Two medical emergencies on Carnival Corporation ships led to back-to-back airlifts by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) within 24 hours.
The rescues took place aboard Holland America Line’s Koningsdam and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Panorama, both operating Mexican itineraries on the West Coast.
Rescue aboard Koningsdam
The first emergency occurred aboard Koningsdam early Friday morning, November 29, 2024.
The ship was approximately 280 miles south of the US-Mexico border on the final sea day of its 7-night Baja Peninsula cruise.
A 66-year-old female passenger displayed stroke symptoms, prompting onboard medical staff to recommend urgent evacuation for advanced care.
The USCG dispatched a helicopter from Air Station San Diego, accompanied by a C-27 from Air Station Sacramento to assist with communication.
The passenger was safely hoisted aboard and transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where her condition is reported as stable.
“Rescues like this are exactly what our crews train for,”
“Through coordination from the command center and outstanding support from our C-27 cover aircraft crew, we were able to get the patient to higher-level care.”
Lieutenant Brady Stepan, pilot, Air Station San Diego
Koningsdam experienced no delays and returned to San Diego on schedule. The ship’s next itinerary, a 10-night Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez cruise, is proceeding as planned.
Medical airlift from Carnival Panorama
Simultaneously, the USCG responded to a second emergency aboard Carnival Panorama, which was concluding its 7-night Mexican Riviera sailing.
While details are scarce, passengers noted that a late-night call for blood donors preceded the evacuation. The nature of the medical emergency and the passenger’s condition remain undisclosed.
The USCG performed another helicopter airlift to ensure the passenger could receive specialised care.
Like Koningsdam, Carnival Panorama returned to port in Long Beach, California, on time and began its next cruise, a 6-night itinerary, without delay.
Both rescues highlight the critical role of coast guard crews in ensuring the safety and well-being of cruise passengers. Operating under challenging conditions, these teams provide emergency care and transportation when needed.
There have been many airlift rescues for passengers within 2024, including other back-to-back incidents for Carnival.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is now sailing its third season in Queensland offering cruises to the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.
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Quantum of the Seas will sail 22 cruises from Queensland that range from two- to 14-nights in length.
11 of the cruises will visit the South Pacific on seven- and eight-night voyages. The ship will visit the turquoise waters of Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu, as well as the upbeat city of Noumea, New Caledonia.
Shorter four- and five-night Queensland getaways will allow for snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef and for cruisers to enjoy fresh seafood at Airlie Beach and Cairns.
A two-week cruise to New Zealand will visit Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington.
Quantum of the Seas offers the following amenities:
Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator
FlowRider surf simulator
Rock climbing wall
SeaPlex – largest indoor activity complex at sea
Five-course dining
Two70
Royal Theatre
Vitality Spa
Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean International, gave the following statement:
“More Queensland families are choosing Quantum of the Seas for their next holiday, seamlessly combining spectacular destinations with the ease of an all-encompassing adventure. On Quantum, families can make their getaway truly their own with options to delight everyone.”
These cruises are currently available to book on Royal Caribbean’s website or through you preferred travel agent.
Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas are sister ships with very similar Bahamas itineraries. This means that cruisers are often left wondering which ship to choose for the best cruise.
What are the similarities and differences between Navigator and Mariner of the Seas? And which ship is the best? Read on to find out…
Mariner and Navigator of the Seas at CocoCay
Some background on Navigator and Mariner Of The Seas
Navigator of the Seas was launched in 2002, with Mariner of the Seas following shortly afterward in 2003. They’re both Royal Caribbean Voyager-class ships, along with Adventure, Explorer, and Voyager of the Seas.
Both Navigator and Mariner of the Seas have undergone Royal Caribbean’s ‘Amplification’ programme which upgraded the ships and added new facilities such as the water slides. Mariner was ‘Amped’ in 2018, followed by Navigator a few months later in 2019.
Activities
Mariner and Navigator of the Seas have many of the same activities on-board, with a few key differences.
