Parents are often told that cruising with kids means choosing the ship with the biggest slides, the best kids club, or the most beloved mouse. And those vacations can be great. But they aren’t the only way to do it. On the right small-ship cruise, the selling point isn’t endless onboard entertainment; it’s the chance to bring kids deeper into the trip itself. Not every sailing works for every age—some welcome little kids, while others are better for children old enough to kayak, snorkel, bike, or scramble in and out of Zodiacs. And no, most won’t indulge the exhausted-parent fantasy of dropping your offspring somewhere supervised for six hours while you bliss out with a good book. But for families who want fewer crowds, more direct access to destinations, and a getaway that doesn’t sequester kids in their own parallel universe, smaller vessels can make the whole trip feel like an adventure you’re actually having together. The seven sailings below make that case in very different ways—from Christmas markets on the Rhine and ancient temples on the Nile to tall ships in the Caribbean.

What kid doesn’t love Christmas?

Riverside Luxury Cruises

For holiday magic in Germany: Riverside Luxury Cruises

The genius of a Christmas-market cruise is its joyful repetition: new port, familiar delights. One day it’s a double-decker antique carousel or Ferris wheel trimmed in garlands; the next, six-foot-tall nutcrackers, a steam train, or a potato tornado on a stick. Onboard the 110-passenger Debussy, the cruise line keeps the mood festive without handing the ship over to children. Butlers are instant heroes—ours scooped fresh popcorn from an old-fashioned cart with the regularity of a palace footman—and the lounge programming hits both generations at once: kids decorate star- and tree-shaped gingerbread cookies with the chef while adults sip Rüdesheimer kaffee, a whipped-cream coffee drink spiked with German brandy. Between Christmas towns, kids can splash around in the small indoor pool or patrol the top deck for Elsa-worthy castles lining the banks of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

For active exploration in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise’s Alaska sailings treat the state less like a sightseeing route than a floating outdoor classroom. Its vessels carry just 22 to 86 guests, which means families are close to the action: skiffing toward tidewater glaciers, watching for whales and sea lions, hiking from remote landings, kayaking in quiet coves, or poking around the shoreline with naturalists. On select family-focused departures, UnCruise waives its 8-year-old minimum; parents should check carefully, since other sailings have age restrictions. The programming is refreshingly field-trip-style, incorporating Junior Ranger books, scavenger hunts, science labs, kayak races, kids-only tours, and beach bonfires. Cabins are compact and expedition-style, though select rooms can sleep three or four. This one is best suited for hardy, curious kids who can handle wet landings, variable weather, and long stretches outside.

This is the latest installment of our bimonthly column Crews on Cruise, spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.

When Nadia Durigon was little, she’d walk past a travel agency in her hometown near Venice and point excitedly at the ferry pictured in the window. When teachers would ask her to write school essays detailing where she saw herself in the future, her answer was always the same: “on a cruise ship.”

After studying foreign languages and tourism in high school, Durigon went straight into the industry and quickly found her niche in youth programming. (She was 19 years old at the time, so organizing group activities for teens often felt like hanging out with friends.)

Now 37, Durigon has spent nearly two decades working at sea and currently serves as the Traveling Fleet Supervisor for Family Entertainment at MSC Cruises. Her job blends youth programming, trend forecasting, activity development, staff training, and ship launches—essentially helping shape the onboard experience for families across the MSC fleet.

She’s helped roll out everything from mascot parades to laser-gaming experiences aboard ships like World America, MSC’s sprawling new flagship designed with families squarely in mind. The 22-deck mega ship packs in one of the largest kids clubs at sea, plus bumper cars, roller skating, waterslides, a ropes course, and the Cliffhanger—the cruise industry’s first overwater swing ride. There are quiz shows and dance parties, teen-only gaming spaces, Guinness World Records competitions, and enough stimulation to make some kids forget their parents exist for days at a time.

“It’s the best job in the world,” says Durigon. “I’m not a routine kind of person, and this allows me to meet new people every day and travel around the world while doing it.”

We caught up with Durigon at MSC’s headquarters in Geneva earlier this year to talk about launching new ships, designing activities that appeal to multiple generations, and the art of decoding Gen Alpha internet slang.

What does a typical day on the job look like?

“Because I only get to stay on board for one or max two cruises each time, I try to squeeze everything in. My afternoons and evenings are packed. I love joining the youth staff team so I can see the guest feedback firsthand. Our new LEGO family game show worked really well on World America; it’s always full of adults who want to play. Sometimes we have grandparents doing activities with little kids, so we have to find a way to get them involved in the games as well. Then afterward, I’ll give [the crew] my own feedback about what we can improve or change.

Launching a ship is craziness because everything is new, but it’s also very, very fun. The LEGO parade was one example. We had a choreographer come onboard and teach us dances in the mascot costumes. The team thought it would be impossible, but they were amazing.”

What is your favorite part about this job?

