Luxury Cruise Guide 2025 sample by The Chelsea Magazine Company

LUXURY CRUISE GUIDE

Your essential guide to luxury cruises

GRAND VOYAGES

Book by 2 Dec 2025

Enjoy Seabourn’s More Moments Credit of up to US$2,000 per suite towards more excursions, more spa services, more onboard boutique shopping, and more reserve wine packages on select ultra-luxury cruises and expeditions. S ail oﬀ the beaten path in Seabourn’s yacht-like atmosphere through Asia or the Caribbean, or on an expedition to the South Paciﬁ c, Antarctica and beyond, all while only unpacking once.

7-day cruise from £3,198pp

More Exploration

11-Day The Great White Continent Expedition

16^, 26^ Nov; 6^, 8, 18, 28 Dec 2025; 5^, 7, 15^, 17 Jan; 6^, 8 16^, 28* Feb; 10 Mar; 8, 11^, 18, 28 Dec 2026; 19, 22^ Jan; 1^, 11^, 20, 21^ Feb; 3^, 13^ Mar 2027

Roundtrip Buenos Aires

SEABOURN VENTURE

SEABOURN PURSUIT^

Cruise from £9,298pp

Fly/cruise – please ask

VISITS: Fly Buenos Aires/Ushuaia; 5-day Antarctic Experience, Fly Ushuaia/Buenos Aires.

• Up to US$2,000 per suite shipboard credit

• 5-Day Antarctica Experience

*Lead in fare based on 28/2/26

21-Day Brazil Coast, Cape Verde & Canary Islands

4 Apr 2026

Rio de Janeiro to Barcelona

SEABOURN VENTURE

Cruise from £6,398pp

Fly/cruise – please ask

VISITS: Salvador da Bahia (Brazil); Recife; Natal; Praia (Ihla de Santiago, Cape Verde); Mindelo; Santa Cruz (Tenerife); Casablanca (Morocco); Tangier; Castellon de la Plana (Spain).

• Up to US$2,000 per suite shipboard credit

More Indulgences

7-Day Caribbean Gems

7 Feb*; 14 Mar 2026

Roundtrip Barbados

SEABOURN OVATION

Cruise from £3,698pp

Fly/cruise – please ask

VISITS: Carambola Beach^ (St Kitts & Nevis^); Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe); Trois Ilets (Martinique); Roseau (Dominica); Rodney Bay (St Lucia).

• Up to US$2,000 per suite shipboard credit

• ^Seabourn’s exclusive ‘Caviar in the Surf’

*Lead in fare based on 7/2/26

14-Day Exotic Caribbean in Depth

28 Nov*; 19 Dec 2026; ^ 9, 23 Jan, 13, 27 Feb; 13 Mar 2027

Roundtrip Barbados

SEABOURN OVATION

Cruise from £5,498pp

Fly/cruise – please ask

VISITS: Castries (St Lucia); Little Bay (Montserrat); St John’s Antigua; Carambola Beach^ (St Kitts & Nevis); Virgin Gorda; Philipsburg (St Maarten); Soper’s Hole (Frenchman’s Cay); Carambola Beach^; Trois Ilets (Martinique); Port Elizabeth (Bequia); St Georges (Grenada).

• Up to US$2,000 per suite shipboard credit

• ^Seabourn’s exclusive ‘Caviar in the Surf’

*Lead in fare based on 28/11/26. Ports may vary slightly

7-Day Greece & Dalmatian Delights

14 Jun; 9*; 23 Aug; 4 Oct 2026

Dubrovnik to Athens (Piraeus)

SEABOURN QUEST

Cruise from £3,198pp

Fly/cruise – please ask

VISITS: Korcula (Croatia); Brindisi (Lecce, Italy); Sarande (Albania); Zakinthos (Greece); Nafplion.

• Up to US$2,000 per suite shipboard credit

*Lead in fare based on 9/8/26

Experiences with us are too good to hurry through.

THE PINNACLE OF CRUISING

From the rise of Gen X cruisers to holidays in emerging destinations, we take a look at the new and future ultra-luxury cruising trends 8

7 AMAZING LUXURY CRUISE EXPERIENCES

From helicopter expeditions to private dining, these are the perks you’ll only ﬁnd on a ﬁve-star sailing

SUITE LIFE

Dreaming of the ultimate onboard crash pad for your next sailing? We open the cabin doors to six of the most lavish super suites at sea

SAIL INTO 2026 IN STYLE

From Antarctic adventures and the chance to experience a solar eclipse at sea to a 50-night river cruise, this is luxury cruising for the year ahead 26

FINISHING TOUCHES

Stylish pieces and accessories to add to your next luxury cruise holiday wardrobe

CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEA

America & Panama Canal Cruise: Lima, Panama

Azamara Journey

Departing: 10 March 2027

Duration: 19 Nights

Cruise only Cruise club fares from:

ere’s something big afoot in luxury cruising. Not content with running some of the world’s best-loved hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Orient Express and Four Seasons have set their sights on high-end ships, and the results are nothing short of stunning. Impeccable design. Tick. Sleek personal service. Tick. Michelin-star cuisine. Tick. You can read more about the plans to take these celebrated hotel brands to sea in Deborah Stone’s insightful look at the future of luxury cruising on page eight.

