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Cruising American rivers has become quite popular, with many travelers turning to domestic travel during the pandemic. Discover the destination of your dreams and why cruising with Azamara is a unique and unparalleled experience. USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
Cruises
"When you go on a small cruise ship, you won't have to deal with crowds or lengthy wait times," says Mathew Bowley, an avid cruiser. "It's simple to obtain a table at one of the restaurants, a drink at the tavern, a cup of coffee at the café, or explore the ship in general." More Americans are choosing a small ship cruise over a larger oceangoing vessel. "We've noticed cruisers who have in the past gone on the bigger ships now looking at us smaller ship operators," says Skjeldam. "They want to be around fewer people and have a more intimate and curated experience."
Experience Small Ship Cruising
The expansive Observation Lounge takes up most of Deck 7 and is the spot for expedition lectures. Thirteen Zodiacs and eight kayaks take guests on water adventures and ashore. The windowed fitness center and spa area includes an ocean-view sauna and the infinity pool at the back of Deck 5 boasts killer views. On board, many rooms are veranda suites measuring 356 square feet (including a private balcony), all with marble baths.
The best cruises from New York you can book in 2024 and 2025 - The Points Guy
The best cruises from New York you can book in 2024 and 2025.
Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Small is Big... onboard and ashore
In that time, she’s been on more cruises than she can count and includes her solo cruise and travel adventures on her website, CruiseMaven.com. Her articles have been published in major newspapers and magazines - in print and online. During a year and a half of living in Alaska, Sherry has cruised and spent time at every port in the Last Frontier except for Nome. She’s become an avid transatlantic cruiser since 2005, as that is the only way for her to get to Europe without flying. Sherry hopes to inspire and encourage her readers to travel slow and travel solo, experience new cuisines and cultures.
Escape the Masses on These New Small-Ship Expedition, Luxury, and Sailing Cruises
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities, and value. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in five categories; small-ship ocean cruise lines have ships that can carry 249 or fewer passengers. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruising. While large ships come with certain advantages (rock climbing at sea, anyone?), some cruisers prefer the intimacy, personalized service and destination-focused itineraries of a smaller vessel.
On World Vegetarian Day, we wanted to delve into the world of vegetarian and vegan dining onboard Azamara Cruises. We sat down with Azamara Cruises' Executive Chef, Chef Colin Jones, to uncover the secrets behind Azamara's plant-based offerings. From sustainable sourcing to crafting delicious dishes, Chef Colin shares his insights and inspirations, giving you a taste of the experiences that await. Azamara Quest® is a mid-sized ship with a deck plan that’s intimate but never crowded, and offers everything modern voyagers are looking for—plus some unexpected extras.
The Best Small Cruises You've Never Heard of, As Ranked by Travelers - Business Insider
The Best Small Cruises You've Never Heard of, As Ranked by Travelers.
Posted: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Readers consistently rank the providers with the smallest ships highest in our survey of the best and worst ocean cruise lines. The ultra-luxury Seabourn Encore features 300 suites for 600 passengers with all the amenities of Seabourn’s Odyssey-class ships. New additions to Encore include a VIP area on the top deck, a wellness program and two new restaurants, The Grill by Thomas Keller and Sushi. Chris Caulfield of Cruise One recommends Celebrity Cruises to guests heading to the Galapagos.
That’s thanks to its luxurious service — most rooms come with butler service — and, no doubt, its dreamy itineraries that visit remote atolls in South Pacific and the cruise line’s private beach on Bora Bora. Sailing exclusively in French Polynesia, the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin offers an experience that is both luxurious and immersive. In 2019 the line was acquired by upscale Ponant, although both lines operate under separate management. Life onboard reflects the rich cultural heritage of the South Pacific islands through local entertainers and storytellers. Additionally, the Moana Explorer program offers hands-on interactive and fun learning for children and teens. Don't let the trappings fool you though -- these cruises (indeed all Hurtigruten sailings) are all about nature.
The fleet's latest vessels -- the 530-passenger MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen -- are eco-friendly hybrid propulsion ships that reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent. The ships feature suites and cabins with balconies, as well as ocean-view cabins. But behind the scenes, cruise lines have taken steps to ensure the safety of their guests post-pandemic. Overseas Adventure Travel says it worked with its tour guides, took into account government guidance, and reviewed feedback from its travelers to create health and safety guidelines for all of its small cruise ship adventures. Designed after the tall ship Preussen, the Royal Clipper is the world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship, complete with 42 sails.
You can find them on the web and social media sharing detailed cruise ship reviews, port guides, packing tips and planning tips to help travelers "sea the world, one port at a time." Michael Graham of MGA Travel recommends American Queen Voyages, (formerly American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines), which offers New England and Canada coastal cruises, and a variety of other coastal adventures. Some other lines offering coastal cruises include UnCruise Adventures and American Cruise Lines, which just announced plans to build 12 identical sister coastal ships. Michael Graham, president of MGA Travel, rates Antarctica as one of his favorite destinations and recommends Tauck, Atlas or Scenic to travelers hoping to head that way.
The first of its kind to join the Crystal Cruises' fleet, the 62-passenger Crystal Esprit is a luxury yacht with multiple restaurants offering top-notch cuisine, a gym, a spa and an expansive sun deck with a plunge pool and lounge. Its superb crew is consistent with the line's reputation for attention to passengers and detail. Most cabins on Crystal Esprit are a comfortable 280 square feet, with a king bed, lots of high-tech toys and lavish marble bathrooms.
The larger ships in the line feature built-in docks for kayaks and stand up paddleboards, while the smaller yacht-style ships include drinks and a spa treatment in the fare. Another newcomer to luxury small-ship cruising is the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which debuts its second ship, the Ilma, this year. With 224 suites, the ship is larger than the original Ritz-Carlton yacht, the 149-suite Evrima, which launched in October 2022. On the Ilma, all the suites will have private terraces, including a two-story suite with soaking tub; the coveted, 1,000-square-foot owner’s suite has a private outdoor whirlpool. Even the smallest suites are not all that small, at 300 square feet, and come with a personal concierge and 24-hour room service. The yacht boasts what Ritz-Carlton says is the highest ratio of space per guest at sea.
Enhance your evening with complimentary wine (mostly French), Charles Heidsieck Champagne, beer and spirits. After passing through various owners, Sea Cloud I has spent the last several decades offering casually elegant windjammer cruises to old-ship lovers from Europe and North America. The South Pacific Ocean as travel destination includes the archipelagos of Oceania (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia), Australia and New Zealand. Among the most visited in this region are the islands of Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the listed here ships are actually big yachts and all can be full-chartered. International Expeditions (TUI-owned) and Metropolitan Touring are among the best choices for Galapagos Islands.
Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). The Sea Cloud Spirit combines the experience of decades of traditional seamanship with the modern-day luxuries of a private yacht. Cabins range from 172-square-foot single cabins to 300-square-foot balcony suites with soaking tubs. There’s a large fitness center and spa, which has a steam room, sauna, and thermal area for two; indoor and outdoor lounges; and a main dining area, plus a more casual bistro. The action, however, is out on deck, where passengers can stargaze at night or simply gaze in awe at the impressive sails blowing in the wind.
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