With accelerating consumer demand, travel agencies are posting record sales and ships are filling up quickly for 2024. So, Luxury Travel Advisor looked a bit further into the future to uncover these 11 enticing, pampering, voyages of distinction for 2025.
Grand South America
What’s better than a grand voyage providing “the luxury of time” to explore an entire continent, plus a round-trip sailing from a U.S. port? That’s possible with Silversea’s 71-day “Grand South America” voyage, sailing round-trip from Port Everglades, FL, (Greater Fort Lauderdale) on January 20, 2025. The new 728-passenger Silver Ray, the line’s second Nova-class ship launching in 2024, will loop around South America—visiting 38 ports in 17 countries.
After a Cozumel, Mexico (overnight) call, the ship will transit the Panama Canal and sail southward along South America’s western coastline. Travelers will go ashore at Manta, Ecuador; Salaverry, Pisco and Callao (overnight), Peru; and Arica, Coquimbo, Valparaiso (overnight), Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas, Chile.
Founded in 1536 by Spanish conquistador Juan de Saavedra, Valparaiso still sports some colonial-era structures, despite earthquakes, fires and even pirate raids over the centuries. After touring the city, we’d sip on a Pisco Sour, Chile’s national cocktail made with grape brandy, lemon, sugar and egg white.
On Silver Ray’s journey southward, travelers will gaze at lovely Chilean fjord views, including the Garibaldi Fjord and Glacier. Rounding South America’s southern tip, the ship will sail north to Argentina’s Ushuaia (overnight) and Buenos Aires (double overnight); Montevideo and Punte del Este, Uruguay; and multiple Brazilian ports. A big plus is a three-night, extended Rio de Janeiro stay during the colorful Carnival celebration.
Heading northward, the ship will call at Salvador de Bahia, where we’d suggest booking Silversea’s optional S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) excursion, “Salvadorean Acaraje Experience.” Guests will meet traditional Baianas women who will demonstrate how to prepare the tasty “acaraje,” a popular Brazilian fritter.
After a Fortaleza, Brazil, call, Silver Ray will then sail along the Amazon River to multiple ports including Manaus (overnight). Returning to the Atlantic Ocean, the ship will call at Ile Royale in French Guiana before visiting Caribbean isles.
As for the ship itself, Silver Ray’s innovative horizontal design allows for a pool area with closer-to-the-water views as well as an interior with expansive glass and natural light. At press time, guests could still book the 527-square-foot (including veranda) Medallion Suite, offering butler service, a living room with sitting area; queen-sized bed with custom-made mattress; full-sized bathroom with double vanity, bathtub and separate shower; and private veranda.
Ring of Fire
Looking further out, Seabourn’s 129-day “Ring of Fire: Hidden Gems” voyage sails from Los Angeles, CA, to Vancouver, B.C. on January 6, 2026. During this grand-shebang Pacific Ocean voyage, the 229-passenger Seabourn Sojourn will first visit multiple isles in Hawaii, French Polynesia and Fiji, as well as Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Next, guests will go ashore at eight New Zealand ports, plus enjoy scenic cruising of Fjordland National Park. Kaikoura, New Zealand, is a great place to possibly spot whales, dolphins and seals, and while ashore, guests might sample Kaikoura’s tasty “fresh catches” including spiny lobsters (crayfish) and Paua (abalone).
Seabourn Sojourn also will sail “down under” to Australia, where guests will spend nearly a month exploring Sydney (overnight), Melbourne (overnight), Hobart in Tasmania, Portland, Robe, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Bustleton, Freemantle (Perth), Exmouth, Broome, Kuri Bay and Darwin.
