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50 Best Cruise YouTube Channels to Watch in 2021

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Top 50 Cruise YouTube Channels

About this Top 50 list:

This list of top 50 cruise YouTube channels is in no particular order . Each channel is different and each cruise content creator brings something special to the table.

Some content creators are relatively new, and have created a lot of amazing content during the pause in cruising. Other channels have ship tours and destination information that was made before the shutdown, equally valuable as you may be planning a future cruise.

This list will be reviewed and updated about once a year, so if you think that another channel deserves to be on this list, make sure to shout it out in the comments section below!

On the most part, these cruise YouTube channels are run by individuals, and not big brands. If you enjoy the content they create, please let them now by liking their videos and subscribing to their channels.

50 Favorite Cruise YouTube Channels and YouTubers

1. cruise tips tv.

2. Don’s Family Vacations

3. Tips for Travellers

4. La Lido Loca Cruise and Travel

5. Sharon at Sea Travel

The Sharon at Sea Travel YouTube channel features Sharon, Jamie, & Matthew, a family that loves to travel. They share relatable information about cruising and traveling through our videos, reviews, tips, and more.

6. The Shiplife

The Shiplife YouTube channel features J. Alexander, a former cruise ship crew member. J shares his unique perspective on recent cruise news and offers cruise advice for future cruise travelers

7. Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel

8. Eat Sleep Cruise

If you’re looking for detailed cruise news, cruise tips and informative cruise ship tours, you’ll appreciate the videos on the Eat Sleep Cruise YouTube channel . DB and Princess, as the duo is known, also have some great cruise vlogs!

9. Emma Cruises

Emma from Emma Cruises shares ship reviews, cabin tours, cruise vlogs, and cruise booking tips and tricks. If you’re considering taking your first cruise, or are interested in learning more about a certain cruise line or ship, you’re in the right place!

10. Morgan’s Very Unofficial Travel Guides

11. Cruise with Ben and David

Cruise with Ben and David are a married couple who share cruise tips, news, ship tours and vlogs. They pride themselves on honest reviews and opinions. As a viewer, you’ll be hooked on this fun and energetic cruise channel!

12. Sean & Stef

Sean and Stef are professional filmmakers that have shared incredible cruise ship tours and travel vlogs with cruisers and the cruise community. Sadly, Sean passed on in 2021, however Sean & Stef’s channel remains and is full of inspirational and helpful cruise content. 

13. EECC Travels

Alisa and Jason from EECC Travels, along with their sons, offer great cruise travel tips and family cruise vlogs. Check out their cruising and travel adventures.

14. Life Well Cruised

Ilana (yes, that’s me) from Life Well Cruised shares cruise tips and advice for both new and veteran cruisers. Find cruise packing tips and hacks, cruise news, and cruise vlogs of both cruise ships and cruise port destinations to help you plan your next cruise.

15. Chad Cruisers

Chad Cruisers is made up of two travel, cruise and lifestyle vloggers Brad and Chris from Toronto, Canada. They love to travel by cruise ship as well as exciting and unique destinations from around the world and our their own backyard. If you’re a Princess Cruiser, you’ll enjoy their Princess cruises videos and ship tours.

16. Alanna Zingano

Alanna Zingano’s YouTube channel has some great cruise tips and travel advice for both first time and repeat cruisers. Check out the channel for ship tours, cruise vlogs, awesome interviews and more.

17. Cruzely

The Cruzely YouTube channel has videos full of valuable tips and advice about planning your next cruise. The content is great for anyone taking a cruise, whether you are a first-time passenger or have sailed time and again. 

18. Porthole Cruise 

19. Captain Kate McCue

Did you know that Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue has an awesome, informative cruise YouTube channel? If you’re a cruise fan (from any cruise line), you have to check it out. 

As she explains in her channel description, “This is not your Love Boat or Captain Stubing… This is a real glimpse at the Captain’s life on a mega cruise ship!”. You’ll get insight on a “Captain’s career, her ship, crew, & trusty sidekick (a hairless cat named Bug Naked) & of course the adventures that only a life at sea can bring.”

20. Cruise Fever

On the Cruise Fever YouTube channel , you’ll find great cruise ship tours, plus cruise tips and advice for first timers and seasoned cruisers. This channel is run by 2 brothers who are passionate cruise travelers.

21. Cruise Radio

On the Cruise Radio YouTube channel , you’ll find short daily cruise news updates plus a variety of cruise ship tours from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and others. Cruise Radio was launched in 2009 as a resource for cruisers that were looking for ship reviews, port tips, and money saving advice.

Doug shares a daily dose of cruise news, in just a few minutes, a great way to keep up with all the latest updates.

22. Griff & Alyssa

Griff and Alyssa share fun, honest and beautifully filmed cruise YouTube videos! You’ll find awesome cruise vlogs, ship tours and cruise port vlogs as well as cruise tips.

23. Paul and Carol Love to Travel

Paul and Carol are a fun couple who share their honest travel experiences and hope to inspire and help viewers make an informed choice when booking their next trip. You’ll find useful cruise ship information and tours, hotel reviews, and destination guides.

