Whether you’re new to cruising or branching out to try a different line, here’s what you need to know about Princess Cruises. It’s a favorite of our readers—in 2025, it was voted #1 Mega Ship Line, #7 Large Ship Line, and #20 Medium Ship Line in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Part of the Carnival Corporation (meaning it’s under the same umbrella as Holland America, Seabourn, Cunard, and, of course, Carnival), Princess has a fleet of 17 ships that sail to all 7 continents. It’s perhaps best known for its West Coast and Alaska itineraries, many of which offer both land and sea portions, as well as access to Glacier Bay National Park.

The crowds onboard tend to be a bit older, though you’ll see a good amount of multigenerational families on board too. It falls somewhere in the middle in terms of vibes—expect an elegant atmosphere that’s slower paced than other mega-ships, but not without its perks: Enjoy enrichment activities tied to the destinations you’re sailing to, and evening activities ranging from game shows to silent discos to movies under the stars (sign me up!).

It’s known as being relatively affordable for a premium line, and offers a little taste of everything, literally: think casual dining spots like an Irish pub, pizzeria, and sushi counter, and more formal, special occasion experiences like Crown Grill (a steakhouse), and Chef’s Table. (For a more all-inclusive option, select the premier package.) A perk in most cruisers’ eyes is the MedallionClass technology used to get around the ship—the wearable button is linked up to the package you’ve purchased and the room you’re in, so you can pay on the go and enter your stateroom without thinking twice (as you near your room, the button unlocks your door).

Okay, now that the basics are out of the way, read on for ways to save on your first (or next!) sailing with Princess cruise discounts, offers, and sales.

Enjoy Epic Voyages with up to $1,000 in onboard credit

Recently retired? In a stretch of funemployment in between gigs? If you’re looking to spend a few weeks or longer at sea, consider Princess’s Epic Voyages. These 14+ day journeys come in the form of six curated themes, from transatlantic crossings to South Pacific adventures. On select 40+ day cruises booked by March 17, 2026, you can receive up to $1,000 in onboard credit to elevate your experience even more.

Save up to $1,000 on cruises of every length

Thankfully, you don’t have to be fully decamping from your day-to-day life to save; Princess’s current promotions also include up to $200 in instant savings on 4–5 day getaways, up to $500 in instant savings on 6–8 day cruises, and up to $1,000 instant savings on 9+ day voyages.

Exclusive perks for military members and past guests

Veterans and active, retired, or disabled military personnel from the US and Canada are offered up to $250 in free onboard spending as a thanks for their service. The full amount varies based on the length of your cruise, starting with $50 for voyages of six days or less.

Past guests can also redeem special offers that grow in value with each cruise you take—early access to new itineraries, preferential pricing offers, members-only onboard events, and more. After your first cruise, you’ll be invited into the Captain’s Circle at the Gold level; once you’ve completed 3 cruises or 30 cruise days, you’ll move up to Ruby status; sail even more to hit Platinum or Elite.

Earn more at sea: rewards, referrals, and casino perks

For those who plan to visit the casinos while at sea, know that you can earn Princess Casino perks and discounts as you play, which can turn into special perks like future discounts, comped cruises, VIP invitations to special events and tournaments, and more.

Once you’ve experienced a river cruise, it’s hard to explore the world any other way. Small, intimate ships, personalized service, and boutique staterooms are beloved hallmarks of the river cruise experience. And when you’re on a European waterway, the cities you wind through are among the world’s most intriguing. Little wonder then that Global River Cruise Market Report, has found that river cruising is poised to reach $10 billion in sales by 2030, doubling the $5.4 billion triumph in 2024.

This year, familiar brands like AmaWaterways and Uniworld, as well as new-to-river industry vets like National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and Trafalgar, will unveil a raft of new ships and itineraries that are sure to contribute to those numbers. Whether you already love the river cruising experience, or are simply river curious, these new ships, creative itineraries, and unique excursion options are bound to tempt you. The nine cruise itineraries highlighted here are proof that there’s no time like the present to get on board.

