Cruise: Set Sail Around the Worldâ€”From Kid-Friendly Cruises to Alaska Adventures

MICKEY AND MINNIESet Sail Around the Worldâ€”From Kid-Friendly Cruises to Alaska AdventuresBy Paloma Villaverde de Rico
From the awe-inspiring landscapes of Alaska to sun-drenched tropical escapes, the sailings weâ€™ve handpicked for this feature offer something for everyoneâ€”kids, parents and multi-generational groups alike (even for parents who might want to sail away sans kids). With tailored activities, immersive shore excursions and exceptional service, these cruises are designed to make it easy for you to match your clients with the perfect getaway.Kid-Friendly OptionsDisney Cruise Line just debuted the Disney Treasure from Port Canaveral, but not one to rest on its laurels, the family-friendly cruise line announced last year that four more ships will be joining the fleet. These new ships will arrive between 2027 and 2031. The cruise line currently has five ships in its fleet, with four others already in the works. These new four additional ships will bring the fleet to a total of 13. This November, in fact, will see the debut of the Disney Destiny, which will be sailing 4- and 5-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Port Everglades; included in the sailing is a visit to Disney Castaway Cay and/or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The Disney Destiny will also offer two 7-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean during the summer season. Farther north in Florida, at Port Canaveral, the cruise line will have three ships and offer sailings to destinations in The Bahamas and Eastern or Western Caribbean, including stops at Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Both offering Bahamian itineraries, the Disney Fantasy will set sail on 4- and 5-night voyages and the Disney Wish will depart on 3- and 4-night voyages. The Disney Fantasy will also offer a 10-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Meanwhile, the Disney Treasure will embark on 7-night sailings to Eastern or Western Caribbean, visiting Tortola, British Virgin Isles; Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands; and Disney Castaway Cay in The Bahamas. Summer 2026 will see both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder embark on 7-night cruises from Vancouver, Canada to Alaska. Itineraries will vary and include ports of call such as Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, all famous for their prehistoric glaciers, rich histories and eclectic shopping. On most sailings, cruisers will also visit Dawes Glacier, a tidewater glacier that towers over 600-ft. tall. Itineraries on the Disney Magic will feature a stop at Icy Strait Point, where cruisers can be on the lookout for unique wildlife. For clients headed to Europe, recommend they hop aboard the Disney Dream, which will call on the island city of Cagliari, located in Sardinia, Italy, a brand-new destination for the cruise line. The Disney Dream will kick off the summer 2026 season with a 14-night transatlantic crossing from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona. Departing from Barcelona or Civitavecchia, Italy, the ship will then set sail on 7- to 12-night Mediterranean cruises. Guests will call upon popular Greek islands to visit the blue-topped spires in Santorini, the famous windmills of Mykonos, ancient landmarks in Rhodes and many more scenic locales. The Disney Dream will finish out the season with 3-, 4-, and 7-night sailings out of Southampton, United Kingdom, to Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords. Exploration awaits guests in the quaint, idyllic village of Olden, Norway; the seaside capital of Copenhagen, Denmark; the rocky shores of Portland, United Kingdom and others. Opening this December, with day passes available to purchase this spring, is Royal Caribbean Internationalâ€™s all-inclusive Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, spanning 17 acres on the western end of Paradise Island. The destination, set to be the first in the cruise brandâ€™s Royal Beach Club Collection, will offer expansive spots for those beach towels, including the Family Beach, located steps away from The Shallow End zero-entry pool. It also features beach games as well as the 2-story Ultimate Family Cabana, which comes a slide, dedicated whirlpool, frozen drink machine and more. Additional destination options include three swim-up barsâ€” including the worldâ€™s largestâ€”seven beach