Yacht, River, and Expedition

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. — Saint Augustine

Also in the luxury cruise market are all-inclusive river cruises, passenger yachts, and expedition ships. Typically accommodating 200 passengers or less, river cruises navigate through Europe’s narrowest waterways, Asia’s great rivers, and Egypt’s historic Nile.

Luxury river cruises often feature exclusive events on shore, such as a private concert in Vienna’s Belvedere palace when cruising on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Mozart, for example. And expedition yachts embrace out-of-the-way adventures such as sailing the Northwest Passage or cruising the South Pacific.

Some yachts feature the most amazing ways to enhance your exploration. The 62-passenger Crystal Esprit debuted in late 2015 with not only a water sports marina and fleet of Zodiacs, but also with a 2-person (plus pilot) submarine for exploring under water. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ upcoming 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse will boast nine dining venues, custom Zodiacs, and its own submarine and helicopter when it debuts this year for voyages from the Mediterranean to Antarctica.

Ponant offers distinct sailings pole to pole, from the untouched Kimberley landscapes of Australia to the arctic polar bears. And just last fall, Uniworld launched U, a new river cruise line brand extension completely centered on millennials.

River, yacht, and expedition lines have new projects underway that are certainly worth keeping on the radar.