“I would be lying if I didn’t say traveling, even after so many years. But I think it’s also not having one day that is exactly the same as another. I love spending time with the kids and their families. I don’t know if you’ve heard of this ‘67’ trend, but it took me three days to understand what was going on. [Laughs] This job keeps me young.”

What is the most challenging part about working at sea?

The sailing yacht‘s interior is no less impressive. A plush, open-plan social space with a bar, piano, and living area leads through to an Asian-influenced dining room (complete with hidden wine storage) while a sweeping spiral staircase reveals the master suite, VIP suite with its own private terrace, and four double cabins.

There’s also a fitness studio; a wellness room where guests can book in for a selection of Jumeirah’s signature spa treatments (such as a restorative facial massage, reflexology, and bodywork rooted in Japanese techniques); and watersports toys including kayaks, e-foils, Seabobs, and wakeboards for afternoons splashing around in turquoise bays.

Chefs onboard will be trained by Jumeirah; on request, a chef from one of the group’s hotels, Jumeirah Mallorca or Jumeirah Capri Palace, can also take over the kitchen. During my sailing, lunch was an Italian feast—a seafood salad, tomato-based paccheri pasta, chocolate lingot – served outside on a long table laid with Mediterranean-style painted tiles, a macrame runner, and colorful glassware. Later, it was too windy for the planned outdoor movie screening (films are projected onto the lower sail). But as I sipped on a raspberry sour while watching the sunset over the craggy cliffs of Sa Dragonera National Park, I couldn’t complain.

Of course, it makes sense that guests may want to bookend their time onboard with a hotel stay and try some of the other experiences on offer. At Jumeirah Mallorca, these include a one-off celestial masterclass with the director of the island’s Astronomy Institute that coincides with this August’s solar eclipse; a private wine tasting at Finca Macià Batle; a helicopter tour; and—my highlight—a visit to Son Moragues in the Tramuntana Mountains. The latter is a regenerated 500-year-old agricultural estate comprising four farms, which produces organic olive oil from ancient groves using traditional land management practices. Trundling around on an old Land Rover, we pass gnarly 1,000-year-old trees, a vegetable plot full of heirloom tomatoes, and a workshop with restored looms that are now used to make the softest wool blankets I’ve ever felt—some of which are on The Maltese Falcon (the estate also makes jams and botanical gin). Whether on land or at sea, the experiences offered a fresh perspective on life in the Med.

A week’s charter on the Maltese Falcon is from $7,000 for seven days; a deluxe mountain view room at Jumeirah Mallorca starts from $705. To book visit jumeirah.com.

The Orient Express may be synonymous with luxury train travel, but 140 years on from its revolutionary rail venture, the company is launching an opulent sailing yacht named the Orient Express Corinthian.

Making its maiden voyage at the beginning of May, the Corinthian will sail across the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before crossing the Atlantic and reaching the Caribbean in winter.

It’s the first luxury yacht in the world to use SolidSail technology, which will help minimize the vessel’s carbon footprint. “For more than 160 years, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has been building ships that define their era,” Laurent Castaing, CEO of the French shipyard, said in a statement. “Orient Express Corinthian is the latest proof of this: 720 feet, 15,000 tonnes carried by the wind, three SolidSail sails… the fruit of 10 years of research and development. It is a concrete, technical response to the decarbonization challenges facing maritime transport.”

Making its maiden voyage on May 2, the Orient Express Corinthian will sail across the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before crossing the Atlantic, on to the Caribbean.

Jean-Marie LIOT / Orient Express

At over 700-feet long, the “floating sanctuary of refinement” is the world’s longest sailing yacht, with 54 suites offering sea views for each and every guest as it journeys through the Mediterranean.

The Corinthian has several restaurants on board, all overseen by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. Passengers will find fine dining venues La Table and La Terrasse illuminated with natural light, featuring Art Deco design details that creates a laid-back yet sophisticated atmosphere. There’s also a gorgeous oyster and Champagne bar, L’Encre, offering light refreshments and views of the ocean. What’s more, guests can indulge in a touch of pampering at the yacht’s wellness suite, complete with a hair salon and spa by Guerlain.

Orient Express already has plans to launch a second sister ship, the Orient Express Olympian, which is expected to set sail in 2027 and is currently being fitted.

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.

The unhurried undulation of a whale’s movements is nearly inseparable from the rolling swells of the sea, making them easy to miss and hard to believe. That is, until we are surrounded by three pairs of mothers and their calves—six in total—revealing themselves to us one fin and blowhole at a time. “Come on, come on,” I hear one of my fellow passengers whisper greedily. Their backsides are not enough. We want the tail.

I can’t blame him. We’re on day five of the week-long sailing, and I’ve had two tail sightings thus far. Both times, we were much farther away, looking out to sea from atop the Venture’s observation deck. But even from a distance, the wavelike motion of a whale’s fluke lifting into the air had the power to slow time. Each time it dove back under, I felt my heart swell and drop with it.