The Hungarian Parliament Building in Lajos Kossuth Square, on the bank of the Danube River

Getty

Celebrate Hungary’s National Day with Riverside Luxury Cruises

Europe’s newest river cruise line is taking guests to Hungary this fall on a nine-day Destination Danube: Hungary National Day & Scenic Wachau Valley itinerary that coincides with Hungary’s National Day celebrations. Guests on the all-suite Riverside Mozart can experience the parades, folk traditions, fireworks, and regional cuisine that mark the celebration. Along with Budapest, the sailing has stops in Bratislava, Vienna, Linz, and Passau. Overnights in Budapest and Vienna allow for late-night adventures as well.

Artful exploration of the Danube with Uniworld

S.S. Emilie is Uniworld’s first new build since 2020. The ship is a floating tribute to artist Gustav Klimt and his partner and muse, Emilie Flöge (the ship’s namesake). Their signature colors and Art Nouveau style realized throughout the ship’s custom fabrics and furnishings. The latest addition to the five-star, all-inclusive super-ship fleet also offers a two-bedroom option that connects a Grand Suite with a Deluxe French Balcony. In March, S.S. Emilie debuts with a 10-day Danube river sailing. In 2027, Uniworld will add three more ships—all on European waterways.

The view of Lake Michigan from the cedarwood sauna on the Ponant Le Champlain was an expanse of blue as far as the eye could see. The vista truly wasn’t that different from what I’d seen from land, but it felt more vast, nuanced, and alive when at sea. Earlier that day I had also been surrounded by cedar, albeit in the North Woods of Mackinac Island, which was the last official stop before disembarking in Milwaukee on the Voyage Along the Great Lakes, a Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant Explorations cruise.

Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant, a French cruise ship operator, have been partners for almost five years and in 2026 will offer three dozen departures. Ponant supplies the sailing vessels, in this case the intimate Le Champlain ship with just 92 staterooms that can accommodate 184 passengers. Smithsonian and Ponant partner on the itineraries while Smithsonian sources the experts onboard. For the Great Lakes voyage from Toronto to Milwaukee, the focus was a combination of natural and man-made wonders (waterfalls, locks, and the maximalist interiors of Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel) and history of the areas we visited both on land and at sea.

Inside the Owner’s Suite on Ponant’s Le Champlain cruise ship

François Lefebvre

While I grew up in Chicago, Lake Michigan was never a huge part in my life. There were, to my mind, more interesting shores to seek out, preferably on other continents. But I have since been convinced of the treasures in my own backyard after being on board. I awoke the first morning to find that our ship was entering the 27-mile-long Welland Canal, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The ship’s sixth-floor Panoramic Lounge boasts floor-to-ceiling windows offering 180-degree views of the environs. It also has a massive outdoor deck, so I headed up to investigate. As I entered the lofty space, I was surprised to hear the voice of Viktor Kaczkowski, a towering, impressively coiffed transport geographer specializing in ships and canals. He treated us to a play-by-play of what was happening in the lock and to our ship. When the gates of the first lock slowly opened, I ran outside to observe the rising waters. It took about 12 hours to traverse all eight locks, which would ultimately raise Le Champlain to the height of Niagara Falls.

Having the Smithsonian Journeys experts on board for the sailing offered the promised highly informative lectures but also allowed for fun, often spontaneous interactions à la Kaczkowski’s Welland Canal narration. That evening at dinner I joined Fred Stonehouse, a noted maritime historian and Great Lakes explorer. The fascinating conversation revolved around Stonehouse’s encyclopedic knowledge and studies of the thousands of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. The biggest surprise of the dinner came when Stonehouse declared that the greatest maritime disaster in terms of the loss of passenger life was not the Titanic or the Lusitania. It was the SS Eastland, a steamer that in 1915 capsized while docked on the Chicago River, causing the deaths of 844 passengers. Despite my Chicago roots, I have passed that very spot many times unaware of its significance. Stonehouse also mentioned that the victims were brought to what was then the Second ­Regiment Armory, which later housed Harpo Studios, where Oprah Winfrey taped her talk show.

This year is set to be one of the most momentous seasons for Alaska cruising in recent memory. In summer 2026, a surge of new ships and cruise lines will sail in Alaska for the first time, while well-established traveler-favorite vessels will make long-awaited returns to the region after years away.

