exhalations happen on instinct. To celebrate its 20th birthday, the Indonesian island’s original wellness retreat has had a temple-worthy revamp – and Wanakasa is just the beginning. COMO Shambhala Estate has re-emerged with upgraded villas, a dazzling redesign by Atelier Ikebuchi, and a…

NEW OPENINGS THE CHANCERY ROSEWOOD If you’re going to open a luxury hotel in London’s Mayfair, it had better make a statement. Enter The Chancery Rosewood. Housed inside the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square, this modernist icon (designed by Eero Saarinen) has been sensitively reimagined by Sir David Chipperfield, with interiors by Joseph Dirand that pair moody stone, smoked oak and sculptural restraint. The 146 rooms and suites are residential in feel, with many overlooking Hyde Park; the Houses and Penthouse residences take things up a notch with bespoke libraries, private kitchens and panoramic views. At the heart of the hotel is Asaya Spa, featuring a 25-metre pool, the Taktouk Clinic and treatments designed by Yabu Pushelberg. And then there’s the dining: New York’s cult trattoria Carbone makes its…

Minimalism gets a polished update with the launch of Parisi’s Tondo II Bath Filler with Mixer – a refined new addition to the Tondo collection that forgoes the hand shower in favour of clean, uninterrupted lines. Compact, sculptural and quietly confident, this new model is designed for bathrooms where simplicity is the ultimate luxury. Its pared-back profile doesn’t just save space – it adds a sense of calm and balance to contemporary interiors. Perfect for those who believe less really is more. RRP from AU$785 parisi.com.au Acclaimed architect and designer David Rockwell returns to his long-running collaboration with The Rug Company with ‘Flow as Form’: a sculptural new rug collection inspired by the movement and moods of water. The collection features three new hand-knotted designs that capture the essence of…