Matador's Ultimate Guide to Cruising the World

Guides, routes, and tips to help plan your next cruise ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [cruise ship]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Cruising the World Hi all, Cruise ships are the most comfortable and indulgent way to see the world, far ahead of riding the train or flying. On the water, cruising is all about doing as little as possible, and when you’re on land, it’s nothing but carefree exploration. Cruising has come back in full force in recent years, and today, the experience is better than ever with cruises for every taste, lifestyle, budget, and level of adventurousness. Whether you’re a veteran cruiser or you’re thinking of booking your first sailing, [these guides, routes, and tips]( will help you take the voyage of a lifetime. [CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE GUIDE ON CRUISING]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [cruise ship]( The 11 Biggest Trends In Cruising Right Now Cruising has made quite the comeback. Far removed from the pandemic-era horror stories that some said would sink the industry, cruising continues to grow in popularity among solo travelers, families, and intrepid explorers. Our perception of cruising has changed too. Where once we saw cruise ships as floating temples of gluttony, many see them now as convenient ways to explore far-off remote destinations. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( On Norway's Coast, This Ultra-Sustainable Cruise Line Has a Northern Lights Guarantee The list of reasons to sail with Norwegian cruise line Havila Voyages is as long as the coast that its vessels travel. First, there’s the Coastal Route that the ships sail, which showcases some of the best of Norway, from fjords and islands to important cities both above and below the polar region. And then there are individual excursions along the Norwegian coast. Plus, you'll get to see the Northern Lights. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( This Alaska Cruise Will Convert You To the Cruising Lifestyle With Animal Watching, Quality Food, and Music On Holland America’s Alaska cruises, wildlife spotting sessions are led almost daily by a resident naturalist who will point out what you should be looking for at each location. But beyond the wildlife, a Holland America cruise to Alaska is one of the best ways to see spectacular scenery, especially that of Glacier Bay National Park. This national park is only accessible by boat or plane, and a cruise ship gets incredibly close to all the best areas of this magnificent place, including Lamplugh Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier, and the king of them all, Grand Pacific Glacier. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( What It's Like To Sail on the First Adult-Only Cruise Line in the US Why did I break my no-cruise policy for Virgin? It wasn’t the eye-catching red color scheme or the prospect of catching a glimpse of Richard Branson. It was one very simple (and unique) rule: 18+ only. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( The Best Cruise Line Drink Packages for Every Budget Cruise line drink packages are a way to take financial worries out of the equation and simply kick back and relax. And there’s no denying that drinking is a big part of vacationing on a cruise line, especially since you don’t have to worry about finding a designated driver. Bar-hopping on board is as much an activity as a shore excursion off the ship. So if you enjoy letting loose on a cruise ship, you might want to seriously consider looking into the cruise line drink packages on the ship of your choice. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( On Queer Cruises, You Can Truly Be Yourself, and These Are the Best To Take The ease cruise ships afford travelers is one of the many reasons the industry is booming. And while many of the early cruises were marketed primarily to gay men and lesbians, today, trips cater to a more diverse range of queer travelers. [READ MORE]( Luxury on the Sea [cruise ship]( What It's Really Like Aboard the 'World's Most Luxurious Cruise Line' When Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled the Explorer in 2015, it made headlines for being the most expensive cruise ship ever built, costing an estimated $450 million. That title was usurped by the $600-plus million Seven Seas Splendor in 2020, which only solidified Regent’s reputation as the world’s most luxurious cruise line. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( This Cruise Is the Most Deluxe Way To Travel the Mediterranean This past fall, I spent 12 days sailing from Greece to Türkiye, Italy, France, and Spain on Oceania’s Nautica. And let me tell you: being a passenger on this small, deluxe cruise is one of the most opulent ways to see the Mediterranean. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( The MSC Yacht Club Can Make Even the Most Hesitant Traveler a Cruise Ship Fan This experience blew my presumptions of what a cruise is completely out of the water with exquisite customer service, fine dining, and a packed (and safe) itinerary. MSC’s luxury ship showed me that cruising can be the epitome of a relaxing, stress-free vacation. [READ MORE]( Rollin’ on a River [cruise ship]( A River Cruise Through Provence, France, Has All of the Sights With None of the Rush If you’ve long been curious to explore France’s storied southeastern region — from the lavender-filled fields of Provence to the hilly wine country near Lyon — consider doing so by boat. A Rhône river cruise gives you time to shop at bustling farmers markets, marvel at medieval palaces, and meander through vineyards while getting you to your next location by night. Rather than fretting about early check-outs, train schedules in French, or car travel down small winding roads, you can sleep in and wake up to find your boat docked right alongside the next cobblestoned town. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( Why a Nile Cruise Is the Most Comfortable Way To See Egypt’s Beautiful Temples Cruising the Nile has become a highlight of any visit to Egypt, whether you’re a queen, a statesman, or just a regular tourist. This is, perhaps, because it’s the best way to see the country’s extant temples. Unlike ancient times, however, the modern spin on a Nile cruise can take many forms depending on your budget and interests. [READ MORE]( [cruise ship]( This Over-the-Top River Cruise Is the All-American Trip You Need To Take Few things feel more like a Southern cliché than sitting on a rocking chair with a glass of ice-cold sweet tea while looking at the Mississippi River from the deck of a paddlewheel steamboat. And I, a French, along with my partner, a Canadian, embraced it wholeheartedly. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [cruise ship]( [cruise ship]( [cruise ship]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Custom]( [Twitter X]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States