By Dionne Aiken
By Ivette M. Yee
From the wild shores of the Galápagos to the ancient fjords of Norway, plus a Bahamian water park that delights, and the most ambitious ship ever built, cruising’s next chapter promises something grand for everyone.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to finally book that dream voyage, consider this your sign and your short list. The cruise industry is firing on all cylinders right now, launching ships that feel more like cities, reimagining private islands as full-blown theme parks, and crafting itineraries so immersive you’ll return home with sea legs. Here’s the scoop on four maritime adventures that deserve a spot on your radar.
Celebrity Flora in the Galápagos: Explore Luxury at the Edge of the World
Some destinations don’t just call to the traveler in you, they summon the naturalist, the adventurer, the person who once stared at a giant tortoise in a zoo and thought, I need to see one in the wild. For those explorers, Celebrity Cruises® has just opened bookings for its 2028 Galápagos season aboard the Celebrity Flora®, and it’s every bit as extraordinary as you’d hope.
Crafted from natural materials, Celebrity Flora was specifically designed for the Galápagos Islands.
The open-air Vista offers private cabanas and cocoon-inspired loungers, perfect for relaxing with a loved one.
A resort at sea, Celebrity Flora brings guests closer to the Galápagos Islands’ extraordinary natural world.
Taking its inspiration from the Galápagos Islands, the ship blends seamlessly into the landscape around it.
Celebrity Flora features a plunge pool and whirlpool spa, where you can relax and admire the surrounding seascapes.
The 100-passenger vessel is designed specifically for sailing in the Galápagos archipelago. More than 50 all-inclusive sailings are on offer, with activities ranging from snorkeling alongside sea lions and kayaking with sea turtles to exploring coastal cliffs and coming face-to-face with, you guessed it, giant tortoises, all guided by Galápagos National Park expert naturalists. Itineraries run from seven to 16 nights, with the longer options incorporating extended land adventures in Quito and Ecuador, as well as Lima, Cusco, and even Machu Picchu.
What sets this program apart is its immersive good. In partnership with Galápagos National Park, Celebrity’s “Rewilding Galápagos” initiative invites guests to help restore the natural habitats of the islands. For example, visiting a Scalesia reforestation area to plant seedlings. When guests sail in 2028, the initiative will reach a milestone of 100,000 trees planted. To cruise the Galápagos with Celebrity isn’t just a bucket-list moment; it’s a chance to leave something significant behind.
Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas: the Icon Class Leveled Up
Arriving in August 2027, Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas℠ is the fourth ship in the Icon Class—the largest cruise ships in the world—and when it sets sail from Miami it will do so with a jaw-dropping lineup: eight neighborhoods, the most pools at sea, 28 dining venues, new family raft slides, and new accommodation styles for multigenerational families, including a three-story Ultimate Family Treehouse.
Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas pairs theme park-style thrills with relaxed beach escapes.
Coconut Cove offers in-water loungers and poolside service with Caribbean-inspired drinks for sun-soaked relaxation.
Raise a glass to an elegant evening of dinner, drinks, and live jazz at Orleans Parish Supper Club.
Category 6 features six waterslides and is the largest waterpark at sea.
Hero of the Seas will boast nine unique swimming spots, such as the new Caribbean-inspired Coconut Cove pool, three adults-only pools, and an expanded Swim & Tonic concept. The Category 6 water park—already legendary on earlier Icon Class ships—gets even bigger here, and now features two new family raft slides, including the first-ever funnel raft slide at sea. High above the waves, Crown’s Edge® takes guests on a high-flying adventure with skywalk and zip-line experiences.
Sailing seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, every one of which includes a call at Perfect Day CocoCay, Hero of the Seas is the kind of ship that makes vacation planning feel like the best problem to have.
Princess’ 2028 World Cruise: Around the Globe in 115 Days
For the boldest adventurers among us—the ones who don’t so much plan a trip as commit to a transformation—Princess® has charted the ultimate journey. The 2028 World Cruise aboard Coral Princess® offers travelers a chance to circle the globe in style. And the sheer scope of it is staggering.
There are three options: a 115-day round trip from Fort Lauderdale departing Jan. 3, 2028; a 115-day round trip from Los Angeles departing Jan. 18; or a 100-day voyage from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, also departing Jan. 18. During the 115 days, jet-setters will visit 49 destinations in 24 countries on five continents, sail some 36,000 nautical miles, cross the equator twice, and wake up each morning to a different corner of the world. The itinerary reads like a greatest-hits album of the planet: Cartagena, the Panama Canal, Hawai‘i, Samoa, Fiji, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Mauritius, Cape Town, Namibia, the Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Dubrovnik, Athens, Rome, Barcelona—to name only a handful.
Guests who book a 100- or 115-day sailing by Aug. 31, 2026, can enjoy the Princess Premier® package included—covering unlimited drinks, unlimited specialty dining, and unlimited Wi-Fi—plus up to US$3,000 in onboard credit per stateroom. A 115-day cruise at this level isn’t just a vacation; it’s a life chapter.
If you don’t necessarily want to go all the way around the world, but an immersive European journey sounds good, Princess still has you covered. The line’s 2028 Europe season—its largest ever—features 291 departures across 150 itineraries, which translates to approximately 128 destinations in 37 countries—including first-ever calls to Ireland’s rugged west coast in Galway and Killybegs on certain journeys.
Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay: an Island Destination That Commands Attention
Private islands have always been a highlight of Caribbean cruising, but Norwegian Cruise Line® is about to raise the entire concept to a level that requires a fresh vocabulary. Opening September 2026, the all-new Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay promises a full-day, high-energy adventure designed for thrill-seekers and families alike.
Make a splash on Great Tides Waterpark’s high-speed slides.
Little ones can join the fun at Splash Cay, with plenty of playful water activities.
The Wandering River winds through a bioluminescent-style grotto tunnel.
Tidal Tower packs big thrills with soaring slides, tube coasters, and racing mat slides.
Kids can splash and play at Splash Harbor by the main pool.
Relax in style in a shaded waterfront cabana.
The numbers alone are staggering. The nearly 6-acre attraction features 19 waterslides—including the Tidal Tower, a 170-foot megastructure with eight slides and conveyor belts that lift rafts to the top. There’s also the dynamic river, an almost-800-foot fast-flowing experience with rapids and a glowing bioluminescent tunnel, and Cliffside Cove—the cruise industry’s first-ever cliff-jumping experience, from 10 and 15 feet high, complete with a hidden Grotto Bar underneath. A jet karts water racing track rounds out what can only be described as a full theme park that happens to be on a Bahamian island.
Looking for a quieter counterpoint to all that adrenaline? The refreshed Horizon Park features lawn-style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole minigolf course, and more. Hammock Bay will include more than 50 hammocks for the perfect afternoon nap, a dedicated bar, and a front-row seat to the island’s turquoise calm. Great Stirrup Cay is no longer a simple port stop; it’s an activities-packed destination.
Whether you’re drawn to the primal wonder of the Galápagos, the sun-soaked thrills of a Bahamian water park, the family-first discovery of the newest megaship at sea, or the impossible grandeur of a global circumnavigation, one thing is clear: the age of the extraordinary cruise is very much upon us. The only question left is where—and when—you’ll set sail.
No matter what type of sailing you’re interested in, Interval Travel’s expert cruise team can make booking your journey easy. And remember, when you book your cruise through Interval Travel®, there are no booking fees, and as an exclusive Interval® member benefit, you’ll receive up to $200 worth of Onboard Credit per cabin.
Plus, as an Interval member, you can even trade your week or points toward the purchase of a cruise.
With cruise exchange, you have the power and flexibility to use your membership to do something new and exciting.
Here’s How:
Log in to your member account, go to the Exchange tab, and select Cruise Exchange to search for itineraries. You can exchange your timeshare week or points toward the purchase, subject to an exchange fee.
How the Booking Process Works:
- Access the Portal: Navigate to the Exchange section on the Interval World homepage to view your deposited weeks or points.
- Search Availability: Enter your preferred cruise lines and dates.
- Get a Quote: The transaction requires applying your timeshare unit and paying an exchange fee.
- Finalize: Once you select a cabin, the remaining balance for the cruise fare will be provided. You are not locked into the trade until you enter payment details and confirm.
Plan Ahead: Several of the sailings mentioned in this article are capacity-controlled and expected to sell quickly. Contact Interval today to make an exchange well in advance.
The New Wave of Cruise Cuisine
From bon voyage to bon appétit, discover the latest array of dining offerings.
Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Cruises
Boasting a more field-to-fork experience, Celebrity Flora is introducing an all-inclusive experience option that covers every meal, drink, and excursion. Once aboard, you can check out Seaside Restaurant, which anchors their fine dining offering with nightly Ecuadorian-inspired dishes (think coastal seafood accentuated with tropical fruit) that rotate daily, while the alfresco Ocean Grill on Deck 7 invites salt-air lunches of palate-pleasing dishes. Depending on the destination, you’ll find locally grown fruits that make menus feel authentically of the place. The real star, though, will be the locally sourced seafood, prepared with the care you’d expect from a five-star resort.
Hero of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon Class ship arrives with a fleet-record 28 dining venues and two showstopper concepts: the Orleans Parish Supper Club brings multicourse Cajun and Creole cuisine to the table alongside live jazz and craft cocktails, delivering French Quarter elegance on the high seas. Meanwhile, Royal Railway℠ – Hero Station seats guests in vintage train cars for a technology-driven, destination-themed experience billed as “the most immersive dining at sea.”
Families can also sign up for hands-on cooking classes. The revamped AquaDome Market food hall debuts four entirely new stall concepts, including Crème de la Crêpe and freshly squeezed juices from Simply Pressed.
Coral Princess World Cruise, Princess Cruises
Departing Jan. 3, 2028, this 36,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation of the globe promises menus as ambitious as the itinerary itself. Main meals are prepared from scratch using regionally sourced ingredients, and the menu reinvents itself port by port: from South Pacific seafood to South African braai (barbecued meats). Specialty dining events and regionally themed entertainment evenings create a sense of cultural continuity throughout the 115-day voyage. Princess Cruises, recognized as the “Best Cruises for Food Lovers” by Food & Wine magazine, also offers onboard gastronomy workshops that pair culinary education with the destinations guests are about to explore.
