By JIM GULLO
With new ships, great values, and compelling ports of call, cruise lines are serving up a year’s worth of smooth sailing.
There may be as many reasons for taking cruises as there are fish in the sea, or for that matter, as there are cruise ships sailing the globe: 203 at last count, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. That means lots of choices for travelers – from brand-new megaships to sailing schooners, tried-and-true itineraries to exotic voyages with novel ports of call. It also means lots of research, so we’ve surveyed the many offerings and present these, our 12 top cruising choices for 2010, one for every month. Santa, are you listening?
JANUARY
Key to happiness
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES’ SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR TO KEY WEST
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Skip the crowds and join the Conch Republic’s ongoing party
At many domestic cruise terminals the ships line up like dominoes, but you’ll have Key West’s intimate Bight Marina – just a tie-dyed stone’s throw from groovin’ Mallory Square, the island’s nightly sunset party venue – all to yourself when you arrive on the island of Hemingway, Duval Street, and conchs on the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator. The ten-day sun- and sand-filled cruise, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, takes in such western Caribbean hot spots as Belize City, Cozumel, and Roatán, where a private beach party at Coral Cay should put you in the proper mood for the ongoing party that is Key West. Regent offers two-for-one fares along with free unlimited shore excursions, which might include light-tackle fishing à la Papa Hemingway, parasailing, or a GPS-guided walking tour of Key West’s charming streets and sights. A word to the wise: There’s a live webcam in front of Sloppy Joe’s Bar (liveduvalstreet.com) – decide for yourself what you want the world to see. Departure: January 23, 2010; from $3,965.
FEBRUARY
THE SULTAN AND I
SEabourn’s SEABOURN ODYSSEY TO MUARA, BRUNEI
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: A rare port of call
Brunei, the domain of the extravagantly wealthy Sultan of Brunei, has been reluctant to encourage international tourism, and few ships are allowed to call at the port city of Muara. The richly appointed, 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey makes its only visit of the year midway through a 20-day journey that begins in Sydney and traverses the Coral and Java seas, with calls at Cairns and Darwin, Australia, before Brunei. From Muara, take a tour to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, 20 miles up the Brunei River, to see distinctive houses on stilts, an architectural style that Magellan’s crew noted more than 400 years ago. The ship then crosses the South China Sea to Hong Kong, where an overnight visit allows time for exploring – and shopping like a sultan. Departure: February 24, 2010; from $10,572.
MARCH
THE NORTH OF SOUTH AMERICA
OCEANIA CRUISES’ INSIGNIA TO RIO DE JANEIRO
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Visit remote ports and explore South America
Most South American itineraries traverse the chilly waters of Cape Horn, but the 684-passenger Insignia’s 27-day journey sticks to warmer, equatorial climes as it leisurely makes its way from Valparaíso to Rio de Janeiro on a northerly route. Docking at the charming village of Manta, Ecuador, makes for a fine day of sightseeing or shopping for handwoven alpaca scarves. Board a plane for a day trip to explore Ecuador’s capital city Quito, in the heart of the Andes Mountains, or experience dawn at Machu Picchu during an overnight stop in Lima. Continuing north, the ship traverses the Panama Canal to stop at Cartagena, Oranjestad, and the colonial Brazilian town of Recife. When you wind up in Rio, you may realize that you never unpacked your jacket and gloves. Departure: March 7, 2010; from $5,498.
APRIL
SPRING FORWARD
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL’S MONARCH OF THE SEAS TO THE BAHAMAS
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: It’s a quick, affordable island getaway
No time for a long cruise, yet dying for some springtime sun and sand? Royal Caribbean has a perfect four-day Bahamas getaway, round-trip from Port Canaveral. The 2,744-passenger Monarch of the Seas has been refurbished stem to stern and is loaded for action with a basketball court, rock-climbing wall, spa, and fitness center. For dinner, choose between, say, sushi and make-your-own pizza. And the price is not a misprint: $239, a rock-bottom bargain and a powerful enticement for family and friends to join your spring-break spree. Departures: April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2010; from $239.
