Making Cruising Cool Again
Once upon a time, cruising meant buffet lines, bingo nights, and highly suspicious wall-to-wall (beige) carpet. Now it is where some of the most exciting names in luxury travel are dropping anchor, swapping city skylines for sea views.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection kicked things off with sleek yachts for just 298 guests, all-suite accommodations, and the kind of service you expect from the Ritz, only with better sunsets. Explora Journeys brings a European sense of style to the oceans, with spacious suites, design-led lounges, and itineraries that let you linger instead of rush. SeaDream Yacht Club keeps it even smaller, hosting just 56 couples in an atmosphere that feels more like borrowing a friend’s superyacht than joining a cruise. Add 95 crew members and you have some seriously personalized service.
Then there are the new arrivals making waves. Rascal Voyages is shaking things up in Indonesia with handcrafted phinisi yachts, where barefoot luxury meets far-flung adventure in places like Raja Ampat and Komodo with just 10 guests across 5 cabins. Aman at Sea will soon (2027-ish) debut a floating sanctuary, delivering the same serene minimalism and discreet service you find at their resorts, only now with an ever-changing horizon. Four Seasons Yachts, launching in 2026, will introduce a vessel designed to feel like a floating private residence, complete with 95 oversized suites, expansive terraces, multiple restaurants, and the brand’s signature service including a one-to-one staff ratio. And just when you thought the guest list was complete, Orient Express is climbing aboard. More than a century after its iconic trains first hit the rails, it is taking to the high seas with the OE Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, debuting in 2026.
Why Trade Land for Sea?
The appeal is layered. First, logistics: unpack once and still wake up in a new port each day. Second, access: these smaller vessels can slip into harbors where mega-ships can’t, meaning you dock in the heart of St. Barts rather than an industrial port an hour away. And finally, the service ethos: the same attention to detail and brand standards you expect on land are carried to sea, which removes the unknowns that sometimes come with traditional cruising.
This is not your grandparents cruise. It is fewer crowds, better cocktails, and the thrill of watching the world float by from your own private terrace. For anyone who swore they would never set foot on a ship, this might just be the moment to eat your words and then order another round.