Elsewhere in this guide, we explore some of the amazing extras you can enjoy with a ve-star cruise upgrade. From helicopter rides over Antarctica to sleeping under the stars in an on-deck igloo, these experiences guarantee a trip you’ll remember forever (pg 16).

If you’ve decided that 2026 is the year you’re going to immerse yourself in the joy of a luxury cruise – more space, wonderful sta , incredible on- and o -board experiences, dazzling restaurants and bars – then turn to page 26 for our pick of the best luxury cruises to book next year. I’ve got my eye on Oceania Cruises’ amazing 14-day Solar Eclipse voyage around Iceland, as well as the chance to sail the Adriatic in style on Regent Seven Seas Voyager, with ve overnight stops in stellar ports along the way. Wherever your luxury cruise takes you, have a brilliant trip and I hope you love every moment of your special journey.

Vicky Mayer, Editor

vicky.mayer@chelseamagazines.com

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CRUISING THE PINNACLE OF

From the rise of gen X cruisers to holidays in emerging destinations, we discover the new trends in ultra-luxury cruising and look at what’s in store for the future

WORDS DEBORAH STONE

When every cruise line describes itself as luxurious, it’s no surprise that ultra-luxury is the next big thing. But what does that really mean? We asked an array of expert insiders from the cruise industry’s top lines and most agreed that ultra-luxury tends to be understated and sophisticated – often in different ways, depending on the brand.

This new style of luxury has evolved from the recent boom in ships boasting exceptional comfort and more onboard amenities than previous decades. Most interesting of all, though, this quiet, less-is-more luxury is trending as the market transitions from older baby boomers to generation X.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?

One indication of where luxury cruises are going is the arrival of hotel spin-o ships run by Ritz Carlton, Orient Express and Four Seasons. Edwina Lonsdale, MD of Mundy Cruising, which specialises in luxury cruising, says these are good products for testing the water but everyone agrees, luxury cruising is about more restaurant choice, larger suites and superb destinations. at’s why Crystal has all-inclusive celebrity chef options, such as the only Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant at sea – Umi Uma – on its two ships. Bigger cabins are on the way on Regent’s Seven Seas Prestige, which will have 12 suite categories when it launches in December 2026, including a £20,000-a-night Skyview Regent Suite at 817 square metres. Personal attention is key too. Windstar has two new 224-passenger ships arriving, Star Seeker this December and Star Explorer next December, with a 1:2 sta -to-guest ratio. But luxury isn’t just about the ship, says Jason Montague, Chief Luxury O cer of Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises: “It’s in the destinations we travel to and how we take you there, with more overnight stays and immersive shore excursions than ever before”.

JOURNEYS THROUGH LIVING CULTURES

ASIA PACIFIC

BALCONY UPGRADE

GOLD WIFI $250 ONBOARD CREDIT PER GUEST

BOOK BY 31 NOVEMBER 2025

At Swan Hellenic, our voyages are one of discovery—charting the world’s most remote and extraordinary destinations. Introducing our newest voyages across the Asia Pacific, designed to captivates explorers with its striking contrasts and natural wonders. Volcanic shores, coral atolls, and remote rainforests create some of the world’s most biodiverse and pristine habitats. The people add to its allure, from Japan’s blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation to Papua New Guinea’s diverse cultures. Rich human stories reflect centuries of tradition, isolation, and exploration, making the region’s history as fascinating as its landscapes.

13 NIGHTS FROM £9,100 PP

HONIARA - JAYAPURA

SH MINERVA

5 - 18 APR 2 026

10 NIGHTS FROM £7,000 PP

JAYAPURA - SORONG

SH MINERVA 18 - 28 APR 2026

11 NIGHTS FROM £7,700 PP

SORONG - MANILA

SH MINERVA

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

•Charter flights, group transfers, & one night pre-cruise hotel (where stated)

•All inclusive onboard including 24-hour room service

•All expedition landings

•One shore excursion per port of call

•Standard wifi package

•Onboard gym, sauna, pool

•Onboard gratuities & port taxes

28 APR - 9 MAY 2026

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE OR TO BOOK:

Call: +44 207 846 0271

Email: sales-uk@swanhellenic.com

11 NIGHTS FROM £9,350 PP

MANILA - HIROSHIMA

SH MINERVA 9 - 20 MAY 2026

10 NIGHTS FROM £8,500 PP

HIROSHIMA - OTARU

SH MINERVA 20 - 30 MAY 2026

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD OUR ASIA BROCHURE

Luxury Cruise Guide 2025 sample