Right up my street!
An expedition yacht to Antarctica or a riverboat through central China? Luxury vacations on the water have never been as varied and exciting as they are today.
Too old", "too boring", "not flexible enough": cruise clichés are a dime a dozen - and most of them are as persistent as Azores highs and Iceland lows. However, new ships and innovative concepts are currently providing a breath of fresh air on the world's seas and rivers. So it's high time to finally throw all preconceptions overboard.
To the ends of the earth
Small, fine, cosmopolitan - in the truest sense of the word: expedition cruises, whether to the eternal ice of Antarctica or along the side arms of the Amazon, are not only in vogue, they are also becoming increasingly luxurious. The best example: the four new expedition yachts from the ice-suitable Explorer series from French boutique shipping company Ponant. The identical sister ships are equipped exclusively with balcony cabins and suites and offer space for a maximum of 192 passengers and 110 crew members. The panoramic infinity pools and the large water sports platforms at the stern are spectacular. The gourmet cuisine, designed by Alain Ducasse, promises to be a real treat. The first two ships in the series will be launched in summer 2018. Destinations include the Amazon, Iceland and the Seychelles. Hapag Lloyd Cruises is also relying on two identical new additions for 2019: the Hanseatic nature and the Hanseatic inspiration are each designed for a maximum of 230 guests and will also be able to land in the most remote destinations. The highlights of the two ships include suites with retractable glass balconies, three on-board restaurants and spacious wellness and fitness areas. Until then, however, Hapag-Lloyd guests can still make do with the old Hanseatic and the Bremen, which will sail to more than 60 premiere destinations in 2018/19, including the Japanese Goto Islands and the eastern Philippines. Explorers traveling on the ultra-luxurious Seabourn ships will appreciate the "ventures by Seabourn" offers. These are guided Zodiac tours in Antarctica and Patagonia, accompanied by natural scientists. This summer, guests of the US cruise line will also be able to enjoy exclusive UNESCO World Heritage tours, including Stonehenge in England, the Silk Exchange in Valencia and Gorham Cave in Gibraltar, which are combined with unique excursions.
High on the wind
Cruises under sail are also one of the biggest trends. No wonder, as you can experience the magic of the seas particularly intensively on board a windjammer. Alongside Sea Cloud Cruises, Star Flyer Cruises is one of the leading luxury providers in German-speaking countries. In 2017/18, the three ships Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer will mainly be sailing in the Mediterranean, Thailand and Indonesia. The winter program also includes cruises through the Caribbean with stops in Cuba and a crossing of the Panama Canal. Next year, the Star Clipper fleet will be expanded to include the world's largest square-rigged sailing ship, the new Flying Clipper.
Land in sight
Life is a long, calm river? Maybe in the movies - on a real river cruise, things only move at a leisurely pace if the guest wants them to. Otherwise, bicycle tours, gourmet excursions or rounds on excellent golf courses ashore are on the program. A-Rosa in particular focuses on high-quality offers for a younger and well-traveled audience. "Off to new shores" also means conquering new destinations for the German premium shipping company: since last year, for example, it has also been sailing on the Seine from/to Paris. For those who prefer a classic and particularly luxurious experience, the River Yachts from Crystal Cruises are the perfect choice. This season, they are cruising on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube and offer butler service and spacious balcony suites. Other dream destinations for river travelers are the Douro in Portugal, Venice's lagoon, the Loire in the south of France and the Yangtze, the Mekong or the Irrawaddy in Asia.
All inclusive at its best.
Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal - it is above all the US shipping companies that are focusing on all-inclusive concepts in the luxury sector and thus meeting the wishes of an ever-growing audience. Regent Seven Seas Cruises probably has the most "inclusive" offer. Here, not only are all drinks, specialty restaurants,
WLAN, tips and travel to and from the ship (depending on the suite category booked, even in business class and with hotel accommodation before embarkation) are included, as are unlimited shore excursions. The newest member of the fleet, the Seven Seas Explorer, which entered service in 2016, is unique and particularly stylish.
Seven Seas Explorer. Its 280 square meter Regent Suite even has its own spa area and a 130 square meter wrap-around private balcony. In addition, a private limousine with driver is available to Regent Suite guests in every port, so that it is not just "all inclusive", but also "everything possible" on land.
The top shipping companies at a glance:
- A-ROSA
www.a-rosa.de
- CRYSTAL CRUISES
www.crystalcruises.com
- HAPAG LLOYD CRUISES
www.hl-cruises.com
- PONANT
www.ponant.com
- SEABOURN CRUISE LINE
www.seabourn.com
- SEA CLOUD CRUISES
www.seacloud.com
- SILVERSEA CRUISES
www.silversea.com
- STAR CLIPPER CRUISES
www.star-clippers.de
- REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
www.rssc.com
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