24. Talking Cruise

Talking Cruise presents the latest news, cruise ship tours and topics from around the world of cruising in a fun and unique format. The host of Talking Cruise, Chris Cardona, is passionate about all things related to cruising.

25. Scott Singer Cruises

Scott Singer Cruises videos are always fun and informative! You’ll find ship tour videos, cruise vlogs, cruise planning, and everything else cruise related!

26. Cruise Hive

Cruise Hive features videos about major cruise lines and cruise news. If you enjoy cruise tips and information, this cruise YouTube channel is worth the watch.

27. Visit with Us

Rich and Helen from the Visit with Us YouTube channel share videos about luxury cruising. You’ll find cruise tips and cruise ship tours, all beautifully filmed!

28. Mr. & Mrs. Traveler

Mr. & Mrs. Traveler are a fun couple that believes “Life’s short… Have fun!”. On their YouTube channel, they share cruise tips, reviews and cruise news and chats.

29. Travelling with Bruce

Bruce Frommert of Travelling with Bruce , is a resource of information for all things cruise news, cruise trends and travel updates. In his videos, Bruce shares detailed explanations and his take on the current state of cruising.

30. Sal Pitera

Sal Pitera has a popular cruise and travel YouTube channel with cruise cruise information, how to’s and “amazing photography from the crazy mind of Sal Pitera”.

31. Harr Travel

Harr Travel specializes in cruise ship tours (cruise cabins and full ship tours), as well as other types of land vacations. On this channel you’ll find helpful cruise news and information, and cruise ship tours you’ll enjoy.

32. Chris Wong Vlogs

Chris Wong is a member of the Royal Caribbean crew. On the Chris Wong Vlogs YouTube channel , Chris shares his experiences about cruise ship life, as well as some awesome Royal Caribbean cruise ship tours.

33. Same Ship Different Day

Alfie Smith, from Same Ship Different Day is an officer working on a cruise ship. He has shared videos about being on Coral Princess as cruising was paused. You’ll learn information about cruise ships and cruising from a ship’s officer’s perspective.

34. The Curious Lens of Martina from Argentina

Martina, from The Curious Lens of Martina from Argentina , is a crew member onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Martina shares information and her experiences as a cruise ship crew member and a travel lifestyle. If you’re a crew member or cruise passenger, this is a channel to watch!

35. Cruising with Wheels

The YouTubers at Cruising with Wheels are a married couple, one who is in a wheelchair. Since they find cruising to be the best option for their vacations, their YouTube channel focuses on everything about cruising and primarily handicap accessibility. You’ll  see ship accessibility, cabin tours, ship tours, shore excursions and cruise vlogs. 

36. Sea Cruisers

Amy from Sea Cruisers shares cruise vlogs, cruise ship and cabin tours as well as interesting destination videos. You’ll enjoy bring brought along with the Sea Cruisers crew, as they cruise on several different cruise lines.

37. Jim Zim

The Jim Zim YouTube channel is a hybrid of Jim Zimmerlin’s three passions: cruise ships, model trains, and puppies. As Jim says, “if you’re in to Caribbean cruises, G-scale model railroads, or cute little pups… you’ll love these videos!”

38. Chris Frame

The Chris Frame YouTube channel features videos about the history of cruise ships, ocean liners and maritime history. You’ll also find cruise interest stories, cruise news and lots of Cunard content.

39. Cruise Passion

Victoria is the YouTuber behind Cruise Passion . She says, “I produce cruise ship videos, from cruise ship tours to cruise ship events. I bring you along on all of my cruise adventures from all around the world.”

40. Solo Cruisers

The Solo Cruisers YouTube channel presents videos, that are according to the creator “honest and real as you can get and will give you a vision of what it really is like cruising on various line, the good the bad and the ugly.” If you’re a solo cruiser, you’ll find some helpful solo cruise tips.

41. Cruise with Josh

Josh Hocum is the Cruise YouTuber and Vlogger behind Cruise with Josh . You’ll find room tours, ship tours, resort stays, food reviews, best excursions to do on each island, ship reviews, and full recaps along with a fun and outgoing take on cruising!

42. Popular Cruising

On the Popular Cruising YouTube channel , you’ll find cruise reviews and tour videos; featuring the newest ships, covering every cruise style (ocean cruising, river cruising and expedition cruising), previewing upcoming ships, reviewing onboard experiences and sharing shoreside excursions (in 4K Ultra HD).

43. DCL Fan

Are you a Disney Cruise Line fan? Keep up with the latest news and Disney Cruise info and tips on the DCL Fan YouTube channel .

44. ParoDeeJay

ParoDeeJay is a fan favorite combo channel of cruising videos, travel and parody and musical entertainment from Dee & Jay. They say they love to create challenge videos, cruise vlogs, couples gaming, cooking videos, and anything else that makes them laugh. 

45. Cruise Nostalgia

Cruise Nostalgia is a very different type of cruise YouTube channel. If you love a bit of old school cruising, you’ll find videos about cruise ships from the past, including nostalgic cruise line commercials and promotional videos.

Personally, I get a kick out of the kitschy cruise advertisements from the 1970’s and 80’s in particular!