Pool Deck
One of the main differences between Mariner and Navigator is the pool deck. The pool deck on Navigator of the Seas is nothing short of amazing! It’s bright and colourful with a real tropical vibe, in contrast to Mariner’s pool deck, which looks a bit bland in comparison – though maybe you’ll prefer this if you’re not sailing with kids?
On Navigator, the hot tubs have been moved upstairs for the best ocean views, which has made space for a small splash area by the main pools. If you love spending time by the pool or have young kids who want to splash around, you can’t beat Navigator of the Seas.
Navigator of the Seas pools Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
Water Slides
Another thing that is different on these two ships is the water slides. Each ship has two water slides.
Mariner of the Seas water slides are called Typhoon and Cyclone. These are pretty tame, they’re quite slow, and you don’t get your face wet. The height restriction is 48″ minimum.
Take a look at the video I made of these slides…
Navigator of the Seas’ water slides are The Blaster and Riptide. The Blaster is the longest water slide at sea and uses a raft with fun uphill sections and a section that extends over the side of the ship. The height restriction is 45″ minimum. Riptide, meanwhile, is a head-first mat racer slide with a height restriction of 42″ minimum.
The slides on Navigator are not only better, they’re also suitable for younger kids, making them a win-win.
Other activities
Navigator of the Seas may have the best pool and the best water slides, but sister ship Mariner of the Seas has a couple of extra tricks up her sleeve.
Mariner features the Sky Pad, which is a virtual reality trampoline up on Deck 13. Next to that is the Sky Climber – a huge enclosed climbing frame that was a real hit with my five-year-old.
Leonie on the Sky Pad
Also, on Mariner of the Seas, there’s a really cool window where you can look down into the bridge and watch the crew as they navigate the ship. Look out for that.
The following table shows which activities you’ll find on Mariner and Navigator of the Seas.
Activity
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Pools and Whirlpools
YES
YES
Flowrider
YES
YES
Rock Climbing
YES
YES
Escape Room
YES
YES
Ice Skating
YES
YES
Sports Court
YES
YES
Casino
YES
YES
Mini Golf
YES
YES
Arcade
YES
YES
Shows
YES
YES
Spa & Fitness Centre
YES
YES
Laser Tag
YES
YES
Riptide & Blaster slides
NO
YES
Kids Spray Park
NO
YES
Sky Pad
YES
NO
Typhoon & Cyclone Slides
YES
NO
Sky Climber
YES
NO
Bridge Viewing Area
YES
NO
Winner – Mariner Of The Seas
The slides might be better on Navigator, but Mariner has slides too, and some really cool stuff like the virtual reality trampolines and the Sky Climber.
Bars and lounges
The two ships each share several bars and lounges, although sometimes they have different names. For example, each ship has a lounge up on Deck 14. On Navigator, this is called the Cosmopolitan Club, whereas on Mariner it’s called the Jazz Club. They’re essentially the same.
Navigator of the Seas does have a couple of extra bars – The R Bar is a retro cocktail bar on Deck 5. Then there’s also ‘To Dry For’, where you can enjoy a drink while you have your hair blow-dried ready for the evening ahead.
Also, Navigator of the Seas features the Lime & Coconut, which is similar to the Pool Bar on Mariner, but better and with more outdoor seating.
The Lime & Coconut Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
The following table shows where you can enjoy a drink on each ship.
Bar
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Bamboo Room
YES
YES
English Pub
YES
YES
Cosmopolitan / Jazz Club
YES
YES
Playmakers
YES
YES
Schooner Bar
YES
YES
Boleros
YES
YES
Starbucks
YES
YES
Solarium Bar
YES
YES
R Bar
NO
YES
Lime & Coconut
NO
YES
Blow Dry Bar
NO
YES
Pool Bar
YES
NO
Winner – Navigator Of The Seas
Navigator is the clear winner here, with more bars to enjoy and a better poolside drinking experience.
Most of the complimentary dining venues on each ship are exactly the same. You’ll get the main dining room, the Windjammer buffet and Cafe promenade.