Travelers aboard the National Geographic Venture near Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur

Michael S. Nolan/National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

Now we’re so close I can hear them breathe. “Over there!” someone yells, and we immediately turn to face starboard, pointing our fingers and cameras and binoculars into the vast blue, a deep ultramarine that feels inherently at odds with the desert’s barren hills. But the humpback does not understand our frantic gestures and quickly disappears back to the depths from which it came. As we rock and sway with the surf, our TikTok-length attention spans are held captive in the sea’s primordial rhythm. So we wait.

While we’re looking for whales, they’re paying close attention to us too, explains our guide, Luis Cuarenta, a Cabo Pulmo resident who has been leading snorkeling, scuba, and whale watching tours for the past eight years. “When I dive with the sharks, and they pass right above me, you can see their eyes watching you,” he says, still in his wetsuit from snorkeling with a group earlier that morning. “They know what you are, but they just want to be close to you.”

To him, building that mutual relationship with the whales is the best part of his job—and the reason thousands of tourists travel to Baja to see them each year. “It makes you feel part of something,” he says. “They know that you exist, and you know that they exist.”

The sightings, while very much real, are still miraculous. Just 30 years ago, Cabo Pulmo’s 20,000-year-old coral reef was depleted by years of overfishing—bringing some species, like the scalloped hammerhead shark, near ecological extinction. After grassroots campaigning by the local community, the reef was declared a Natural Protected Area by the Mexican government in 1995. Within the first 10 years, the no-take zones where fishing was banned saw over a 460% increase in fish biomass, an incredibly impressive species recovery rate.

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.

With so much of August 2026’s solar eclipse, whose path of totality will run from Siberia to the Balearic Islands, occurring over water, the best place to view it is out at sea. And the cruise industry is ready: Celebrity Cruises and Ponant have launched eclipse-specific itineraries, while Holland America Line (HAL) will have three ships off Iceland and Spain. According to Robert de Bruin, HAL’s director of deployment and itinerary planning, the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam, and Oosterdam will host astrophysicists on board, including Adam Burgasser from the University of California, San Diego, to provide real-time commentary and lectures “to give insight into one of nature’s most spectacular spectacles.” While big ships are being deployed to Iceland and the Mediterranean, expedition ships will anchor in places like East Greenland, where larger vessels cannot dock. And demand is high for the world’s biggest island: Quark Expeditions‘ initial eclipse voyage sold out quickly, leading the company to reposition a second ship. The line is allowing flexibility in its itineraries in the days leading up the event to ensure the ship can secure the best spot. This focus on solar eclipse sailings is part of an upward trend in astrotourism cruise itineraries, with more travelers sailing to catch the midnight sun or meteor showers or do general stargazing. “Traveling to the Arctic offers something most travelers can’t experience at home: unspoiled night skies, full-view auroras, and solar events like the midnight sun,” says Solan Jensen, Quark Expeditions’ director of expedition delivery and communication. Northern lights cruises, in particular, are having a moment: Operators from Viking to Hurtigruten are now sending ships north in search of the aurora with such confidence that Hurtigruten offers replacement sailings at no cost if passengers don’t spot the phenomenon on certain voyages. If you have missed the boat on booking for next year, not to worry: Another total eclipse will pass across Spain and much of Africa, with prime viewing over Egypt, in 2027.

This article appeared in the December 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.

Under the forest tapestry of fluffy fruit bats and intersecting branches, I crept closer to a prehistoric-looking giant tortoise that had taken refuge in the shade of some shrubbery. My presence on Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean was improbable for a number of reasons. The world’s second-largest coral atoll is not only extremely remote (it’s about 700 miles from Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles), but it also requires visitors to adhere to intense biosecurity measures. The atoll is home to 100,000 giant tortoises, the largest population in the world, as well as to nearly 400 other endemic species and subspecies, including the white-throated rail, the western Indian Ocean’s last remaining flightless bird.

Smaller ships can access remote atolls like the Seychelles’ Outer Islands with minimal environmental impact.

Smaller ships like the one I’m traveling on, Ponant’s (#5 Small Ship) Le Bougainville, can access these prime natural areas with minimal impact. Visiting most of the Seychelles’ tiny Outer Islands, like the 0.18-square-mile St. Francois, involved “wet landings”: hopping off Zodiacs straight into clear shallow water. Veteran outfitter Abercrombie & Kent, which partnered with Ponant on the experience, took numerous measures to ensure that our arrival would not harm the environment, including dipping our shoes in antimicrobial liquid and vacuum-sealing our belongings.

Coastal Africa and the continent’s island nations, like the Seychelles and Madagascar, are inviting places to cruise, with their unique ecosystems, white-sand beaches, and historical seaside cities. Yet offerings here are limited. We didn’t encounter another vessel—not even a fishing boat—during our first 10 days of sailing through the Seychelles. I saw more red-footed boobies than tourists.