Luxury Cruising Editorial

For 25 years, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) has homeported cruise ships at Port Everglades. The company is on course to continue its partnership following the approval of an extension to its Passenger Terminal and Berth User Agreement by the Broward County Board of Commissioners.

Port Everglades Agreement Renewed

The approval extends the user agreement through Sept. 30, 2030, and gives the cruise line a second option term for an additional five years. Port Everglades and Royal Caribbean Group are also exploring facility upgrades for Cruise Terminal 29 to accommodate newer ships across the company’s fleet.

“I thank the County Commissioners for helping us move forward on our commitment to attract and retain customers like Royal Caribbean Group that substantially lift our local economy,” said Joseph Morris, CEO and Port Director of Port Everglades. 

According to an analysis by national maritime economic consultancy Martin Associates, this agreement will boost the local economy to $581.9 million in business revenue annually through increased cruise activity from 2027 to 2030. The port will welcome at least 1.3 million guests annually, and 355 vessel calls each year. It would support 4,095 regional jobs annually, including 1,829 direct local jobs, 1,221 indirect jobs, and 1,046 induced jobs.

Royal Caribbean Group owns three cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, all of which operate at the port. 

Get To Know Port Everglades

Port Everglades offers everything under the sun, from Caribbean cruises to world voyages to fast ferry getaways—all from the vacation paradise of Greater Fort Lauderdale. Its enviable location in the heart of South Florida and the neighboring Caribbean makes it one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world, with nearly 4 million passengers anticipated this cruise season.

Guests enjoy the port’s proximity to three international airports, including the rapidly growing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), less than two miles away. For pre- and post-cruise stays, Port Everglades is a short drive to the sweeping beachfront, a vibrant art scene, world-class restaurants, craft breweries, entertainment, shopping, casinos, and family-friendly activities—including the area’s namesake, the Florida Everglades.

View details on the latest cruise offerings at PortEverglades.net

Cunard has announced that fashion icon Christian Siriano will headline its Transatlantic Fashion Week in 2025.

Christian Siriano has established himself as a tour de force in the fashion world since launching his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

Fashion Icon Christian Siriano

His designs have been worn by global stars such as Lady Gaga, Oprah, Julia Roberts, Michelle Obama, and Kamala Harris. The brand just celebrated its 15th anniversary, and the Siriano Atelier continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in the ever-changing fashion industry.

2025 Transatlantic Fashion Week

Siriano will be the headline designer aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 for the Transatlantic Fashion Week voyage from New York to Southampton between October 31 and November 7.

He will unveil some archival highlights during an exclusive runway show in the Queens Room, joined by an exciting line-up of renowned faces from the world of fashion.

Christian will also share insights from his distinguished career during an intimate Q&A session in the Royal Court Theatre. During the seven-night crossing, guests will have the opportunity to meet him personally at book signings.

The 2025 edition of Transatlantic Fashion Week will be the fifth voyage of its kind. It is a real celebration of the ever-fascinating world of fashion, set amidst the backdrop of Cunard’s stylish flagship.

Additional fashion experts joining the voyage will be announced at a later date. Prices currently start from $2,738 per person based on two sharing a Britannia Balcony stateroom.

Cunard’s Transatlantic Fashion Weeks

Since its inception in 2016, Transatlantic Fashion Week on Queen Mary 2 has been a staple of Cunard’s Event Voyages, conceived by Gail Sackloff OBE. With a rich legacy of glamour and fashion, Cunard has welcomed luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, and Carly Simon. Past headliners of Transatlantic Fashion Week include Dame Zandra Rhodes, Julien Macdonald, Virginia Bates, and Stephen Jones OBE.

In addition to showcasing established designers, the event offers a platform for emerging talent.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “Christian Siriano is a true visionary, and we are delighted to have him lead our 2025 Transatlantic Fashion Week. His bold old-school glamour mirrors Cunard’s own blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury. Our Fashion Week voyages have become must-attend events, attracting celebrated designers from around the world, and there’s no better venue for such an occasion than Queen Mary 2 – the world’s most glamourous ocean liner.”

Christian Siriano added: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be part of Cunard’s iconic Transatlantic Fashion Week and I am excited to headline next year’s voyage. What a unique way to showcase my designs that celebrate both the heritage of fashion as well as its future. I can’t wait to show guests on board a fabulous and once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

For more information about Cunard or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.

Viking® has announced it has taken delivery of the company’s newest ship for the Nile River, the Viking Sobek. The delivery ceremony occurred when the new ship was presented at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt. The 82-guest Viking Sobek joins the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

“We are proud to welcome the Viking Sobek to our award-winning fleet. In our view, these identical sister ships are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Egypt has always been a destination of great interest among our guests, and demand for these voyages continues to be strong. With the arrival of the Viking Sobek, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the country’s rich history and fascinating cultural treasures.” 

