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Cond Nast Traveler Magazine July 2019  Beyond this Horizon Cruise Silversea

Cruise

Everything you need to know about one of the greatest ways to travel.

Why do you need a complete guide to cruise? We'll explain. There’s a saying around our offices that you start to hear every spring, when thoughts turn to summer vacations and we all start dreaming about days—weeks!—out of the office. Things are just better on the water, we say. Nowhere is that more true than when you’re aboard a cruise ship, pulling into a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting, or on deck under the stars in the middle of the Mediterranean, or having your personal butler bring another bottle of champagne and a full caviar service out to your private balcony overlooking those deep blues.

Yet only a small fraction of us ever give cruise ships a try: only about 3 percent of North Americans cruised in 2018, according to CLIA, the leading industry trade group, despite the fact that ships can take you places that’d be nearly impossible to see any other way (and for less cash than you’d probably expect). Don’t believe us? Let’s start with some of the hottest trends in cruising right now: expeditions. Whether to the Arctic or the Galapagos, a growing interest in smartly designed expedition ships are taking travelers—along with marine biologists and other experts—to witness whale migrations, glaciers calving, and giant tortoises strolling around national parks. There’s the perennial cruise favorite, Alaska, which makes a large state where nature dominates and where interstate highways aren’t proliferous much more accessible and navigable.

We regularly hear from readers that it’s hard deciding which cruise ship is right for you—and we get it. The truth is, there’s much more available on the market than you may realize, so if you start with the kind of trip you want to take, we can match you with a ship and itinerary that will deliver. Want small and personable and accessible? River cruising has your name all over it. Have active kids in the mix, of different ages, all of whom need entertainment—and access to other kids their age? You might want a large, tech-forward ship that has as much going on on-board as it does in the ports you visit. Maybe you need to be pampered with just a friend or partner in tow. There’s a wide network of luxury cruises that rival even the most indulgent resorts.

If your vacation time is limited or long trips are hard for you, there’s a huge surge in short-haul sailing—even in a place like Europe, which was once known for catering to leisurely trips. What about if you want to venture out alone? Fear not, solo travelers, the cruise industry wants you to sail with them, too.

We’re now entering the golden age of travel by ship, where there’s a cruise out there for everyone. Which is why we built this guide, the complete guide to cruise, to help you find it, book it, and experience it like a pro. After all, who wouldn't want to spend more time at sea?

Cruise

Cruise Etiquette: Exactly How ‘All-Inclusive’ Are Cruises?

Unlike hotels, it’s actually the top-tier luxury cruise lines that include the most in their fares.
Cruise

Cruise Etiquette: How To Get the Most Out of Shore Excursions

When to book them and when to explore on your own, plus how to personalize them to the utmost.
Cruise

Around-the-World Cruises: Everything Travelers Need to Know About These Epic Voyages

Plus, the best around-the-world cruises to book in 2025 and beyond.
Cruise

The Best New Cruises in the World: 2024 Hot List

This year's curated collection of the world’s best new cruises has something for everyone.
News & Advice

This New ‘Standby’ Cruise Fare Costs Just $49 Per Day—but Is It Worth It?

You might not secure a spot until two days before departure.
Cruise

Cruise Etiquette: Tips for Finding Peace and Quiet on Crowded Cruise Ships

The rules of pool chair saving, how to determine a ship's “space ratio,” and locating zones reserved for special cabin categories.
Cruise

These 7 Transoceanic Cruises Revive the Splendor of the Oceanliner Era

From transatlantic crossings to scenic transpacific sailings, these cruises combine access to unique ports with relaxing days at sea.
Cruise

These New Cruise Itineraries Offer Overnight Stays in Every Port

Beginning fall 2024, Regent Seven Seas will offer luxury overnight experiences throughout Asia and Europe.
Cruise

Onboard Obsession: Sleeping Under the Northern Lights in a Glass Igloo

On Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Endurance, fall asleep to the gentle hum of the ship and awake to hot coffee delivered to the igloo's door.
Cruise

Cruise Etiquette: The Dos and Don'ts of Cruise Ship Art Auctions

Avoid buyer's remorse when purchasing art at sea.
Cruise

The Best Cruise Deals of Wave Season 2024

Enjoy major savings on luxury voyages across all seven continents.
Cruise

Wave Season Is the Best Time to Score Cruise Deals—Here's How

Advice from expert cruisers on how to narrow down the season's many deals to the ones that are actually worth it.
Cruise

A New Cruise Is Making the Islands of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea More Accessible

Ponant's eight-day cruise takes travelers on a journey through Japan's Seto Inland Sea onboard a luxury expedition ship.
Cruise

Exploring Senegal's Vibrant Countryside by River Cruise

A luxurious week-long voyage on the Bou el Mogdad from Saint-Louis to the trading town of Podor.
Cruise

Cruise Etiquette: How and Why to Book with a Cruise Specialist

A trusted travel agent can secure onboard perks and provide vital support should the unexpected happen.
Cruise

The World's Largest Cruise Ship Is Coming in January—Here's What It's Like Inside

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will weigh over a quarter million tons and hold up to nearly 10,000 passengers and crew.
Cruise

The Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for 2024

Sail Australia's remote Kimberley, or hop on board the 249th ship from legacy line Cunard.
Cruise

Seeing a Beloved Slice of Southeast Asia Anew on an Oceania Cruise

Writer Ashlea Halpern learns to appreciate life at sea—and the fresh perspective it gives her on a region she once called home.
Cruise

6 Cruises to the Most Remote Destinations on Earth

Your guide to the cruise lines calling at parts that are otherwise largely inaccessible by other means—from the Galápagos to Greenland.
Cruise

Cruise Ship Etiquette: Breaking Down Tip Culture

Who to tip, when to adjust gratuities, and more guidance for cruise ship tipping.