Cruise: Cruise Landscape—Abloom with New Offerings for Romantic Getaways

DISNEYCruise Landscape—Abloom with New Offerings for Romantic GetawaysBy Paloma Villaverde de Rico & Laurel HermanFar-flung getaways; serene sailings; immersive explorations. Whatever your clients crave for their next romantic vacation, you can easily recommend they hop on a cruise to assuage their desires, because cruise lines are pulling out all the stops to make sure their style of vacation can’t be beat. CELSTYL DISCOVERYCelestyal Cruises—Immersive ExplorationsGreek Islands = romance, and Brandon Townsley, VP & Managing Director, North America for Celestyal Cruises, says no one delivers this destination quite like them. “We are the owners of the Greek Isles. We are a mid-size ship experiential brand that offers cultural immersions in the regions that we visit,” says Townsley. And he notes, “We’ve branched out and we’re sailing Adriatic itineraries, which is a unique opportunity, particularly for North Americans.” In this part of the world, you can offer your clients everything from a 3-night Iconic Aegean itinerary on board Celestyal Discovery—which set sail on her maiden voyage on March 22, 2024, from Athens—to a 7-night Heavenly Adriatic on board Celestyal Journey, which debuted with refurbishments in September of last year. Townsley says that the 1,266-guest Discovery, which was also refurbished, is a perfect ship for that 3-, 4-night Iconic Aegean itinerary because “it’s so port intensive and it’s just got a great layout. It’s boutique-ish in design with a lot of public spaces, meaning there’s lots of space for people to congregate.”CELESTYL QUOTE To add to the immersive quality of Celestyal’s sailings, the cruise line has launched a series of seven National Geographic Day Tours in Athens, Dubrovnik and Rhodes available across all itineraries that sail to these destinations. The shore-based experiences—with one in Athens and three each in Dubrovnik and Rhodes—are led by National Geographic-trained guides and are built on the storytelling, special access and expert knowledge that is foundational to National Geographic. Options range from the History of the Olympic Games in Athens to Dubrovnik’s Highlights Through Your Lens and The Fascinating World of Bees in Rhodes. For even more far-flung explorations, Celestyal Journey will receive her livery update at the start of 2025, when undergoing scheduled maintenance works in the Arabian Gulf, as she moves to a year-round operation with a winter season homeporting in Doha, Qatar from November 2024 to March 2025. “The culture there is so multicultural and diverse,” says Townsley. “There’s a lot to see and do; it’s just a great way to see that part of the world.” Featured itineraries here include 4- and 7-night Desert Days sailings, with Townsley noting that the ship will be “alongside in Doha for the Doha Grand Prix, and we are alongside in Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix there.” Disney Cruise Line—Adult Havens Romance? On a Disney cruise? Disney aficionados will nod their head with a resounding, “Why not!” Ashley Long, Cruise Director of the Disney Fantasy, tells Recommend that although Disney Cruise Line is a family-friendly product, it also offers many amenities couples will fall in love with. “Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of adult-focused amenities, entertainment and dining experiences designed to elevate their vacation experience. Venues such as the Senses Spa & Salon and Quiet Cove Pool are a must for guests looking for the ultimate day of relaxation and tranquility. For a world-class culinary experience, adult guests are able to book an incredible evening in one of the fine dining restaurants, such as Palo and Remy here on the Disney Fantasy. Additionally, specific lounges and bars are designed and reserved only for our adult guests on board and offer a diverse range of experiences, atmospheres and entertainment throughout the day, including live music, beverage seminars and adults-only variety entertainers, just to name a few.”DISNEY QUOTE She also points to the experiences that are adult-focused such as the Anyone Can Cook series, where one of Disney Cruise Line’s expert chefs leads a cooking demonstration of one of the ship’s dishes, or the Art of the Theme Show Tour, where adults are taken on a guided tour highlighting the design and artistry of the ship through the lens of the Imagineers. And the cruise line doesn’t rest on its laurels, always creating new programming to attract and retain adult travelers. Long points to the “new culinary and wine experience, Prima Notte, offered on the first night of the voyage in our adult-exclusive restaurant, Palo. Guests will savor an exquisite tasting of fine Italian wines complemented with a curated selection of bite-sized delicacies. “Disney Cruise Line is continuously seeking new ways to enhance the experiences for our adult guest and Prima Notte is a not-to-be-missed-experience.”NCLNorwegian Cruise