News & Advice

The Best New Cruises for Every Type of Traveler

From over-the-top suites to adventure-fueled expeditions.
Image may contain Furniture Indoors Room Bedroom Interior Design Home Decor Bed Wood and Flooring
Courtesy Uniworld

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Say the word “cruise” to novices and you’ll still elicit somewhat of a lukewarm response. But what these naysayers may not realize is that the cruise industry is growing at an astronomical rate, with companies constantly outdoing themselves (and each other) to up the ante with what their ships offer. "Each year, the number of people who cruise increases by approximately a million," says Beth Butzlaff, vice president of cruise sales for Virtuoso, a preeminent network of travel advisors and researchers. The company estimates that this year alone, 25.8 million savvy travelers will board cruises. It's a surge that Butzlaff attributes to everything from boomers "coming of age" to a growing diversity in cruise options (think, ocean, yacht, expedition, river) and onboard programs with a multi-generational appeal; in other words, there's something for everyone these days. Here, a breakdown of the best new cruises for every type of traveler.

For the Adventure Junkie Who's Not Quite Ready to Rough It

Lindblad Expeditions, known for its adventure-fueled itineraries, partnered with National Geographic in 2004 to develop a fleet of seven exploration vessels that promised to cruise everywhere from Alaska’s Inside Passage to the Panama Canal. Quest, one freshly-christened ship in this fleet ditches the cramped quarters of live-aboard dive boats for roomy, outward-facing cabins (half of which feature step-out balconies) and lavish sundecks, all with a light and airy design touch. Per the National Geographic affiliation, expect culture, wildlife, and history to be at the heart of each expedition: guests dine on locally-sourced culinary delights (in Alaska, that means fresh salmon and in the tropics, local fruits and fish dominate menus) and convene on the observation deck, armed with binoculars, to spot whale spouts up north and over 300 species of birds down south. If you're looking to get a little closer to the action, you're in luck: passengers can hop on a Zodiac (a small expedition boat) from one of the ship's two landing platforms for more adventurous, outdoor excursions.

Eataly, one of the dining destinations on board the MSC Meraviglia.

Courtesy MSC/Photo by Ivan Sarfatti

For the Family That Plays Together (But Doesn't Always Want to Stay Together)

For years, the race to create the biggest and best cruise ship was dominated by U.S.-based cruise companies (Harmony of the Seas, anyone?). But Swiss cruise company MSC just shattered this trend by building the MSC Meraviglia, the largest cruise ship ever undertaken by a European brand. And while the ship—which sets sail throughout the Mediterranean—may be home to both a Swarovski crystal staircase and a dedicated "yacht club" suite with butler service, what truly sets this mega-ship apart is the diversity it offers. To wit: a family can unite for a show at the first purpose-built Cirque du Soleil venue at sea (aptly named the 'Carousel Lounge' for its 360-degree stage), or easily break apart and do their own thing, too. The ship features the most poolside square footage per guest, ideal for serious sun worshippers; and there are 20 bars and 12 restaurants, including the beloved red brick-clad Eataly, to satisfy even the pickiest foodie. All this to say: abandon the kids to the Lego-themed playroom, and see who can work up the best base tan.

For the Urbanite Who Prefers Rolling Rivers to the Open Seas

For those who tend to get a little queasy on the open ocean, the barge-inspired riverboat is the ideal seasickness antidote—and if you’ve never sailed on one, Los Angeles-based Uniworld, whose ships are lauded for their sheer luxe factor, is the perfect place to start. Small enough to dock in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and to slink through the narrowest points of the Seine, the S.S. Joie de Vivre is still sufficiently lavish enough to usher 128 passengers through Normandy, and make pit stops at Versailles, Monet’s beloved Giverny, and the homes of both Napoleon and Richard the Lionheart along the way. Onboard, guests languish in spaces decked out with antiques from Sotheby’s and Christie’s, including a Picasso self-portrait and a nearly-life-sized Murano glass unicorn. Come dinner, the ambitious are invited to hand-pick the finest ingredients and prepare meals with the ship’s battalion of chefs, and, later, a hydraulic floor covers the swimming pool to create a glowing dance floor.

The Regent Suite (and its custom-designed Steinway Marque piano) aboard the Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

Courtesy Norwegian Cruise Lines/Photo by Stephen Beaudet

For the Traveler With Tony Tastes

The luxurious (and all-inclusive) Regent Seven Seas Explorer, which sails through Northern Europe come summer and the Caribbean during winter, was the beloved pet project of Frank Del Rio, CEO of parent company Norwegian Cruise Lines—but there's one feature that stands apart. "I am most proud of the onboard art collection,” Del Rio says of the ship's museum-quality booty, which includes not one, but two original Picassos, plus a Chagall. Add in a 1.36 guest-to-crew ratio, 473 crystal chandeliers, and no less than an acre of Carrara marble sourced from Italy, plus staterooms averaging a whopping 138-square-feet (the largest of any cruise ship) and you've hit peak luxury. The real highlight, though, is the 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite: a gold-trimmed, exquisitely detailed monochrome wonder, it houses a custom-designed Steinway Marque piano, a $150,000 bed, and a private spa. Plus, all-inclusive hardly means unlimited buffet: the Explorer offers complimentary access to fine dining restaurants, like Pacific Rim for upscale Asian fare, Chartreuse, for modern French cuisine, and the Prime 7 steakhouse. Other perks include intercontinental business class air travel for U.S.- and Canada-bound guests, plus free fine wines and unlimited shore excursions that include chef-guided trips to local markets.

And the One Cruise to Look Forward to

Celebrity Cruises has always tried to push the envelope, and with its first new class of ships in a decade, the innovative brand is really going for broke. Set to launch in 2018, what will truly set the Caribbean-bound Celebrity Edge apart is its groundbreaking design: true to its name, the Edge class’s staterooms will feature "infinity verandas" designed by British creative Kelly Hoppen, MBE. By enclosing the balconies, rooms bring guests closer to the water’s edge and offer 23 percent more space than Celebrity’s famously roomy cabins. "We had seen this done on riverboats and no one ever did it on an ocean-going vessel," says Celebrity President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. Another cruise industry first is the "magic carpet," a viewing platform suspended off the side of the ship. What’s more, there will be a bevvy of dining venues, including Eden, a whimsical garden conceptualized by famed Italian designer Patricia Urquiola, complete with off-beat nightly performances.