Mariner of the Seas has the Dog House, which offers poolside hot dogs, whereas on Navigator of the Seas, the poolside food offering comes in the form of Mexican snack bar, El Loco Fresh.
For the most part, the two ships have very similar speciality dining options, but Navigator has one more – Hooked Seafood.
Izumi features on both ships but with some differences. On Mariner, it’s a Hibachi restaurant with tableside show cooking and a fixed price. On Navigator, however, Izumi offers a Hot Rocks experience and has a la carte pricing.
Izumi show cooking on Mariner of the Seas Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
Johnny Rockets is also different. On Mariner, Johnny Rockets offers sit-down dining in the classic American diner. On Navigator, you’ll find Johnny Rockets Express, which is more of a grab-and-go type place.
The following table shows the dining venues on each ship.
Dining venue
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Main Dining Room
YES
YES
Windjammer
YES
YES
Cafe Promenade
YES
YES
Chops Grille*
YES
YES
Jamie’s Italian*
YES
YES
Playmakers*
YES
YES
Chef’s Table*
YES
YES
Johnny Rockets*
YES
YES
Izumi Sushi*
YES
YES
Hooked Seafood*
NO
YES
El Loco Fresh
NO
YES
Dog House
YES
NO
* Denotes speciality restaurants (extra charge)
Winner – Navigator Of The Seas
El Loco Fresh trumps the Dog House every time. This casual Mexican cafe offers burritos, carnitas and more which you can customise as you desire. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, then the Dog House has nothing for you, whereas El Loco Fresh has plenty.
Destinations
Each Royal Caribbean ship has a home port where guests embark and disembark the ship. These are as follows:
Departure ports:
Mariner of the Seas – Galveston, Texas
Navigator of the Seas – Los Angeles, California
Both ships have offered cruises from a range of home ports in the past, including the popular Florida ports, but as of right now they’re sailing from different parts of the US.
This does mean that neither ship currently offers cruises to Royal Caribbean’s private resorts of Labadee or Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you want to sail to those destinations, you’ll need to choose a different ship.
Both ships sail to Mexico, instead, but different coasts. Navigator’s the ship to choose from cruises to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas on the west coast, while Mariner offers cruises to destinations such as Cozumel on the east coast.
Winner – Tie
Honestly, both ships offer a unique perspective on Mexico and it’s hard to pick a clear winner. If you were only choosing between these two ships, there’s a good chance that your destination choice would depend on which port was easier for you to get to.
The verdict
So, Navigator of the Seas vs Mariner of the Seas – which one wins? Both are fantastic ships, and it wouldn’t really be fair to say that one was any better than the other.
However, there are some subtle differences between them. If in doubt, take a close look at the itineraries on offer and any differences in price once you’ve factored in flights before making your decision.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
I saw both ships side by side at CocoCay
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Atlas Ocean Voyages has unveiled its 2026 summer itinerary collection, featuring new expeditions across the Canadian Arctic, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Europe—including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland, and Greenland. With 28 new ports of call, this season’s expanded portfolio offers unparalleled experiences for returning and new guests. From Polar and Cultural Expeditions to Epicurean journeys, Atlas Ocean Voyages now provides a more diverse selection of immersive adventures than ever before.
Atlas Ocean Voyages’ new summer expeditions feature an exciting range of ports, offering guests unique encounters and immersive experiences. In Brønnøysund, Norway, marvel at sea eagles and seals in their natural habitat, while Warnemünde, Germany, combines scenic beaches with traditional maritime culture and easy access to Berlin. Sip robust wines in Çeşme, Turkey, famed for centuries-old vineyards. St. Anthony and Red Bay in Canada showcase Viking history, while Îles de la Madeleine and Corner Brook highlight nature’s beauty. Bermuda’s St. George’s and Hamilton add vibrant culture, rounding out a season of captivating destinations.
James Rodriguez, President and CEO, remarked, “We are excited to introduce 28 new ports to our destination portfolio. Our expanded team of experts and guides ensures a deeply immersive experience aboard every voyage. These additions will be popular with our past guests and likely to sell out quickly.”
