Luxury Cruising Editorial

Carnival Cruise Line continues to roll out new cruises for 2027-2028 and today they announced their first ever dedicated series of cruises to Hawaii.

These newly announced cruises leave from three homeports in the U.S.: Long Beach, Norfolk and Baltimore.

The cruise line is moving Carnival Freedom to Norfolk while extending Carnival Pride’s service in Baltimore.

Long Beach

Carnival Legend will move to Long Beach, California from October 2027 through April 2028. The ship will offer ten 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises to Hawaii from the port.

These cruises will visit Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hilo and Kona, plus a stop in Ensenada, Mexico.

In addition to the cruises to Hawaii, Carnival Legend will also sail six- and eight-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera with calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Ensenada.

Norfolk

Carnival Freedom will start sailing from Norfolk on May 23, 2027 and will launch the most diverse cruise program ever offered from the region.

Highlights of cruises offered on Carnival Freedom include six-day Bahamas cruises calling on Celebration Key, Nassau, and Bimini, as well as six-day Bermuda cruises offering guests two days to visit the beautiful island.

Eight-day Eastern Caribbean voyages feature Amber Cove, Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk.

Carnival Freedom will also offer eight-day Canada cruises with stops in Halifax, Sydney, Saint John or Charlottetown.

Baltimore

Carnival Pride will continue to sail from Baltimore and offer cruises that range from seven- to 14-days in length.

The ship will offer several itineraries on seven-night cruises to The Bahamas. Port stops include Celebration Key, Nassau, Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays.

Extended nine-, 12-, and 14-day Carnival Journeys voyages to destinations including Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola and Martinique will also be offered on Carnival Pride.

Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president, said the following:

“This update to our 2027/28 represents important pieces of our strategy to deliver more fun experiences that only Carnival can offer. With fun on the move, we’re creating new options – a newer ship for Norfolk and a new series dedicated to Hawaii sailings from Long Beach are both great examples of that.

“We’re also continuing our commitments in all our homeports, and Carnival Pride’s year-round deployment in Baltimore is a testament to that as well.

“From Baltimore to Norfolk and Long Beach, we’re proud to bring guests more opportunities to depart closer to home on itineraries that feature incredible destinations.”

Oceania Cruises has just announced one of its most interesting itineraries yet—a 96-day voyage from Auckland to Rome aboard Oceania Vista.  And since the cruise departs on January 4, 2028, travelers have plenty of time to make preparations.

Marketed as The Best of East & West, this luxury sailing visits more than 50 ports across Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with fares starting at $37,999 per passenger.

Sailing Details

• Ship: Oceania Vista
• Duration: 96 days
• Route: Auckland, New Zealand to Rome, Italy
• Departure: January 4, 2028
• Arrival: April 9, 2028
• Starting Fares: From $37,999 per guest
• Special Offer (Your World Included™):
  • All Specialty Dining
  • Shipboard Gratuities
  • Unlimited Wi-Fi
  • Choice of Complimentary Drinks or $4,800 Shore Excursion Credit

From New Zealand’s Fjords to Australia

The cruise begins in Auckland before sailing to Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and the Milford Sound fjords. Crossing into Australia, these passengers will explore Tasmania, Sydney, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, and Perth.

Through Southeast Asia

The cruise then sails north into Indonesia, with multi-day visits to Bali, Lombok, Komodo, and Java. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand follow, offering everything from Penang’s UNESCO-listed streets to Phuket’s beaches.

India and the Middle East

Mid-voyage, Vista will visit Cochin, Mumbai, and Goa, before steering toward the Arabian Gulf. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, travelers can explore the modern development of the region, while Oman and Saudi Arabia show off their own cultural heritage. The Suez Canal crossing will lead to visits to Egypt, including Luxor and Alexandria.

Europe’s Capitals and Islands

The closing weeks of the 96-day sailing visit Europe, stopping in Istanbul, Troy, and Ephesus in Turkey; several Greek islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Athens; and Adriatic jewels like Kotor and Dubrovnik.

In the Mediterranean, travelers will call at Malta, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast before disembarking in Rome on April 9, 2028.

Other Announcements from Oceania

In addition to the new 96-day Grand Voyage, Oceania Cruises’ press release today included several other announcements about its 2027-2028 collection.

