The Oceania Vista will sail the world in 2026 – Travel Weekly

Oceania's newest ship, the Oceania Vista, will sail its first world cruise in 2026, roundtrip out of Miami.

The Vista's 180-day Around the World cruise will visit 101 ports across 43 countries. Bookings open on March 13.

The Vista, which debuted in May of 2023, served as the swan song of the line's founder and now-retired CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Frank Del Rio. He retired shortly after the Vista set sail for the first time in the Med.

Related: First Call aboard the Oceania Vista

The cruise will feature more than 80 Unesco World Heritage sites; 11 overnight stays; complimentary, curated special events onshore; and optional multiday overland programs.

The Vista will depart from Miami on Jan. 6, 2026, to sail the eastern coast of South America and return north along its western coast up to Mexico and California. The ship will reach as far north as San Diego before crossing the Pacific to French Polynesia and Australia, continuing on to Southeast Asia and India.

Related: The new era of world cruising

Current plans also have the Vista passing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal to reach the Mediterranean, British Isles and Nordic region before returning to Miami along the U.S. East Coast.

The itinerary assumes the Red Sea will be safe for cruise traffic; attacks on shipping vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen that began late last year have led multiple cruise lines and shipping companies to avoid the region.

Guests will have the option to sail a shorter, 120-day cruise from San Diego to Miami or a longer, 197-day cruise from Los Angeles to Miami.

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The Oceania Vista will sail the world in 2026 - Travel Weekly

Where are the best surf beaches in Costa Rica – TravelDailyNews International – TravelDailyNews International

Join us on a journey to discover some of Costa Ricas best surf beaches, each with their unique charm and surfing potential.

Costa Rica, home to a myriad of golden beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture, is renowned among surf enthusiasts from around the globe. One of the unique features of this abundant country lies in its dual coastlines, allowing surfers the opportunity to ride the waves of both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans. This Central American paradise truly is a surfers dream destination, whether youre just starting out on the board, or youre a seasoned wave rider.

Pacific coast rollers Lets begin our journey along Costa Ricas Pacific coastline, stretching along the western side of the country. This rugged and dramatic shoreline is characterized by pristine sandy beaches, dominated by towering cliffs and the countrys iconic lush rainforests that cascade down to the waters edge. The Pacific coast stands out from its Caribbean counterpart thanks to the raw power of its waves, which create a whole host of exciting opportunities for surfers in search of exhilaration. Some of this coastlines highlights include:

Tamarindo Tamarindo Beach is renowned among surfers worldwide, thanks to its spectacular sunsets and abundant wildlife. It also provides surfers with some exciting waves to tackle, leading this small town to gain a reputation as a top destination for surfers.

Tamarindos beauty lies in its strategic location, which has also resulted in its development as a cosmopolitan coastal town. Nowadays, there are various large resorts, with lots of places to eat and shop. Tamarindo is also well-connected, which results in plenty of visitors keen to enjoy its surfing opportunities.

Santa Teresa While Tamarindo might be world-famous, Santa Teresa is perhaps its opposite; far from the well-trodden surfer routes, this stunning small town emerges as a Pura Vida hideaway, quietly tucked away on Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula. Perhaps the worlds best-kept secret, Santa Teresa is home to secluded beaches, stunning sunsets, and fantastic surf opportunities not to mention a true sense of authenticity. Lacking large resorts and their accompanying tourists, Santa Teresa makes up for what it lacks in flamboyance with its unassuming beauty. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants here, making it a great place to enjoy a vacation. The waves can be feisty here, too, so its worth considering taking a lesson or two if youre a first-timer in the area.

It is worth making a detour here: This off-the-beaten-path haven is home to some hidden gems, such as Costa Ricas ultimate surf and yoga retreat (https://www.surfandyogacostarica.com/), where you can enjoy the thrill of riding the waves and all the wellbeing benefits of yoga and meditation in the very same stay.

Hermosa Hermosa attracts experienced surfers from all over the world, but its not the place for beginners as the waves are consistently large. Its often quieter than some of the better-known beaches, but bear in mind that the sand here is black its best not to walk on it barefoot as it heats up quickly.

