Cruises: everyone on board!

Cruises have had dark days, associated, despite themselves, with the start of the pandemic. We even believed, for a moment, at the end of the trips on giant liners. What about 18 months later?

The signs of recovery are very real: the itineraries for the 2022 and even 2023 season are barely revealed when, already, a number of cruises are full. Several cruise lines have adapted their offers and changed their itineraries, and cruise enthusiasts seem eager to get back on board. Here is an overview of part of the offer.

The arrival of superyachts

For a number of reasons, both environmental and practical, are the days of gigantic cruise ships over? Not totally, but companies such as Emerald Cruises and Scenic Cruises have recently added a superyacht to their fleet, designed to visit more destinations in less time, in a more intimate and luxurious setting. THE’Emerald Sakara, a sumptuous superyacht that can accommodate a maximum of 100 passengers, will visit the Seychelles in 2023 on an 8-day itinerary, stopping in particular at Port Victoria (Mahé Island), Sainte-Anne Island and Cousin Island. the Scenic Eclipse, a 6-star superyacht, can accommodate 228 guests and is equipped with a helipad and two submarines to facilitate passenger transport during excursions.

Visit the Scenic Cruises website Visit the Emerald Cruises website

River cruise

The AmaWaterways company specializes in river cruises, mainly in Europe, with routes that crisscross rivers and streams, and where boats dock at ports located in the heart of cities. The advantage of a river cruise is navigation in calm waters, without the risk of experiencing seasickness. Also, sailing in this way near cities plunges the traveler into a more urban setting and closer to the places to visit, in ports often inaccessible for larger ships. Among the most popular cruises on AmaWaterways are The Great Danub Cruisee, a 14-day expedition along the most emblematic river in Europe, which crosses seven countries, starting from Vilshofen, in Germany, and to Giurgiu, in Romania.

Visit the AmaWaterways website

Craze for the Red Sea

The Red Sea has never been so popular. Despite certain political issues in recent years, with Canada in particular, Saudi Arabia has aroused enthusiasm among cruise enthusiasts. The interest is such that the Cruise division of the MSC group has signed a five-year agreement with Cruise Saudi for berthing rights in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has just inaugurated a brand new cruise port to meet demand. MSC Cruises offers 21 itineraries on the Red Sea from Jeddah to Egypt and Jordan. Emerald Cruises also unveiled two new itineraries for its 2022 season in this region.

Visit the MSC Cruises website

Heading for polar destinations

The trendy destination for cruises this season is undoubtedly the polar regions, and more particularly Antarctica, which has not welcomed visitors for almost two years, due to a pandemic, but also due to an extremely fragile ecosystem which asks to be preserved. Hurtigruten Expeditions and Scenic Cruises, among others, are offering new immersive itineraries to visit this region known for its unique landscapes. The MS Roald amundsen from Hurtigruten transports travelers to Scotia Sea, near the South Orkney Islands, a group of four islands 600 km north-eastern Antarctica, recognized as a paradise of solar eclipses and the Northern Lights. Scenic Eclipse, on the other hand, allows travelers to get up close and personal with wildlife and observe fur seals and king penguins in their natural habitat.

Visit the Hurtigruten Expeditions website

The ultimate in luxury

Cruises can reach a large audience, and there is certainly something for all tastes and budgets, but there is undoubtedly a strong interest in the high end while some cruises focus on luxury. The pandemic break will have allowed many ships to improve, renovate and renew their offerings on board. Powered by the Silversea company, the Silver moon now provides travelers with spacious suites, as well as a fine cuisine restaurant that adapts its menu, its spirits, beers and wines list according to the place visited. At the edge of Scenic Eclipse, we are entitled to a one-to-one employee-passenger ratio, where a butler is assigned to his client. On board this ship, there is also a wellness center, a yoga and pilates studio with certified trainers, as well as a space reserved for underwater observation.

Visit the Silversea website

Explore at sea … and on land

This season, the cruise itinerary relies on an offer of enhanced shore excursions, thus transforming the trip into a complete immersive experience, while the exploration and discovery of the surrounding sites and beauties is now intended to be a continuation of the experience offered on board. In Antarctica, with Scenic Cruises, the daily excursions included offer the exploration of the ice formations by zodiac, navigation by kayak or paddle board among icebergs and whale watching. Hurtigruten Expeditions offers a 17-day itinerary in Russia with stops in remote and rarely visited villages on the shores of the White Sea. The trip also includes a visit to the fascinating Solovetsky Islands, classified as a UNESCO heritage site.

See the itinerary offered by Hurtigruten Expeditions in Russia

Long-term cruises

Many travelers want to leave as soon as possible and make up for lost time. Long-term trips are therefore highly sought after, and AmaWaterways has just launched the longest river cruise in the world. Lasting 46 days, the Seven River Journey Through Europe crosses 14 countries and sails on 7 rivers. As a guide, the rate for this cruise starts at $ 37,439 per person. We must also highlight Seabourn Cruises and its cruise Worldwide. The 140-day trip begins in Miami and ends in Barcelona, ​​crossing 32 countries and 6 continents.

Consult the Seven River Journey Through Europe from AmaWaterways