By Ivette Yee
From Neverland to Antarctica, cruising is back with exotic ports of call and countless fun features.
There’s never been a better time to sail the seven seas. Cruises offer an all-inclusive vacation experience for the whole family with a backdrop that’s pure blue heaven. New ports of call and new adventures await each day! Book with Interval Travel to take advantage of Interval’s Best Price Guarantee* or use Interval’s cruise exchange benefit (Best Price Guarantee still applies!), which allows members to trade their week or points toward a cruise — on any itinerary and any cruise line.
To help pick your next voyage, here’s a look at what’s new in cruising, from showstopping entertainment to wondrous destinations and more.
* Subject to geographic restrictions.
More Magic (and Holiday Hijinks) on the High Seas With Disney Cruise Line
New Ship: Disney Cruise Line introduces the Disney Treasure, a new ship whose theme is adventure, with design, sculptures, and motif dedicated to the boy who never grew up and his nemesis: Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
Exciting Itineraries: Make the most wonderful time of the year even more special during the holiday season aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime cruises. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Galveston, Texas; and San Diego, California, these festively decorated ships head to tropical locales in the Western Caribbean, the Bahamas, Baja, and the Mexican Riviera. See beloved Disney characters decked in holiday attire, a cast of carolers celebrating a host of holidays, and themed Very Merrytime activities for all ages.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s New Ship Has Something for Everyone
New Ship: According to Norwegian’s website, the all-new Norwegian Viva is “designed for you to live life to the fullest.” The coolest part, though, is that the ship’s highlights make it possible for everyone to do that, no matter what sort of maritime experience you want.
For thrill-seekers, the Norwegian Viva provides heart-racing onboard experiences, including the fastest slides at sea and the Viva Speedway, a three-level racetrack.
For foodies, the Indulge Food Hall, an upscale food market, features 11 unique eateries and NCL’s industry-exclusive sustainable cocktail lounge, the Metropolitan Bar.
Culture lovers will appreciate Norwegian Viva’s expansive array of artwork across the ship, including The Concourse, a multimillion-dollar outdoor sculpture garden, and a dynamic, interactive 52-foot-wide (16 meters) art piece by contemporary British digital artist Dominic Harris. Norwegian Viva also features a world-class entertainment lineup, headlined by the Tony Award®–nominated comedy Beetlejuice: The Musical and the iconic game show, Press Your Luck Live, where the audience participates to win prizes.
Viking’s New River Cruises for History Buffs
New Ship: Travel back to ancient history on the Viking Aton, an exclusive 82-guest ship built specifically to navigate the Nile, where great pyramids and sprawling temples can be found.
Exciting Itineraries: Well known for its luxurious river cruises, Viking also introduced a 17-day river itinerary called Capitals of Eastern Europe that sails between Vienna and Bucharest with six new ports of call: Mohács, Hungary; Ilok, Croatia; Novi Sad, Serbia; Donji Milanovac, Serbia; Pleven, Bulgaria; and Constanţa, Romania.
Set to debut in December, Viking’s new Treasures of the Rhine voyage offers guests the chance to experience Europe’s rich culture during winter, when fewer crowds abound. Sailing from Amsterdam to Basel, vacationers will take in grand cathedrals, medieval towns, and other enchanting landscapes, while savoring the culinary traditions of Alsace.
In 2024, Viking’s new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary river voyage charts a special 12-day course through history, sailing from London to Paris to commemorate Operation Overlord and the historic battles of Normandy.
Redesigned Restaurants and Chef Daniel Boulud Aboard Celebrity Cruises
New Ship: The new Celebrity AscentSM sets sail in November from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades for its inaugural Caribbean season. Passengers can expect redesigned restaurants, expanded food and cocktail menus, a new whiskey-tasting experience, and a plant-based multicourse dinner.
Cool Onboard Updates: On Celebrity’s biggest ship, Celebrity BeyondSM, renowned chef Daniel Boulud has opened his highly acclaimed restaurant-at-sea concept, Le VoyageSM, complete with a global menu of dishes from his personal travels and favorite places around the world. Groups can reserve the Chef’s Table, a private, 6-seat dining room to enjoy a multicourse tasting dinner with optional wine pairings.
Princess Cruises’ First-Ever Colonial Heritage Voyages Plus Antarctica Adventures
Exciting Itineraries: History lovers will fall for Princess Cruises’ first-ever Colonial Heritage Voyages, a series of sailings with stops at Yorktown, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Departing from Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Québec in summer 2024, the series delivers guests to historically significant and picturesque towns along the East Coast. Ten- and 11-day trips are available.
During its 2024 through 2025 season, Princess Cruises is unveiling four new voyages to Antarctica. Imagine remote, spectacular landscapes, where scores of penguins and whales call home, colossal ice forms, and incredible vistas really are endless. Experience Antarctica, the Falkland Islands’ Elephant Island, the Antarctic Sound, and Gerlache Strait on the 17-day once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica itinerary.
Book a cruise through Interval Travel or cruise exchange today.