• First Winter Mediterranean Season: The newest ship, Oceania Allura, will sail the company’s first-ever winter season in the Mediterranean from November 2027 to March 2028.
• Return to Alaska: The Oceania Riviera is set to return to Alaska, offering a variety of itineraries.
• Fleet Retirement: The press release announced that the Oceania Insignia will be retired in November 2027, following a farewell tour.
• Grand Voyage: The company also highlighted a second Grand Voyage on the Oceania Vista: a 59-day trip from Miami to Sydney.
• Enhanced Inclusions: A new option has been added to the “Your World Included” program, allowing guests to choose between a complimentary wine and beer package or a shore excursion credit.

When cruisers debate the most beautiful cruise ships ever built, very particular tastes and perspectives get thrown around. After all, so much about cruising is subjective. 

Just ask a group of cruise lovers which cruise line is best, and you will see that.

A recent thread on Reddit’s community showed exactly how diverse these opinions can be, with certain ships coming up as clear favorites.

The simple question “What is the most beautiful cruise ship/ocean liner?” was the title of this post that quickly shot up the ranks.

Earlier this week, another Reddit post about the ugliest ships at sea was also making the rounds when this post about the most beautiful ships began resonating and picking up over 150 comments.

Classic Elegance: Disney Cruise Line

Few cruise brands have as loyal a fanbase as Disney Cruise Line. Many comments in the post praised ships like Disney Wish and Disney Fantasy for their art-deco-inspired lines, dark hulls, and signature gold detailing.

Unlike most modern cruise ships that some say look more like floating resorts, Disney vessels deliberately remind travelers of the classic era of cruise travel.

As one commenter put it, Disney ships “exude old luxury with a Disney twist,” and fans mentioned how the cruise line does a good job of maintaining their ships.

The Ocean Liner: Queen Mary 2

Perhaps no ship received more praise than Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (QM2). Unlike standard cruise ships, QM2 was purpose-built as an ocean liner, designed with a sleek hull and that classic look.

Passengers consider it “the last true ocean liner,” admired for lines that set it apart from today’s balcony-filled ships.

Others placed Queen Victoria in a similar category for having that ship-like balance of form and function.

Historic Ships

For traditionalists, modern cruise ships just don’t compare to historic vessels. Ships like the SS Normandie, SS United States, MV Kungsholm, and MS Oslofjord were mentioned in the comments for their timeless elegance.

Though many have been scrapped or retired, their nostalgia factor is strong.  Several comments mentioned sailing on classics like Aurora or Marco Polo, saying that this kind of style is nowhere to be found on today’s ships.

Modern Cruise Ship Mentions

Still, many of today’s modern ships were mentioned for their beauty and elegance.  The following ships were repeatedly mentioned in the post.

• Celebrity Edge and Solstice Class were praised for modern architecture that still manages to look sleek.
• Royal Caribbean’s older Radiance and Voyager classes were still loved for their balanced design, while some said newer giant ships were “blocky apartment complexes.”
• Norwegian’s Viva and Prima classes earned some love for bold hull artwork and futuristic lines.
• Princess Cruises drew attention for interior elegance and a great exterior design.
• Virgin Voyages divided the crowd: some loved their sleek gray-and-red hulls, while others thought they were too militaristic or unconventional.

Smaller Ships

Ships don’t have to be giants to be beautiful. Many argued that vessels with sails—like Windstar ships or Star Clipper—offer beauty and elegance on the water.

“Anything with sails is more beautiful than anything without,” one commenter said.

Small luxury ships like Regent Splendor, and Explora Journeys vessels (starting with Explora I) also were mentioned for their balance, symmetry, and perfect size.

Mega-Ships: The Key Debate

One of the strongest themes from the many comments was criticism of modern mega-ships. Many users called these new ships “floating cities”, with some referring to them as “horizontal skyscrapers” or “apartment blocks on water.” While a few admired the look of ships like MSC World Europa, most agreed that sheer size doesn’t necessarily equal beauty.

The Subjective Answer

In the end, one simple comment put it perfectly in my opinion: “The most beautiful ship is the one you’re on.” Whether you prefer the regal Queen Mary 2, the nostalgic fantasy of a Disney ship, or the intimate elegance of a smaller luxury vessel, beauty is in the eye of the cruiser.