8 cruises you need to book for 2025 and beyond

If your 2024 is anything like mine, you’ve barely had time to prepare for the holidays, let alone think about this year’s travel plans. So now that the gifts have been opened and the new year has arrived, you’ll be itching to book your next trip.

After learning about what’s new and exciting in the cruise industry, I’ve compiled a list of eight dreamy yet not-so-typical cruise itineraries. They include new destinations, return trips to places cruise lines haven’t sailed in years, and waterways where passenger ships haven’t sailed but will soon.

With some cruise lines claiming that up to 75% of their inventory has been sold for 2025, you’ll want to look closely at this year – or even 2026 and 2027 – to plan for the holiday season. Your next beach vacation. Add these standout itineraries to your bucket list for 2025 and beyond.

Note: All prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Ticket prices are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change.

Magdalena River Cruise by AmaWaterways

Starting from March, Ama Waterway would become the first major cruise line to ply the Magdalena River, as noted in TPG’s Best Places to Travel in 2025. The waterway flows north through Colombia, past the Andes Mountains, and a journey along the river offers a glimpse of Spanish colonial life as well as the flora and fauna of the nearby rainforests .

The cruise line will position two ships, AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, on the river, offering two seven-night itineraries – “Wonders of Colombia” and “Magic of Colombia” — will travel between Cartagena and Barranquilla with regularity. Overnight stays in Santa Cruz de Mompox, a UNESCO-listed colonial city, and a visit to Palenque, known as the first free African town in the Americas, are highlights.

A scenic cruise through the picturesque La Mojana region, visits to indigenous communities, bird watching and a visit to the floating village of Nueva Venecia are also on the itinerary. As is the case with all AmaWaterways sailings, cruise fares – starting at $3,839 per person – include daily tours from local guides.

Azamara Cruises’ New England and Canada trip

In September and October 2025, the premium line Azamara Cruise is returning to New England with three 12- to 14-night itineraries. While the area is not new to cruisers, this will be the first time in nearly a decade that Azamara has visited Boston; Newport, Rhode Island; and Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine.

With Canadian ports such as Saint John, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Montreal combined, these cruises are a great way for passengers to enjoy the charm of captivating coastal cities at the peak of deciduous season.

Three one-way trips including two 12-night “Canada/New England Intensive Trips” departing September 23 And October 52025, and the 14-night “Intensive Canada/Colonial America Cruise” departs October 172025, all in Azamara Quest. Respectively, they sailed from Montreal to New York, New York to Montreal, and Montreal to Miami (with the last also stopping in New York; Norfolk, Virginia; and Charleston, South Carolina). Rates start at $3,519 per person for an inside cabin on the October 17 cruise.

Holland America’s small port cruise in Alaska

On September 16, 2026, Dutch America will provide a single “Great Bear Rainforest and Alaska Explorer” journey on Zaandam. Here rare journey will make an 18-day round trip from Vancouver and has several Alaska ports of call – including Homer, Valdez, Wrangell, Kodiak and Anchorage – that are not frequently visited by cruise ships. The more commonly visited ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka also appear on the itinerary.

As part of the cruise, the ship will spend two full days exploring the beautiful and narrow canals that cut through the western edge of British Columbia – most notably the Grenville Canal and Seymour Narrows.

Fares for this one-time trip start at $3,029 per person for the inside cabin.

Cruise to the Celebration Key of the Festival

Festival cruise line is in the midst of a construction boom, and I’m not talking about boats. Private destination Celebration keywill serve passengers of the line, scheduled to open in July 2025 on the south side of Grand Bahama Island.

Festival cruisers can tour for free once they get there; Eventually, the port will have room for up to four ships to dock at the same time. With five distinct areas for passengers to explore, Celebration Key will feature two large waterslides and areas for family activities and sports, as well as an adults-only area and multiple dining and entertainment venues. shopping.

Than 500 festival itineraries There is currently Celebration Key listed as a port, meaning you won’t have any trouble finding a ride to get you there. Rates start at $334 per person for an interior cabin on a three-night Carnival Conquest cruise, sailing round-trip from Miami on January 2, 2026.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ 2026 solar eclipse cruise

Eclipse chasers who want to observe the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 are in luck. Atlas’s Ocean Journey is offering two cruise options, both of which will take you to a prime viewing location as you enjoy your trip around Europe. You can expect daily lectures and nighttime discussions about the sky from astronomers who will serve as onboard expedition guides.

The first time – lasted a week The journey of the eclipse cruise aboard the airline’s World Traveler, from Barcelona to Monte Carlo, Monaco — departing August 9, 2026 and including visits to Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Cannes, France. Second trip, nine nights Journey to find the Polar Eclipse ABOVE Navigate the worlddeparting August 11, 2026, traveling round-trip from Reykjavik and visiting several small Icelandic towns and local fjords.

Prices for World Traveler trips start at $5,500 for an ocean view cabin (with windows but no balcony). Ticket prices for the World Navigator cruise start at 8,899 USD/person for a sea view room.

Virgin Voyages cruise from Los Angeles

While cruises from California aren’t new, we’re excited to see brand new ships depart from the West Coast, giving the often overlooked region a little love. Virgin trip‘ The fourth and final ship, Brilliant Lady, will launch in fall 2025 and part of the inaugural season will include cruises from Los Angeles.

The ship will offer a series of three round-trip voyages from Los Angeles, spanning April to May 2026. They include a five-night cruise to Santa Barbara and San Diego in California, as well as Ensenada, Mexico; One six-night break-in to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, Mexico; and one seven-night trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Fourth trip, one eight nights from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with visits to San Francisco; Astoria, Oregon; and Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Prices start at $896 per person for an inside cabin on a five-night trip.

Abercrombie & Kent on Amazon

Starting in mid-2025, Abercrombie & Kent — a luxury cruise company that includes small-ship cruises in its portfolio — will place the new river ship Pure Amazon on the Peruvian Amazon, offering cruises Three-, four- and seven-night tours in Pacaya – Samiria National Reserve

Passengers can search for sloths, monkeys and pink dolphins; piranhas; and try your hand at kayaking. But what’s really special about the experience is that the train only has 10 suites and two single rooms, meaning the maximum passenger capacity is about 20 people.

Prices start at $5,475 per person for a three-day trip in rooms with panoramic windows.

Cunard in South America

This year, cunard is sending a ship to South America to circumnavigate the continent as part of a longer “Grand” cruise lasting up to 78 days.

the Grand itinerary South America 2025 on the Queen Victoria is sold out, but travelers can choose segments of the full trip instead. The second half of the full trip is one 31 night cruise from San Antonio, Chile, to Southampton in England, with ports in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Panama (including full-channel shipping), from $5,299 per person for an inside cabin. ONE Option 17 nights also available – sailing from San Antonio, Chile, to Fort Lauderdale – from $2,899 per person for an inside cabin. Both legs depart on February 25, 2025.

If you’re determined to do a longer cruise or need more time to plan, you can check out the line’s 2027 Grand South America Adventure itinerary, a 90-night trip ABOVE Queen Annesailing roundtrip from Hamburg, Germany on January 5, 2027. The itinerary includes ports in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Panama (with full channel transit). Prices start at $17,029/person for the inside cabin. Segment also available.

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