46. Travel Scouts

Jason and Kellie from Travel Scouts have “a goal to help YOU by bringing the latest information on cruise lines, ships, excursions, and of course, all those great tips that will make your vacation unforgettable!” Plus, if you’re planning a Carnival cruise, you’ll find some great videos and tips!

47. JJ Cruise

JJ Cruise are a married, millennial couple who LOVES CRUISES! In their own words “Our focus is to provide tips on travel, recommendations on all things cruising and to have tons of fun while doing it!”. Jordan and Jarred have an infectious energy and are lots of fun to watch!

48. Nautical Nurse Nancy

On the Nautical Nurse Nancy YouTube channel you’ll find fun cruise vlogs and adventures in cruise ports! She definitely looks like she’s having fun and enjoying that cruise life! In her own words “I love sharing our cruise adventures and cruise tips in a creative way!”.

49. Jordan Bauth 

Jordan Bauth is a professional figure skater for Royal Caribbean. She shares her experiences and her life onboard a cruise ship. In her own words “This channel is a way to express all my passions as well as give you an inside look at my life and all the amazing things I get to experience. I also post tons of different lifestyle content! (vlogs, fashion, travel, and makeup videos)”.

50. Travel Spree

Fain and Laura from Travel Spree are a lot of fun to watch and have some great cruise and travel information on their YouTube channel.

In their own words, “We are Fain and Laura, an interracial couple, making family friendly, Travel Vlogs. Our goal with this channel is to bring you with us to experience what the world has to offer. We also plan to offer hassle-free travel advice, cruise tips, and other how-to travel advice around common mishaps you might have when it comes to certain types of travel.”

Popular and Related Posts:

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25 Cruise Packing Tips All Cruisers Need to Know

10 Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid

What To Wear on a Cruise (when dress codes are changing)

21 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On

Final Thoughts: 

I hope that you enjoyed this list of fabulous cruise YouTubers. Whether you’re interested in cruise news, cruise tips, cruise ship tours, cruise crew life, or cruise destinations – you’re bound to find many Cruise YouTube Channels to love!

Do you love podcasts? Here’s a list of 15 cruise podcasts to listen to right now !

Which cruise YouTube channels are your favorites? If there’s a channel I missed that deserves to be on this list, please leave a comment so we can check it out!

Happy Cruising!!

Ilana 

If you found this post helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Share it on Facebook or Save for later Pinterest (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

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11 Comments

Cruise With Akshay YouTube Channel is good from Asia. As his accent is Indian which is good to understand for Asian People Rather US accent.

Thanks for sharing your recommendation!

I love the port guides from this family the Jelly Beans. ❤️

Thanks for sharing a channel you enjoy Jennifer!

The channel of cruises and travels crew is nice too, i follow on youtube

Thanks Vincent for sharing!

The Tyler Show is one of my Favorite cruise creators I follow on the platform. He always provides good coverage of events in the cruise industry and his editing of his videos are some of the best I have seen to date when it comes to cruise videos.

Great to know! Thanks for sharing

My husband and I enjoy watching many of these channels, and will check out some of the new names we’ve seen. We also have a channel called The Cruise World. We do vlogs, ship tours, trivia, news, and parodies. We’d love for you to check us out!

Hi Stephanie,

Glad you enjoy some of the channels on this list. Amazing that you and your husband have a channel as well. I’m happy to know about it and will check it out 🙂

Join us on Doris Visits @DorisVisits we don’t make opinions, just show what is there. Love to cruise.

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Home » Best Cruise Vlogs to Binge Watch

Best Cruise Vlogs to Binge Watch

Last updated on January 29th, 2024 at 01:50 pm

As cruise lovers, we prefer to be on board in the middle of the sea than being on land, even virtually. But during those times we have to be away from the blue, we have modern-day storytellers that would bring us back right in the midst of the salty air–vloggers. Armed with cameras, microphones, tripods, and laptops, they tell stories that we love to immerse ourselves in.

Cruising is HOT and so are the Cruise Videos!

Now that cruising from the USA is moving full steam ahead, we’ve decided that 18 cruise vlogs just aren’t enough. We’ve added a few bonus channels to our list that we’ve found over the past year.

To help keep your bucket full, here’s a list of  the best cruise vlogs that are truly binge-worthy.

Jordan Bauth – Performer on Royal Caribbean

Don’s Family Vacations – Lots of great, up-to-date cruise-related content.

Chris Wong Vlogs – Cruise ship employee on Royal Caribbean

Cruise with Ben & David – Over 40 cruises under their belt!

Life Well Cruised – Their videos are coming close to 1 Million Views on YouTube.

Eat Sleep Cruise – The YouTube channel to go along with their popular blog.

Harr Travel – In-Depth ship tour videos created by a travel agent with extensive cruise experience.

Cruise Tips TV –  Sheri and her family started CruiseTipsTv in 2013. They are making astonishing progress, moving forward to 2020, having over 480 videos, more than 80,000 youtube subscribers, a Cruising academy, and almost 15 million viewers, their vlogs are treasure troves for both new and seasoned cruisers.