Enhanced Destination Experience with Late Departures and Overnights
Atlas Ocean Voyages, World Traveller. (Photo by Atlas Ocean Voyages)
They feature over 70 extended evenings, leaving ports after 8 PM, allowing ample time to immerse in each destination’s local culture, cuisine, and energy. Additionally, with more than 25 overnight stays, travelers have extended hours to explore, creating a relaxed and enriched journey.
NEW Expeditions Highlights
Picturesque Peaks & Fjords
14-NIGHT LONDON ROUNDTRIP | JUNE 1, 2026 | Cultural Expedition
Denmark & Sweden Beauties
10-NIGHT OSLO TO STOCKHOLM | JUNE 30, 2026 | Cultural Expedition
Sea of Antiquity
10-NIGHT ISTANBUL TO ROME | JULY 20, 2026 | Epicurean Expedition
Riviera Marvels
10-NIGHT ROME TO BARCELONA | JULY 30, 2026 | Epicurean Expedition
Pearls of Italy
7-NIGHT ROME TO DUBROVNIK | SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 | Epicurean Expedition
Greenland & Canada Explorer
11-NIGHT KANGERLUSSUAQ TO HALIFAX | SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 | Polar Expedition
Bermuda & Island Wonders
12-NIGHT HALIFAX TO PHILIPSBURG | OCTOBER 2, 2026 | Cultural Expedition
Colors of the Caribbean
7-NIGHT PHILIPSBURG TO BRIDGETOWN | OCTOBER 14, 2026 | Cultural Expedition
Explore with Atlas Ocean Voyages in 2026
Alfresco Dining (Photo by Atlas Ocean Voyages)
Atlas Ocean Voyages’ small luxury vessels provide an intimate yachting experience, with access to narrow waterways like London’s River Thames and the iconic Grand Canal in Venice. Alongside an extensive lineup of cultural and polar expeditions, guests can expect exceptional onboard amenities, including pre-expedition hotel night stays, private charter jet service from New York or Oslo for Arctic expeditions, and complimentary perks such as a cultural immersion tour, the Polar Plunge, parkas, and eco-friendly water bottles.
Take advantage of Early Booking Savings with up to 30% off for a limited time—reserve now to secure your preferred journey and enjoy exclusive value on an unforgettable expedition. For information and reservations, call a travel advisor or 1.844.44.ATLAS or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com.
Norwegian Cruise Line will be moving two ships to Tampa and one to Miami for the upcoming winter deployments.
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After cancelling 38 cruises on at least three different cruise ships two weeks ago, Norwegian Cruise Line is revealing where these vessels will homeport for the 2025 and 2026 winter seasons.
Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star will both be sailing out of Tampa, Florida beginning in November and December of 2025 respectively. Additionally, these two ships will offer cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas from Tampa for the winter season of 2026.
Before sailing on a 14-day Transatlantic cruise to Portugal in April of 2026, Norwegian Dawn will offer mostly 7-day sailings to the Caribbean out of Tampa in addition to a set of 10-day sailings that will visit Aruba and Curacao.
The Norwegian Star will offer a variety of cruises ranging from 4 to 12 nights to the Eastern, Southern, and Western Caribbean, as well as the Bahamas.
Norwegian Jewel also saw its 2025 and 2026 sailings cancelled recently and will now be redeployed to PortMiami in November of 2025 through April of 2026.
Before the cancellations, Norwegian Jewel was originally scheduled to sail out of Tampa, offering 5 to 14-night cruises out of the port.
Norwegian’s website has Norwegian Jewel’s first cruise out of Miami slated for November 21, 2025 on a 10-day Panama Canal cruise.
Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn are both Dawn-class ships that were built in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Each can accommodate about 2,300 guests at double capacity.
Norwegian Jewel, built in 2005, was the first Jewel-class ship with Norwegian and is currently on an 11-day cruise out of Tampa.
People go on a cruise because they want to have a good time. But how much of a good time are they having – and are they enjoying the crew’s company a little too much at the same time?
