Reports
News, reports and guides from the world of cruising.
121 articles
AROYA: The Mediterranean Through an Arabian Soul
A cruise aboard AROYA is not merely a journey from one port to another across the Eastern Mediterranean. Above all, this cruise is an encounter with a new, ambitious, and deeply distinctive project that brings a different perspective to the world of international cruising. AROYA Cruises is an Arab cruise line created with the aim […]
Star Princess: How much premium is the Sphere Class?
There are cruise ships that you get to know in three days. You learn where the best coffee is served, which sun lounger stays in the shade, and what time the buffet runs out. The Star Princess is different. Those who spend a week on board continue to make new discoveries right up to the […]
Carnival Venezia: From Manhattan to the Caribbean
In October, New York smells like cool river air, peppery street food, and a faint note of hurry. On the way to the cruise terminal, rolling suitcases clatter over asphalt, taxi horns slice through the pickup-lane chorus – and above it all hangs the particular anticipation only embarkation day in Manhattan can generate. It’s not […]
MSC Preziosa: a ship with a remarkable history
How many things have already been seen: cruise ships that, in their first life, carried containers, or ferries that transported not only passengers but also vehicles. In the second half of the 20th century, many cruise ships still came from ocean liner service and were given a second life as pleasure vessels. There have also […]
Queen Mary 2: Revisiting An Old Friend
Returning to Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 after a few years absence feels like coming home. I’ve sailed on this grand lady around fifteen times and honestly it never gets old. She is one of a kind and truly the last ocean liner plying the seven seas today. Built in France and launched in 2004 to […]
Allure OTS: a successful but measured modernization
When Royal Caribbean announced the modernization of Allure of the Seas, many expected a dramatic transformation. Expectations were high, especially given the prestige of the Oasis Class and the ship’s reputation, having won over a large community of enthusiasts since its debut. After visiting the ship both before and after the refurbishment, the conclusion is […]
From Mein Schiff 6 to Mein Schiff 7
Within just a few days, we had the chance to step aboard two of TUI Cruises’ famous “Blue Motion” class ships: the Mein Schiff 6 and the Mein Schiff 7. We visited the former in Trieste and the latter in Livorno. Although they belong to the same class, the two ships are quite different from […]
The “Home at Sea” of Explora Journeys
I recently had the pleasure of being on board Explora I, and what immediately struck me was the refined and elegant atmosphere that permeates the ship — meticulously crafted in every detail, with nothing ever left to chance. Explora I is the first ship in the Explora Journeys fleet, the new Luxury Lifestyle travel brand […]
Sky Princess: Where Every Moment Becomes a Journey
Sky Princess is a state-of-the-art cruise ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, with a gross tonnage just over 145,000 tons, approximately 330 meters in length, and a capacity of about 3,660 passengers at double occupancy, served by over 1,300 crew members. The ship spans 19 decks in total, 15 of which are dedicated to guests, and […]
Carnival Miracle 2025: a renewed classic
Stepping aboard the Carnival Miracle means entering a world built around imagination. This ship doesn’t simply transport passengers from port to port; it’s a parallel universe filled with theatrical sets, vibrant colors, and evocative names that draw inspiration from literature, myth, and cinema. From the moment you embark, it’s clear that the goal is to […]
Arabian flair at sea: cruising with AROYA
AROYA is new, is different – remarkably Arabian. As a cruise writer with experience from 26 different cruise lines, I am witnessing how certain boundaries are shifting on board this new brand: AROYA Cruises combines an Arabian lifestyle, first-class family offers, and exciting routes to create an extraordinary experience. My first thought: no casino – […]
Nordstjernen: a classic for lovers of old-fashioned travel
The historic Hurtigruten postal ship Nordstjernen will turn 70 years old in 2026, but that doesn’t mean it can be considered a relic of the past. Still, traveling on board feels a bit like stepping back in time. In Gdansk, even the Swedish ferry moored nearby towers several decks above the small Nordstjernen. But on […]
Resilient Lady: The Cruise That Changes the Game