Line—More Room for CuddlesSetting sail in April 2025 is Norwegian Cruise Line’s first vessel of the expanded Prima Plus Class, the 1,837-stateroom Norwegian Aqua, which, says John Chernesky, Sr. VP of North America Sales, is 10 percent larger than the first two Prima Class vessels. “We’re taking the extra space and really putting it where our guests have told us they want more space, either with more deck chairs on the pool area, or with larger bathrooms and balconies. It’s not just about adding more people, it’s about giving more space back.” His word to describe the brand is “Contemporary Premium Luxury. All one word,” he notes jokingly. “We are a contemporary cruise brand, but we also sail to premium destinations.” And Chernesky adds, “I would argue, we have one of the best luxury experiences on a ship with The Haven.” He notes, too, that on the Aqua this space will be 15 percent larger. NCL QUOTE The latter is ideal for couples looking for a little escape as it offers a ship-within-a-ship oasis, with private elevators, personal concierge and 24-hour butler as well as the Haven Lounge & Bar, an infinity pool and an outdoor sauna and cold room. Plus, here’s where you’ll find the tucked away plush Owner’s Suites as well as NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, ideal for a celebratory group—perhaps a wedding anniversary celebration that includes the whole family. Chernesky tells Recommend that the Aqua is really going to up the ante with its offerings. He points to the F&B highlights, including Sukhothai, the cruise line’s first-ever Thai specialty restaurant; Swirl Wine Bar, a new, upscale wine bar; and Planterie, the brand’s first dedicated eatery offering a full plant-based menu. Additionally, Indulge Food Hall fans will want to know that on board the Aqua, this venue will have a small increase in the amount of seating available. Other onboard goodies include the world’s first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster; a new digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, Glow Court; and NCL’s most expansive 360-degree outdoor promenade, Ocean Boulevard, to date. Princess Cruises—The Essence of LovePrincess Cruises is so enamored with love that even one of the restaurants on board its new ship Sun Princess has the word “love” in the name…that would be Love by Britto. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Princess Cruises joined forces with artist Romero Britto to create this artistic-inspired dining experience celebrating the essence of “love.” Send your clients to deck 17 aft and they’ll be immersed in a world of vivid colors and bold patterns not to mention a multisensory exploration. Love by Britto features a 7-course, prix fixe menu beginning with a flute of Champagne upon arrival and such luxury ingredients as lobster, caviar and truffles, as well as dessert options that always include chocolate fondue. “Food is the international language of love,” says Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess Cruises. “It could not be more perfect for Princess, home of ‘The Love Boat.’” Another goodie from Princess ideal for couples: The line is returning to sultry San Juan, Puerto Rico on 7-day itineraries for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises on board the Grand Princess, from October 2025 through March 2026. For 2026, Princess Cruises will sail its largest-ever Europe cruise and cruisetour season, with five Princess cruise ships sailing the region, including Sun Princess. The latter will sail 7-, 14- and 21-night Mediterranean voyages departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens) and Barcelona. Couples on a 14- and 21-night voyage can enjoy an itinerary without calling to the same port twice for a Grand Mediterranean Adventure. For an ultimate romantic whirlwind getaway, recommend a new Princess itinerary: A 28-night Northern Europe and Mediterranean itinerary sailing roundtrip from Southampton, departing Sept. 12, 2026, and calling to Skagen, Copenhagen, Warnemunde (for Berlin), Stockholm (overnight), Helsinki, Tallinn, Visby, Zeebrugge (for Brussels/Bruges), Southampton, Vigo, Cadiz (for Seville), Malaga, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Lisbon,
Bilbao, Le Verdon (for Bordeaux). And what could be more alluring than opting for a Total Solar Eclipse cruise? On Aug. 12, 2026, Sky Princess will sail directly into the path of totality on a special 14-night Total Solar Eclipse cruise that visits France, Spain and Portugal. The cruise departs Southampton on Aug. 8, 2026.ROYAL RAILWAYRoyal Caribbean International—Whimsical EscapesVicki Freed, Sr. VP, Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean International, is looking forward to the summer debut of the next Oasis-class ship, the 5,668-guest Utopia of the Seas, which will be sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida and which, she says, will offer an array of unique experiences that are ideal for couples looking for something