Sun-sational getaways

Blissful beach escape? Southern Thailand’s the place to be. Find your place in the sun with chic Avani stays in Koh Samui, Phuket, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak. Sail Andaman seas and beach-hop til you drop. Spoil yourself with spa time. Dig into gourmet food and uncover delicious local eats. Thailand will bring the sun, sea and sand – Avani will do the rest.

Equally splurge-worthy, the 228-guest dreamboat Scenic Eclipse II (scenic.co.uk) comes with a submarine and helicopter. Building on the success of the much-lauded Scenic Eclipse, this virtually identical, eye-catching sibling has been created for artisans of leisure as well as devotees of exploration. Commencing on 12 April, there will be a series of inaugural sailings exploring the Mediterranean prior to the christening by former Nasa astronaut Dr Kathy Sullivan in June. The sleek discovery yacht then sets a course north to the High Arctic, before heading south to the White Continent of Antarctica, where guests can follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest pioneers.

Also at the confluence of cutting-edge design and eco-friendly technology, the svelte Emerald Sakara (emeraldcruises.com) is debonair inside and out. The marbleaccented Amici Bar & Lounge has an art moderne verve; there’s similar finesse in the staterooms and suites, as well as at La Cucina restaurant and the infinity-style Aqua Pool and Elements Spa. When this 100-guest superyacht is anchored off port, a floating marina platform, complete with paddleboards and SEABOBs, is lowered. Expertly curated EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE shore tours such as hiking and cycling are included. Following the launch in August, its itineraries will feature Croatia’s Dalmatian Riviera and the Eastern Mediterranean, before island hopping in the West Indies.

Another hotly anticipated haven of the seas that’s been conceived with style junkies in mind will be christened in December. The 3,260-passenger Celebrity Ascent (celebritycruises.com) is the latest smoking-hot behemoth to attest that maritime architectural zeal knows no bounds. An undoubted highlight will be Le Voyage, a restaurant created by venerated Lyonnais chef Daniel Boulud, the company’s global culinary ambassador. Sybarites occupying suites sign up for the Kelly Hoppen-designed Retreat, a three-deck-high resort-within-a-resort enclave that consists of a private pool, sun terrace and bar, a lounge and Luminae gourmet restaurant. For novel sea views, guests climb aboard the Magic Carpet, which is raised and lowered 13 decks from water’s edge to rooftop garden and Sunset Bar.

Ascending to a seaborne firmament of luxe will be the

1,200-guest Vista from Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises. com), which debuts in May. This much-anticipated trailblazer has an arsenal of epicurean options, each reflecting that rare triumph when décor, service, ambience, superb ingredients and imaginative preparation come together. Options range from the imposing Grand Dining Room to Ember, which specialises in American classics, and on to Aquamar Kitchen, where the focus is on lighter cuisine and superfoods. Inspired by organic elements of land and sea, a crystal-encrusted Grand Staircase in the Atrium leads on to staterooms and suites which have the vibe of à la mode hotel rooms.

Trendsetting is one commodity that won’t be in short supply aboard Explora I (explorajourneys.com) Enjoying the benefit of starting with a blank canvas, the creators of this new cruise conceit have come up with a compelling design. Representing the future of luxury travel at sea, each of the six 922-guest vessels will reflect a sleek, cool mindset. The oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences all have private terraces and a surfeit of panache. Nine distinct gustatory experiences include: French-inspired Fil Rouge; the Marble & Co Grill, as well as Med Yacht Club, which specialises in plates to share. There are three outdoor swimming pools and 64 private cabanas, while an indoor pool with a retractable glass roof is adjacent to a vast spa and fitness studios.

Another relatively new entrant on the scene is also swerving clichés associated with traditional, mass-market ships. Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com) is launching not one but two new 2,700-passenger ships this year. Designed specifically for the Gen X crowd, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady are the third and fourth ships in Richard Branson’s armada of adults-only vessels which sail against the tide of established norms. Passengers are referred to as ‘Sailors’, there’s no dress code, while revue shows, cheesy cabarets and tribute acts have traded places with immersive theatre, a revved-up nightclub and wild pool parties. Multiple speciality dining venues include Razzle Dazzle, where a brunch show features the ship’s resident drag queens.

Somewhat less raucous, the 192-guest SH Diana is the latest entrant onto the cruising scene from Swan Hellenic (swanhellenic.com), the Brit-popular company which is a infinity pool

THE BIG SLEEP

Below: a Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite bedroom on Crystal Serenity leading exponent of cultural discovery cruising. Set for a christening ceremony in May, this largest ship in its fleet of three vessels will sail the Mediterranean before heading to portsintheRedSeaandEastAfrica.

Acrossthesevenseas,Regent(rssc.com)shipsshimmer with élan. Such refinement will be on display when the eagerly anticipated, and appropriately named, Seven Seas Grandeur is revealed in November. Set to offer supremely high levels of service and quality, this 750-guest paragon will be super-glam. Anchoring the ship’s new art collection, a Fabergé egg, titled Journey in Jewels, will become the first to reside permanently at sea. While the Regent Suite is off the charts in unbridled hedonism, all other suites are designed with sublime aplomb. Not surprisingly, culinary cred is also in the stratosphere. And Regent is a pacesetter when it comes to complimentary tours in every port – its guests revel in the insightful visits to beguiling destinations. The eclectic collection includes options for those wanting to enhancetheirbraggingrights.

Extolling their personal discoveries was also something Crystal Cruises’ (crystalcruises.com) passengers did for 35 years. The most awarded luxury cruise line in the industry was a notable victim of the pandemic and liquidated in 2022. The company’s two, first-rate ocean ships – Crystal Serenity and CrystalSymphony–havebeensavedfromthescrappers by A&K Travel Group. The ships are slated to relaunch in July and September respectively, under the new tagline ‘Crystal: Exceptional at Sea’ The company’s vision is to decreasethetotalnumberofguestsandincreasetheaverage size of the staterooms. It’s a noble quest and, if successful, theaccoladesaresuretoreturn.

Viking Cruises (vikingcruises.com) looked to the stars to name its latest addition to the adults-only fleet, Viking Saturn. With a Scandi-cool aesthetic fused with a concoction of decadence and whimsy, this 930-guest vessel will be the ninth in the company’s acclaimed fleet when she is christened in April. Culinary prowess is on display in The Restaurant, World Café and Aquavit Terrace as well as at The Chef’s Table, which touts a tasting menu, and Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, plus Mamsen’s for Norwegian deli-style snacks. Drawing upon the holistic wellness philosophy of Nordic culture, the spa boasts a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, plus an authentic snow room. Ships of this environmentally friendly cruise line have an exhaust-cleaning system enabling pollutants to be removed and disposed of safely.

In a similar vein, Silversea Cruises (silversea.com) is taking a quantum leap towards a zero-carbon future when Silver Nova graces the oceans in August. Set to put the ‘nova’ in innovation, this 728-guest vessel will be the world’s first low-emissions cruise ship with advanced hybrid technology that utilises fuel cells, achieving zero local emissions while in port. As diverse as they are delicious, its gastro outlets include: La Terrazza; Atlantide; S.A.L.T. Kitchen; La Dame; Silver Note; Kaiseki; Spaccanapoli and The Grill. At the confluence of cutting-edge design and neoteric technology, this achingly cool giga-yacht, with its asymmetrical structure and horizontal layout, will be a cardinal among curates in the high church of hospitality.