bars and more than 40 cabanas. Travel advisor Jamie Margolis Ross, founder of Moms at Sea Travel and an expert on Royal Caribbean Internationalâ€™s offerings, says that this destination â€œwill bring another option for cruisers to choose how to spend their day. While many travelers like to get out and explore through one of the numerous excursions offered, there are many that appreciate the convenience of a low-stress, low-pressure day in a beautiful private destination, especially when Royal Caribbean makes this as seamless of an experienceâ€”from ship to sandâ€”as possible. â€œI think families will value the minimal effort, maximum experience option that Paradise Island will offer,â€ she continues. â€œFor families, this offers something they can return to time and time again because they have â€˜figured it out,â€™ but with enough options that they donâ€™t have to have the exact same day twice...but can if they want to. Families love to find something familiar that they can count on. They love to â€˜hack the codeâ€™ and find that perfect day that they can count on to deliver over and over again.â€ Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be included in a range of itineraries, from 3-night cruises aboard Utopia of the Seas to a 7-night getaway on Symphony of the Seas. Plus, look for the debut of Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026 and the opening of Perfect Day Mexico in 2027. Slow TravelCunard, says the cruise lineâ€™s president, Katie McAlister, is focused on offering cruises that embrace the â€œslow travelâ€ movement. After all, theyâ€™re the leaders in transatlantic crossings, she explains, which is the epitome of this type of vacation mindset. She references those crossings because the new Caribbean voyages aboard Queen Elizabeth, which will begin sailing out of Miami this Oct. 16, are also going to follow this ethos, delving into the local vibe at each port and offering a more relaxing itinerary. The Caribbean, she says, offers destinations that are popular cruise ports, but â€œwe do them slightly differently. The way we schedule our deployments is by leaning into getting the ship into ports when itâ€™s less busy, visiting more interesting ports, less-visited ports.â€ Additionally, she continues, â€œItâ€™s about taking your time on board, not being rushed and really relaxing into the luxury and comfort of the ship.â€ Plus, theyâ€™re purposefully homeporting the ship in Miami â€œbecause weâ€™re great at doing sea days due to our transatlantic heritage, with enrichment programs. People really want to enjoy the ship.â€CUNARD QUOTE The 2,000-passenger Queen Elizabeth is currently undergoing a significant refit, preparing her for a new Alaska season from Seattle this June and then the debut voyages from Miami. This will be the first time in Cunardâ€™s history that one of its iconic ships will spend the full season in Miami, offering a dedicated program of roundtrip Caribbean voyages with itineraries ranging from nine to 28 nights, visiting Montego Bay in Jamaica, San Juan in Puerto Rico, Bridgetownâ€™s UNESCO-listed Garrison in Barbados, the bustling markets of Castries in Saint Lucia and St. Johnâ€™s in Antigua, to name a few. McAlister reminds advisors that what differentiates Cunard from other such cruise lines is that they offer â€œluxury on a grand scale, although weâ€™re not huge ships, weâ€™re medium-sized ships. We have everything youâ€™d have on a big ship, with this world-class enrichment program, a theater, multiple dining choices, separate dining for the Grills levelâ€¦. And you can do as much or as little as you want of that.â€ Also, she tells us, â€œOur ships are very spacious, so one feels unhurried, relaxed, not stressed that theyâ€™re not going to get a seat at the theater, plus we have completely flexible dining, so you can choose where you sit. We take the hassle out of things, but we give you the choice. Thatâ€™s what we mean by slow travel.â€ She also points to the Harperâ€™s Bazaar Wellness at Sea programâ€”first seen on Queen Anne and soon to be offered on Queen Elizabeth and the fleetâ€™s other shipsâ€” offering 3-day packages tailored to relaxation, energy restoration or recovery, as well as The Pavilion Wellness Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch and daytime dining, with a menu celebrating plant-based cuisine. Regarding the onboard Grills experience, McAlister says that â€œthe whole ship is luxury, and the Grills offers an elevated experience within that.