The Viking Sobek & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Sobek is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton and the Viking Hathor, the Viking Sobek features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in the Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. Viking plans to welcome four additional ships in the next two years—the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth in 2025 and the Viking Sekhmet and the Viking Ptah in 2026—bringing Viking’s fleet to 10 vessels on the Nile River.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

Highclere Castle, Egypt & Viking

For years, Viking has offered a variety of ways for its guests to experience life at Highclere Castle, which is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the historic estate best known as the filming location of Downton Abbey. George Herbert, the 8^th Earl of Carnarvon, is also the godfather of the Viking Osiris. His great-grandfather, the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon, was the benefactor and co-explorer of Howard Carter, the world’s most famous Egyptologist; together, they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun on November 4, 1922. Among many talents, the 5^th Earl was an avid amateur photographer with an artistic eye for composition.

His photographs are currently at Highclere Castle, stored in photo albums in The Library. They show the process of discovering and excavating the tomb of Tutankhamen and scenes of daily life in Egypt of the period. With kind permission, the Carnarvons have allowed Viking to share this private collection with guests sailing on board the Viking Osiris and her sister ships.

For guests looking to extend their journey in Egypt, Viking also offers pre- and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London, where they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums: first, a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public – and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.

Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 ancient Egypt and Sudan artifacts. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and art—and go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter’s archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Lastly, guests will have further privileged access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, archives, and exhibits that are not ordinarily accessible to the public.

Viking’s Award-Winning Fleet

Viking was rated #1 for Rivers, as well as #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions, by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. This achievement marked the first time a travel company won these three categories in back-to-back years. Viking’s Egypt ships have also been included in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” the last two years. Viking was also named a “Best Luxury River Cruise of 2024” in Forbes’ “Best Luxury Cruises” list. Additionally, TIME magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places” 2023 list, mentioning sailing the Nile River with Viking. TIME notes that Viking is among the very few who stop in both Giza and the village of Sakkara, where excavation sites, like the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.

For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.

Seabourn has announced an exciting program of immersive 2026 itineraries available on Seabourn’s ultra-luxury ocean fleet—Seabourn Ovation, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Quest, and Seabourn Sojourn—which will explore the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska and British Columbia, Japan, and Canada and New England between March and December 2026. The new program will feature more than 200 destinations in almost 40 countries on over 50 distinctive itineraries, including two unique voyages that will feature a chance to view the total solar eclipse occurring on August 12, 2026.

Seabourn’s New 2026 Voyages

The new 2026 Seabourn voyages are now on sale, with dates and full itinerary details available at www.seabourn.com.

With itineraries ranging from seven to 21 days, Seabourn will offer diverse experiences across multiple regions, immersing guests in authentic cultures while visiting a mix of renowned destinations and lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path ports. Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn will sail the Mediterranean from June to November 2026, covering destinations along the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona to Istanbul. Seabourn Ovation will explore the British Isles, Iceland, and the Norwegian Fjords and then cross the Atlantic to Canada & New England. For the first time, Seabourn Encore will spend the entire summer in Alaska, offering seven-day itineraries to explore the Last Frontier, along with sailings in Japan during peak spring blossoms and fall foliage periods. Seabourn Ovation will also offer two additional Southern Caribbean departures between Barbados and St. Maarten in late March 2026.

“Our new 2026 voyages were thoughtfully, well curated with our guests in mind, featuring a great combination of Seabourn all-time favorites along with many new unique experiences,” said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. “With our private, yacht-like atmosphere, a personalized array of guest services, and captivating itineraries featuring boutique ports, there’s no better place to explore the world than on an ultra-luxury Seabourn ship. We invite our guests to join us and experience the best ultra-luxury travel experience at sea while exploring the world.”  

Itinerary highlights from the 2026 season include:

Mediterranean

Guests can experience the private, yacht-like atmosphere of Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn, while exploring boutique ports and sun-washed shores throughout the Mediterranean. The ships will visit 84 destinations across 15 countries, featuring overnight calls on select voyages to St. Tropez, France; Taormina, Italy; and La Joliette in Marseille, France, offering a gateway to the Provence region.

• Seabourn Sojourn will sail to 59 ports in 17 countries during a series of 10-day itineraries to the Western Mediterranean between Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Monte Carlo. On August 7, 2026, the ship’s 10-Day Spanish Gems & Solar Eclipse voyage will depart round-trip from Barcelona and offer a unique opportunity to view the total solar eclipse occurring just before sunset on August 12, 2026, from the waters of the Balearic Sea.

• Seabourn Quest will visit 60 ports across 15 countries, including a maiden call to Ceuta, Spanish Morocco, and sail on a series of seven-day voyages between Dubrovnik, Fusina (Venice), Istanbul, and Athens, visiting beautiful small harbors and islands in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, and Turkey. Each of these voyages can be combined to make 14- or 21-day voyages.