Sean & Stef  Updated 2021: Sadly Sean passed away after battling cancer in April 2021. Sean and Stef Mullen, are professional filmmakers who have won 3 Emmy awards, are producing informative but fun cruise vlogs that are topnotch.

Emma Cruises – Creator of the page “Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People,” Emma breaks the stereotyping of cruisers as old school. In her cruise vlogs, she features cabin tours, cruise booking tips, and tricks, ship reviews, and she genuinely sails the coolest ships making cruising hip for Millenials.

SoloCruiser – A solo traveller, Julia produces vlogs that present the reality of cruising, both good and bad. She started uploading videos on youtube in 2012 and shares her personal insights she has learned from various lines, which are extremely helpful for people who want to try cruising alone .

In The Loop Travel – John, the content creator of this innovative vlog, was able to integrate fitness into cruising. Their philosophy is to travel fit, travel happy, and travel often. He provided answers to health-conscious cruisers who do not want to miss out on both fun and fitness.

I Like Cruise Ships – This youtube channel launched a little over 3 years in creating video content and has been steadily gaining traction. Russell, who has worked on cruise ships for more than 20 years, is running this channel with the expertise we all need to know about cruising.

Cruising with Wheels – A channel that primarily focuses on everything about cruising and provides informative videos for accessibility on and off-board while cruising. To get the most out of your vacation, preparation is imperative when cruising with a disability , and watching vlogs of this sort is a massive help.

Cruise Radio – Cruise Radio has made it onto the list of both our favorite cruise blogs and now, one of our fav cruise vlogs. Their YouTube channel consists of over 26,000 subscribers and over 4 million total views on their videos. Since launching the website in 2009, founder Doug Parker has created exceptional content, whether that’s on the website, podcast or video.  Their ship tours are well done, informative and interesting.

Popular Cruising – Jason Leppert, the genius behind Popular Cruising, produces in-depth cruise reviews and tour views. He acquired his passion for cruising from his parents when he was just 2 years old, and after 130 sailings, I don’t think there’s stopping Jason from embarking . You’ll definitely love his behind-the-scenes cruise explorations, previews on upcoming ships and shoreside excursions.

Cruise Fever – Founded by two brothers who are passionate about cruising –Ben Souza and Jonathan Mark. These siblings made sure that their viewers are not just obtaining tips, reviews, and ship information — they keep their followers posted on the latest trends and news in the cruising industry. Their youtube channel has over 40,000 subscribers and about 17,000,000 views.

Paul & Carole Love to Travel – Paul and Carole have travelled to over 40 countries, tried different kinds of accommodations, and have been to 19 cruises. Now they want to give back to the cruising world by offering their honest opinions through their festive vlogs.

Griff & Alyssa – A lovely couple who adores cruising shares their adventures and provides informative videos with fantastic cinematography. Their content is perfect for cruise veterans and new cruisers alike who are looking for reliable information about their next travel.

Jim Zimmerlin – Jim has been running his own youtube channel since 2006 and has attained almost 300,000,000 views. People love him, he is an enjoyable person to watch with videos that offer varieties of fun – from cruising, trains, American Cocker Spaniel dogs to expensive toys.

La Lido Loca – Started uploading videos on youtube April of 2017, and they haven’t stopped since. In their lively vlogs, they generously share practical tips and realities of cruising that can help anyone in making informed decisions for their next cruise. To help out the cruising community, they created a Facebook community called La Lido Loca Community to help answer questions about cruising and provide a platform for wonderful travelling stories to be shared on.

Josh Hocum – Travel, Sleep, Repeat –that is Josh’s mantra. Though he seems laid back, he creates videos with thrilling cruise contents that transports viewers right at the very deck of each featured ship. If you are interested in the Carnival, you’ll love him more because a lot of the videos in his channel features the Carnival. His 3.8 million viewers are enough testament that he produces one of the best cruise vlogs out there.

Paro DeeJay – Since July of 2013, Jay and his wife Dee have been uploading content on youtube, which now has 685 videos and almost 2.8 million views. Besides the undeniable fact that they provide cruise tips, reviews, and tours of different cruise lines, what sets them apart is their amusing parody songs and cover tunes.

EECC Travels – An absolute must-watch vlog for families who enjoy cruising together. EECC Travels is composed of Alisa and Jason (Couple) and three sons. They make travelling as a family doable, especially for those who have children and haven’t tried cruising. You can check out their channel and be ready to be inspired to travel with the whole fam.

Trev & Chels – Viewers absolutely love this young couple on their travels, with the traction of over 56 million views, there’s a reason why cruisers are captivated by them. They create videos with superb editing and perfect voice-overs that feature their cruise experiences vividly, and it is keeping people hooked.

Talking Cruise – Equipped with the current news, cruise ship tours, and topics from around the world of cruising in a fun and unique format. Hosted by Chris Cardona, with 19 years of working in the cruise industry, his channel is a gem for anyone who’s planning to go on a cruise.

Before you start your vlog-watching spree…

Going on a cruise can be intimidating with all the preparation, booking, parking, finding the right ports, and so on and on, but these vloggers manage to contribute to the cruising industry by featuring and creating content that will genuinely make the process a bit uncomplicated. But hey! It’s all worth it, so I hope you’ll enjoy watching 19 of the best cruise vlogs.

