The Best Luxury Cruise Itineraries for 2024 & 2025
Silversea Cruises
iStock.com / Gary TognoniTo celebrate Christmas at sea in the sunny Caribbean, the 8-day Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena sailing (Dec. 19-27, 2024) aboard Silversea’s newest ship, 728-guest Silver Ray, is a smart option. Not only does the itinerary call on Oranjestad, Aruba, and Willemstad, Curacao, as well as overnight in historic Cartagena, Columbia, but you’ll also enjoy four relaxing days at sea as you experience Silversea’s immersive S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) culinary program, all-inclusive beverage offerings, and five-star service.
For something truly splurge-worthy, consider spending both Christmas and New Year’s Down Under by booking Silversea’s 30-day Cairns to Auckland sailing (Dec. 14, 2025 - Jan. 13, 2026) on board Silver Nova. The ship, which also accommodates 728 guests, debuted in 2023 and on this epic sailing will visit 15 ports along Australia’s eastern and southern coasts — including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Hobart, Tasmania — before crossing the Tasman Sea to the beautiful Bay of Islands and Auckland in New Zealand.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
iStock / Olga_GavrilovaRegent has a 7-night Ancient Treasures & Crossroads sailing from Athens to Istanbul (April 30 – May 7, 2025) that’s an exceptionally good value for a luxury cruise in the region, especially since it’s aboard Seven Seas Splendor. The 742-guest ship, which debuted in 2020 and offers all-inclusive dining (in eight spectacular venues), beverages, and shore excursions, will visit the Greek islands of Santorini and Rhodes as well as the ports of Bodrum and Kusadasi (for Ephesus) in Turkey, before a final overnight in Istanbul.
Is your calendar clear for all of August 2025? If so, you can visit 29 ports in nine Northern European countries — Iceland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England — on Regent’s 32-night Nordic Wonders & European Charms sailing from Reykjavik to Amsterdam (July 27 - August 28, 2025) on board Seven Seas Grandeur. The 742-guest ship, which debuted in 2023 and is the twin of Seven Seas Splendor, will take you to cities (including Oslo, Bruges, Dublin, Belfast, and London) and islands (the Faroe Islands and South Shetland Islands) as well as Norwegian fjords and Ireland’s dramatic Dingle Peninsula.
Viking
Sorincolac/iStockA great way to experience the sleek Scandinavian ambiance of Viking’s identical 930-guest ships close to home is with the cruise line’s 9-day Pacific Coast Explorer, sailing between Los Angeles and Vancouver in April, May, and September 2025. You’ll visit San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria (Oregon), and Victoria (British Columbia). Even if the spring and fall temperatures dip in the Pacific Northwest, Viking’s ships have an enclosed pool and a fabulous spa thermal area available to all guests, so water-centric relaxation isn’t off the table. Dining in five restaurants as well as lectures and presentations by regional experts are a Viking hallmark — plus wine and beer with lunch and dinner, gratuities, and one shore excursion in each port are all included.
You can never go wrong with cruising the Mediterranean, and if you prefer to travel off-season to avoid excessive heat and crowds, check out Viking’s 16-day Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean sailings that visit some of the region’s more off-the-beaten-path ports. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona these cruises are available in January, February, March, November, and December 2025 and visit ports legendary for their history and antiquities, including Rome, Marseille, Granada (Spain), Seville (Spain), Casablanca (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria), Tunis (Tunisia) and the islands of Malta and Corsica (France). As noted above, Viking’s ships offer a cozy indoor pool and spa thermal suite, so cruising in cooler months is relaxing, too.
Crystal
iStock/Sean PavoneEnjoy pool time, savor fabulous food, and be entertained nightly as you visit six sunny Caribbean islands on Crystal’s 7-night San Juan to San Juan sailing (Dec. 4-11, 2024) aboard Crystal Serenity. The 740-guest ship, which was fully refurbished in 2023, is known for offering exceptional service and great all-inclusive value (including one complimentary dinner per voyage in both Umi Uma, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant at sea, and Osteria D’Ovidio, which serves modern Northern Italian cuisine). The itinerary visits islands with British, French, and Spanish heritage: Antigua, St. Barth, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic, and the British Virgin Islands.