a little different. “We’ll be tweaking certain things and offering different concepts,” she tells Recommend. For example, she says, “one of our specialty restaurants is going to be a train car. It’s [modeled after] an old-fashioned train car and guests can have dinner or lunch there. We’re also going to do a lot of fun themed events in there.” The new Royal Railway – Utopia Station dining venue will combine adventure, food and technology and will whisk guests away to different places and time—from the Wild West to far-off destinations around the globe. Says Freed, “Different sceneries will be shown on the side of the windows of the train car, the waiters will be addressed as conductors and it’ll seem as if you were traveling across Europe or the U.S. via train.” Couples who like to party will be happy to know that a new Caribbean bar will be debuting on the Utopia, the Pesky Parrot, plus there’ll be five places to catch live music, an array of DJs, two casinos, six places for dancing and 20+ dining options. And Freed reminds travel advisors of their worth, noting that consumers “need a travel advisor more than they’ve ever needed because there’s so much information out there, so many different options, so many different choices. At the end of the day, a travel advisor is a really great value interpreter, somebody who can articulate why this particular vacation is the right fit for [their clients] for this time.”Seabourn—Far-Flung GetawayDeparting late this year in November, Seabourn’s 90-day Grand Africa Voyage will have couples visiting once-in-a-lifetime destinations, with calls in the East, South and West coasts of the continent. With a newly modified itinerary that avoids the Red Sea for safety reasons, the Grand Africa Voyage sailing, departing from Barcelona on Nov. 30, 2024 on board the Seabourn Sojourn, visits 42 marquee and off-the-beaten-path destinations and cities in 20 countries, with seven overnight stays. “I am so delighted for our guests, as I feel our deployment team did an amazing job crafting this modified Grand Africa Voyage that provides ample opportunities for our guests to discover Africa’s stunning natural wonders and diverse cultures,” says Natalya Leahy, President of Seabourn. “This 90-day itinerary with 42 ports is Seabourn’s most in-depth Africa experience that I know so many guests are looking forward to.”SEABOURN QUOTE Guests will have the opportunity to explore Africa’s natural beauty via safari, hikes, scuba, snorkeling and other cultural experiences, such as a visit to a camel milk farm, botanical gardens and living archaeological museums. In addition, several optional multi-day Seabourn Journeys will be available at various destinations, offering in-depth opportunities to explore sites on land that cannot be accessed on single-day excursions from the ship, including a gorilla sanctuary and Victoria Falls. Overnights will take place in Casablanca, Cape Town and Zanzibar City, as well as Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Walvis Bay, Namibia; and Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Let guests know that if they book the full 90-day voyage they’re in for a fabulous time with a value-packed menu of complimentary benefits and amenities, including: Gala Bon Voyage dinner and overnight hotel stay at Hotel Majestic before departure in Barcelona; an exclusive Grand Voyage event in Cape Town; special Grand Voyage pillow gifts; roundtrip business-class air; $2,000 shipboard credit per oceanview and veranda suite ($1,000 shipboard credit per person); $3,000 shipboard credit per penthouse and premium suite ($1,500 shipboard credit per person); private car transfers door-to-door between home and airport; Personal Valet luggage shipping service between home and ship in Barcelona; unlimited laundry, dry cleaning and pressing on board; and visa package. Contact InformationCelestyal Cruises: celestyal.com/usDisney Cruise Line: disneytravelagents.comNorwegian Cruise Line: ncl.comPrincess Cruises: onesourcecruises.com/onesource/loginRoyal Caribbean International: cruisingpower.comSeabourn: onesourcecruises.com/onesource/login

PRINCESS CRUISES COVERPRINCESS CRUISES IFCCOVERSANDALSTable of ContentsSANDALS SPREADEditor's NotesEDU HOUSE ADAdvisor Speak: What’s Trending in the LGBTQIA+ MarketIndustry Insights: Tips You Can UseCruise: Cruise Landscape—Abloom with New Offerings for Romantic GetawaysCUNARD SCCUNARDDISNEY SCDISNEYEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCEXPLORA JOURNEYSPRINCESS SCOnboard Review: Queen Anne—Cunard’s Newest Queen Starts Her ReignOnboard Review: Cruising the Canary Islands on Windstar’s Star PrideCaribbean/Mexico: Destination Romance—Trends for TwoPALLADIUMPOSADOSBAHAMAS SCBAHAMASCAYMAN ISLANDS SCCAYMAN ISLANDSOnsite Review: Luxe Intimacy at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach ClubEurope Onsite Review: Exploring Turkey in the Footsteps of AeneasNorth America Onsite Review: Plantation Resort on Crystal RiverTURKISH AIRLINES