And, don’t forget to check out our Top Cruise Blogs post too !

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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6 top transatlantic cruises for 2024.

Journey across the Atlantic while enjoying all the amenities at sea.

The Top Transatlantic Cruises

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Sailing from New York to England on Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 is just one of many transatlantic offerings in 2024.

Transatlantic cruises are unique when you compare them to traditional cruises most people book for family trips and romantic getaways. These voyages tend to be longer in general, and they have more built-in days at sea and offer a lot more time on board as a result. Repositioning cruises that include a transatlantic crossing tend to attract more retirees and travelers who just want to relax and enjoy their ships' amenities, especially since fewer days in port means fewer excursions and more time doing nothing at all.

That said, the fact that transatlantic cruises can last as few as seven nights means they may fit in your plans more easily than you may think. There are also some benefits to transatlantic crossings that may not be obvious, including lower nightly rates, more onboard credit, and more time to kick back and relax at a floating luxury resort in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

If you're curious which transatlantic cruises are best for 2024, here are six top picks with different cruise lengths, itineraries and unique destinations to explore.

Explore cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Cunard Line

Date: Departs May 5, 2024

Departure port: Brooklyn, New York

Starting price: $2,449 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 7 to 18 nights

In May of 2024, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 vessel will offer three different transatlantic crossings of various lengths. Choose from a seven-night sailing from Brooklyn, New York , to Southampton, England; a nine-night sailing to Hamburg, Germany ; and an 18-night round-trip sailing that departs from Brooklyn and crosses the Atlantic twice on the way back to its starting point. This unique combination of itineraries lets you cross the sea and tailor your trip to how long you want to be away from home.

The 18-night itinerary is especially interesting, since it lets you depart from the United States and arrive back in Brooklyn in the end with stops in both England and Germany, as well as plenty of sea days in between. Luxury cruise line Cunard is known for its elegant design, lush amenities and upscale feel, and the Queen Mary 2 is one of the line's most luxurious ships. Highlights on this exclusive vessel include the Royal Court Theatre, a casino, gala evenings, an onboard spa and a vast library. The Queen Mary 2 holds up to 2,691 guests with 1,173 crew to cater to your every need.

Seabourn Cruise Line

Courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Date: Departs March 24, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Starting price: $5,949 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 21 nights

Seabourn is offering a 21-night transatlantic cruise from Miami on Seabourn Quest in March 2024 that offers a diverse range of ports of call before ending its voyage in Las Palmas in Spain's Canary Islands . Departure from Miami is followed by nine days at sea. Then, you'll enjoy multiple stops in the Canary Islands – including Santa Cruz de La Palma and San Sebastián de La Gomera – as well as stops in Praia and Mindelo the Cape Verde archipelago.

This journey with Seabourn makes it possible for travelers to see some of the most beautiful and remote tropical islands in the world. The Canary Islands are known for their white sand beaches , volcanoes and lush greenery; similar landscapes can also be found in Cape Verde's coastal towns and villages. Seabourn Quest, a smaller ocean vessel, accommodates just 229 guests.

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Date: Departs Nov. 8, 2024

Departure port: Southampton, England

Starting price: $769 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 16 nights

The MSC Virtuosa from MSC Cruises is repositioning from Europe to the Caribbean in November 2024, which gives travelers the chance to enjoy a lengthy transatlantic crossing with plenty of unique ports. This sailing departs from England with eight sea days plus stops in France, the Azores of Portugal, St. Maarten , Antigua and Barbuda, and Martinique . The ship ends its journey in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.

The MSC Virtuosa is a larger cruise vessel that boasts an impressive grand promenade with a LED dome ceiling, dedicated clubs for children and teens, an onboard spa, a lavish casino and the luxurious MSC Yacht Club section of the ship. This vessel holds a maximum of 6,334 passengers at once.

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Princess Cruises

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Date: Departs July 5, 2024

Departure port: New York City (Manhattan or Brooklyn)

Starting price: $4,098 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 31 nights

Princess Cruises also offers its share of transatlantic sailings on various vessels. Its 31-night crossing from New York to Barcelona, Spain , on Island Princess in July 2024 is jam-packed with exciting destinations to explore. This lengthy transatlantic voyage has only 13 sea days with planned stops in Canada's Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, England, Spain, Portugal and Morocco before the journey ends in Barcelona.

This intriguing sailing experience with Princess takes passengers to eight different countries in the span of a month. Island Princess is a nice ship for a long sailing because of its smaller size, with just 2,200 passengers and 900 crew. But the ship is also large enough to have a huge selection of included and specialty dining options, a Vegas-style casino, a sports court, a large central atrium for gathering, and several pools and hot tubs to enjoy.

Celebrity Cruises

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Date: Departs April 11, 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Starting price: $760 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 12 nights

Celebrity Cruises is offering a 12-night sailing on Celebrity Equinox in April 2024 that starts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida , and ends in Lisbon, Portugal – making it possible for travelers to enjoy eight relaxing days at sea. What's interesting about this sailing is its stops along the way, which include the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda; Porta Delgada in Portugal's Azores archipelago; and Porto in mainland Portugal.

