Tempting cruise options for this year, next and even 2023 abound
A funicular takes visitors across the Rhine to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress opposite Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers, often called the “German Corner.” It’s possible to book a harvest-time cruise on the Moselle, which is known for its fine Rieslings.
News-Herald file
Pent-up demand for getting back out in the world is erupting as lock-downs end and borders reopen. Money saved by staying home this past year is being spent making up for lost months with once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
Cruise lines, devastated by no-sail orders, have spent the down time re-imagining spaces with a new appreciation for social distancing and private time.
Itineraries include chasing a solar eclipse in Antarctica, taking in the once-a-decade Floriade horticultural show in Holland and indulgent adults-only island forays in the Caribbean.
Fully vaccinated staff and crew are required for ships, with the stipulation being extended to passengers for most lines.
As proof that absence makes the heart grow fonder, many high-end shipboard suites and numerous sailings already have sold out this year, next year and into 2023. No-fault cancellation policies, the inclusion of airfare and generous discounts for advance bookings have encouraged those trends.
When Crystal Cruise Lines announced its inaugural series of five, 10-night Luxury Iceland Expeditions aboard its new expedition yacht Endeavor, 50 percent of its capacity was reserved within the first 24 hours.
As the Princess canal boat passes through a lock in a small French town, a couple on deck toasts their French Country Waterways voyage.
News-Herald file
Some cruises to nowhere already have begun from Singapore and around Great Britain.
Celebrity Cruise Lines’ Edge, which on June 26 will become the first to sail from a U.S. port with a female captain, will cruise the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale while its sister ship the Summit sets sail in July for Alaska from Seattle.
The Princess moors by late afternoon each day, making it easy for passengers to step ashore to explore while the canal boat is tied up for the night.
Janet Podolak
Passage by Congress of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act allows ships to waive stops in Canada en route to Alaska because Canada has closed its ports to ships until 2022. Voyages that used to begin in Vancouver are starting or ending in Seattle. Before the yearlong no- sail order, more than a million passengers a year visited Alaska — a huge economic impact on the state.
Also resuming Alaska cruises this summer are Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line, with one ship each on weekly Alaska sailings roundtrip from Seattle in July. The Princess and Holland America cruises include Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.
Norwegian Cruise Line has begun selling weekly sailings from Seattle on the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss, beginning in August.
Royal Caribbean International will begin Alaska cruises in July from Seattle on one Royal Caribbean ship and beginning in August on Royal’s 4,180-passenger Ovation of the Seas.
These large ships have diversions such as climbing walls, ropes courses and even skydiving, along with many dining and entertainment options.
More intimate small-ship cruises aboard yacht-sized vessels boast amenities such as helicopters and a six-guest submarine aboard the 200-passenger Scenic Eclipse, where a 20-day Antarctic cruise to see the Dec. 4 solar eclipse departs Nov. 20.
The Scenic Neptune submarine — the first submersible permitted to operate in South Georgian waters — is capable of diving to 1,000 feet, opening to view a world where rich marine life thrives.
River cruising also is poised to resume this summer, with sailings on the Douro in Portugal, the Po in Italy, the Rhine through Germany and on select rivers in France by Viking, Scenic and other cruise lines.
See my stories Rhine in Rain and Rhine Germany for my account of a delightful Rhine cruise with Scenic.
New air-purification systems have been installed on Viking River Cruises ships, where onboard laboratories will give crew and passengers quick and frequent noninvasive saliva tests for COVID-19.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises begins its first cruise June 18 with a 10-day Milan-to-Venice itinerary on the Po River. The single supplement is waived for solo travelers booking by June 30 on any of its river cruises this year. New for next year aboard the just-revamped La Venezia is a 10-day combined cruise-and-rail adventure between Venice, Milan and Istanbul using the luxury Golden Eagle Danube Express.
Next year brings the seventh Floriade to Holland, from April to October, and Scenic Cruise Line has incorporated the vast living laboratory of green technologies into several of its eight- to 11-day river cruises to and from Amsterdam. Gardens, lectures and exhibitions will mix with attractions that passengers can take in on daylong visits. Green bridges and a cable car will provide transport with live music and many dining options as a backdrop.
French Country Waterways, which cruises the 35-foot-wide canals of France, is best known for the intimate fine wine and food experiences it provides for just eight to 12 passengers. It kicks off its season July 4 with ships in the Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy, Upper Loire and Champagne regions of France. Covering 67 miles through 36 locks in a week, its slow pace makes it easy to bike or hike along the canal-side tow path to expend calories. See bit.ly/french-canal-vacation to discover why it is a personal favorite.
Those seeking relaxation over daily adventures might also consider a transatlantic repositioning cruise such as Seabourn’s 14-night Miami-to-Barcelona voyage in April.
Ritz-Carlton‘s long-awaited entry into the world of cruising takes place in November with the launch of the all-suite, 298-passenger Evrima, which will call at some of the smaller, less-visited islands in the Caribbean. Each suite has its own private patio, and six restaurants will serve a variety of cuisines.
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