2023 travel tips: The best cruise holidays for the year ahead

With the brand new 12 months quickly approaching, it’s time to verify the expiry date in your passport and slip on some Mickey Mouse ears or mud off your ballgown or tuxedo. Cruising is wanting larger and higher than ever, with new ships, new locations, and new adventures to embrace in 2023 and past.

Disney Cruise Line: Disney Magic at Sea

Think about waking up on Christmas Day and stunning your loved ones with a Disney cruise underneath the tree. With Disney Marvel setting sail from Auckland on December 25, 2023 for a three-night cruise, you may make all their vacation desires come true. An excessive amount of Disney isn’t sufficient on this ship, with themed reveals, character meet and greets, tea events with a princess, and even fireworks. In the event you can’t sail on Christmas Day, there are many different three- and four-night sailings from Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane to select from.

Priced from$2,719 pp. disney.com.au/disney-magic-at-sea

Viking River Cruises: Pharaohs & Pyramids

In the event you’re after luxurious, historical past, and journey, Viking Osiris would possibly nicely be your dream ship – if you may get on board. This opulent purpose-built Nile vessel has simply 41 staterooms, and an 11-night Pharaohs and Pyramids crusing that visits Egypt’s most well-known sights, resembling Luxor and Karnak, the Nice Pyramids of Khufu, and the Valley of the Kings. The favored itinerary is nearly bought out for 2023, however there may be loads of availability in 2024. Along with an included tour in each port, unique actions like sizzling air ballooning and intimate in-depth excursions of tombs and temples can be found at an extra value.

Priced from $8740 pp. vikingrivercruises.com.au

Norwegian Cruise Traces: South Pacific: Fiji, Moorea, and Samoa

Contemporary from a $100 million refurbishment, Norwegian Spirit has newly renovated cabins, public areas, and eating places, and also you’ll have the ability to benefit from them on this 15-night cruise from Sydney to Papeete in Tahiti. Be entertained, wined and dined by evening and discover white sandy seashores by day as you sail to a number of the greatest tropical locations within the South Pacific, like Thriller Island in Vanuatu, Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, Dravuni in Fiji, and Moorea in French Polynesia. Not like many repositioning cruises, this itinerary makes essentially the most of each port with solely a handful of sea days. It’s preferrred for travellers looking for an extended cruise with loads of on-shore motion.

Priced from $4189 pp. ncl.com

Azamara: Greece Intensive Voyage

Assume historic civilisations, azure waters, and blue skies, then image your self on the balcony of your suite overlooking the gorgeous island of Santorini. Azamara’s Immersive Voyages, like this 10-night Greece Intensive itinerary, delve into the center and soul of a single nation with late-night departures, in-depth excursions, lesser-known ports, and loads of time to discover. For instance, you gained’t set sail from Rhodes or Santorini till 10pm so you’ll be able to benefit from the traditional cities’ thriving bar and restaurant scenes and absorb Santorini’s well-known sundown. Azamara Onward is the road’s latest ship, and fares embody drinks, gratuities, and an unique AzAmazing Night occasion.

Priced from $4580 pp. azamara.com

Croatia Cruises: Dubrovnik to Cut up

See the very best of Croatia in every week on a seven-night cruise alongside the Dalmatian Coast with Cruise Croatia. With a fleet of small ships starting from comfy to luxurious, you’ll be able to select a journey based mostly in your funds and the time of 12 months. Begin in Dubrovnik and cruise in direction of the Unesco-listed city of Cut up, with swimming stops at secluded coves and time to discover Croatia’s small seaside cities. Different highlights embody a guided boat tour by the well-known Blue Cave at Bisevo Island, exploring the paths at Mljet Nationwide Park, and wine tasting in Hvar.

Priced from $2300 pp. cruisecroatia.com

Holland America Line: Panama Canal

This epic 19-night journey presents a basic Panama Canal cruise expertise from Vancouver, taking within the Mexican Riviera and the Bahamas. Discover Mayan ruins and Mexico’s thrilling meals scene, earlier than transiting by the Panama Canal, with a splash of Caribbean sunshine to complete. Nieuw Amsterdam has advantageous meals, funky blues bands, classical music performances, and Broadway-style theatre productions for night leisure after every thrilling day ashore. Deal with your self to a balcony and watch the engineering marvels of the Panama Canal unfold from the consolation of your deck chair or sit again and loosen up within the ship’s air-conditioned Crow’s Nest lounge and benefit from the view.

Priced from $3995pp. hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises: Solomon Sea Islands

Kick off your vacation in Tropical North Queensland earlier than you set sail for the Solomon Islands on a round-trip cruise from Cairns on Pacific Explorer. This 10-night journey additionally explores the islands of Papua New Guinea, together with the pristine Battle Islands with their picture-perfect white sands and swaying palm timber. Historical past is ever current on this itinerary, with WWII battlefields and wrecks to find in places like Honiara, Gizo Island, and Rabaul. Your ship may not be the latest within the P&O fleet however it delivers a top quality cruising expertise with fee-free specialty eating, fabulous leisure, and nice bang on your buck.

Priced from $1420pp. pocruises.co.nz

Princess Cruises: Alaska Inside Passage

Discover Alaska on a 10-night round-trip cruise from San Francisco onboard Ruby Princess, with a number of departures obtainable. Hang around with raptors in Haines, spot sea otters on a wildlife cruise, or go on a drysuit snorkel journey in Sitka. Juneau is known for its glaciers which might be admired on a kayak tour, mountaineering journey, biking tour, or flightseeing expertise that gives a fowl’s eye view of Alaska’s pure magnificence. Or you can strive canine sledding, Alaska’s official state sport, on a tour that visits a musher’s camp and consists of an exhilarating trip with a canine staff. Tracy Arm Fjord, the place the surroundings is rivalled solely by the wildlife recognizing alternatives, is a cruise spotlight.

Priced from $1885pp. princess.com

Superstar Cruises: Western Europe Transatlantic

Superstar Apex is likely one of the latest ships within the Superstar Cruises fleet, with cutting-edge eating places, cabins, bars, and lounges. It additionally has The Retreat, an unique suite-only space, with a personal restaurant, sundeck, and lounge. Gratuities, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and onboard credit score for Retreat friends are additionally included. You’ll have loads of time to get pleasure from all these services and extra on this 15-night Transatlantic crusing, whether or not you’re staying at The Retreat or in an everyday room. Spend the day in Cork in Eire, Le Havre in France, and Bruges in Belgium, earlier than the cruise ends in Amsterdam, yet one more fabulous vacation spot to discover.

Priced from $3775pp. celebritycruises.com

Cunard: Sydney to Southampton

Go large and do it in type with a 53-night journey from Australia to England that celebrates Cunard’s 100 years of World Voyages on one among its most beloved ships. Beginning with an in a single day keep in Sydney, Queen Victoria will name at greater than a dozen fashionable and less-visited ports like Salalah in Oman, Naples in Italy, and Lisbon in Portugal on this historic crusing. Crusing by the Suez Canal earlier than you attain Southampton provides but one more reason to e book this once-in-a-lifetime cruise. With the fashionable atmosphere of conventional luxurious cruising, every day excessive teas, formal nights, night ballroom dancing and studying on the promenade deck, you’re set for a proper royal journey on the excessive seas.

Priced from $11,450pp. cunard.com