The Celebrity Equinox accommodates a maximum of just 2,852 passengers at once, so this Celebrity vessel is a solid choice for travelers who want just the right size ship instead of a smaller vessel or a megaship. There are also plenty of onboard features to keep you happy and entertained as you float across the Atlantic Ocean, including The Casino, The Lawn Club with outdoor games like bocce ball and croquet, The Martini Bar, the adults-only Solarium and more.

Royal Caribbean International

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Dates: Departs Oct. 24, 2024

Departure port: Barcelona, Spain

Starting price: $876 per person (plus port taxes and fees)

Cruise length: 14 nights

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is hosting a transatlantic voyage in October 2024 that departs from Barcelona, Spain, and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This vessel will make stops in Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena and Málaga in Spain, then spend eight days at sea. After that, enjoy a day in Nassau in the Bahamas before the cruise drops passengers off in sunny Florida.

Interior staterooms on this Royal Caribbean sailing start at just $876 per person (plus port taxes and fees), which works out to around $60 per night, per person. The Oasis of the Seas megaship can hold a total of 6,771 guests and 2,109 crew, so it's an enormous vessel – to put it mildly. This size may not be ideal for travelers who want a more intimate cruising experience, but it's perfect for cruisers who want plenty of space to spread out and endless activities to take part in. Oasis of the Seas boasts 20 different restaurants and cafes, 11 bars and lounges, a variety of pools and whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, the AquaTheater diving and entertainment venue, mini-golf, a casino and plenty more.

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Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

You might also be interested in:

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• Sustainable Cruises: The Top Lines Making Progress
• Bucket List Cruises for Seniors and Retirees
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• Cruise Packing List: Essentials Chosen by Experts

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How to see the best of northern europe on a scandinavian cruise.

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Cruise ship passengers enjoy the view of Sweden’s Stockholm archipelago from the Royal Caribbean ... [+] ship ‘Serenade of the Seas.’

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise.

Scandinavia—and Norway in particular—is an expensive place to travel around, so a cruise can make financial sense for those seeking an introduction to the region. For one price, you get your travel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment covered.

Such a trip offers the opportunity to sample various Scandinavian travel highlights , whether you prefer the Scandinavian capitals, the stunning Norwegian fjords, or soaking up the atmosphere of beautiful islands and historic ports in the Baltic Sea.

Popular Scandinavian Cruise Itineraries

Many different types of itinerary can be advertised as Scandinavian cruises. Typically, they focus on the Nordic capital cities. Some may also include the highlights of the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltic countries and ports in the north of Germany and Poland.

With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises.

Scandinavian Capitals : Cruise itineraries starting in the U.K. or Germany and calling in at two or even all three of Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen have long been popular.

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The Nyhavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a popular destination for cruise ship passengers ... [+] visiting Scandinavia.

Helsinki is often included on such itineraries. If you want to explore modern Scandinavia while gaining access to some of the region’s best museums, such an itinerary is a perfect choice.

Such itineraries tend to be shorter, and are a great introduction to both cruising and Scandinavia, with limited sea days and plenty to see and do while in port.

Baltic Sea : Longer Scandinavian itineraries often include stops at Baltic Sea islands and ports. The beautiful Estonian capital city, Tallinn, or the Latvian capital, Riga, are particular highlights, as are ports on the northern coastline of Germany and Poland.

For those interested in Viking history, look out for smaller ship itineraries featuring Visby on the wonderful island of Gotland .

One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn. Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter.

The old city walls of Visby on Gotland island, a popular cruise port.

Norwegian Fjords : By far the most variety can be found in the Norwegian fjords region , with almost all major cruise lines operating at least some itineraries here. Although port calls in Flåm and Geiranger will soon be severely limited, many alternative ports will still be able to welcome some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you.

Following the recent rise in popularity of the region as a cruising destination, the fjords season has extended, with trips available as early as April and as late as September.

British line P&O Cruises operates its relatively new megaship Iona in the fjords region for much of that period, with regular departures from Southampton on a popular 7-day itinerary.

Midnight Sun : Although all summer cruises in the region will experience long summer days, specific midnight sun itineraries set sail for the far north of Norway to let guests experience the thrill of being outside with the sun in the sky at midnight. Many of these trips visit Honningsvåg, which allows guests to travel by bus to the North Cape.

Northern Lights : In recent years, Scandinavia—or more specifically Norway—has become a year-round cruising destination thanks to the growth in popularity of northern lights cruises .

Aurora borealis in the sky seen from a cruise ship in Arctic Norway.

These itineraries can be found heading north of the Arctic Circle between October and early April.

Planning Tips For Scandinavian Cruises

Cruising in Northern Europe offers a fantastic variety of excursions and experiences, from historical city tours to adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures.

The region’s love of the outdoors lifestyle means active experiences are easy to find, both through cruise line excursions and independent operators.

The high levels of English comprehension across the region means booking your own activities and exploring ports independently is much easier than in many other parts of the world. Even so, look for independent tours that take place earlier in the day to reduce any time-related risk.

