{"id":6223,"date":"2017-08-09T17:21:25","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T17:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=6223"},"modified":"2017-11-02T17:25:11","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T17:25:11","slug":"cruising-in-2018-a-brand-new-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/fall-2017\/cruising-in-2018-a-brand-new-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruising in 2018: A Brand-New Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dana Helm<\/p><\/p>\n

I<\/span>f you think of crowded ballrooms and buffet lines when you think of cruising, it\u2019s clear that you haven\u2019t boarded a cruise ship in some time. The entire industry has undergone a transformation, now focused on providing a more active cultural experience for travelers.<\/p>\n

Forget those fears of seasickness and start imagining yourself exploring private islands on the Mediterranean, enjoying a chef-prepared private meal in the hills of Santorini or riding an elephant in Thailand.<\/p>\n

If this style of cruise sounds a bit more your speed, stay tuned for some of latest, and perhaps surprising, trends just hitting the cruise industry.<\/p>\n

Longer, More Exotic Trips<\/h4>\n

According to Norwegian Cruise Line<\/a>, empty-nesters often seize the opportunity to pack several bucket list destinations into one lengthy exotic trip. One such experience includes a 20-day journey from Dubai around the Arabian Peninsula and through the Suez Canal.<\/p>\n

Guests on this cruise can tour Petra, a city named one of the World\u2019s Seven Wonders, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea, and explore the iconic Old Town of Dubrovnik in Croatia.\n[awesome-gallery id=6484]

Scenes from Seabourn. (Left)Seabourn Sojourn in the Endicott Arm (Right) Mendenhal Glacier. Photos: Sam Horine<\/p><\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many cruise ships that offer intimate views of breathtaking Alaska, but Seabourn\u2019s<\/a> Alaskan voyages offer just that to a select few\u2014these ships have 300 suites or less.<\/p>\n

On board Seabourn Sojourn, all guests are invited to enjoy regionally inspired and sourced cuisine, regular wildlife sightings, and unique daily itineraries.<\/p>\n

Outside the posh accommodations, Seabourn aims to take travelers to remote locations full of culture like Klemtu, a town with fewer than 500 residents. Whether you prefer witnessing the breaches of humpback whales in the Kenai Fjords or world-class bird watching from a heated catamaran on your way to the St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge, your Alaskan voyage is sure to be an unforgettable one.<\/p>\n

Adventure Travel<\/h4>\n

Sometimes called expedition cruises, this type of travel focuses more on the unforgettable excursions possible in areas local to your cruise. In fact, we spoke with the travel experts at CruiseCompete<\/a> who told us about many of the shore excursions that they are able to book for travelers. These excursions are booked separately from your cruise and are led by a local team.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Church in Fira, Santorini, Greece. Photo: Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line<\/p><\/div>\n

For example, the Private Group Gourmet and Gastronomy in Santorini package begins with a tender from your cruise ship to the pier in Fira. Here, you\u2019ll meet your guide and board the private boat that will sail along the edge of the caldera to a pier in Athinios. From there, you will be driven through Santorini, all the while learning about its history, culture, and signature winemaking.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve reached Fira Town, you\u2019ll be taken to one of Santorini\u2019s most famous restaurants. There, the restaurant owner and your personal chef for the evening will be waiting. While preparing your three-course lunch with the area\u2019s finest and freshest ingredients, the chef will share recipes and answer any questions that you may have. Pair this meal with one of Santorini\u2019s world-famous wines, and you\u2019re set for an incomparable experience.<\/p>\n

Shore excursions are also available with other cruise lines, like Norwegian and Seabourn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Waikiki beach and Diamond Head. Photo: Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line<\/p><\/div>\n

On Norwegian\u2019s seven-day intra-Hawaii cruises aboard the Pride of America, guests are offered the Haleakal\u0101 Bicycling at Sunrise option. This exhilarating eight-hour excursion allows guests to take in the vibrant sights of lavender farms and eucalyptus forests while following their guide and biking down the 21 switchbacks of a dormant volcano, through Haleakal\u0101 National Park.<\/p>\n

