Cruises no longer just for newlyweds and ‘nearly dead.’
NO LONGER JUST FOR ‘NEWLY WED OR NEARLY DEAD,’ SMALL LUXURY LINES ARE TRANSFORMING TRAVEL
It’s no small feat that cruise ships have a worse reputation than Justin Bieber at the height of his drag racing, house egging, sizzurp- guzzling days. On the surface, they sound like a great idea. What’s not to like about travelling the world on a giant floating resort, stocked with endless booze, late- night buffets and even indoor ice rinks, mega waterslides and bumper cars?
However, all that floats isn’t necessarily fun. In reality, cruises often have more in common with their infamously over- hyped and tragic predecessor the Titanic than most people’s idea of a dream vacation. During the best of times, ships are crowded with raucous spring breakers, overpriced drinks and food that makes Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen and Bar — the offerings of which were once described by the New York Times as “chewy air” and “a combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde” — look like gourmet dining.
Public relations disasters for the cruise ship industry over the last few years have included overflowing urinals, various mechanical breakdowns and at least one incident where passengers had to be flown home from a stranded ship. Then there was the infamous Carnival Triumph “poop cruise,” where human waste ended up all over the ship’s floors.
Despite the well- earned reputation that suggests cruise ships should be avoided at all costs, there remains a reason why you might still be embarking on one in the near future. A new type of cruise ship is emerging and changing the industry one knot at a time – and is predicted to be one of the hottest travel trends of 2017. The ships redeeming the industry aren’t mammoth floating cities that can carry over 5,000 passengers on a single voyage. They’re luxury- focused, intimate experiences that travel to small ports and exotic locales. Big ships are out. Small ships are in. And destinations are about to change.
While 33 per cent of cruises still tour the Caribbean — more than any other region by any measure — sea-bound travellers have begun looking overseas to Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. Alternatively, you can now consider north to the Arctic or a lot more south to Antarctica. Good cruising has become more about exploring, not hauling your over-fed behind from one pristine beach to the next.
Take, for example, highend cruise line Silversea. The brand won the title of Global Traveler Leisure Travel Awards “best luxury cruise line” in 2016, and boasts a fleet of small ships — the largest of which carries just over 500 passengers. Several of its ships max out at less than 200 passengers. Silversea offers much more than island hopping around the Caribbean; its real specialty is introducing travellers to far- off regions like the Russian Far East, South Pacific Islands, Antarctica and Southeast Asia. It also offers specialized“expedition” cruises with stops planned around interests like birding, scuba diving, photography, wellness and authentic cuisines.
Increasing focus on themes, rather than geographic locations, is another rising industry trend that results in more personalized, less cookie- cutter adventures. Other cruise lines offer faith- based, LGBTQ, and even Star Trek and The Walking Dead themed cruises.
Silversea cruises aren’t the ships on which you got embarrassingly drunk on too-sugary daiquiris in university/ your honeymoon/ that time your parents convinced you a family cruise would be a really great idea. Where the mega cruise ships most people know and loathe resemble floating McDonald’s franchises, luxury lines like Silversea are the Ritz- Carltons of the sea.
These type of cruises have become a way to see multiple dream destinations with- out shelling out for multiple not- so- dreamy flights. Excursions are cultural experiences like temple tours and kayaking through mangrove forests. Instead of furry mascots roaming the ship, there are art galleries and a wellstocked library.
Cruising 2.0 isn’t limited to the oceans and seas of the world. One of the biggest travel trends is river cruising — long familiar with Europeans, but practically unheard of in North America until recently. River cruising allows for trips to even more far-flung locales across Europe, Africa and Asia not accessible by larger ships. While river cruising still represents only 5 per cent of the cruising market, it’s the industry’s fastest- growing segment — even Disney is experimenting with it.
If you insist on exploring the islands of the Caribbean and soaking up some good old- fashioned sun, intimate luxury yachts and catamarans with as few as three to six cabins are becoming the new conduits of choice. Once reserved for the rich and famous, companies like TradeWinds, which offers all- inclusive, crewed catamarans, are making these tours more affordable while retaining their prestige. The crew uses fresh, local ingredients to prepare all your meals. They also offer a Cruising Club, where frequent cruisers can share the costs of sailing, maintenance and operating a luxury yacht proportionally with others dependent on actual usage.
Gone are the days where cruises, as the saying goes, are just for the “newly wed or nearly dead.” Like Justin Bieber, the industry has benefited from a good public roasting and a new, more refined image carefully managed by people who know what they’re doing. In this new age of small ships and luxury, personalized offerings, cruises are full of foie gras, authentic culture and fellow travellers you’ll probably actually like.