The 2026 program for each ship will be quintessentially Seabourn, with complimentary signature events such as a moving ‘Evening at Ephesus’ at Kuşadası, Turkey, a private concert in ancient ruins under the stars; and ‘Marina Day’ with complimentary water sports, weather dependent and at the captain’s discretion. Select itineraries will feature “Shopping with the Chef,” inviting guests to visit regional markets with Seabourn’s onboard executive chef to see how the freshest ingredients are chosen. This unique experience is available in select destinations, such as Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Valletta, Corfu and more.

Northern Europe – British Isles, Iceland & Norway

Guests can travel off the beaten paths of Norway, Iceland, and the British Isles on board Seabourn Ovation, which will visit more than 70 destinations in 18 countries on voyages ranging from seven to 22 days. From small colorful towns to the historic castles of Scotland to the stunning fjords of Norway, this region offers a rich tapestry of natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Seabourn Ovation will sail on two 14-day departures through majestic fjords to the northernmost tip of Europe, the North Cape, departing May 16 and June 13, 2026. The June 13 departure coincides with Midsummer, celebrating the summer solstice and offering the ideal opportunity to experience the Midnight Sun. Rounding out Seabourn Ovation’s Northern Europe season are several departures of its 14-day Jewels of the British Isles voyages from Dover (London), which will include a combination of top destinations such as Belfast and Edinburgh with smaller gems like Oban, Scotland and Fishguard, Wales.

The award-winning ship will also sail a 14-day West Ireland Gems & Solar Eclipse voyage, departing on August 8, 2026, from Dover (London), England, to Reykjavik, Iceland. The ship will visit unique ports in Western Ireland, including Galway and Killybegs, and position itself off the coast of Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean to view the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The voyage will also feature a special Seabourn Conversations program with Jane A Green, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, to educate guests about the solar eclipse.

Following the special eclipse voyage, Seabourn Ovation will depart on August 22, 2026, for a 22-Day Fire & Ice Passage from Iceland to Greenland and Atlantic Canada, reaching New York City in time for the fall colors in the northeast coast of North America.

Japan, Asia & North Pacific Crossings

Across the other side of the globe, Seabourn Encore will visit 30 destinations across six countries on seven itineraries between March and September 2026. Seabourn Encore will sail on her first season through Japan at the height of spring flowers and cherry blossom seasonal festivities, offering three 14-day roundtrip voyages from Yokohama (Tokyo), featuring overnight stays in Kobe, Maizuru, or Nagasaki. Starting in October 2026, three 12-day voyages between Yokohama (Tokyo) and Osaka will highlight the vibrant autumn foliage of both Japan and South Korea. These itineraries also include maiden calls to Sokcho in South Korea, and Beppu, Hososhima, and Toba in Japan, along with exclusive “Shopping with the Chef” experiences in select ports. Additionally, Seabourn Encore will offer 18- and 21-day Pacific Passage voyages between Japan and Alaska in April and September 2026.

Alaska & British Columbia

Seabourn Encore will reach the pristine waterways of the “Great Land” in summer 2026, marking its maiden arrival to Alaska & British Columbia. The 2026 Alaska program features 27 departures ranging from seven to 15 days, sailing from Vancouver or Juneau, Alaska, between May and September. These curated itineraries offer unique, smaller port experiences that showcase wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and the cultural traditions of the region. The ship will visit 17 destinations, including Sitka, Wrangell, Klawock, the Inian Islands, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park, and Misty Fjords National Monument in Alaska, as well as Alert Bay and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.

For a deeper and richer experience, guests may choose from a number of immersive experiences through Seabourn’s popular and unique Ventures by Seabourn program, featuring optional guided kayak and Zodiac tours led by the line’s world-class expedition team. In addition, guests sailing on a Seabourn Alaska voyage will receive a complimentary Helly Hansen all-weather jacket. On board Seabourn Encore, guests can expect the same intimate, small-ship experience, enhanced by exclusive amenities such as verandas in every suite, access to The Retreat—Seabourn’s private sanctuary on deck 12—Seabourn’s Sushi restaurant, and outdoor seating at Solis, the line’s newest fine-dining restaurant.

Canada & New England

After its Northern Europe season, Seabourn Ovation will set sail for Canada and New England, arriving in time to enjoy the majestic fall foliage landscapes, as the region transforms into a stunning world of crimson and gold. Guests will explore charming cosmopolitan cities, colonial landmarks, and picturesque villages in signature Seabourn style.

Seabourn Ovation will sail the St. Lawrence River for the first time, offering five departures between September and October 2026, featuring charming coastal communities, quintessential Quebecois towns, and overnight stays. These include three 12-day Canada & New England Fall Foliage cruises between Montreal and New York, featuring two full days in Quebec City and a stop in Bar Harbor, Maine; a 12-day Newfoundland & Gulf of St. Lawrence cruise with an overnight in St. John’s, Newfoundland; and a 13-day Atlantic Coast voyage from Montreal to Miami, with an overnight in Boston, Massachusetts.

For more details about Seabourn’s 2026 ultra-luxury itineraries or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391, visit www.seabourn.com or contact a professional travel advisor.