Seabourn\u2019s Alaskan voyages offer many exciting options for those hoping to travel off the beaten path. Should you choose to enhance your cruise by taking part in the custom-designed four-day Denali Experience, you will take part in a private guided Tundra Wilderness Tour, ride a bush plane over the magnificent glaciers and cliffs surrounding Denali National Park, and also zip over the iconic Hurricane Gulch in a roomy domed railcar.[awesome-gallery id=6493]<\/p>\n

Distinctive, healthy dishes crafted by world-class chefs. Photos: Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line<\/p><\/p>\n

Celebrity Chefs and Personal Concierges<\/h4>\n

Is exclusivity more your style? Cruise Lines International Association, Inc. (CLIA)<\/a> reports that in 2017, several cruise lines have featured restaurants and distinctive dishes crafted by celebrity chefs. Among these chefs are Food Network\u2019s Guy Fieri, celebrity chef Nobuyuki \u201cNobu\u201d Matsuhisa, and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.<\/p>\n

Seabourn has recently partnered with chef Thomas Keller to vamp up its own gourmet dining. Nothing says luxe quite like enjoying meals from the minds of some of the world\u2019s best-known culinary minds.<\/p>\n

If you consider yourself a foodie, be sure to check out the available dining options when comparing cruises.<\/p>\n

Did you know there are additional ways to make your cruise more luxurious?<\/p>\n

The Haven by Norwegian Cruise Line is an option that they call the ship-within-a-ship concept. The Haven Experience is available on board many of the Norwegian ships and offers guests butler and private concierge services, priority reservations, and access to a private courtyard area.<\/p>\n

Just imagine basking in the sun, poolside from your own exclusive daybed, mid-cruise. The Haven enclave also features a private restaurant, bar, and concierge lounge for those who are searching for a more secluded experience.<\/p>\n

Custom Booking<\/h4>\n

If any of these new cruising trends pique your interest, you can find more information on the respective cruise lines\u2019 websites or by contacting your travel agent. Despite having a world of information at your fingertips, most travelers still find that the best booking experiences come from speaking with an agent.<\/p>\n

According to CLIA in its Cruise Industry Outlook Report, travel agent usage is increasing. Eight out of 10 CLIA-certified travel agents expect an increase in sales in 2017.<\/p>\n

The benefit to you is avoiding those hours spent scouring the internet and gaining the wisdom of someone who truly knows the area and the industry.<\/p>\n

Of course, in this digital age, you have additional convenient options. Sites like Cruise Compete aim to provide the experiences and advice of diverse travel professionals in one comprehensive online location. The service is free and anonymous.<\/p>\n

Cruisers submit travel dates and ship names and then receive custom responses, quotes, and recommendations from knowledgeable agents. If you are interested in booking one of these recommendations, contact that agent directly. These quotes come with no obligation, and the agents will not have your personal contact information, so you never have to worry about annoying sales calls.<\/p>\n

Your Adventure Awaits<\/h4>\n

All in all, the cruise industry appears to be shattering its stereotypes left and right. You can have an authentic, unique trip and even experience some of the local culture all from the comfort of a luxury cruise ship.<\/p>\n

Thanks to these new trends, neither authenticity nor luxury needs to be sacrificed on any cruise. These are experiences that most people can only make happen once in a lifetime, and they just couldn\u2019t be accomplished on a traditional five-day cruise.<\/p>\n

Excursions just like these are one of the major motivations to retire after all, aren\u2019t they? This may be the only time in your life that spending three weeks in a foreign country is feasible, and you have every reason to take advantage. Break the monotony of your daily routine, stimulate your sense of adventure, and go cruising!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What’s new in cruising … more active and cultural experiences await<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2017","category-fall-2017-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6223"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6226,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6223\/revisions\/6226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}