Luxury Cruises | River, Ocean & Expedition Cruises

Luxury Rhine River Cruises with Uniworld: Europe’s Living Heritage

A luxury cruise along the Rhine can be a uniquely suggestive proposition. On one bank, there’s Germany and its fairytale castles punctuating cobbled towns. On the other bank, there’s France and its wine roads, old vines on chateau-embellished vineyards lacing villages together on mountain foothills. You can trace Europe’s history here, for the Rhine was the frontier that separated Roman Gaul from Germania, it was a medieval trade route, and a battleground. But today, it’s a region rich in living heritage, a beguiling gateway to some of Europe’s most cherished places.

A luxury Rhine river cruise with Uniworld will uncover a tapestry of the continent’s storied heritage. Each stop, whether Cologne, Strasbourg, or Rüdesheim, unveils a layer of art, architecture, and culinary tradition. And the experience is only heightened by the ease of exploring on a luxury cruise ship designed to offer the comforts of a boutique hotel.

A luxury river cruise for: vineyard tastings, private museum access, slow afternoons drifting past chateaux.

Mekong River Luxury Cruises with AmaWaterways: The Soul of Asia

The Mekong pulsates with life and memory. It connects ancient Khmer temples and colonial relics to floating villages and vibrant cities. It is one of the world’s great rivers, a vein linking Vietnam to China and beyond, a border between the epic cities of Thailand and enigmatic Laos, but for so many, it is a distinct way of life. Vietnam’s stunning landscapes unfold in painterly greens across the Mekong’s banks, while Cambodia’s cultural soul is unveiled in mysterious pagodas and markets echoing with the orchestrations of daily life.

Combine a Mekong luxury river cruise with bursts of air travel with AmaWaterways. You’ll uncover Angkor-era temples, saffron-robed monks at dawn, and artisans crafting silk by hand. Dig deep into the Mekong Delta to explore mysterious nature like Vietnam’s Tra Su Forest and extend your stay in Saigon, home of Vietnam’s first Michelin star, and a cityscape slowly starting to rival Hong Kong.

A luxury river cruise for: spiritual temple visits, immersive village encounters, hand-picked excursions in stunning landscapes.

South Pacific Small Ship Cruises with Ritz-Carlton: Technicolour Beauty

Imagine: your small ship sails the South Pacific slowly undulating atop crystal waters, in search of those champagne-white sands wrapped around jewel-like atolls. You find an inky lagoon encircled by forest, yours for the afternoon. Volcanic spires rise from all that cerulean like watchtowers, giant banyan trees, dense and green whisper in the breeze, as Bora Bora’s jade lagoon inspires adventure and romance in equal measure. Evenings on your small ship cruise are enhanced by the scent of monsoon-washed hibiscus and the taste of breadfruit fire-grilled under a sky besieged by stars.

Each suite aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima (“discovery” in Greek) boasts a private terrace. And with no more than 298 guests, this luxury small ship cruise feels anything but traditional. Indeed, with worldly dining experiences, soothing spa rituals, and expertly curated excursions, it feels like a floating retreat, always a moment from adventure.

A luxury small ship cruise for: barefoot luxury, cultural immersion (ask us about Tahiti’s chowmein sandwiches), and the freedom to linger in remote waters.

Northern Europe Small Ship Cruises with SeaDream: Cinematic Landscapes

Nature’s extremes are caught in the details here: valleys cut through cinematic mountains, some submerged, glaciated pools of crystal clear waters: the iconic Norwegian fjords. Elsewhere, the myst-shrouded Faroe Islands, an archipelago so remote that the local language is considered the closest to that of the Vikings, are ideal for view-laden hikes. Big cities like Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen provide a cultural respite, where stunning old towns meet contemporary cuisines shaped in style-bending restaurants.

The lavish SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream II cuts an attractive figure as she sails past the usual cruise circuit, tracing coastlines where primaeval cliffs meet glassy seas. With little more than 100 guests, SeaDream makes landfall in tucked-away harbours across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, evocative places like Sandhamn, Skagen, or the fjords, all rich with history and beauty. This is a small ship cruise that favours nuance: kayaking through still Nordic waters, cycling through timeworn villages, and al fresco dining beneath a midnight sun.

A luxury small ship cruise for: intimate exploration, Nordic cultures, the little harbours big ships can’t reach

Luxury Caribbean Ocean Cruises with Explora Journeys: Caribbean Sailing, Reframed

Luxury ocean cruises offer a new interpretation of the Caribbean, one steeped in quiet luxury and purposeful discovery. But please, don’t imagine the Caribbean of cruise‑ship caricature. Rather, a highly curated passage through harbours alive with story, and sun‑drenched sanctuaries, experienced with intent. In Martinique, French culture is reinterpreted through Creole cuisine, while Antigua offers secluded harbours where British history lingers beneath rustling palms.

