Cruising is HOT right now. Travelers are cruising in numbers never seen before (especially Millennials, believe it or not), and the industry is growing and innovating to meet the need.
From new polar exploration technology, to a cruise port that is a destination in itself, things are changing in the cruising world, and the list of benefits to a cruise vacation is getting longer and longer. If you identify as a “non-cruiser,” I challenge you to think again. Here are 5 of my favorite ships, that are all redefining what it means to cruise:
Richard Branson, the epitome of cool and an innovator across industries, is taking to the seas with his Scarlet Lady, the first ship under the Virgin Voyages brand. Virgin does things a little differently, or a lot differently, and the Scarlet Lady is no exception. The cruise ship will be adults-only, won’t have a main dining room but included specialty restaurants only, and will even have a tattoo parlor (which will provide one unique way to document your Virgin voyage). Even the cruise terminal in Port Miami will be truly unique – with palm trees, natural light and a seamless check-in process. Branson notes, “It’s like you’re going on vacation immediately when you arrive.” Long-awaited tickets go on sale in February for inaugural 2020 sailings. First stop: Cuba!
Lindblad offers bucket-list expeditions to remote destinations across the globe through an exclusive partnership with National Geographic. Already offering a once-in-a-lifetime nature experience on all of their expeditions, the duo decided to take it up a notch with their next-generation expedition ship – the Endurance. Just the shape alone is an innovative design. With its patented X-BOW®, a nose that angles into the water, it is able to navigate through icebergs while smoothing out the ride for its passengers. So you weren’t a cruiser because of sea sickness? Lindblad has you covered. Beyond that, the boat’s interior is magnificent. No shabby, tiny typical expedition cabins here. If Antarctica, Greenland or Iceland is on your list, and you love wildlife, there is no better way to do it.
One of the most well-known names in luxury travel is taking its gold-standard hospitality to sea. The newly named Azora is not so much a boat as it is a floating 5-star boutique lifestyle resort. Everything on this intimate yacht has been thoughtfully planned and designed to Ritz-Carlton’s exacting standards. The Azora features 149 beautifully designed suites, all complete with large terraces and butler service. With almost a 1-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio, Michelin-inspired dining, 3 pools, a fully-stocked water sports deck and much more – The Azora experience is not to be missed. She begins sailing to destinations across the globe in 2020. I suggest you book soon since space is already filling up fast!
The Celebrity Edge was designed to “leave the future behind” and it really does with new features that set it apart from its competitors in Premium Cruising. From its contemporary design to fresh features like its Infinite Verandas℠, Magic Carpet floating restaurant, and the living Eden space, the Edge is guaranteed to wow those aboard. Celebrity has always been known for dining, and the Edge takes it to the next level with not one, but four main restaurants, in addition to many specialty options. The Edge just set sail this month and is headed to the Mediterranean and Caribbean in 2019, and at prices you won’t believe!
River cruising sometimes gets a rep of only being accessible and designed for retired and more mature travelers, offering little for the younger generations. Enter U by Uniworld. Uniworld had the brilliant idea of designing a river cruise boat specifically for the young, hip, modern traveler, looking for a European adventure. From an ice bar with craft beers and cocktails to a fitness studio and guest laundry facility, U was designed for the non-cruiser. With accessible 5- and 8-day itineraries across Europe, there is something to fit anyone’s schedule.
Never been on a cruise? Or looking to level up your cruise game with an extraordinary ship? Navigating the many options can be confusing and hard to keep up with, so let me take the stress off of you and match you up with your perfect cruise vacation.
There are fantastic experiences to be had at sea, and trust me, you don’t want to miss the boat…quite literally…