It’s all leading to a sense of unprecedented excitement. “Alaska is indeed hot in 2026,” says Tom Baker, travel specialist and president of Cruise Center. “There has been a strong demand for closer-to-home cruising, and Alaska is the summer’s hit. Many cruise lines are at 80% plus capacity for the entire season, which is May to September.”

With stunning coasts lined with calving glaciers and icy fjords, the very best Alaska cruise itineraries offer travelers the opportunity to be immersed in the culture of Indigenous villages, and spot wildlife like whales, seals, and bald eagles right from their stateroom balcony. This year, “the demand for smaller ships, more intimate experiences, and exceptional excursions are at an all-time high,” Baker says.

Here’s a look at the notable cruise lines and new ships that will debut in Alaska for the 2026 season.

Ritz-Carlton will launch its first Alaska sailings

In May 2026, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will debut Alaska voyages for the first time ever aboard its third and most recent superyacht, Luminara. The 452-passenger ship launched in July 2025, with 225 suites, all with private balconies where passengers can lose themselves among Alaska’s awe-inspiring landscapes and abundant wildlife.

Luminara will offer 13 voyages throughout the 2026 season, each of which span 7 to 11 nights and call on up to 11 ports in Alaska and Canada. Passengers can expect to sail through the famous Tracy Arm Fjord and Endicott Arm Fjord; get up close to the region’s most iconic glaciers, including the Sawyer, Dawes, and Hubbard glaciers; and pass through dramatic frozen landscapes en route to ports like Haines and Sitka. In each port, travelers can expect excursions that are both heart-pounding and dip into the local culture, like a helicopter flight over the towering Mahoney Falls or a local seafood tasting led by an Alaskan fisherwoman.

The 909-square-foot Penthouse Suite aboard the Crystal Symphony boasts panoramic ocean views

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises returns after a years-long hiatus

In 2026, beloved line Crystal Cruises will make its triumphant return to Alaska for the first time in seven years. Travelers, it seems, are delighted, as many of the 2026 itineraries are already close to selling out. The ultra-luxury line will sail Alaska from May to August, with both of its ships—Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity—making an appearance throughout the season.

As the demand for luxury cruising continues to soar around the globe, travelers can expect a wave of new superyachts dropping anchor over the next two years.

Enter the latest ship we’re obsessed with: Amangati, Aman’s first ocean-going motor yacht. While the 600-foot, nine-deck yacht is still under construction, the vessel’s first itineraries were announced on January 21. The debut season will commence spring 2027 with five- to eight-night Mediterranean journeys.

Restaurants across the ship include a Mediterranean hideout and a grill

SINOT

Amangati’s first voyage kicks off on May 7, 2027 with a six-night sailing to seven ports. Beginning at Palma de Mallorca and finishing at Nice, ports of call include Barcelona, Palamós, and Marseille.

Plenty of itineraries have been curated with Italophiles in mind, with the seven-night Livorno to Naples journey taking travelers to dazzling destinations like Napoleon’s exile isle of Elba and the paradisiacal beaches along north Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda via the French island of Corsica.

Plenty of outside space will offer incredible sea views

SINOT

Come August, Amangati will navigate the Croatian and Albanian coasts en route to Greek islands such as Corfu, Milos, Paros, and Santorini.

On board, prospective guests can expect Aman’s signature tranquillity across remarkably spacious rooms and social areas. Interiors draw inspiration from Japanese ryokans, where natural light pours through full-height windows, and private terraces offer breathtaking views as the motor yacht pulls into each port.

As we sailed through Disko Bay on Greenland’s west coast, I woke to a persistent, muffled crunch. The root of all the ruckus: floating disks of pancake ice strewn across a pastel sunrise-tinted sea.

The frozen scenery was a result of the Ilulissat Icefjord—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—that’s fed by the Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the world’s fastest flowing glaciers. We had just reached the second stop of Viking’s inaugural Northwest Passage sailing, a 12-night roundtrip journey split between Greenland’s west coast and the Canadian High Arctic.

As I peered out from the retractable window in my Deluxe Nordic Balcony cabin, I couldn’t help but liken the scenery to Wilhelmina Bay in Antarctica, an expedition I joined with the cruise line two years earlier. Just three days into this sailing, I had already overheard several other passengers swap similar Arctic versus Antarctic comparisons, and swiftly came to learn that the majority of my fellow travelers had booked this journey following an outstanding Antarctica trip with Viking.