â€ As part of Queen Elizabethâ€™s transformation, the Grills experience will be â€œelevated to new heights,â€ she says. Guests staying in the Grills suites will enjoy enhanced interiors and exteriors, featuring sumptuous furnishings, sophisticated detailing and thoughtful design. The Grills dining experience will also be enhanced by a special menu crafted exclusively for Grills guests by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux. Launching on Queen Elizabeth following her refit, this 3-course Gala Evening menu will include expertly curated dishes. â€œThereâ€™s a lot of love for Cunard in the States,â€ says McAlister, so the new Caribbean voyages from Miami, â€œare a [great] choice for North American guests who already love our product.â€EXPLORATimeless Voyages Explora Journeysâ€™ EXPLORA III is set for her grand debut in summer 2026. Sheâ€™ll beckon your affluent clients with 313 Ocean Suites, 109 Ocean Penthouses, 39 Ocean Residences and two Ownerâ€™s Residences, for a total of 463 suitesâ€”slightly more than EXPLORA I and II. On board the third ship in the cruise lineâ€™s fleet, the Ocean Penthouses will account for 24 percent of the suite inventory, while the Ocean Residences have increased to 9 percent of the total inventory. EXPLORA III also introduces an additional Ownerâ€™s Residence on Deck 7, as well as Cove Residences. Chris Austin, President, North America, tells Recommend, â€œWith EXPLORA III, we continue to refine and elevate the Explora Journeys experience, offering a journey that is both immersive and deeply personal. True to our commitment to the â€˜Ocean State of Mind,â€™ EXPLORA III enhances our unique approach with thoughtfully designed spaces, expanded public areas and immersive destination experiences that allow travelers to explore the world in a more meaningful way.â€ To that end, the ship will feature one of the highest ratios of total public space per guest, with expanded outdoor public spaces, new and signature culinary concepts and an enhanced fitness and spa space, including an expanded Sports Court, offering pickleball, paddle and basketball.EXPLORA QUOTE Enhancements have also been made to the Nautilus Club, with curated experiences. Nautilus Club Juniors is tailored for children aged 3 to 5 years, with six hours of daily baby care services, while Nautilus Club Teens is for kids aged 6 to 17. Austin adds that this ship will be the first in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is significant, he says, because it â€œrepresents our ongoing efforts to innovate and evolve the luxury ocean experience.â€ The ship is equipped with shore power capabilities and advanced energy efficiency features. He reminds travel advisors that itineraries are already available for booking. In summer 2026, the ship will start sailing through Western Europe with a visit to Bordeaux, France, before heading to Northern Europe. Starting in Southampton on Aug. 17, 2026, the ship will visit destinations in the Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Sweden and Germany, before making its way to Iceland and Greenland. Along the way, guests have the chance to explore off-the-beaten-path ports such as Ronne in Denmark, Nanortalik and Paamiut in Greenland and Seyoisfjorour in Iceland. On Sept. 27, EXPLORA III will arrive in Quebec City, Canada, before continuing her journey towards the U.S. and Canadaâ€™s East Coast, including New York City and the Magdalen Islands, Canada. The ship will arrive in Miami on Oct. 25, 2026, before setting sail to the Caribbean for the winter season. â€œAt Explora Journeys,â€ continues Austin, â€œeach new ship is an opportunity to evolve our vision, and EXPLORA III will continue to deliver a private yacht-inspired ambiance.â€HURTIGRUTEN GLACIER SHIPChasing the Northern LightsFor clients who want to experience the aurora borealis while sailing the Arctic, Hurtigrutenâ€™s Northern Lights Promise guarantees theyâ€™ll see this stunning phenomenon while sailing with themâ€”if the Northern Lights donâ€™t occur within sight of the ship during their voyage of 11 days or more, the cruise line will give them another 6- or 7-day voyage for free. That said, Hurtigrutenâ€™s Chief Aurora Chaser, Tom Kerss, says itâ€™s almost impossible passengers wonâ€™t see the Northern Lights while sailing in Arctic Norway during the winter months because the ship sails through the geographical hotspot for this phenomenonâ€”Nordland, Troms and Finnmarkâ€”for several days. This