Signature Luxury Travel & Style
TOP 25 CRUISE EXPERIENCES
We select the world’s best cruise experiences between now and 2020
1 LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
7 days, Galapagos Islands The 48-guest National Geographic Islander offers an action-packed week of hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling for a rich and diverse experience of Darwin’s famed archipelago. The shortened Wild Galapagos Escape itinerary includes close encounters with wildlife – giant tortoises, pink flamingoes, blue-footed boobies – with expert guides by your side. Departures April to May and August to November.
3 VIKING CRUISES
245 days, London roundtrip This trip of a lifetime – the longest world voyage – takes in 113 cities and ports in 59 countries on six continents in a circumnavigation of the globe on board Viking Sun. The Ultimate World Cruise includes overnight stays in 23 destinations, breaking up nights on board. Lodgings are luxurious and the 930-guest ship offers ample entertainment, activity, wellness and dining options. Departs 31 August 2019.
2 REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
16 nights, Miami to Los Angeles After her first transatlantic voyage in February 2020, Seven Seas Splendor will depart Miami for LA via the Panama Canal. Among the eight ports on the way are Cartagena, Colombia and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The all-suite, all-balcony
Seven Seas Splendor can accommodate up to 750 guests. Departs 25 February 2020. The return journey, departing 14 March, stops at Catalina Island, Acapulco and Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
4 CRYSTAL CRUISES
13 days, Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans
Crystal Symphony’s Island Rhythms & Big Easy Jazz immerses music-lovers in the world of jazz with live performances and enriching lectures before arriving in New Orleans. Diving, hiking and snorkelling are on offer on the way to the fun-filled jazz capital, or just sit back and take in the tunes. Crystal Symphony is more luxurious than ever, having undergone a makeover in 2017. Departs 2 December 2018.
5 PONANT
8 days, roundtrip from Praia, Cape Verde Portuguese, African and Mediterranean influences converge in the Cape Verde islands off the northwest coast of Africa. On board the beautiful Le Ponant sailing yacht, where 32 staterooms are decked out in blue and white, guests can feel at one with the ocean. The cruise takes guests to uncrowded island ports for a taste of life in this stunning part of the world. Departs 10 November 2018.
6 AURORA EXPEDITIONS
24 days, Longyearbyen to Reykjavik From Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen in Norway’s north this cruise aboard the 54-passenger vessel
Polar Pioneer offers the chance to spot walruses, polar bears and reindeer along a coastline of calving glaciers and towering cliffs before crossing the Greenland Sea. Expeditions depart July/ August 2018, 2019 and 2020.
7 SCENIC
15 days, Athens to Venice
Scenic Eclipse, touted as the world’s first six-star Discovery Yacht, will take 228 guests from Athens via the Greek islands, Turkey and Croatia to Venice, Italy. Walking and ebike tours, wine tastings, private concerts and helicopter excursions await. On board, expect the elegance you’d find in a chic boutique hotel. The Penthouse Suite has a 60 square-metre curved terrace with a private Jacuzzi. Departs 11 May 2020.
8 TAUCK
11 days, Munich to Vienna For the past 400 years, every 10 years, some 2,000 local residents of the little Bavarian village of Oberammergau join forces to perform the now world-famous Passionsspiele (Passion Play), a dramatic recreation of Jesus Christ’s last days on Earth. The new Danube Reflections experience includes a seven-night river cruise with excursions in Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, and includes premier seating at the Passionsspiele. Departure dates from 7 June 2020.
9 AVALON WATERWAYS
2–19 days, 14 Christmas cruise options If the idea of shopping for hand-crafted gifts, fresh gingerbread and a festive atmosphere appeals, a river cruise taking in Europe’s Christmas markets will feel like a dream. Avalon Waterways offers a range of options, including the 12-day Basel to Prague cruise, which takes in the Black Forest (home of cherry cake and cuckoo clocks) and Christmas markets in Nuremburg and Prague. Christmas cruises depart November–December.
10 SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS
12 days, Dublin to London This voyage aboard Silver Cloud Expedition will see travellers delving into the history and wildlife of Scotland and England. Spot the Atlantic puffin on the Isle of Lunga and explore the Orkneys before journeying across the spectacular Scottish Highlands by train in search of castles, including royal summer home, Balmoral Castle. Walk the cobblestone streets of York before sailing south for London. Departs 23 May 2019.
11 SEABOURN
21 days, Stockholm to Copenhagen The St Petersburg & Scandinavian Gems voyage from Sweden to Denmark is part of the maiden season of Seabourn’s newest ship, the 600-passenger
Seabourn Ovation, which includes a three-day stay in St Petersburg. Estonia, Finland and Norway are also on the itinerary, including sea days with time to marvel at the otherworldly Nordfjord glaciers, mountains and fjords. Departs 29 June 2019.