“Traveling into the Northwest Passage itself is inherently thrilling,” says Aaron Lawton, Viking’s head of expedition operations. “This legendary route has captured the imagination of explorers for centuries, and experiencing it firsthand brings that history to life.”

The opportunity to visit one of Earth’s most remote polar regions—let alone both—is a recent phenomenon for leisure travelers. The southern Antarctic and northern Arctic were historically accessible only by explorers, who then paved the way for researchers, and were followed by rugged expedition travelers. Then came the rise of luxury polar-class vessels like the Viking’s Polaris and Octantis expedition ships, which can simultaneously navigate thick ice sheets while swaddling its passengers with the comforts and amenities of a five-star resort.

For years, though, luxury cruise lines have offered far more options in the Antarctic than the Arctic, largely due to lack of port infrastructure, air connectivity, and mercurial weather. In 2024, 87 cruise ships passed through the Arctic Polar Code area versus the 58 cruise ships recorded in 2013, according to Arctic Ship Passage Data (ASTD). The stark increase over a decade is still significantly below the statistics of its south pole counterpart, where the 2023-2024 season witnessed 569 voyages and over 117,000 passengers, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

Eight countries comprise the Arctic, and though some have long been popular cruising destinations, like the circumnavigation of Iceland or sailing the Norwegian fjords, travelers’ ever-growing obsession to journey off-the-beaten-path have drawn operators further north. When the Nuuk International Airport opened at the end of 2024, Greenland officially emerged as an embarkation hotspot for luxury and expedition lines including Viking, Ponant, HX, Silversea, and Quark.

As polar enthusiasts consider the new array of Arctic sailings on offer, travelers should understand that while the two polar regions share some similarities, of course, an Arctic cruise is much different from an Antarctic expedition. Mainly: the Arctic’s landscape varies from rugged, lichen-covered rock face to incomprehensibly-sized icebergs. Antarctica mostly presents a consistent, frozen tundra. In the Arctic, the excursions are culture-centric, whereas Antarctica promises days filled with wildlife.

“In the Arctic, encounters with Inuit communities in places such as Greenland or the Canadian Arctic add a powerful human dimension to the experience,” Lawton says. “These interactions provide cultural context that deeply influence our guests’ understanding of the region.”

In the 91-person settlement of Itilleq, Greenland, for example, we joined locals for morning coffee and cake in a ritual called kaffemik, a tradition typically held for birthdays or special occasions. Crossing over to Canada’s Arctic archipelago and landed in Nunavut, the traditional lands of the Inuit, an elder led us through an exploration of Inuit music via seal-hide drum as the next generation showcased native sports like the One Foot High Kick. And on Nunavut’s Beechey Island, we were the only people at the gravesite of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin’s three crewmen—a fragile archaeological site we were only allowed to access thanks to Viking’s onboard archaeologists (made all the more authentic due to an impending snowstorm).

Wave season has officially arrived, bringing with it some of the year’s most compelling cruise deals. Now through March is prime time for travelers, whether loyal cruisers or first-timers, to lock in major savings across every type of voyage, from ocean and river sailings to intimate yacht journeys and far‑flung expeditions.

Top cruise lines are delivering standout value this year, with thousands of dollars in savings on the table, as well as perks like complimentary stateroom and suite upgrades and generous onboard credits. Deals span the world’s most coveted regions, from the Mediterranean and Caribbean to Antarctica and Northern Europe, making this the ideal moment to plan your next adventure at sea.

Most offers are flexible with travel dates too: Wave season features promotions applicable to 2026, 2027, and in some cases, even 2028 sailings. Read on to discover the best opportunities this year has to offer.

The Quark Ultramarine is designed for the most remote polar exploration.