A lot of cruise lines talk about how the crew are there to take care of anything a passenger needs, but that doesn’t mean they take care of ‘those needs’, does it?
Don’t expect it to be rampant…
Cruise ship workers are not supposed to hook up with passengers, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It is rare though – most crew follow the rules because they know they’ll lose their job if they’re caught.
You won’t be surprised to hear that cruise lines ban crew from having sex with passengers. It’s basic standards of professionalism really.
However, the question isn’t “are crew allowed to hook up with passengers?” – it’s whether or not they do it anyway.
And yes, some do.
Indeed one former cruise ship officer named Jay Herring, who used to work for Carnival Cruise Lines, has written a book called “The Truth About Cruise Ships” in which he gives details about the escapades (sexcapades?) of the crew with passengers.
Not only does he describe how it did happen, but that it happened enough to be given a nickname – “coning”, with the passengers referred to as cones.
In his book, he describes how the nickname either came from how passengers looked like neon traffic cones during boat drills, or how the passengers would eat everything in sight on a ship, just like the aliens in the 1993 film Coneheads.
Others online have spoken about it too, both former crew and passengers. A former photographer on a cruise ship explains how the rules have been in place for a long time, but they weren’t quite as strict:
One element remains consistent – when crew do sleep with passengers, it doesn’t happen in the stateroom, but instead happens either in a public area of the ship away from cameras, or in the crew quarters.
The fact that there is a nickname for the act of sleeping with passengers, and detailed plans that entail giving the passenger fake crew details, show that this isn’t something which only happens once in a blue moon.
That being said, guests shouldn’t expect to be able to proposition a crew member and be accepted. Most crew value their jobs and will turn down any advances for fear of being caught.
The repercussions (for crew) are severe!
Crew members who are caught having sex with guests, or even fraternising with them in other ways such as kissing, will almost always be fired. For that reason, most crew follow the rules.
Cruise lines draw a very hard line against this kind of fraternising, and with good reason. So crew should expect to be fired very quickly if they are caught sleeping with a passenger.
That being said, Jay Herring does admit in his book that it would not always result in the termination of the crew’s contract.
He says “Getting caught did not guarantee that a crew member would get fired. There was a shade of grey, and politics governed such situations. A crew-ranked crew member was more likely to get fired than an officer. A male crew member might be more likely to get fired than a female crew member.
“If a passenger filed an official complaint, then it usually didn’t matter who it was because he or she would probably get fired, but otherwise it was at the direction of those who enforced the rules.
It’s worth bearing in mind that Herring’s book was written in 2011 and was about his past experiences, so these stories may not have even been recent then. And even in the past 20 years, cruise lines have really tightened up on the rules.
There’s another reason why crew don’t tend to sleep with passengers often too:
“Mostly because there are plenty of crew members on board who are open to casual relationships. Little to no risk of getting fired there.”
There are plenty of stories online from past (and some current) cruise ship crew that talk about how prevalent sex is with other crew members – and so there’s not really a need for the crew to pursue passengers.
Because everyone lives in such close quarters, the crew often get it on with each other instead, and they can’t get fired for that (provided they do it when they aren’t on shift and in their own cabins).
Reasons why crew are banned from fraternising with guests
The obvious reason why the crew are banned from fraternising with guests is that it’s unprofessional.
Cruise lines want to provide guests with a relaxing holiday that feels safe – and if crew were suddenly allowed to flirt with guests and perhaps take things further, it might please some passengers but most would be uncomfortable.
However, there’s another reason too. There was a trend of honey trapping – where guests would invite crew to have sex with them, and then falsely accuse them of sexual harassment in order to open up a lawsuit against the cruise line and potentially win huge settlements.
So it’s even more understandable why cruise lines ban crew from hooking up with guests – it’s to protect their own interests.
Final word
Yes, there are some incidents of cruise ship crew hooking up with passengers, but it’s extremely rare due to the severe consequences if the crew are caught.