No matter when you visit Scandinavia, pack for all weathers. The height of summer can be marred by heavy rainfall, while it’s possible to get sunburnt in the snow-covered conditions of February and March.

Pack a versatile wardrobe. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions.

Cruising And Sustainability

Prospective travelers should be aware of environmental concerns associated with cruising in this pristine region. The industry is moving towards sustainability, with initiatives to introduce zero-emission vessels in sensitive areas, particularly the UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjords .

Some local initiatives protesting against cruise travel have also gathered momentum, so cruisers should be aware of these issues before setting foot ashore.

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Seeing Southcentral Alaska by river, lake and sea

Girdwood residents negotiate Portage Creek on stand-up paddleboards on a 70-degree day at the Portage Valley recreational area in the Chugach National Forest. (Bill Roth / ADN)

For many people, being near or out on water is at once deeply soothing and thrilling. If that’s true for you, Southcentral Alaska has world-class water adventure opportunities for every ability level.

Up close with the glaciers

Picture an ice slab the size of a house cleaving in slow motion from a massive blue and white glacier, sending up sparkling spray as it slips into the water beneath. You’re witnessing this in real time from a boat, at a safe distance but still close enough to hear.

While seeing a glacial calving event isn’t guaranteed, getting a firsthand look at a glacier is reliably awesome. Bonus: You don’t need a perfect sunny day to get the best views. The beautiful glacial blues are actually more prominent when it’s overcast.

Several outfits offer boat tours less than a day’s drive from Anchorage.

If you’re based in Anchorage and have limited time, check out the Mv Ptarmigan to Portage Glacier. Only an hour’s drive from Anchorage, you’ll spend about an hour on Portage Lake cruising right up to the face of the ice. Tickets run $49 per adult and $29 per child.

For those with more time, the 26 Glacier Tour run by Phillips Cruises & Tours says it all in the name. The nearly six-hour, narrated cruise covers 150 miles of Prince William Sound, and includes breathtaking views across College Fjord and Blackstone Bay. Tickets are $189 per adult, $125 per child, and include a meal.

A boat sit near the toe of the tidewater Surprise Glacier. (Anne Raup / ADN)

Wildlife viewing

Alaska isn’t just about pretty, old ice: You’re here to see the incredibly diverse and often charismatic wildlife! Whales, sea otters, puffins and Steller sea lions abound. Many day cruise operators focus on wildlife viewing (and you’ll likely get some glaciers in there too).

Major Marine Tours , based in Seward, cruises to Kenai Fjords National Park, where the whale-watching is world class — but then, like so much in Alaska, so is the rest. Running from $109 for an adult/$54 per child for an early spring tour, to an 8.5-hour cruise at $289 per adult, there’s an array of day tours to choose from, including private charters.

Also based in Seward, Kenai Fjords Tours ventures into Resurrection Bay and beyond, offering options for different interests and food on every tour. Choose between a wildlife vs. glacier emphasis, or calmer water tours for those with concerns. Pricing ranges from $50 per person in the early season to $238 for a full day tour.

Want to get really close to the action? Little compares to paddling at eye-level in calm blue saltwater near a wild and forested shore, watching shorebirds wheel overhead, spotting eagles on their perch, and seeing otters floating on their backs nearby. Homer provides a stunning starting point for outfitters such as True North Kayak Adventures , which runs kayak trips in gorgeous Kachemak Bay in the $150-per-person range.

Finally, while you’re out on the water, why not catch some dinner? There are myriad salmon and halibut fishing charter options in both Seward and Homer, and easy pack/flash freeze/ship outfitters back on land to get your catch conveniently and safely processed. Check out Alaska Northern Outfitters in Seward and Homer Charter Fishing in Homer as starting points. Trips run roughly $400 per person.

River rafting

Your view of Alaska is going to change the closer you are to the water. Guided rafting trips provide a family-friendly experience with more of an adventurous edge than cruises, yet still appropriate for a wide range of mobility levels.

If you choose a guided rafting tour on the fabled Kenai Peninsula, you’ll experience an otherworldly green-blue river moving your raft along surprisingly swiftly as you scan the shoreline for bears feeding on fish. This region is teeming with life. One outfitter is Alaska River Adventures , offering half- and full-day float trips beginning at $64 per adult and $29.50 for kids.

For those looking for adventure, NOVA tours based in the Matanuska Valley offer a glimpse of a more rugged, exposed, grand Alaska that makes you feel like you truly are as far north as you traveled. The light hits differently up there across an expanse of glacially fed river and jagged mountain peaks. Their Matanuska River overnight tour is customizable for different experience levels, and starts at $550 per adult and $350 per child.

Up for a spicier ride? Try a guided trip with Chugach Outdoor Center or NOVA to Sixmile Creek, near Hope. This fabled local whitewater destination is considered intermediate to advanced and not for the faint of heart (or for those who can’t swim). Choose between a Class IV, two-canyon itinerary, or three canyons including IV and V rapids, $139-$215.

Another option for experienced and intrepid explorers is the versatile and increasingly popular packrafting. For the uninitiated, packrafts are highly portable personal inflatables designed to compress into a backpack, enabling you to flex your backpacking skills while accessing more remote, wild water. You get to hike in and paddle out! Alaska Packraft School guides an overnight packraft trip through fabled Crow Pass, which includes 15 miles of hiking and 8 miles of rafting on Eagle River, for $600.