Caribbean Coast Lets move to the other side of the country and find out what Costa Ricas eastern coast has to offer its surfing visitors. Generally speaking, the Caribbean coast is said to offer a more laid-back vibe. The beaches here are known for their coral reefs rather than their giant rollers, with gentler waves that appeal to surfers first starting out. Thats not to say this coastline doesnt sometimes experience more substantial waves, and its worth consulting this wave height forecaster before visiting especially if youre a surfing novice.

Puerto Viejo Puerto Viejo is home to a great selection of restaurants and bars while preserving a relaxed vibe. Surfers head to Puerto Viejo to enjoy the surf and soak up its colorful architecture, lively markets, and abundant wildlife. Puerto Viejo can be prone to some more lively waves, so its a good place for more experienced surfers to hone their skills.

Playa Chiquita Playa Chiquita blends natural beauty with an enviable laid-back atmosphere. Whats more, it enjoys a consistent, gentle swell, making it an excellent setting for beginners as well as others who perhaps need to hone their skills before heading westward to the Pacific! Playa Chiquita enjoys beautiful, lush surroundings, which only add to its allure. This unrivaled backdrop makes for an exhilarating place to unwind after a day enjoying the simple pleasures of riding the waves.

Whether youre after the adrenaline rush of larger, more spirited waves, or youre after a beginner-friendly destination, theres a Costa Rican surf beach for everyone. The only problem might be choosing where to head to first!

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Where are the best surf beaches in Costa Rica - TravelDailyNews International - TravelDailyNews International

STEMonstrations, Station Upkeep, and Hearing Assessments Top Wednesday’s Schedule – NASA Blogs

The suns first rays begin illuminating Earths atmosphere in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

A STEMonstration, station upkeep, and routine hearing assessments kept the Expedition 70 crew busy on Wednesday. The seven orbital residents split up duties aboard the International Space Station as they continue their microgravity research missions into the new year.

NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli began her day recording a STEMonstration for teachers and students grades 5-8, demonstrating how to use a microscope for cell research aboard the station. To connect with students and teachers around the world, crew members will routinely record short three- to five-minute educational videos that demonstrate popular STEM topics in microgravity. Afterward, Moghbeli moved onto some station and spacesuit upkeep to install restraint straps and stowage bags on spacesuits that will be used for upcoming spacewalks this year, and perform inspections of various modules around the station.

Experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets per day can affect crew members circadian rhythms while in low-Earth orbit. To counter this, the Circadian Light investigation tests a new lighting system to help astronauts maintain an acceptable circadian rhythm, which could in turn boost cognitive performance. ESA (European Space Agency) Commander Andreas Mogensen began his day performing a Circadian Light assessment before moving into surveying various station segments to send to grounds teams for assessments of station configuration.

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa focused his day on prepping the Life Sciences Glovebox for upcoming research and measuring acoustic levels within the orbiting laboratory.

Near the end of the day, NASA Flight Engineer Loral OHara was joined by cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Konstantin Borisov to complete routine hearing assessments using specially designed space software to measure auditory function while exposed to the microgravity environment.

Kononenko also spent part of his day removing and replacing hardware in the Zvezda service module and running the 3D printer once more, while Borisov picked back up on inventory audits that began yesterday.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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STEMonstrations, Station Upkeep, and Hearing Assessments Top Wednesday's Schedule - NASA Blogs

Caribbean Regional Report (Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Lucia) for the Plastic Waste Free Islands project – IUCN

The aims of the IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands (PWFI) project were to Reduce plastic waste and leakage, Improve the knowledge of waste generation among three islands in the Caribbean and three in the Pacific, Repurpose waste into commercially viable products to generate jobs and income for local communities, Create value chains for waste plastic usage, and Develop a Plastic Wate Free Island blueprint to be scaled up and used by any island country or regional body.

In this report, seven plastic categories were targeted for assessment and qualification: PET; HDPE; PVC; LDPE; PP; PS and other plastics (polycarbonate, polylactide).

Other materials, including Policy Reviews, Quantification Reports and more are available by email with a request toplastics@iucn.org.

The Blueprint, in four languages, is available here.

A waste segregation guide and alternative value chain business plansare available here.

A report for the Pacific is also available here.

The work of Plastic Waste Free Islands was funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation - Norad.

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Caribbean Regional Report (Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Lucia) for the Plastic Waste Free Islands project - IUCN