So that’s good news if you want to avoid unwanted attention from crew during your cruise. And if you were hoping for a crew hookup as a passenger, you’ll need to try your luck with other guests instead.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Atlas Ocean Voyages proudly begins its 2024-2025 Antarctica season, featuring three vessels—each staffed with an expanded team of 17 seasoned polar expedition guides led by expert expedition leaders. Each vessel’s team comprises specialists — naturalists, geologists, marine biologists, and historians— who enrich the journey through engaging lectures, guided Zodiac landings, and onshore hikes. Their insights and personal interactions foster genuine connections with guests, creating a memorable, immersive experience enhanced by the attentive shipboard staff. Atlas’ dedicated team ensures a truly exceptional polar expedition.
“This season, we’re excited to expand the team even further with additional experts on each expedition,” said James Rodriguez, President and CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Their knowledge and dedication help us deliver the immersive, top-quality experience our guests expect both on board and ashore, ensuring each polar expedition is truly exceptional.”
Meet the World Voyager™ Expedition Team
Expedition Leader Aaron Strahlke (Photo by Atlas Ocean Voyages)
Led by Expedition Leader Aaron Strahlke, World Voyager’s expedition team delivers expert knowledge and immersive experiences. With a background in geology and extensive polar experience, Aaron brings a passion for wildlife and exploration. Supporting him is Assistant Expedition Leader Christophe Bassous, who brings expertise in microbiology, sailing, and polar expeditions.
The team aboard World Voyager includes Gabriele Lamartina (Kayak Master); Gino Pereira, Carlos Segura, Jan Tiddo and Alejandro Ursino (Naturalists); Beatriz Camara (Geologist); José Junior (Expedition Photographer); Rodrigo Rocha, Anais Buily, Florencia Juarez (Marine Biologist & Naturalists); Xiuyang “Margarette” Yan, Liya Gu and Ting Gu (Expedition Guides and Translators); Nathalie Ansel (Expedition Historian); and Thomas Silcock (Kayaking Guide and Photographer).
Meet the World Navigator® Expedition Team
Expedition Leader Jonathan Zaccaria brings over a decade of polar experience to his role. With a background in spectrometry, his career began with research in Antarctica, where he spent months at the remote Dumont d’Urville and Concordia Stations. Since then, he has led more than 170 polar voyages, pioneering new exploration sites and working closely with Emperor penguin colonies.
Supporting him aboard World Navigator includes Christian Garwood (Assistant Expedition Leader); Marcos Sperr (Kayak Master); Fernando Drew (Kayak Guide); Hernán Cabria, Malany Ferrufino, Susan Ellison, Fiona Johnson, Mélanie Magnan, Susannne Polap and Martin Jimenez (Expedition Guides); Ignacio Canepa (Expedition Guide & Photographer); Janel Saydam (Expedition Guide & Ornithologist); Mara Unkefer and Louisa Mooij (Expedition Guides & Marine Biologists); Shao-Wei Peng (Expedition Guide and Interpreter); and Fernando Terapow (Expedition Guide & International Law Expert).
Meet the World Traveller™ Expedition Team
Led by Expedition Leader Ekaterina Uruypova (Katya) aboard World Traveller. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and extensive experience across the Arctic and Antarctic, Katya brings a wealth of expertise in polar exploration, environmental studies, and leadership.
The expedition team aboard World Traveller includes José Sanchez Martinez, Lizelle Naude (Expedition Guides & Naturalists); Luis Turi (Kayak Master); Mats Erik Svendsen (Kayak Guide & Naturalist); Elsa Ross (Kayak Guide); Olena Bulych (Kayak Guide & Photographer); Sasha Zulas (Expedition Guide & Polar Meteorologist); Eber Gomez Berrade (Expedition Historian); Malcolm Pringle, Alejandro Sanz (Expedition Guides); Fabrice Jonckheere, Sergey Shirokiy, Selby Wilkinson (Expedition Guides & Photographers); Zhang Sicong (Expedition Guide and Translator); Maria Borodavkina (Expedition Guide & Ornithologist); Michaela Tremblay (ORCA Expedition Guide).