A packrafter on the lake at the toe of Spencer Glacier. (Vicky Ho / ADN)

Lakes of the Great Land

Alaska has over 3 million lakes, and some beautiful ones are only a stone’s throw from Anchorage.

Eklutna Lake sits 12 winding road miles away from the Glenn Highway. It’s tucked back into the Chugach Mountains but, at 7 miles long, is the largest lake in the region. On a clear day, it glows an ethereal blue-green. Lifetime Adventures at the lake’s edge provides day-rental kayaks starting at $50 per rental.

Craving even more adventure and an “only in Alaska” experience? Hardy travelers can try paddleboarding on an icy blue glacial lake at Knik Glacier with Alaska Sundog Guiding , for $999 per person.

The options for witnessing Southcentral Alaska from its many waterways are as numerous as there are bodies of water. You could spend a lifetime trying to see every one. Instead, why not pick one or two out of the best the region has to offer, and enjoy yourself fully while you’re there? It’s as sure of a bet you can make on creating an unforgettable life experience.

Carnival cruise ship rescues nearly 30 people from adrift vessel

A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued nearly 30 people who were stuck at sea on Sunday.

The crew on Carnival Paradise saved 28 Cuban nationals who were signaling for help on a vessel that was adrift around 2:30 p.m. The cruise ship was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Roatan in Honduras at the time.

“The bridge team onboard spotted the vessel and turned the ship around to rescue them,” Carnival said in a news release . “All were taken aboard, given food and were seen by the medical team.” The cruise line also notified the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West and officials in Roatan.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The ship was set to visit Roatan on Monday. Carnival Paradise is on a five-day Caribbean cruise that departed from Tampa on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper .

The news comes after Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex ship rescued seven people in a small vessel adrift between Cuba and Mexico earlier this month. Another Carnival ship, Carnival Jubilee, also rescued two people stuck in a kayak off the coast of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in January.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

I went on 2 of Royal Caribbean's largest and newest cruise ships. I enjoyed them, but they're not for everyone.

• I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ships, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
• Both mega-ships are jam-packed with amenities, dining options, and people.
• They might not be for you if you want a quiet cruise to unique destinations.  

Before booking a vacation at sea, travelers should always research the best cruise line and ship for their needs.

If you're looking for an ultra-cheap and fast trip, try Margaritaville at Sea . Craving something more upscale? Consider Oceania Cruises.

And if you're looking for high-end sailing to unique destinations, I'd suggest avoiding Royal Caribbean's mega-ships .

Royal Caribbean has become synonymous with giant, family-friendly cruise ships

According to its current expansion plan, by 2028, about a third of Royal Caribbean's fleet will consist of mega-ships.

The latest addition, the 1,196-foot-long and 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, set sail in January, unseating its less than two-year-old predecessor, Wonder of the Seas , as the world's largest cruise liner.

Together, the two vessels can accommodate a whopping 19,238 people — 4,554 crew and 14,684 guests.

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At almost all times of the year, these throngs of travelers can be seen running around the ships' eight neighborhoods, lining up for waterslides, and indulging at a combined 29 bars and 48 eateries.

I've attended complimentary sailings on Wonder and Icon, the longest being three nights on the latter. From their colorful pool decks to their inescapable crowds, as a solo adult traveler, I was equal parts entertained, overwhelmed, and overstimulated the entire time.

But admittedly, I had fun. I do love a good waterslide — and Wonder has three of them, while Icon has six.

If you plan on cruising with your children — and if they, like me, love activities like rock climbing and mini-golfing — Royal Caribbean's mega-ships could be your best option.

Its two largest and newest vessels are jam-packed with things to do. They each have more than 20 dining options and dozens of unique activities, a shortlist of which includes ice-skating rinks, ziplines, and shopping mall-like walkways.

But don't expect a peaceful retreat. The rowdy bar-hopping adults and screaming children at the water playground aren't exactly conducive to a relaxing vacation.

Mega-vessels might not be for you if you want a quiet, itinerary-focused cruise

If you want a relaxing and upscale vacation — maybe one that doesn't involve crowds of children — Royal Caribbean's behemoth vessels shouldn't be your top choice.

There are many ways to have a luxury vacation on Icon of the Seas . But unless you want to pay for upcharged amenities at every turn, you might be better off spending more upfront to reserve a more premium cruise line — especially if you're interested in cruising for the destinations, and not the ships.

After all, like most of Royal Caribbean's largest vessels, both Icon and Wonder are exclusively sailing in the Caribbeans.

Many desirable destinations like French Polynesia have set restrictions on cruises , including limits on ship size, amid concerns of pollution and overcrowding.

If stopping at these ports — or really anywhere outside the Caribbean — is at the top of your vacation wish list, you'll have to prioritize a smaller Royal Caribbean ship or go with higher-end companies like Oceania , Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas.

You might not get a waterpark, but at least you'll get a quieter vacation to destinations no mega-ship will likely ever be allowed to visit.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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