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Cruising Your Way

Today’s cruises encourage travelers to push boundaries, post photos, listen to the music, and sometimes, just kick back and relax. As you'll see, whatever your interest, there’s a cruise for that.

Expedition Cruising Goes Luxe

Expedition ships used to be bare-boned, stripped down vessels but today’s expedition vessels, led by luxury stalwarts Crystal, Silversea, and Seabourn, are as sumptuous as their other ships.

Crystal Endeavor, launching in 2020, will be Crystal Cruises' first expedition ship and will call on ports in the Russian Far East, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. In addition to two excursion helicopters and a submarine, the Polar-class yacht will feature 100 all balcony suites, a spa and six elegant restaurants.

Silversea’s Silver Explorer sails to the Russian Far East while the new Silver Origin, launching in 2020, will explore the Galapagos. The ship boasts all-suite accommodations, butler service for all passengers, the highest crew to passenger ratio in the Galapagos and the most environmentally conscious ship Silversea has ever built.

Seabourn Venture, scheduled to launch in 2021 was created specifically for the luxury loving expedition traveler. With 132 all suite, ocean-view staterooms with balconies, the ship will call on ports in the Arctic, the Amazon, and Antarctica. For a once-in-alifetime adventure, guests will be able to explore the world below the sea in one of two custom built submarines.

Music Themed Cruises

Jazz, country, progressive rock, oldies — cruise lines have a cruises for almost any musical taste. Celebrity Infinity will welcome Cheap Trick, America, and Jefferson Starship on its 70’s Rock and Romance cruise. The ship will also host The Hollies, The Zombies, and Arlo Guthrie on a Flower Power cruise. Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas will feature The B-52s, Dire Straits, and original MTV VJs Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood, and Mark Goodman on its 80’s Cruise.

Crystal Endeavor

Silversea Silver Explorer

Female Centered Cruising

Ships Ahoy Ladies! Women are traveling more, and female-specific cruise itineraries focused around different interests including health and wellness activities, excursions to feminist landmarks, or community-themed sailings.

On March 8, 2020 (International Women’s History Day), Celebrity Cruises will have the first sailing with an all-female bridge and officer team made up of twenty-seven women from over a dozen different countries. The cruise will have a speaker’s series, networking opportunities, and film screenings aimed at inspiring girls and women to pursue maritime careers. America’s first female cruise ship captain, Captain Kate McCue, will be at the helm.

The cruise industry is leading the way in promoting women; between five and 22 percent of all cruise officers are women compared with the flight industry in which only five percent are pilots.

Lip Sync Battle:Carnival

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Royal Caribbean, Riptide

Royal Caribbean, Perfect Storm

Princess Skywalkers Nightclub Celebrity Dueling DJs Silent Disco

#Instagood

Gen-Z is on track to supersede millennials as the largest consumer generation and these younger cruise passengers want authentic and Instagrammable experiences. Fortunately, with their exotic ports and adventurous onboard activities, cruise lines are made for Instagram and the five most popular Instagram cruise lines are Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises.

With adrenaline-pumping onboard adventures like surf simulators, zip lines, trapezes and multi-story water slides. Royal Caribbean’s ships are ready made for Instagram. Its Harmony of the Seas is the most Instagrammed thanks to such thrilling activities as the ten-story Ultimate Abyss SM water slide and the three stories of twisting, turning chutes of The Perfect Storm SM . On Navigator of the Seas the Riptide SM slide leaves you camera ready and over the edge — literally.

Guests on Carnival, on the other hand, tend to post photos from elaborate song and dance performances, glitzy nightclub parties, and guests’ performances in karaoke and “Lip Sync Battle: Carnival.” And of course Disney Cruise Line has Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and other Instagram stars.

Gastropubs at Sea

The gastropub craze is catching on with cruise lines and pub grub has gotten a delicious upgrade. Working with Miami’s Pubbelly gastropub group, Norwegian Cruise Line created Food Republic which offers sushi and an internationally-inspired menu of small bites and shareables. Standouts are Peruvian Beef Skewers. Lamb Rogan Josh dumplings, Korean Fried Chicken, and Tempura Shishito Peppers. They’re best enjoyed with one of the 70+ craft beers available across the hall at the District Brew House.

Princess Cruises has partnered with chef Ernest Uchimura to open The Salty Dog Gastropub inside the Wheelhouse Bar on the Crown, Emerald, and Ruby Princesses. Start with a complimentary order of Ernesto’s crunchy bread sticks with beer cheddar fondue, but be sure to save room for The Ernesto, a freshly ground rib eye and short rib patty topped with grilled pork belly, Gruyère, caramelized kimchi, beer battered jalapeño, and charred onion aioli, on a smoked salt & pepper brioche bun that’s been voted “Best Burger at Sea” by Cruise Critic.

12 ENSEMBLE VACATIONS WINTER 2020 Get your money’s worth Tips to save money on your cruise holiday.

Off- Season Cruises Gaining in Popularity Booking cruises in non-peak months are gaining popularity for the savings, extra incentives, and less crowded ports of call. May and September are less popular for Alaskan cruises than the summer months. The weather may be a little chillier but it should be easier to sleep as the sun won’t be shining day and night. The Caribbean is cheapest during August, September, and October as it’s hurricane season. Should a hurricane hit, fear not, the ship’s captain will reroute around it. Summer is low season for Mexico although hurricanes can also be a factor. Summer is Europe’s high season, so book a late spring or early fall sailing to get the best prices. For Hawaii, September and October can be slower and less expensive coming just after the summer rush.

Sea Days Repositioning cruises, when ships move from one region to another, are also a good way to save money and can be more relaxing as there are more days at sea and fewer ports of call. Common repositioning cruises are transatlantic voyages often returning to North America and the Caribbean from northern Europe and the Mediterranean for the winter season and from Mexico, Asia, and Australia to Vancouver for Alaska’s summer season. As the cruises are often longer, they also offer unique stops like the Canary Islands and Casablanca.