season, and the next few will be the best viewing opportunities ever as the sun heads towards solar maximumâ€”a peak in solar activity that occurs every 11 years and sees an increased number of charged particles released into space. Hurtigruten currently offers astronomy-focused voyages with Kerss as part of its Coastal Express itineraries, but as of 2026, these cruises will also be available on the Signature Voyages, a more premium, all-inclusive experience on board the MS Trollfjord. A full 12-day astronomy voyage includes eight lectures, Kerss as the sky guide, exclusive access to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromso and plenty of stargazing on the outdoor observation deck from 8 p.m. onward. In addition to the astronomy voyages, the line, which has been sailing the Norway coast for more than 130 years, also offer Follow the Northern Lights, which offers Northern Lights chasing in Finland. OCEANIA POOLSpotlight on CuisineOceania Cruisesâ€™ eighth ship, the 1,200-passenger Allura, sister ship to Vista, will begin sailing this July. Culinary highlights include a new onboard creperie, serving freshly made-to-order crepes and waffles, as well as ice cream sundaes; one chef for every 10 guests and 50 percent of crew members dedicated to culinary experiences; five specialty dining venues, including the lineâ€™s newest signature restaurants, Ember and Aquamar Kitchen, at no extra cost; and an expansive hands-on Culinary Center and accompanying Chefâ€™s Studio. Oceania executives tell us that the launch of Allura expands Oceania Cruisesâ€™ signature culinary experiences, noting that food remains at the heart of the cruise lineâ€™s business. They go on to say that with the addition of its signature French restaurant, Jacques, to Allura, and later this year to Vista, the line is celebrating the legacy of Jacques Pepin, the lineâ€™s founding executive culinary director, while reimagining the experience with refined French culinary artistry and new bold, innovative flavors. Details of this new ship you should keep top of mind are the new library, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls, oversized chairs and plush residential furnishings, and located just steps away from the LYNC Digital Center, the shipâ€™s digital and social hub, as well as Horizons; that its standard accommodations come in at 291 sq. ft.; and that thereâ€™s an array of onboard enrichment opportunities, ranging from art classes to sommelier demonstrations. Allura will enter service from Trieste, Italy, on July 18, 2025, cruising six days to Athens, Greece, calling at destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean including Rijeka, Croatia; Ravenna, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Kotor, Montenegro. Following her summer season in the Mediterranean, Allura will sail to Canada and New England for a series of immersive voyages in North America before her premiere winter season in the Caribbean, homeporting in Miami. As part of her inaugural collection, the new ship will also be conducting a one-of-a-kind 4-day voyage sailing roundtrip from New York City in September 2025.HELLENIC ROOMGlobal Cultural ExpeditionsJoe Maloney, VP of Sales for Swan Hellenic in North America, tells Recommend that the cruise line, with a 3-expedition ship fleetâ€”the 76-stateroom and -suite SH Minerva and SH Vega as well as the 192-guest SH Dianaâ€”â€œcombines geographical exploration of the most extraordinary places on earth with cultural and scientific discovery, involving renowned experts who offer eye-opening lectures and are on hand for informal questions and discussion.â€ The cruise line, which hails back to the 1950s but was completely relaunched in 2020, has partnerships with unique organizations such as JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs and the SETI Institute. Maris Culinary Discovery at Sea brings a different JRE gourmet chef aboard each sailing in a series of exclusive cruises that take guests on a parallel voyage of gastronomic discovery. The SETI Explore Space at Sea Series, meanwhile, brings a different world-renowned scientist from the SETI Institute aboard each cruise to provide guests with expert insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science, as well as the quest to find other forms of life within and beyond our solar system. For wellness explorers, the Chopra Explore & Restore well-being voyages pair inward journeys with outward exploration. â€œSwan Hellenicâ€™s cultural