12 THE RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION
7 nights, Monte-Carlo to Barcelona This maiden voyage marks the RitzCarlton’s first foray into yachting. Just 298 guests will set sail along the Côte d’Azur from Monaco, taking in the exclusive towns and charming villages that make the area such a celebrity drawcard. You’ll also drop anchor at Saint-Tropez, colourful Sète in France, and the tranquil Bay of Roses in Spain, savouring menus inspired by local cultural traditions. Departs 7 June 2020.
13 QUARK EXPEDITIONS
18 days, Ushuaia roundtrip The Falklands (Malvinas) and South Georgia: Islands of the Southern Ocean expedition gives adventure-seekers the chance to follow in the footsteps of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Discover abundant wildlife and wild island landscapes, including a visit to one of the largest king penguin rookeries in the world. Ocean Adventurer carries 132 guests in comfort to an unspoiled area of the world. Departs 22 November 2018.
14 CELEBRITY CRUISES
9 nights, Rome roundtrip
Celebrity Edge is the first in a new line of futuristic cruise ships designed to push the envelope in design and onboard technology. The Magic Carpet, for example, is a moveable cantilevered platform that allows guests to feel as if they are soaring over the open ocean. Departing Rome on 10 August 2019, she will stop at Naples, Barcelona, Monaco and Florence, with excursions exploring sights, tastes and cultural attractions.
15 PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
11 nights, Tahiti roundtrip The Cook Islands & Society Islands voyage journeys from Rarotonga and the coral reef-lined lagoon of Aitutaki to Bora Bora and Moorea. Paul Gauguin caters for up to 332 guests, and passengers also have access to the company’s two exclusive retreats: Motu Mahana off the island of Taha’a and a private beach in Bora Bora. Select departures between March and November 2019.
16 PONANT
11 days, Seychelles to Sri Lanka The first ship in Ponant’s Explorer series has arrived, with a further five sister ships scheduled to join the fleet by 2021. Le Lapérouse is the first ship to be equipped with Blue Eye, a multi-sensory underwater lounge. The 92-stateroom ship will sail from Victoria on the island of Mahé to Sri Lanka via the Maldives. Departs 11 December 2018.
17 VIKING CRUISES
15 days, Bergen to Basel Taking in 15 ports in six countries, Rhine & Viking Shores & Fjords combines an ocean cruise through Norway and Denmark with an eight-day river cruise. Visit a Danish fishing village before disembarking Viking Sun in Amsterdam and drifting down the Rhine, past Dutch windmills, German castles and French vineyards. Departs 2 June 2019.
18 SEADREAM YACHT CLUB 19 AZAMARA CRUISES
20 UNIWORLD
12 days, New Delhi to Kolkata The enriching ME to WE & The Sacred Ganges cruise and tour combines a fourday sustainable-development project in rural India with an eight-day cruise. The ME to WE experience includes visits to local villages, sunrise yoga and volunteer work, then step aboard the lavish Ganges
Voyager II to discover temples, artisan villages and Mother Teresa’s home and museum. The cruise is limited to 56 guests. Departures from 4 January 2019.
21 HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES
18 days, Tokyo to Singapore
MS Europa 2 will head to Japan via Vietnam for the first time in 2019, with an itinerary taking in Tokyo, Toba (on the Shima Peninsula), Naha (the largest city in Okinawa) and Ishigaki (Japan’s southernmost city). The five-star-plusrated accommodations range from verandah suites to family apartments and penthouse suites. Casual luxury with a focus on wellness is the philosophy on board. Departs 8 May 2019.
22 AMANDIRA
5 nights, Indonesia A traditional two-masted sailing ship,
Amandira sails from the exclusive Amanwana tented resort on Moyo Island to Komodo National Park and around the Raja Ampat islands. Life aboard the 10-guest ship centres around the foredeck, just the spot for sunset cocktails. State-of-theart Nitrox dive equipment is on board for divers of all experience levels. Raja Ampat Expeditions depart 5 December 2018, 2 March 2019 and 9 March 2019.
23 OCEANIA CRUISES
30 days, Dubai to Cape Town This standout cruise takes up to 684 guests through the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean on board the newly refurbished Nautica. With neoclassical furnishings, teak decks and a convivial atmosphere, this cruise is as much about taking it easy as it is about exploring exciting ports in Oman, the Seychelles, India and Africa on the way to Cape Town. Departs 6 December 2018 and 7 December 2019.
24 SEABOURN
22 days, Auckland to Sydney The Landfalls of Captain Cook cruise invites guests to discover the wonders of their own backyard on a route sailed by the well-known explorer. From Auckland, the 458-guest Seabourn Soujourn sails to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and on to Australia via Papua New Guinea. The all-suite ship offers gourmet dining, onboard entertainment and two swimming pools. Departs 19 November 2018.
25 REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
67 nights, Sydney to Shanghai Cruise from Sydney up the east coast to Cairns before venturing offshore to explore fascinating ports of call in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. The refurbished Seven Seas
Mariner is home for the first 52 nights, followed by a 15-night experience from Hong Kong to Shanghai, including a four-night cruise on China’s Yangtze River. Departs 20 January 2019.