Michelle Sole/Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions

When booking with Quark Expeditions, you can enjoy up to $2,000 in savings plus 25% off select Arctic and Antarctic voyages for 2026 and 2027. These polar adventures immerse travelers in the world’s most remote landscapes, from sculpted glaciers and penguin-filled shores to the stark, otherworldly beauty of the High Arctic.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises’ 2026 Voyage Collection is now open with early‑booking savings across more than 190 itineraries spanning Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Early reservations made before March 4 secure the best fares and air pricing, along with Oceania’s hallmark small‑ship luxury, destination‑rich itineraries, and The Finest Cuisine at Sea. Select voyages also include added-value perks depending on sailing and stateroom category.

The Crystal Symphony‘s pool deck features one large pool, a big hot tub, and a stage for entertainment.

MARK LUSCOMBE-WHYTE/Courtesy Crystal Symphony

Crystal Cruises

Through March 31, 2026, Crystal is offering its Sail & Save Deal, combining fare reductions with onboard credit across nearly 200 global voyages in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Qualifying bookings receive up to $5,000 in savings per room or suite, plus up to $500 in onboard credit for specialty dining, boutique shopping, or spa treatments. The deal can also be paired with Crystal’s Caribbean Included Air promotion, which provides either an air allowance of up to $3,000 per room with transfers or an air credit of up to $2,000 when booking flights independently.

HX Expeditions

HX Expeditions is celebrating wave season with one of its most robust offers yet: up to $4,000 off all-inclusive expedition cruises to Antarctica, Greenland, the Galápagos, Alaska, Svalbard, the Northwest Passage, Arctic Canada, and Norway. Running through March 23, 2026, the See the World sale includes up to $4,000 per person in savings on select 2026–2028 departures, plus $250 in onboard credit—or an additional discount on Galápagos and Norway sailings.

Featured itineraries include wildlife-rich journeys and bucket-list polar expeditions: the 12-day Highlights of Antarctica, the 11-day Galápagos Islands Expedition Cruise–Nine of the Best Isles, the aurora-focused Ultimate Norway–Arctic Expedition under the Northern Lights, and the 17-day Grand Greenland–Mythical Lands of the North. Led by HX’s expert Expedition Team, each voyage immerses travelers in some of the world’s most remote and storied landscapes.

Sail to Antarctica (and skip the Drake Passage, if you’re so inclined) on adults-oriented ultra-luxury line Silversea.

Fiippo Vinardi/Silversea Cruises

Silversea

Silversea is offering up to 40% savings on more than 800 voyages across its global fleet, with reduced deposits starting at 15% for bookings made by February 28, 2026. Spanning expedition and classic itineraries, from Antarctica and the Arctic to the Mediterranean, Asia, and the South Pacific, all voyages feature Silversea’s hallmark butler service and all‑inclusive luxury.

The Viking Star is known for its intimate, all-veranda, 930-passenger design with Scandinavian style.

White Rain/Viking

Viking

Viking’s wave season promotion includes up to 35% off cruise fares, free international airfare on select itineraries, and a $25 deposit for bookings made by January 31, 2026. The offer applies to river, ocean, and expedition voyages worldwide, including popular routes through Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Great Lakes.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

In honor of its 50th anniversary, Uniworld is offering up to 30% off select 2026 sailings. Travelers can explore Europe’s legendary rivers on itineraries such as Enchanting Danube, Paris & Normandy, and Brilliant Bordeaux, all aboard Uniworld’s intimate, fully all-inclusive boutique ships. Special onboard festivities will take place throughout the anniversary year. Be sure to book by February 28, 2026.

Connect with nature on a Holland America cruise through Alaska

Holland America

Holland America Line

Holland America Line is launching its largest promotion of the year, the Start Your Journey sale. Available on more than 500 cruises to Alaska, Europe, and beyond, it includes up to 30% off fares, free balcony upgrades, reduced deposits, free kids’ fares, and onboard and shore excursion credits on select summer 2026 through spring 2027 departures. Cruisers can book by January 31, 2026, to receive up to $250 in onboard credit per person, plus up to $200 in Alaska shore excursion credits per stateroom on eligible 2026 itineraries.

Guests spot a whale from the ship National Geographic Orion, Lemaire Channel by Booth Island, Antarctica.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions

To celebrate nearly 60 years of exploration, National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions is offering up to 20% off select 2026 and 2027 voyages when travelers book by February 9, 2026. Iconic itineraries include Alaska, British Columbia, and Haida Gwaii; the Galápagos Escape; and the Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords expedition. Each journey highlights the brand’s signature spirit of discovery, immersing guests in wild coastlines, rare wildlife, and storied ecosystems across the globe.