Also, the ship will call at the Indonesian isles of Lombok, Bali, Komodo and Sulawesi, plus Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, and Hong Kong, China. Continuing northward, Seabourn Sojourn will call at more ports in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
For instance, northeast of Tokyo, guests will visit Hitachinaka. Get ready for a floral selfie. In springtime its seaside park is blanketed in gorgeous blue nemophila blossoms. Travelers can also gaze at a 390-foot-high Buddha figure (Ushiku Daibutsu) and step inside; one room displays 3,400 small golden Buddha statues. Hikers might head for remote Daigo and Fukuroda Falls. For a local taste treat, try the Hitachinaka-style takoyaki (grilled octopus), paired with rice wine.
In Alaska, Seabourn Sojourn will call at Kodiak, Glacier Bay, Sitka and Klawock, before reaching Prince Rupert and Vancouver, B.C. During this lengthy voyage, we’d suggest guests reserve a table at Solis, the ship’s new Mediterranean fine-dining experience. That new specialty restaurant is expected to open by spring 2024, when Seabourn ends its eight-year relationship with Chef Thomas Keller.
Exploring Northern Horizons
Ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises also offers many enticing long voyages, too. But it also has other highly appealing, in-depth 10-to-20-day voyages. For instance, Iceland—land of fire and ice—continues to trend “hot” with luxury travelers, so Luxury Travel Advisor suggests checking out Regent Seven Seas’ 10-day “Exploring Northern Horizons” voyage round-trip from Reykjavik, Iceland, departing July 8, 2025.
What’s unusual is that all ports of call on this itinerary are in Iceland. That delivers a highly immersive, one-country experience, and guests will travel with ultra-luxury pampering on the new 746-passenger Seven Seas Grandeur, which just launched. Calls will include the Icelandic ports of Heimaey in the Westman Islands, Eskifjordur, Seydisfjordur, Husavik, Akureyi, Siglufjordur, Isafjordur, and Grundarfjordur.
In July 2023, Luxury Travel Advisor toured Heimaey. We discovered a vibrant culture and friendly locals. But in 1973, half the island’s main town was destroyed in a sudden, middle-of-the-night volcanic eruption. Fortunately, 4,000 residents were safely evacuated, and most returned later. It’s an amazing story, so wander the isle’s excellent museum built atop homes consumed by the eruption’s lava flow. Exhibits visually tell the eruption story, capture residents’ perspective, and seemingly “freeze” time as visitors peer inside a home buried by lava.
Guests will enjoy luxurious, amenity-laden accommodations on Seven Seas Grandeur. The 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite and Master Suite (ranging from 1,895 to 2,108 square feet) categories were still available at press time.
As for dining aboard, Regent Seven Seas just unveiled more than 130 new dishes and enhanced recipes of guest favorites for Seven Seas Grandeur’s many dining venues. For example, Prime 7, Regent’s elegant steakhouse, will offer a new decadent lunch menu, as well as an elaborate sharing plate of grilled meats for two at dinner.
Croatia Intensive
Upscale Azamara also has a menu of “intensive voyages” that also blanket a particular country, although they often also will include a port or two in another nation. The 684-passenger Azamara Onward departs on a nine-night “Croatia Intensive Voyage” round-trip from the Venice area (2025 docking location yet to be assigned by the port authority) on September 18, 2025.
Port collectors will love exploring six Croatia destinations—Opatija, Zadar, Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, and Sibenik—plus nearby Kotor, Montenegro. Simply put, it’s an Adriatic extravaganza of culture, heritage, cuisine and eco-beauty.
History oozes from every corner of Dubrovnik. To take it all in visually, just walk around the old city wall’s ramparts. In Split, archeology buffs can tour Roman Emperor Diocletian’s underground palace, among the Adriatic coast’s most impressive Roman ruins. Alternatively, during a laid-back Sibenik visit, travelers may choose to wander the quaint side streets and squares; browse shops or the Sibenik Marketplace; and savor a fresh Adriatic seafood lunch with local red Babic wine.
The ship’s top luxury accommodation is the 560-square-foot Club World Owner’s Suite with a 233-square-foot veranda. Akin to what one would find in a boutique luxury hotel, this suite offers a spacious living room and separate master bedroom, both with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors; a marble bathroom with shower; dressing room with vanity and closet space; two flat-screen TVs; and more.