Stepping aboard Resilient Lady means leaving behind every preconceived notion about what a cruise should be. The flagship of Virgin Voyages, the cruise line founded by Richard Branson with the declared goal of revolutionizing the industry, isn’t just a ship—it’s a floating manifesto of freedom, style, and intelligent fun. An experience crafted for those who […]
Gemini: Through the Greek Archipelago in Turkish Style
Since 2020, the Gemini has been sailing under the flag of Miray Cruises, offering short cruises in the Aegean Sea. It combines elements of Turkish culture with the unique advantages that only a small ship can offer when navigating the Greek archipelago. The ship itself is no newcomer to these waters. Beginning in 2016, it […]
Riverside: a luxury cruise experience every nautical mile
From beautifully designed interiors to exceptional service, spacious accommodations and extraordinary menus and free-flowing wines, Riverside Ravel is Riverside’s gift to Soane and Rhone River Cruising. RIVERSIDE CALLS ALL 3 OR ITS EXTRAORDINARY SHIPS “BOUTIQUE HOTELS” The owners of Riverside are the Gerlach family. Hoteliers with vast experience in luxury hospitality, their Seaside Collection str
Norwegian Aqua: A New Way to Experience the Sea
There’s a new star sailing the world’s oceans: Norwegian Aqua, the latest addition to the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. But this isn’t just a ship, it’s a whole new concept of vacation, a promise of absolute freedom. Onboard, time doesn’t follow a strict schedule; days unfold according to each guest’s personal rhythm. This is the […]
Artania: a unique and regal piece
In a cruise world where, for many decades, and even more so in recent years, large fleets of nearly identical sister ships set the trend, it is truly a rarity when a cruise line’s fleet consists exclusively of “one-of-a-kind” ships. The operator Phoenix Reisen, based in Bonn, Germany, represents one of these rarities, as each […]
Allure of the Seas: An Unforgettable Transatlantic Cruise
Royal Caribbean continues to redefine the standards of sea travel with the Allure of the Seas, an iconic ship that offers a unique and luxurious experience, particularly during its transatlantic cruises. This impressive vessel, one of the largest in the world, crosses the majestic waters of the Atlantic, offering passengers an adventure that combines comfort, […]
Carnival Destiny: The Record-Breaking Ship
In 1996, the Carnival Destiny became the first ship in the world to surpass the 100,000 gross tonnage threshold, breaking the record for the largest passenger ship ever built—a record that had remained unchallenged since 1940 when the iconic Queen Elizabeth, the renowned Cunard Line ocean liner of 83,673 tons, was completed. At the time, […]
Costa Toscana: The Sweetest Cruise of the Year
A gentle breeze sweeps across the deck of Costa Toscana, the sun shines over the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean even in November, and a delicate scent of chocolate fills the air. Welcome aboard the ChocoCruise, a culinary voyage that seduces both the senses and the palate. Here, maritime elegance meets the world of Haute […]
A-Rosa Cruises: On the Danube Among Xmas Markets
Central Europe’s Christmas markets have become a true “cult” of winter tourism, attracting millions of visitors from all over the continent and even from other regions of the world. The charm of the colors, lights, culinary specialties, and Christmas decorations come together in a unique setting, with Europe’s most beautiful cities providing the perfect backdrop […]
A Tour on Board the Mein Schiff 7
While TUI Cruises‘ attention is already focused on the new Mein Schiff Relax (2025) and Mein Schiff Flow (2026), it was the Mein Schiff 7 that strengthened the fleet this year. When TUI Cruises ordered the second sister ship of the Mein Schiff 1, delivered in the same year, in February 2018, plans for a […]
Celebrity Equinox: My First Cruise with Celebrity
In October I took a cruise on Celebrity Equinox, my first Celebrity Cruise. The company claim to be a premium cruise line and over the years have produced some excellent and innovative vessels with features including restaurants furnished with fittings for old ocean liners such as White Star Line’s Olympic. They also created real grass […]
Aboard Hanseatic Inspiration alles ist gut!
Hapag Lloyd’s expedition ship repositions from Boston to Panama Hapag-Lloyd has one of the most highly rated cruise ship fleets in the world. Their pioneering role in cruising began in 1891. That was the year that Albert Ballin, Director of the “Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft”, Hapag for short, offered its first pleasure cruise. It sailed from Hamburg […]