Trafalgar’s river cruises to Danube uncover a mix of history, culture and local traditions.

Trafalgar (River Cruise Collection)

Trafalgar

Trafalgar is offering up to 15% off select river cruise itineraries and departures, including Best of the Danube, Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam, and Christmas Market sailings. Travelers can also score exclusive perks such as a complimentary two-night Prague extension on Best of the Danube and 50% off a two-night Lucerne extension on Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam. For 2026 sailings, guests booking air-inclusive packages receive a $250 per person credit, while select 2027 departures include a complimentary upgrade from Classic to Deluxe C cabins. These offers are available through February 27, 2026, for travel through December 31, 2026.

Cunard’s ship, Queen Anne, passes the Isle of Wight as arrives at her home port of Southampton .

Christopher Ison/Cunard

Cunard

Through February 25, 2026, Cunard is treating North American travelers to up to $600 in onboard credit—its most generous offer of the year. Available across voyages on all four Queens, including the legendary Queen Mary 2, the promotion gives guests even more reason to experience Cunard’s signature blend of timeless elegance, white-glove service, and ocean-crossing grandeur.

The Seven Seas Grandeur has a stunning 1,600-piece art collection onboard.

Pete Barrett/Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas is elevating wave season with its Upgrade Your Horizon promotion: a free two‑category suite upgrade, 50% reduced deposits, and a $500 shipboard credit per suite on select 2026 voyages. Available across every ship and destination, it invites guests to enjoy more space, more inclusions, and more personalized luxury when you book by February 28, 2026.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises is elevating wave season with its most valuable promotion to date. The new Beyond Inclusive package, available now through March 31, 2026, on select voyages sailing through March 31, 2027, bundles Windstar’s signature small-ship experience with its richest combination of perks.

Onboard/Offboard is a series that explores the can’t-miss highlights of our favorite cruises—from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up.

A new ship sometimes needs time to work out the kinks, but at this point—more than 100 vessels later—Viking has the routine down pat. In early November, I boarded the Viking Vesta, the line’s 12th ocean vessel, in Istanbul, a few months into service. It marked my first Viking sailing and first time to Türkiye. I was instantly charmed by the line’s size and Nordic-inspired spaces. The ships are nearly the same across each category, both in design and onboard experiences, though this one has the distinction of being the largest (998 passengers verses 930). This sameness has its plusses, as they’ve clearly figured out a nice setup: The lounge areas feel spacious but also cozy and homey, with endless corners to curl up with a good book or simply sit and watch the waves go by. This isn’t a go-go-go type of line, where you’re racing to visit every last dining venue or lining up for rides—instead, it welcomes and fosters a more restorative type of trip. Read on for the highlights of my time onboard and off.

Onboard: A sea day at the spa

We were met with an unexpected sea day pretty early on in the seven-night Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise, which gave me the perfect opportunity to check out the spa. As soon as I did a loop of the space, I knew I’d be back at least a few more times before getting off the ship. If you’re a fan of hot and cold therapy, you’ll love the setup here: In the locker rooms, you can alternate between the cold plunge and sauna (which, in the women’s lounge at least, is positioned to look out at a sea, a very pleasant way to pass the time as you sweat). Out in the main spa area, there is a sauna and a snow grotto, which looks just like you might imagine—a small room filled with snow and a slab of ice to sit on (bring your towel!) for a few minutes in the brisk air.

Three times during the sailing I made my way through this circuit, ending with a bit of time to read in the hydrotherapy pool or on one of the lounge chairs seen above. The space is open to all guests, so you don’t have to have an appointment booked in order to access the amenities. And even on the sea day, it was never packed—maybe I got lucky, or maybe the ship’s size just allows for it.

Offboard: A half-day excursion through Istanbul

The port I was most excited to visit was also our first, Istanbul. I flew in a night early so I could maximize my time there; it was also one of two overnight ports on the itinerary (the second was Athens). Viking itineraries, especially longer ones, prioritize overnights like this—giving passenger ample time for exploring ports that you can’t get a feel for in a single afternoon.