If exploring Southeast Asia is on your wish list, Crystal’s 27-night Mumbai to Hong Kong itinerary (Jan. 7 - Feb. 3, 2025) will check off plenty of must-see ports in nine countries: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China (with overnights in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Min City, Ha Long Bay, and Hong Kong). The sailing is aboard 606-guest Crystal Symphony, which was also fully refurbished in 2023 and offers the same five-star service and dining options as her sister ship, Crystal Serenity.
Seabourn
Michael Watz/iStockTo experience Seabourn’s newest ocean ship, 600-guest Seabourn Ovation during a pre-holiday island-hopping sojourn, check out the 8-day Yachtsman’s Caribbean sailing (Dec. 14-22, 2025), which cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Bridgetown, Barbados, and calls on the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Bequia, and Grenada. Seabourn Ovation, which debuted in 2018, features interiors by renowned hospitality designer Adam Tihany, 1,600 works of art by nearly 120 artists, and five main dining venues, including the new Mediterranean-inspired Solis.
Go off the beaten path with Seabourn’s 17-day Jewels of the Indian Ocean & Arabia sailing (March 2-19, 2025) aboard 600-guest Seabourn Encore. The cruise, which begins in Singapore and ends in Dubai, visits eight ports in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates and includes five relaxing days at sea to enjoy the ship. Seabourn Encore is the sister ship to Seabourn Ovation and features multiple dining venues, spacious suites, and an inclusive beverage package.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
margouillatphotos/iStockAtlas Ocean Voyages, which now has three intimate, 196-guest luxury expedition ships, offers a mix of polar-region adventure itineraries and epicurean-focused voyages. In the latter category, the 7-night Lisbon to Bordeaux sailing (May 20-27, 2025) appeals to foodies and wine lovers. The cruise, aboard World Voyager, visits three countries, calling on Leixos (Porto), Portugal; Vilagarcia (Santiago de Compostela), Spain; Bilbao, Spain; Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France; and concludes with an overnight in food-and-wine-centric Bordeaux, France. Onboard, guests can savor local flavors in Madeira restaurant or expertly grilled meat and fish specialties in 7Aft Grill.
Feeling adventurous? Then consider embarking on a 24-night Route of the Vikings polar expedition from Edinburgh to Longyearbyen (June 17 - July 11, 2025) during the height of the Arctic summer season’s Midnight Sun. This cruise is also aboard 196-guest World Voyager, and ports include Leith, Aberdeen, and Lerwick (Shetland Islands) in Scotland; an overnight in Torshavn in Denmark’s Faroe Islands; multiple Norwegian coastal ports (including Alesund, Trondheim, and Tromso); and four days of scenic cruising amid the vast Arctic landscapes and wildlife of Svalbard.
Scenic
Balate Dorin/iStockUltra-luxury cruising always requires a splurge, but when the ship is 228-guest Scenic Eclipse, and the itinerary evokes la dolce vita, why not? Scenic’s 8-day Italian Icons: Islands & Culture itinerary (May 13-20, 2025) cruises from Rome to Nice, France, and along the way calls on the pretty Italian coastal hamlet of Gaeta, as well as Capri, Sorrento, and Sardinia, then heads to Corsica, and Monte Carlo (Monaco). Onboard, seven suite categories provide ultimate comfort, while nine bars and lounges and multiple dining venues serve extensive a la carte options inspired by the destinations visited.