Atlas Ocean Voyages’ Polar Expeditions to Antarctica offer guests a seamless and enriching adventure, starting with a pre-expedition hotel night stay and private charter jet service from Buenos Aires or Punta Arenas. Each expedition includes a Cultural Immersion tour—either Tierra del Fuego with lunch from Ushuaia or a Taste of Chile with dinner from Punta Arenas—along with the thrilling Polar Plunge, a complimentary parka, and an eco-friendly water bottle. Optional experiences like overnight camping ashore in Antarctica and kayaking excursions are also available for those seeking additional adventure. While limited space remains this season, a selection of expeditions offer a 10% Bonus Savings.
For information and reservations, call a travel advisor at 1.844.44.ATLAS or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com.
Princess Cruises unveiled new cruises this morning that will set sail in 2026-2027 including some on their next new ship, Star Princess.
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These new cruises from Princess will depart from the West Coast and visit 26 destinations on eight cruise ships. The voyages will depart from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, B.C.
Highlights of these new cruises include:
69 total cruises
12 unique itineraries
26 ports
Eight cruise ships
Star Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princes, Island Princess and Grand Princess will all offer cruises from Los Angeles. This includes one seven day cruise to the Mexican Riviera on Star Princess.
Cruises will range from four- to 32-days in length and visit everywhere from Hawaii to the South Pacific to Mexico.
Ruby Princess will sail from San Francisco on five- to 16-night cruises.
Coral Princess, Discovery Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess and Star Princess will sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles in September 2026.
The west coast program from Princess Cruises also includes several holiday voyages roundtrip from either Los Angeles or San Francisco, including Hawaii and Mexico over Christmas or New Year’s and shorter West Coast Getaways over Thanksgiving.
Terry Thornton, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, gave the following statement:
“Our 2026-2027 season builds on our West Coast legacy with diverse itineraries that capture the essence of these extraordinary destinations.
“From the golden beaches of Mexico to the vibrant energy of California and the tropical charm of Hawaii, these sailings are crafted to offer something truly special for every traveler.”
Luxury travel has gone beyond private villas, five-star hotels, or spending time at expensive beach resorts. Nowadays, those looking for luxury also seek experiences, adventures, and stories that they can be part of.
This shift in the luxury travel space has seen immense interest in polar regions. Yes, you heard that right! The land that was once only meant for discoverers has now become one of the sought-after travel destinations for luxury travelers.
The majestic, unspoiled, frozen land of the Arctic and Antarctic fulfills the craving for once-in-a-lifetime experiences with towering icebergs, auroras, and wildlife that’s only found in polar regions.
In a recent travel report by Forbes, tourism in the polar regions have seen a 20% annual growth among luxury travelers. In this article, we will discuss why high-end adventurers are heading to the poles.
Luxury Expeditions: A New Travel Trend
Polar travel has now become a new playground for the wealthy ones. After the pandemic many travelers are opting for more open spaces and less crowded destinations that makes polar regions a perfect choice, especially when it is teamed with luxurious and convenient stay with all necessary facilities and experiences.
Think cruises, private yachts, jets, and luxury glamping—all without compromising comfort—and that’s the new world of luxury expeditions in polar regions.
There is an abundance of luxury cruise operators equipped with fine dining with Michelin-starred chefs and private viewing balconies, all this while sailing into the remotest corners of the planet. EYOS luxury Antarctic journey, for instance, offers its guests a rare opportunity to explore Antarctica in a private luxury yacht with every facility you can imagine in a high-end resort.
So What’s Driving the Trend?
To think of it, it’s the “extremes of poles.” Places that were once only accessible to handfuls are now like a badge of honor for those who travel to these extreme locations. Since there is limited accessibility to this part of the world and the really strict conservation rules and regulations, only a certain number of people can actually make it to these places every year, and that scarcity adds to the excitement and adventure.
Rare bucket list: For travelers who like to tick off their bucket list items, the poles are among the top. From watching the northern lights to seeing polar bears or king penguins in the Antarctic, some unforgettable moments are promising enough to give these places the rare bucket list appeal.