On my third and last day in Istanbul, I signed up for a half-day excursion, “Beautiful Istanbul and a Traditional Turkish Bath,” that brought me back to the Spice Bazaar to smell and taste some of the city’s most well-known exports (this time, less overwhelmed by the market’s size with a guide to talk me through it, I purchased saffron as an early Christmas present for my dad), to the 16th-century Rüstem Pasha Mosque, and most notably, to a hammam, where my wellness-tinged week really began.

Like with most Virgin Voyages sailings, the festivities began the first night with the PJ Party, where I met a 30-something-year-old solo traveler from New York City. She was on her way to link up with a group of friends she made on her last Virgin sailing, aboard the Resilient Lady. “It’s easy to make friends on these sailings because we have every reason in the world to celebrate,” she told me. “Even if it’s totally random.”

According to Richard Kilman, Virgin Voyages’s vice president of entertainment, the programming aboard Brilliant Lady is designed to organically foster connections like this. Nightlife isn’t just a venue you enter, but an ecosystem that unfolds across the ship, letting guests choose how fully to engage. “We intentionally curate these venues and vibes for people to meet, engage, and celebrate together, whether with friends, partners, or strangers who now feel like friends,” he says.

On Brilliant Lady, you encounter this ethos early. Even casual strolls through the casino offer performances in miniature: an impromptu karaoke night besides the retro-inspired arcade, a trombone riff from an unexpected nook, or a trivia host leading a spontaneous game. It’s all executed by a talented group of entertainers, who Virgin Voyages scouts for at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival ahead of planning each ship’s performance lineup.

Throughout the course of the sailing, performers collectively known as “The Happenings Cast” roam the ship hosting spontaneous games, magic acts, and drag bingo (Let’s Play With The Diva was a true highlight). Elsewhere, a live band might perform by a moody cocktail bar that wouldn’t look out of place in New York City. The effect is something akin to curated chaos—not a neatly packaged “party,” but an ecosystem of happenings.

One of my personal favorite spaces to stumble into was The Manor, a sparkling and spacious two-level club that hosts iconic performances and parties. It was here that I experienced the Glow Party—really, a neon-themed dance party—as well as delectable shows with half-moon seating: Up With a Twist, a fabulously sultry roaring ‘20s-inspired production with a live band and dining, and Murder in the Manor, an immersive and colorful ‘80s-inspired performance (inspired by the growing public demand of murder podcasts).

For couples seeking a mix of adventure, relaxation, and undisturbed moments together at sea, a romantic cruise offers a natural setting to reconnect. Whether marking a honeymoon, anniversary, or simply prioritizing quality time, cruising blends comfort and connection through private balcony sunsets, thoughtfully prepared dinners, and destinations that encourage shared discovery.

The experience can vary widely depending on your travel style, from exploring Antarctic coastlines with Quark Expeditions to sailing historic European ports with Viking, or enjoying sun-soaked Caribbean harbors with Princess Cruises. While each itinerary brings its own personality, the heart of a romantic cruise remains consistent: meaningful destinations, unrushed moments, and experiences best enjoyed side by side. With that in mind, here is our list of the most romantic couples cruises of the year.

Princess Cruises

Itinerary: 7-day Mediterranean with Italy & Turkey
Departure: June 30, 2026

Experience: This Mediterranean itinerary visits Santorini and Mykonos, Greece, and Kusadasi, Turkey, among other ports, giving couples a mix of scenic island stops and historic coastal cities. In Santorini, excursions focus on caldera viewpoints, winery visits, and time in Oia, while Mykonos offers beach clubs, coastal walks, and small-group sailing tours. Kusadasi provides access to Ephesus, where guided walks through ancient ruins are both manageable and engaging. Onboard, Princess supports downtime between ports with balcony dining, a full-service spa offering couples treatments, evening movies on deck, and The Sanctuary, an adults-only space that offers a quieter alternative to the main pool areas.

Sunset Bar – Deck 15 AftCelebrity Ascent – Celebrity CruisesMichel Verdure

Celebrity Cruises

Itinerary: 10-night Ultimate Southern Caribbean
Departure: March 6, 2026