MAY
OLD AND NEW
CRYSTAL CRUISES’ CRYSTAL SYMPHONY TO LUXOR AND CAIRO
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Ancient temples and modern cities
Crystal Symphony’s 14-day voyage offers land excursions to some of the most exotic spots on earth. Board the 922-passenger ship in the thriving, skyscraper-filled city of Dubai and by the time you depart in Athens/Piraeus two weeks later, you will have transited the Suez Canal; sailed the Arabian Sea; toured the magnificent Egyptian temples of Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings; and spent a day in Cairo, with its modern life overlaid on pyramids and the ancient shopping bazaar. Crystal Cruises president Gregg L. Michel hosts the voyage, which coincides with the line’s 20th anniversary, with special onboard receptions and lectures, and the company offers a $1,000 shipboard credit for purchases and incidentals. Book six cabins for friends and family and Crystal will add more shipboard credits, prepaid gratuities, complimentary photos, and free passage for children under 17. Departure: May 12, 2010; from $7,200.
JUNE
DOUBLE DOSE OF LIBERTY
CUNARD’S QUEEN MARY 2 FROM NEW YORK HARBOR
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Cross the Atlantic twice from New York
Sailing through New York Harbor is one of the great thrills of cruising. Passengers crowd the decks to watch the ship pass under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the vessel’s stacks seemingly just clearing the underside, and then the Statue of Liberty appears like a beacon of freedom and hope, with glittering Manhattan ahead promising a great day of adventures. Cunard’s 3,090-passenger Queen Mary 2 makes 21 annual transatlantic crossings, and this one, a 24-day round-trip voyage from the Big Apple, shows off the harbor coming and going. In between are tours of Scandinavian ports in search of the midnight sun and nearly two full days in England, with time to pop off to London. What to do during the 15 days at sea? Sample Cunard executive chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann’s outstanding cuisine, take in shows or dance in the largest ballroom at sea, and enjoy the polish and sophistication of one of the world’s grandest ships. Departure: June 7, 2010; from $5,435.
JULY
LAUNCH DATE
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S NIEUW AMSTERDAM FROM VENICE
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: The maiden voyage of Holland America’s newest ship
Everything but the name will be brand-new when Holland America’s 2,106-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam sails from Venice on its Fourth of July maiden voyage. The fourth ship to carry the name in the company’s history, this newest of the Nieuw Amsterdams has been decorated in homage to its namesake city (New York, originally called New Amsterdam). A maiden voyage is an exciting experience for guests and crew alike, made all the more so in this case by a lovely, ten-day Adriatic itinerary that begins as you slip past Piazza San Marco and then continues to Croatia’s Split and the walled city of Dubrovnik; Katakolon and Corfu, Greece; and concludes in Ravenna, Italy. Take a cooking class at the ship’s Culinary Arts Center, then work off the calories at the large gymnasium space on the Lido Deck (complete with a spa). Can’t make the maiden sailing? Nieuw Amsterdam continues Mediterranean voyages through mid-October. Departure: July 4, 2010; from $1,799.
UNDER FULL SAIL
STAR CLIPPERS’ STAR FLYER TO OLYMPOS, TURKEY
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Small-ship sailing and lots of water sports
With its graceful sails, miles of rigging, and teak trim, Star Clippers’ 170-passenger Star Flyer feels more like a private sailing yacht than a traditional cruise ship. You won’t find any nightclubs or movie theaters on board, but the ship more than compensates with superb water sports, not to mention the ability to stop at smaller harbors that full-size ships can’t touch. On this voyage, Star Flyer shows off these advantages with maiden calls in Greece and Turkey’s “Blue Voyage” region – a favorite of the European yachting set – on seven-day round-trip sailings from Rhodes, Greece. Anchoring at the ports of Antalya and Olympos, Turkey, and the tiny Greek island of Kastellórizon, the ship brings out the beach toys: You can kayak, water ski, and sail all day. The evening brings surprisingly elegant dining and a strong wine list. Stargazing on deck – or on the bowsprit’s webbing – is all the nightlife you’ll need. Departures: August 14, 2010; from $2,075.