Antarctica is a bucket-list destination for many travelers and Scenic’s 20-day Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands expedition cruise (Nov. 22 - Dec. 11, 2025), which cruises roundtrip from Buenos Aires aboard Scenic Eclipse, hits a polar trifecta: two days in the Falkland Islands (known for its penguins, bird life, and embattled history), three days on South Georgia Island (the spot to see exquisite King Penguins and learn Sir Ernest Shackleton lore), and five days in Antarctica (where guided Zodiac expeditions take you close to the region’s astounding nature). Scenic’s ultra-luxury Discovery Yachts combine adventure with onboard pampering that includes gourmet dining experiences and an onboard helicopter and submarine for extraordinary excursions.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Poike/iStockThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuted in 2022 with 298-guest Evrima and will launch its second ship, 448-guest Ilma, in September 2024. If you’re the type of traveler who enjoys a mix of larger cities and smaller ports, Ilma is sailing a 7-night Rome to Barcelona itinerary (June 15-22, 2025) that allows guests to spend time in both cities pre- and post-cruise plus an overnight in Livorno (for Florence and Pisa). The smaller ports? Charming Portofino, Italy; legendary Saint-Tropez, France; Toulon, France (for access to the towns of Provence); and Menorca in Spain’s Balearic Islands. Ilma offers a residential-inspired vibe with onboard features that include two pools and an aft Marina, plus restaurants specializing in Mediterranean, Italian, Japanese, and destination-inspired cuisine.
If island-hopping in Greece is your ideal early-autumn getaway, Ritz-Carlton’s 298-guest Evrima offers an 11-night Athens to Athens itinerary (Sept. 20 - Oct. 1, 2024) that visits six Greek Islands (Milos, Skiathos, Mykonos, Patmos, Syros, and Hydra) and overnights in Istanbul. Yacht-inspired Evrima features the same luxurious suites and dining and spa amenities as her larger sister Ilma, plus plenty of space to relax with a cocktail or book.
Explora Journeys
Artur Bogacki/iStockIf the Canary Islands and coastal Spain sound appealing, check out Explora Journeys’ 10-night A Journey of Spanish City Seduction & Intriguing Iberian Islands (Nov. 10-20, 2024), sailing roundtrip from Barcelona on Explora 1, which debuted in 2023. The 922-guest ship will call on Cadiz, Spain, and then island-hop between the Canary Islands (La Palma and Lanzarote) and Portugal’s Madeira island before visiting iconic Gibraltar. While on board, guests can enjoy a modern European ambiance, generously sized suites and penthouses, multiple pools (including one that’s indoors), and nine dining venues (six restaurants and three cafés).
Sometimes all you need to feel rested and restored is two weeks in the sun-soaked Caribbean and Explora Journeys’ 14-night Extended Journey of Caribbean Rhythms (Nov. 22 - Dec. 3, 2024) aboard 922-guest Explora II visits nine incredible islands: Anguilla, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Puerto Rico, St. Barth, Antigua, St. Kitts, and Virgin Gorda — and allows guests to enjoy four relaxing sea days. Explora II debuts in August 2024 and is a virtually identical sister ship to Explora I, offering the same European sensibility.
Oceania
iStock / WitROceania Vista, which debuted in 2023, is as sparkling and polished as they come and the ship’s 9-day Athens to Rome sailing (Nov. 11-20, 2024) is a great value during a time when weather in the region can still be in the quite comfortable 60s. Vista, which accommodates 1,200 guests and offers a superb culinary and mixology program (including two new restaurant concepts: Ember for new American cuisine and Aquamar Kitchen for healthy and veggie-forward dining), will cruise from Athens to Gythion and Agostoli in Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Valletta, Malta; Palermo, Sicily; and Salerno, Italy, before guests disembark in Rome. It’s a celebration of ancient cultures — without the crowds.
Have you always dreamed of experiencing Japan during cherry blossom season? Oceania’s 12-day Tokyo to Tokyo sailing (April 1-13, 2025) aboard 1,250-guest Oceania Riviera, which was refurbished in 2022, visits eight ports in Japan (Nagoya, Kochi, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Beppu, Kobe (overnight for Kyoto) and Shimizu) as well as Busan, South Korea. The ship features six open-seating restaurants, including Polo Grill for steaks, Toscana for Italian, Jacques for French, and Red Ginger for pan-Asian, at no extra cost, as well as an exclusive wine-pairing dining experience at La Reserve by Wine Spectator.