Creole and Mexican Culture
Many ships sail from South Florida’s ports to the Bahamas or Caribbean, but experienced travelers often say, “I’ve been there, done that.” That’s why Luxury Travel Advisor is intrigued by the new Explora Journeys’ 10-night “Journey to Creole Culture and Sainted Harbors” itinerary, departing January 14, 2025.
Explora II will sail round-trip from PortMiami but on an itinerary with a non-typical port lineup—New Orleans, LA (overnight); both Cozumel and Progreso (overnight) in Mexico; Ocean Cay in the Bahamas, and several sea days. Arriving at New Orleans in the evening, we’d head out for southern, Cajun or Creole dining or a succulent steak at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse.
One great evening activity? Listening to superb live jazz performed at the no-frills Preservation Hall never gets old. Best of all, guests have more time to spend in The Big Easy the following day. So, they might tour the National World War II Museum, head out for a plantation tour, or watch how colorful Mardi Gras floats are created at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World.
Explora II will then call at both Cozumel, Mexico, as well as Progreso (overnight), atop the Yucatan Peninsula. Options for Progreso include touring lovely Merida with its elegant architecture or the peninsula’s ancient Mayan cities of Chichen Itza or Uxmal. The itinerary then finishes with a beach and water-play visit to Ocean Cay, MSC Group’s private, pristine Bahamian island and marine reserve.
Launching in 2024, Explora II will offer 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residence-style, luxurious accommodations. It’s a sister to Explora I; see our story on page 10. Lead-in Ocean Terrace Suites offer at least 377 square feet of space, while the top-end Owner’s Residence offers 1,668 square feet inside, plus a 1,345-square-foot private terrace.
In Shackleton’s Footsteps
For a quintessential polar voyage in/and around Antarctica with an enticing twist, Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer will sail a 20-day “In Shackleton’s Footsteps” itinerary. Carrying an average of 132 guests, the upscale expedition ship will depart March 16, 2025, round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina. After traversing the Drake Passage, guests will set foot in Antarctica to admire gorgeous, icy landscapes, before heading to the Antarctic Sound and into the Weddell Sea.
That’s where British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance met its sad fate in November 1915. During his ill-fated mission to cross Antarctica, Shackleton’s wooden ship became trapped in pack ice, crushed and slipped underwater. (Incredibly, the ship was found in 2022 in surprisingly good condition.)
This itinerary will take guests to Elephant Island, the desolate outpost where Shackleton and his men finally made landfall after 497 days at sea, as well as South Georgia, which Shackleton traversed seeking help to rescue his crew (which occurred in 1916). Active guests can hike from Fortuna Bay to the abandoned Stromness whaling station, the end point of Shackleton’s hike across South Georgia.
Built in 2019, the intimate, expeditionary Greg Mortimer features an Ulstein X-BOW, designed to create more comfortable and efficient ocean crossings. During this cruise, Aurora Expeditions’ team members will offer polar insights, wildlife-spotting tips and Shackleton tales. A bonus? Renowned photographer Peter Eastway will accompany this sailing.
All well-appointed accommodations offer an ocean view, and 85 percent have private balconies. Top accommodations are the 479-square-foot Captain’s Suite on Deck 4, or a 419-square-foot Junior Suite on Deck 7.
Northern Reflection
For travelers who love “collecting” ports, Oceania Cruises’ new summer 2025 schedule will unveil 10 new boutique ports. In the Baltic/northern Europe, they’ll include Kemi, Finland; Lulea, Sweden; Maniitsoq, Greenland; Scrabster, Scotland, U.K.; Sundsvall, Sweden; and Vaasa, Finland. In the Mediterranean, new ports will include Cesme, Turkey; Pozzallo (Sicily), Italy; Samos, Greece; and Sibenik, Croatia.
