The Mediterranean
Greek islands, the Amalfi Coast, the French Riviera and the Adriatic, often with overnights in places like Venice or Barcelona.
- Best months
- April to October
- Typical length
- 7 to 12 nights
- Best for
- First-timers, food and history
Ocean & luxury cruises
Smaller ships, more space and service that remembers how you take your coffee.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Typical length
- 7 to 14 nights, plus grand voyages
- Best time
- Mediterranean April to October; Caribbean December to April
- Ship size
- Smaller luxury ships, mostly under 1,000 guests
- The pace
- A new port most days, with sea days to unwind
- Usually included
- Fine dining, drinks and gratuities on most luxury lines
- Great for
- Couples, celebrations and multigenerational groups
Why luxury cruising feels different
You unpack once, and the world comes to you, along with a glass of something cold.
Luxury lines sail to the famous ports, plus smaller harbors that bigger ships can’t fit into. With fewer guests on board, there’s more space, shorter lines and a crew that learns your name.
Most fares include far more than you’d expect: fine dining in every restaurant, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, and on some lines even shore excursions or flights. It makes budgeting simple and the whole trip feel effortless.
Where to sail
Luxury ships follow the good weather around the world. These are the regions our travelers love most.
Northern Europe & the fjords
Norway’s fjords, the British Isles, Iceland and the Baltic, under long summer days.
- Best months
- May to August
- Typical length
- 10 to 14 nights
- Best for
- Scenery, history
The Caribbean
Island hopping to smaller harbors like St. Barts, Jost Van Dyke and the Grenadines.
- Best months
- December to April
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Winter sun, celebrations
Alaska
Glaciers, whales and the Inside Passage, with fewer guests and more time on deck.
- Best months
- May to September
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Wildlife, families
Canada & New England
Fall color from Boston to Québec, with lobster, lighthouses and Halifax.
- Best months
- September to October
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Fall foliage
Asia & Japan
Japan’s coastline, Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and Singapore, often with overnights in big cities.
- Best months
- March to May, October to December
- Typical length
- 10 to 14 nights
- Best for
- Culture, food
Australia & New Zealand
Sydney, Milford Sound and Tasmania during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
- Best months
- November to March
- Typical length
- 10 to 16 nights
- Best for
- Bucket-list trips
South America
Rio, Buenos Aires, the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn.
- Best months
- December to March
- Typical length
- 14 to 18 nights
- Best for
- Adventurous cruisers
Grand voyages
Months-long journeys around the world, or a segment of one, for the ultimate trip.
- Best months
- January to May
- Typical length
- 30 nights or more
- Best for
- Retirees, bucket lists
When to sail where
Here’s where the ships are, and the weather is good, month by month.
DestinationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MediterraneanJan: Few or no sailingsFeb: Few or no sailingsMar: GoodApr: BestMay: BestJun: BestJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: BestOct: BestNov: GoodDec: Few or no sailings
Northern EuropeJan: Few or no sailingsFeb: Few or no sailingsMar: Few or no sailingsApr: Few or no sailingsMay: GoodJun: BestJul: BestAug: BestSep: GoodOct: Few or no sailingsNov: Few or no sailingsDec: Few or no sailings
CaribbeanJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: BestMay: GoodJun: Few or no sailingsJul: Few or no sailingsAug: Few or no sailingsSep: Few or no sailingsOct: Few or no sailingsNov: GoodDec: Best
AlaskaJan: Few or no sailingsFeb: Few or no sailingsMar: Few or no sailingsApr: Few or no sailingsMay: GoodJun: BestJul: BestAug: BestSep: GoodOct: Few or no sailingsNov: Few or no sailingsDec: Few or no sailings
Canada & New EnglandJan: Few or no sailingsFeb: Few or no sailingsMar: Few or no sailingsApr: Few or no sailingsMay: Few or no sailingsJun: GoodJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: BestOct: BestNov: Few or no sailingsDec: Few or no sailings
Asia & JapanJan: GoodFeb: GoodMar: BestApr: BestMay: GoodJun: Few or no sailingsJul: Few or no sailingsAug: Few or no sailingsSep: GoodOct: BestNov: BestDec: Good
Australia & NZJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: GoodMay: Few or no sailingsJun: Few or no sailingsJul: Few or no sailingsAug: Few or no sailingsSep: Few or no sailingsOct: GoodNov: BestDec: Best
South AmericaJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: Few or no sailingsMay: Few or no sailingsJun: Few or no sailingsJul: Few or no sailingsAug: Few or no sailingsSep: Few or no sailingsOct: Few or no sailingsNov: GoodDec: Best
Grand voyagesJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: BestMay: BestJun: Few or no sailingsJul: Few or no sailingsAug: Few or no sailingsSep: Few or no sailingsOct: Few or no sailingsNov: Few or no sailingsDec: Good
Best Good Few or no sailings
Spring
The Mediterranean wakes up in April and May, Japan blooms, and the Caribbean season winds down.
