People-to-people shore excursions. Enriching onboard programming. Authentic cultural experiences in a less-visited port. Unusual itineraries that put a new spin on classic destinations—and those that venture into unexplored areas. This is the future of cruising.
Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion
Photo by Geoff Haggray
Japan: Abercrombie & Kent
Its combination of traditional and modern architecture, and ancient history and pop culture, has made Japan one of the most appealing cruise destinations in Asia—not least because so much of it is accessible by water. In spring 2026, luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is chartering Ponant’s Le Jacques Cartier to explore five islands over 14 days, from Kyushu in the south to Hokkaido in the north; the cruise is capped at 148 passengers, making for a favorable guest-to-guide ratio. After a precruise stay at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, the itinerary includes private performances by Kodo taiko drummers and geishas, strolls among cherry blossoms and bonsai trees, and visits to castles and temples, such as the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. In Hiroshima, travelers have the opportunity for quiet contemplation at the memorial museum and garden, and lectures and presentations on board put everything into context. From $25,695, abercrombiekent.com
The colonial town of Mompox
Photo by Uwe Bergwitz/Shutterstock
Colombia: AmaWaterways
In 2025, AmaWaterways became the first major cruise line to offer multiday trips along Colombia’s Magdalena River, the storied body of water that inspired many of author Gabriel García Márquez’s works. Passengers visit the colonial town of Mompox and the “floating” village of Nueva Venecia, or “New Venice,” where houses are built on stilts, and they get a taste of the country’s blend of African, Indigenous, and European cultures during cumbia and vallenato music performances. Bird-watchers may spot sapphire-bellied hummingbirds and northern screamers, so named for their high-pitched call. The ships—which feature 60 to 64 cabins, a spa treatment room, and a sundeck with a pool—sail between Cartagena and Barranquilla, with optional precruise nights in Medellín or a postcruise extension in Panama City, about a 75-minute flight from Cartagena. From $3,089, amawaterways.com
Le Commandant Charcot
Courtesy of Ponant
Canada: Ponant
There’s nothing as thrilling as cutting through yards-thick sheets of ice aboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker. Earlier this year, the 245-passenger hybrid electric vessel became the first ship to sail Canada’s St. Lawrence River in the boreal winter season. Ponant will return to this route in 2027 with 15-day itineraries that kick off in Québec City and continue to the Saguenay Fjord, the Gaspé Peninsula, and the French territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland. While ashore, guests go dogsledding and ice fishing, and experience modern First Nations culture during a visit to an Innu community, where they can shop for moccasins, watch traditional dance, and sample bannock, a biscuit-like bread. St. Lawrence sailings tend to book up quickly, but other icy adventures aboard Le Commandant Charcot include ones to Greenland, Svalbard, and even the North Pole. From $25,850, ponant.com
SeaDream’s inflatable waterslide
Courtesy of Seadream Yacht Club
Caribbean: SeaDream Yacht Club
Escape to some of the Caribbean’s most exclusive beach clubs and secluded ports, such as Low Bay, Barbuda, and South Friar’s Bay on St. Kitts, with SeaDream Yacht Club, which calls itself the originator of modern yacht cruising. SeaDream’s two ships each have 56 rooms and an impressive array of culinary choices, including ample vegan dishes and a well-stocked wine cellar. By day, hit up the water sports platform to kayak, snorkel, wakeboard, or ride Jet Skis, or check out the slide that descends from the pool deck; after sunset, watch an outdoor movie or relax under the stars on a cushioned daybed. On shore, the crew leads organized outings, such as hiking among boulders and wading into sea caves at the Baths National Park on Virgin Gorda or snorkeling along marked routes in Virgin Islands National Park. From $3,299, seadream.com
Northwest Passage: Aurora Expeditions
The seriously intrepid can venture through Canada’s Northwest Passage with the seasoned polar experts at Aurora Expeditions. In 2026, the line is offering a 29-day voyage that sails from Nuuk, Greenland, all the way to Nome, Alaska; the following year will include two 16-day itineraries through the islands and icy channels of Canada’s High Arctic aboard the 130-passenger Greg Mortimer, one of a new class of ships that pair adventure cruising with luxury amenities and accommodations. Hike on Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island, and visit remote Inuit settlements in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Wildlife lovers can watch for polar bears, walruses, and beluga whales aboard one of 15 Zodiacs or from a hydraulic-powered platform that extends directly over the water from the side of the ship. From $21,036, aurora-expeditions.com
Basel, Switzerland
Photo by Julia Nimke
Rhine River: National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad has been mounting voyages to such iconic rivers as the Amazon and the Nile for more than 50 years. In 2026, the cruise line—which has a long-term partnership with National Geographic—brings its joint expertise in deeper exploration to the Rhine River, with eight-day itineraries that sail between Basel, Switzerland, and Cologne, Germany, or Amsterdam and Brussels, on the new, 120-passenger Connect. Special touches include after-hours visits to Dutch museums; a chance to break bread with university students in Heidelberg, Germany; and access to an accompanying National Geographic photographer who provides shooting tips during the trip. From $6,450, expeditions.com
London’s Tower Bridge
Photo by Bryan Daugherty/Kintzing
Northern Europe: Atlas Ocean Voyages
Thanks to the compact size of its 200-passenger, yacht-style ships, Atlas Ocean Voyages is changing the way cruise passengers experience northern Europe. That means round-trip sailings from London’s Tower Bridge dock on the Thames and access to other urban ports where larger ships can’t fit. Highlights of these expeditions include visits to the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki and the British Library in London, where items on display range from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook to handwritten lyrics by the Beatles. Literary types can descend into the 8,000-year-old lava cave in Iceland’s Snæfellsjökull glacier that inspired Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, while history buffs will marvel at the interactive recreation of the construction of the Titanic at the Belfast shipyard. And, in Edinburgh, the especially brave get the chance to play bagpipes with Scotland’s national piper, Louise Marshall, who has entertained queens, popes, and celebrities. From $4,019, atlasoceanvoyages.com
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Photo by Zach Searcy/Unsplash
East and Southeast Asia: Seabourn
The luxury cruise line Seabourn offers a 22-day “Southeast Asia Explorer” itinerary aboard its 600-passenger Seabourn Encore with stops in Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. Take in the views of Hong Kong on an evening tram ride up Victoria Peak; go shopping with a chef in Ho Chi Minh City’s famed Ben Thanh Market; or head out on a guided, overnight side trip to Cambodia’s awe-inspiring temples for an extra fee before rejoining the cruise. During the 10 sea days between ports, travelers enjoy five onboard restaurants, expansive spa treatments and wellness options, and spacious suites that are up to 1,300 square feet. From $9,944, seabourn.com