Luxury Travel Advisor would suggest Oceania’s 12-day “Northern Reflections” voyage on the 670-passenger Sirena between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, departing June 14, 2025. Why? Sirena will overnight in Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Stockholm; and the new port of Kemi. Guests also will go ashore in three other new ports, Vaasa, Lulea and Sundsvall.
Anchoring the Baltic Sea’s north end, Kemi is known as the Finnish Lapland. Among its diverse attractions are the Kemi Gemstone Gallery; the salmon-hued Kemi Church with its ornate Gothic Revival architecture, and the indoor SnowExperience365 with ice and snow sculptures. At off-the-beaten-path Vaasa, guests will see wooden, red windmills, museums and a 19th-century Gothic-style market with local delicacies.
Peaceful Lulea is the gateway to the nearby Church Town of Gammelstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 400 red-and-white-painted wooden buildings surrounding a 15th-century church. In the past, villagers from far-flung settlements would venture here for church services, then stay overnight in the surrounding houses (only used on Sundays and religious holidays) before making the arduous journey home.
Oceania’s Sirena was revitalized in 2019 with new suites, staterooms and bathrooms. We’d suggest booking the 1,000-square-foot Owner’s Suite (OS) or the 786-square-foot Vista Suite (VS), both with 24-hour butler service.
Latin Marvels
Windstar Cruises is expanding its global reach into South America, starting in December 2025. The 312-passenger, all-suite Star Pride will begin operating a new 15-day “Marvels of Latin America Cruise Tour” sailing from Colon, Panama, to Lima, Peru (or reverse). Included is a five-day pre- or post-cruise tour to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, guests can choose a mid-cruise option of a three-night overland tour within the Galapagos Islands.
Starting with a New Year’s sailing on December 27, 2025, and continuing through January 2026, this Windstar itinerary will include a Panama Canal transit and overnight stays in Manta and Guayaquil, both in Ecuador, as well as Lima. Additional port visits will include Machala, an area brimming with banana plantations, and Trujillo, gateway to the pre-Colombian-era Chan Chan archaeological site.
The Machu Picchu land trip will include overnight stays in luxury, boutique hotels and a drive to the Sacred Valley. Guests will visit and dine at local farms; ride the Vistadome train through the Andes; take a privately guided group tour of Machu Picchu; and tour Cusco’s Urubamba market. They’ll also tour Lima with a local guide.
The mid-cruise Galapagos excursion covers three days and begins in either Manta or Guayaquil, depending on sailing date. After flying from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos, guests will take a ferry to the Santa Cruz Highlands to see Giant Tortoises and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The following day, they’ll also embark on a small ferry to tour one of the Galapagos’ uninhabited islands (either North Seymour, Bartolome, South Plaza, Santa Fe, or Floreana). Finally, guests will take a short flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland and rejoin Star Pride.
Desire a bit shorter trip? Windstar is also offering an 11-day “Marvels of Ecuador, Peru and the Panama Canal” itinerary; that will include the cruise and the Galapagos Island overland tour, but not the Machu Picchu touring.
Wildlife and Islands
Along the southernmost tip of South America, Ushuaia, Argentina, is a jumping off point for Antarctica expeditions. Yet, the city itself is worth experiencing. The snow-capped Martial Mountains lie behind this lively city of colorful buildings, and Parque Yatana is a spot where travelers can get a good sense of the local indigenous culture.
On March 25, 2025, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ 196-passenger World Traveller will sail on a 14-night “Wildlife Haven & Secluded Islands” voyage from Ushuaia to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After guests arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Atlas will provide one night’s complimentary hotel stay and a complimentary charter flight to Ushuaia.
World Traveller will first call at remote Isla de los Estados, Argentina. Accessible only via boat, this ecological reserve is home to snow-covered peaks, forests, lakes, deep fjords and wildlife ranging from Magellanic penguins to sea lions, seals, orcas and seabirds. Adding an aura of adventure is that Jules Verne tapped the isle as the setting for his novel, “Lighthouse at the End of the World.”