Summer
Northern Europe, Norway’s fjords and Alaska are at their best, with long days and mild weather.
Fall
Canada and New England color, the Mediterranean’s golden shoulder season and voyages across the Atlantic.
Winter
Caribbean sun, summer in Australia, New Zealand and South America, and grand voyages setting off in January.
Find your ship
Our preferred lines each have their own personality. Here’s how they feel on board.
Silversea
Intimate, all-inclusive ships with butler service in every suite, sailing everywhere from the Mediterranean to the poles.
Regent Seven Seas
All-suite ships where nearly everything is included, even unlimited shore excursions.
Explora Journeys
A newer line with ocean-front suites, a relaxed European feel and longer stays in port.
Azamara
Destination-focused sailings with more late nights and overnights in port, and a warm, social atmosphere.
Hosted vacations
Sail with a Global Escapes advisor and a small group of fellow travelers on Silversea and Explora Journeys.
A day on board
- Morning
Coffee on your veranda
Breakfast in your suite as the ship slides into port.
- Late morning
Ashore your way
A small-group tour, a private driver or a wander on your own.
- Afternoon
Back on board
Lunch by the pool, a spa treatment or a nap in the shade.
- Sail-away
Cocktails on deck
Watch the harbor fall away as the ship heads for tomorrow’s port.
- Evening
Dinner, your way
Several restaurants, no set seating and a nightcap with new friends.
Usually included on luxury lines
- Dining in every restaurant
- Drinks, including wines and spirits
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi
- Butler service in suites on some lines
- Shore excursions on some lines
Often extra
- Flights, though some voyages include them
- Premium shore experiences
- Spa treatments
- Rare and premium wines
- Hotel nights before and after
- Travel insurance
Destination spotlight
Alaska by sea
Glaciers, whales and the Inside Passage from the deck of a small luxury ship, with land days in Denali if you’d like to go further.
Explore AlaskaGood to know
The small things that make a big difference.
The suite matters
On luxury ships, the suite category can change what’s included, from butler service to laundry. We’ll walk you through it.
Book the best suites early
Popular sailings and larger suites often go 12 to 18 months ahead.
Ask about extras
Many voyages come with included air, onboard credits or upgrades. We make sure you get every one.
Arrive a day early
Flying in the day before protects your sailing from flight delays.
Pack for dinner
Most evenings are smart casual, with a few dressier nights on some lines.
Protect the trip
Cruise travel insurance covers missed departures, medical care at sea and more.
Questions we hear a lot
What makes a luxury cruise different from a big-ship cruise?
Fewer guests, more space and a higher crew-to-guest ratio, plus far more included in the fare. Smaller ships also reach harbors the big ships can’t.
Is everything really included?
Nearly. Most luxury lines include dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Some also include excursions, flights or butler service. We’ll show you exactly what’s covered.
Will we get seasick?
Most people feel fine on modern stabilized ships, especially in calm summer seas. A midship cabin on a lower deck feels the least motion.
Are luxury cruises good for families?
Many luxury lines welcome children, especially in summer, though most guests are adults. We’ll point you to the best fit for your family.
What should we pack?
Resort casual for days ashore, smart casual for most evenings and a dressier outfit or two. Laundry service makes it easy to pack light.
Let’s find your voyage
Tell us where you’d love to sail and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.