Aboard the exceptional Explora Journeys ships, guests drift between white-sand outposts and striking volcano silhouettes. You’ll cruise close to volcanic valleys in Roseau, while in St. John, beaches and forests are preserved in quiet perpetuity. This is a luxury ocean cruise elevated: every suite faces the sea, the cuisine honours global gastronomy, and sea days are as indulgent, as varied or as slow as you want them to be.

A luxury ocean cruise for: island-hopping, immersive shore experiences, tropical indulgences

Mediterranean Luxury Ocean Cruises with Regent Seven Seas: Antiquity, Aperitivo, Amalfi

Take a luxury ocean cruise along the Amalfi coast, and you’ll find villages that look like they were painted directly onto the cliffs. In the Cyclades, blue-domed roofs top impossibly white churches. Cruise Cannes, and you’ll find celebrities bathing atop super yachts, but nip next door to Antibes and you’ll find paint again, this time from the colourful canvases left behind by Picasso. Between all this, ancient ruins meet bustling piazzas, and afternoons unfold over aperitivi in hidden bays.

A luxury ocean cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Voyager from Istanbul to Venice allows you to wake up in some of Europe’s most alluring cities. Days begin with breakfast on your private veranda, followed by curated experiences in museums and vineyards, elevated by stories first told in Greek and Slovenian. Evenings are for refined dining, or simply luxuriating amongst the Mediterranean’s sublime landscapes.

A luxury ocean cruise for: classical Europe, Mediterranean glitz, all-inclusive luxury

Galápagos Expedition Cruises with Silversea: Nature, Unrivalled

Some 600 miles from mainland Ecuador, the Galápagos archipelago sits, almost entirely untouched, as one of Earth’s most romantically remote enclaves. Explore it on an expedition cruise and you’ll find a tranquil constellation of volcanic isles where nature reigns, undisturbed, a place for awe and contemplation. The giant tortoises meander with a prehistoric gravity no ship could manage, while marine iguanas bask on blackened lava. An expedition cruise to the Galápagos is one of respectful proximity and observation.

Silversea’s Silver Origin expedition ship is designed for discovery without compromising on luxury. With just 100 guests on board, every element is personalised, curated for comfort and connection. Expect Ecuadorian-inspired cuisine, horizon-balconied suites, and expert guides who deepen every moment ashore.

Read more about luxury cruises with Silversea

A luxury expedition cruise for: immersion in nature, wildlife discovery, a rare combination of eco-conscious travel with luxury indulgence

Antarctica Expedition Cruises with Ponant Explorations: The Edge of Civilisation

An expedition cruise in Antarctica will guide you through the dramatic reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula via the remote Weddell Sea and its staggering glaciers, to witness nature in its purest form. Getting there is an undiluted adventure, and arriving by sea is the only way to experience Antarctica’s dramatic landscape firsthand.

Ponant Explorations’s Le Commandant Charcot icebreaker glides through freezing waters, delivering a level of comfort and refinement usually reserved for the best hotels. World-class dining, serene heated pools, and sleek observation lounges with uninterrupted ice field views ensure sea days are anything but typical. Off-ship, polar hikes and close encounters with emperor penguins, guided by scientists, bring this frontier to life.

Read more about expedition cruises with Ponant.

A luxury expedition cruise for: wilderness exploration, eco-leading innovation, a defining adventure

World Cruises with Seabourn: Unrivalled Voyages

Circumnavigation of Earth by sea: tracing the continents via myriad cultures, climates, and near-endless wonder. A world cruise is to many, the pinnacle of luxury sailing. They are epic voyages, where time slows, and horizons shift. But perhaps more than anything, it’s an opportunity to travel slowly and with purpose, as you embark on multi-month, cross-continental exploration of so many of the world’s most inspiring sailing destinations.

Embark on the ultimate voyage of discovery with a world cruise aboard the ultra-luxe Seabourn Quest. This epic 129 day journey traces the continents through over 60 evocative ports, from the vibrant shores of South America to the stunning landscapes of Australasia. Cross the equator and the International Date Line, and glide through the iconic Panama Canal as you immerse yourself in diverse cultures and breathtaking climates. More than just travel, this is a slow, purposeful exploration that allows the passenger time to savour every moment. The journey is made all the better by languorous days at sea, taking full advantage of Quest’s exceptional amenities and award-winning fine dining, as well as Seabourn’s pioneering take on luxury, which we believe aligns perfectly with our own.

A luxury world cruise for: the incorrigibly curious, life-defining adventure, luxury without limits