David Swanson on Muck Rack

David Swanson

Verified
(He/Him)
San Diego
As seen in: Yahoo Life, USA Today, Yahoo News, Yahoo News Malaysia, Aol, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Traveler, SFGate, South China Morning Post, Flipboard and
Covers:  Global destinations, unique lodgings, safari and soft adventure, cycling and hiking, cruise, meetings and conventions
Doesn't Cover: Spectator sports, gaming, shopping, fashion
Gear grinding lava lovin' pic posing scribbler. Find me at the skyblue place as David-Swanson. Past-President #SATW, Society of American Travel Writers

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David Swanson’s Biography

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A San Diego-based freelance travel writer-photographer since 1995, David Swanson's stories and photos have been published in more than 50 North American newspapers and dozens of magazines and websites.

David's recent outlets include Virtuoso the Magazine, Travel+Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, AARP, Los Angeles Times, Westways, TravelAge West, Cruise Critic, Corporate & Incentive Travel, and others. He wrote the multiple award-winning “Affordable Caribbean” column for Caribbean Travel &…

David Swanson’s Journalist Portfolio

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Why 'Barge Cruising' Is the Smartest Way to See Europe This Summer

Why 'Barge Cruising' Is the Smartest Way to See Europe This Summer

On a languid boat trip through Champagne, France, a cruise-travel expert discovers the upside to sailing at f…

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Jamaica Travel Is Still Possible After Hurricane Melissa: What to Know | Virtuoso

Jamaica Travel Is Still Possible After Hurricane Melissa: What to Know | Virtuoso

"The best way to give back is to come back," says Philip Rose, the Jamaica Tourist Board's deputy director of…

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On This Sea Cloud Spirit Cruise along the Dalmatian Coast, the Wind Is a Main Character | Virtuos...

On This Sea Cloud Spirit Cruise along the Dalmatian Coast, the Wind Is a Main Character | Virtuos...

On a balinese daybed on a morning graced with gentle breezes, I'm surrounded by the swish of rope, the clink …

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The New Cruise Ships We're Excited about for 2026 | Virtuoso

The New Cruise Ships We're Excited about for 2026 | Virtuoso

I'VE GOT THE LIST! Here are Virtuoso's 19 most exciting new ships hitting the water this year, big ships and …

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Where Next: The Brahmaputra River, India

Where Next: The Brahmaputra River, India

The under-the-radar, northeastern state of Assam is emerging as India for the adventurous set. Thanks to a cr…

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Cruises with Land Tours in Alaska, Japan, and the UK That Go Beyond the Shore | Virtuoso

Cruises with Land Tours in Alaska, Japan, and the UK That Go Beyond the Shore | Virtuoso

From castle-hopping in the UK to geisha performances in Japan and glacier treks in Alaska, these extended iti…

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Articles

I Was the First U.S. Journalist to Sail on the new Orient Express Yacht—Here’s How It Reinvents the Cruise Experience Original

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By David Swanson Verified
| Travel + Leisure Verified
The legendary Cannes Film Festival brings luminaries and stars to the south of France every May. But one newcomer that commanded plenty of head-turning looks never took the red carpet. The new Orient Express Corinthian was an unmissable sight in the Bay of Cannes, attracting a steady procession of small boats that circled past for a closer glimpse.
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The Clever Way to Stretch Your Vacation Budget in Europe This Summer Original

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By David Swanson Verified
| Travel + Leisure Verified
The MSC Musica in Santorini, Greece. Credit: Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises None of us have been immune to the word “inflation” in recent years. And for all the talk of grocery prices at home, there’s another quieter kind of inflation happening in Europe right now. A weakening U.S. dollar means that, for many of us, trips to the land of the euro will soon cost more. In fact, the euro climbed to an almost five-year high against the dollar in January; it’s up more than 13 percent over this time last year.
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Meetings & Incentives at Sea February 1, 2026

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By David Swanson Verified
| Corporate & Incentive Travel Verified
The Disney Adventure, slated to arrive this spring, will be the eighth ship for Disney Cruise Line. Photo courtesy of Disney Meeting planners handling the logistics for a busy meeting or incentive program know how challenging it can be to assemble the disparate pieces for a successful event.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

Wrote my first story (age 12 or so), on a beat-up clunker: "The Destruction of Pompeii."

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Hildy Johnson

Who do you wish followed you?

Jan Morris
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