Super personalized experiences: You cannot just book your flight and fly the Arctic or Antarctica and explore the region. It’s nothing like a typical travel journey. Everything here has to be customized and personalized, and that’s what wealthy individuals are getting excited about as they crave highly customized travel itineraries. The expeditions include tailor-made experiences from rare penguin sightseeing to helicopters over glaciers and fine dining in the ice caves.
Luxury travel has not just remained an indulgence—it’s also about adding value. With a heavy emphasis on conservation in these places, the expeditions also educate travelers about the region’s sustainability and fragile ecosystem. Understanding the importance of these regions and being part of them becomes more of a philanthropic action for luxury travelers, making them highly interested in polar expeditions.
Best Polar Experiences for Luxury Travelers
Think rugged, remote, and extreme but with world-class amenities: it sounds like the best gateway for your upcoming New Year’s plans, doesn’t it? Luxury expedition cruise companies are creating itineraries that are not just personal but also unforgettable.
If you like to push the boundaries while traveling but still enjoy the finer luxuries of life, here are some remarkable polar experiences waiting at the end of the world.
Glamping in Antarctica
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Why settle for a regular hotel when you can stay in a luxury dome with panoramic views of Antarctica? Imagine waking up to a white planet with nothing but silence inside your cozy lamp. Combine this with thrilling outdoor adventures like sledging, skiing, and just enjoying your coffee blended with the best of the untouched extremes.
Aurora Watching from a Hot Tub
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Luxury lodges in the Arctic offer guests heated outdoor tubs—just to see the northern lights. Enjoy locally sourced fish in the traditional sauna treatment while watching the brightest of the auroras, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Private Safaris
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Expedition companies have started to offer personalized Arctic safaris, including kayaking among the icebergs, observing polar bears, and snorkeling with narwhals in their natural habitat. These private polar safaris can be booked in advance, as they are limited during certain times of the year and to smaller groups. But they are definitely worth the consideration and all the money.
The Future of Luxury Travel in Poles
With the advancement in technology, infrastructure within travel industries, and the rise in demand among people to explore the polar area, polar expeditions will continue to grow even further.
Companies are now focusing on bringing innovative experiences such as wellness retreats with polar themes, cruise underwater exploration (which has attracted the interest of some really influential people in that space), and virtual reality experiences for travelers to give them a glimpse of what they would be experiencing in real life.
Lastly, Why do Poles Matter?
Earth’s polar regions are not only the ultimate travel regions, but their existence plays a significant role in the planet’s environmental balance. With a very sensitive ecosystem, these remote and pristine regions have been untouched for centuries for a reason: because of their fragility. Traveling to these places offers an understanding and deep sense of urgency in conserving these lands.
Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, who is known for his environmental advocacy, joined an Antarctic expedition and described it as “a humbling and transformative experience.” Such travels from influential people have fueled interest in remote polar locations.
Travelers are overwhelmed by transformative experiences such as thunderous cracks of larger-than-life glaciers, beautiful and expansive aurora borealis, and the haunting calls of humpback whales echoing in remote lands.
Experiences like these foster a deeper sense of attachment to nature, inspiring travelers to gain a new perspective and become advocates of conserving these places.
Changes in ocean temperature, ice sheets, and wildlife migrations are signals of growing global warming. Witnessing these movements helps us understand climate science better, and that is why poles matter. Traveling to these regions not only checks off our bucket list but also combines adventure with education and an added sense of appreciation for life and Earth.
A New Era of Travel
As a final thought on this interesting piece on redefined luxury for Poles, these regions undoubtedly represent the pinnacle of a transformative life experience.
Challenging, inspiring, and rewarding- that’s what these polar expeditions are all about.
As the world draws closer, the desire to explore uncharted territories with fewer people will only continue to grow, making Antarctica and the Arctic the ultimate frontrunners in the luxury travel segment.
To conclude, luxury has genuinely been redefined and begins at the ends of the Earth. So, pack your warmest clothes, book the finest cruise, and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime—where the landscapes are otherworldly, the experiences unforgettable, and the stories priceless.