expedition cruises have always been distinguished by the company, guidance and expert lectures of famous explorers, seasoned expedition guides and leading authorities in their fields. Now, many of the cruises are also enriched by partnerships with unique organizations to bring very different experts on board in the same way, including JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, Chopra and the SETI Institute. The distinctive combination of bold, intriguing itineraries, eminent lecturers and expert expedition guides who accompany guests on their cruises continues to this day, while being enriched with modern expedition facilities and a sophisticated on-board experience,â€ says Maloney.SWAN HELLENICE Additionally, on many cruises, guests can also participate in Swan Hellenicâ€™s Citizen Science partnerships, contributing valuable data obtained during their expeditions and on board, reporting cloud data with NASA, recording whale sightings with Happywhale, monitoring phytoplankton with the Secchi Disk Study and Antarctic seabird numbers with Stony Brook University. Swan Hellenic offers such inimitable voyages as the new-to-brand 17-night Mouth of the Amazon Cruise: Barbados to Brazil on board SH Vega. â€œWe can enter the Amazon River,â€ says Maloney, â€œdue to the size of the fleet.â€ Maloney also says advisors should recommend the 13-night Cruise West Africa: The Slavery Coast, sailing from Tema (Accra), Ghana to Dakar, Senegal, due to the â€œpopularity of Swan Hellenicâ€™s unique West Africa sailings.â€ He notes, too that â€œnew support for the trade is coming this year including a new B2B portal with access to a new reservation system and new training course.â€VIRGIN FIELDSJourney to AlaskaFrom May to September 2026, Virgin Voyagesâ€™ Brilliant Lady, set to debut this fall, will sail the 49th state during 7- to 12-night itineraries departing from Seattle and Vancouver. The MerMaiden voyage (May 21-28) departs from the Emerald City and spends a day sailing to Ketchikan, a quaint village located amongst the Tongass National Forest. From there, Brilliant Lady docks in the seaside town of Sitka, followed by a day voyaging up the Tracy Arm Fjord. The ship will also dock in Prince Rupert (British Columbia), a picturesque coastal town offering cosmopolitan amenities, before spending a final day traveling back to Seattle. In all, sheâ€™ll sail 17 new voyages in the Last Frontier. Natasha Salzedo, Virgin Voyagesâ€™ Director of Itineraries & Destinations, says, â€œOur Sailors have grown to love the brand for the amazing food, attentive service and overall vibe that you canâ€™t replicate on other lines. Now, imagine being able to participate in Scarlet Night or enjoy our signature shows, but with the incredible backdrops that Alaska and Canada have to offer. Itâ€™s a win-win. Additionally, weâ€™ve opted for alternative departure dates in Seattle. This should hopefully lead to fewer crowds in the beautiful ports weâ€™ve selected for our Alaskan itineraries.â€ Contact InformationCunard: onesourcecruises.com/onesource/loginDisney Cruise Line: disneytravelagents.comExplora Journeys: explorajourneys.comHurtigruten: hurtigruten.com/en-usOceania Cruises: oceaniacruises.comRoyal Caribbean International: cruisingpower.comSwan Hellenic: swanhellenic.com/partners Virgin Voyages: virginvoyages.com

DISNEY COVERDISNEY IFCCOVEREXPLORA JOURNEYSTable of ContentsWEBINAR HOUSE ADEditor's NotesEDU HOUSE ADIndustry Insights: Family Travel:Creating Lasting Memories Across Generations DestinyAdvisor Speak: Foraâ€”Making Huge Waves Across the IndustryCruise: Set Sail Around the Worldâ€”From Kid-Friendly Cruises to Alaska AdventuresOCEANIA SCOCEANIA FPPRINCESS SCPRINCESS CRUISESREGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISESREGENT SEVEN SEAS SCVIRGIN VOYAGESVIRGIN VOYAGES SCDISNEY CRUISE LINE SCEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCOnboard Review: Multigenerational Adventure on AmaWaterwaysOnboard Review: Azamaraâ€”It's A Family AffairNorth America: Floridaâ€”Powerhouse Tourism DestinationACADEMY TRAVEL SCACADEMY TRAVELFORT MYERS SCFort Myers Islands, Beaches & NeighborhoodsOnsite Review: Ocalaâ€”A Feast of Natural Wonders & Historic CharmCaribbean/Mexico: Beachcombers Blissâ€”Finding the Perfect Family Beach RetreatVilla RetreatsLIVE AQUA SCSANDALSSANDALS SCOnsite Review: Sun, Slides & Smiles: Family Fun at Sunscape Coco Punta CanaEurope & Asia: 3 Ultimate GetawaysTTC Tour Brands SCRESPONSIVE HOUSE ADFIESTA AMERICANA