The itinerary then heads for New Island and Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, before several sea days and calls at Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Then the ship calls at four Brazilian ports of call, some less known to many Americans. At Balneario Camboriu, for example, guests can head out to charming Blumenau, which offers a slice of German culture with breweries, vineyards and European architecture.
Offshore from Ilhabela at the Submarino Ecological Sanctuary, cruisers can dive or snorkel with starfish, seahorses and turtles. The ship also visits Sao Francisco do Sul, one of Brazil’s oldest cities, before arriving in Rio de Janeiro.
Tip: Our sister publication, Travel Agent, sailed on World Traveller earlier this year. Here’s that firsthand report.
Stockholm to Liverpool
For an in-depth look at Northern Europe and the Baltic region, Crystal operates a 40-night 2025 “Grand Journey” from Stockholm, Sweden, to Liverpool, U.K. Departing July 29, 2025, the 740-passenger Crystal Serenity will sail from Stockholm, Sweden, (overnight) to Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; Visby, Sweden; Riga, Latvia; and Copenhagen, Denmark for a double overnight stay. How about an evening stroll and dining at Copenhagen’s sparkling Tivoli Gardens?
Other ports of call will include Ijmuiden, the Netherlands; Kirkwall, Scotland, U.K.; Lerwick, Shetland Islands, U.K.; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Isafjordur and Akureyi, Iceland; and Longyearbyen (overnight), Svalbard, Norway. One historic tidbit is that John Munro Longyear, an American industrialist, and his associate Frederick Ayer, founded Longyearbyen’s Arctic Coal Company in 1906, contributing both investment capital and the town’s name.
Crystal Serenity will also call at many other Norwegian ports including Honnigsvag, Leknes, Bergen, Oslo, Kristiansand (on two separate calls) and Bergen. Ambling through the cobblestoned alleys of Bergen’s Bryggen Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, travelers will gaze at colorful buildings and learn about the once-powerful Hanseatic League’s trading empire.
Next up, the ship will call at Ijmuiden (overnight), the Netherlands, just 17 miles from Amsterdam, and Dover, U.K. (overnight). We’d suggest touring the imposing, 11th-century Dover Castle or spending the day in London, some 80 miles away. The voyage will conclude with visits to Plymouth, U.K.; Cobh and Dublin, Ireland; and Liverpool, U.K., the Beatles’ hometown.
Crystal Serenity’s top accommodations are the Crystal Penthouse Suites with up to 1,265 square feet of interior space plus a balcony of up to 107 square feet. Junior Crystal Penthouse Suites, a new category created during a 2023 multimillion-dollar revitalization, offer up to 645 square feet and up to a 161-square-foot private balcony.
Adventures in Madagascar
For an exotic, in-depth look at Madagascar, an Indian Ocean island nation off Africa’s east coast, as well as to explore the Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion, we’d look at Ponant’s 16-day “Adventures in Madagascar” itinerary. The 184-passenger Le Dumont d’Urville will sail from Port Louis, Mauritius, to Victoria, Mahe, the Seychelles, on January 4, 2025.
The ship will first call at Pointe des Galets, Reunion, and then call at five different Madagascar ports. At Majunga, travelers can explore Ankarafantsika National Park, home to lemurs and birds, while Nosy Komba is known as “Lemur Island,” given its black lemur residents. In Toliara, botany fans can see local flora at Antsokay Arboretum, while maritime buffs often gravitate to the Museum of the Sea. Scuba diving is also popular for qualified divers.
As for Le Dumont d’Urville, this vessel offers fine dining with a French flair, an inviting Blue Eye underwater lounge, and well-appointed suites including a 485-square-foot Owner’s Suite on Deck 5 or Grand Deluxe Suite on Deck 6.
Viking, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Aqua Expeditions and many other upscale cruise lines are also introducing new voyages of distinction. Increasingly, as luxury lines rachet up their creativity in itinerary development, travelers are discovering many new enticing choices on the horizon.
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