DESTINATION: ASIA
SILVERSEA CRUISES’ SILVER SHADOW TO NAGASAKI AND BEIJING
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: The perfect day in Nagasaki
Sometimes a cruise delivers one pitch-perfect day that lingers the longest among the memories of a voyage’s many pleasures. Consider an autumn Sunday in Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu, which is the last Japanese stop aboard the 382-passenger Silver Shadow on this 11-day voyage that begins in Tokyo and continues with calls in South Korea and China. Explore the city’s Peace Park and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, built to commemorate the atomic bomb blast of August 9, 1945, or search for treasures at the Hamanomachi shopping arcade, a mile from the cruise terminal. For a personalized exploration, the ship’s concierge can arrange private tours, and Silver Shadow’s new butler service, which has been extended to all cabin categories, can whip up anything from a scented bath to a cocktail party with new friends. Overnight stops in Osaka, Beijing (by way of Tianjin), and Shanghai allow extra time to explore Asian capitals and cultures. Departure: September 29, 2010; from $5,758.
OCTOBER
FALL BACK
CELEBRITY CRUISES’ SUMMIT TO NEW ENGLAND AND CANADA
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: Colorful fall foliage at its peak
The air should be crisp, the apples ripe, and fall foliage at its dazzling best when the 2,034-passenger Celebrity Summit departs New Jersey’s Cape Liberty for this 14-night round-trip voyage north to New England and Canada. Stops in Boston and Québec lend an urban vibe, while five days at sea allow for plenty of shipboard relaxation, but fall colors are the cruise’s claim to fame, with excursions from Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, and Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Departure: October 10, 2010; from $1,599.
NOVEMBER
HOLY LAND
AZAMARA CRUISES’ AZAMARA JOURNEY TO HAIFA AND JERUSALEM
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: See Israel’s most important biblical sites
It’s a pity that politics and strife exclude Israel from most Mediterranean itineraries; this 12-night, Athens-to-Rome voyage on board the 694-passenger Azamara Journey is one of just four voyages the company makes to the Holy Land all year. But what a wealth of things to see and do: overnight tours to Nazareth and Jerusalem, visiting the Masada fortress where Jews held off the Romans for months, lunch at a kibbutz, and a swim in the ultra salty Dead Sea (you’ve never been so buoyant). And that’s just the Israel portion. The cruise also calls on two Greek islands and two Egyptian ports, and spends a night in Sorrento, Italy. Azamara’s careful, attentive service has butlers tending to every stateroom. Departure: November 3, 2010; from $1,949.
DECEMBER
PRIVATE ISLAND
PRINCESS CRUISES’ CROWN PRINCESS TO THE BAHAMAS
Why YOU SHOULD SET SAIL: An all-day party on a private cay
Princess Cruises excels at quick, fun getaways with its winter lineup of Caribbean departures from Fort Lauderdale. The 3,070-passenger
Crown Princess makes five-day journeys where the action starts the minute you hit the 16th-floor Sun Deck for a lively pool scene with drinks, music, and, at night, movies projected onto a big screen under the stars. Inside, grab a bite and people-watch in the atrium, which mimics an Italian piazza, or avoid the dinnertime crowds with a romantic lobster dinner for two on your patio. After a call at Grand Turk and a day at sea, the party spills onto the beach at Princess Cays, a private beach retreat on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, for a barbecue, snorkeling, kayaking, and playing in the powder-blue Caribbean water. Reserve a private cabana for the day for an air-conditioned retreat.
Departure: December 18, 2010; from $499.