Posts in category: Diplomacy

Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, is expanding its cruises in Asia with new two- to 15-day sailings on Voyager of the Seas that will depart from October 2027 through April 2028.

Cruises will leave from Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong and visit destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and South Korea.

The new cruises are part of Royal Caribbean’s largest Asia Pacific season ever.

Sailings on Voyager of the Seas

From October to December 2027, Voyager of the Seas will sail from Brisbane on cruises ranging from two to seven nights, including South Pacific sailings to Mystery Island, Port Vila; Luganville, Vanuatu; and Noumea, New Caledonia, before a two-night coastal repositioning down to Sydney.

Voyager of the Seas departures from Sydney include a brand-new 10-night Christmas sailing across the majestic fjords and iconic landscapes of New Zealand, visiting Picton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Milford Sound.

A five-night cruise will start in Singapore and visit Ho Chi Minh City (Phuoc An), Vietnam, before arriving in Hong Kong, pairing two of Asia’s most dynamic cities with time to discover Vietnam’s vibrant dining culture.

For Chinese New Year getaways from Hong Kong, four- and five-night cruises visit Ishigaki and Okinawa, Japan. Select holidays include an overnight stay in Okinawa, giving vacationers more time to take in the island’s turquoise waters, local flavours and distinct Ryukyu culture.

For China and Southeast Asia discoveries, departures from Hong Kong will visit Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, where cruisers can explore the lively city known for its night markets and food scene. Guests can also visit Hue/Danang (Chan May), Vietnam, a gateway to ancient imperial heritage, coastal landscapes and central Vietnamese cuisine.

Ben Bouldin, President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia, Royal Caribbean, gave the following statement:

“Asia is home to remarkable destinations, flavors and cultures the world over wants to experience. Even more vacationers can discover the region in the way that best suits them – whether that’s sharing a quick getaway with family and friends or setting out on a longer journey discovering new destinations.

“This season brings the best of Asia closer to adventurers everywhere. We are especially delighted to offer more holidays in the region than ever before on a ship already loved by guests in Asia.”

These new cruises on Voyager of the Seas opened for bookings on August 26, 2026.

Looking for a cruise line that provides a relaxed and calm atmosphere rather than a scene straight out of a theme park? We’ve got you covered with this list of the six most relaxing cruise lines for vacationers who want a break from noise and chaos while they explore the world on a cruise getaway.

Despite what you might have seen during a cruise commercial on TV, not every cruise ship is full of water slides, zip lines, and amenities built for thrill-seekers. Some cruise lines specialize in catering to guests who want a break from the hustle and bustle back home. And not everyone wants a party cruise.

This is for cruisers who don’t need the go-kart tracks of Norwegian Cruise Line, the sky-diving simulators of Royal Caribbean, or the roller coasters on the Excel-class ships of Carnival Cruise Lome.

Besides the cruise line, certain ships within a fleet will help you have a more relaxed vacation as well. Whether you want a covered pool area, a cozy library with a view, or a lounge that overlooks the ocean, each of these cruise lines below has ships that cater to the serenity-seeking traveler.

6 Best Cruise Lines for a Relaxing Cruise

Holland America Line

All of my cruises with Holland America have been perfectly peaceful and offered relaxing spaces in all kinds of areas on the ship. Both the smaller R-class ships and the sleek Vista-class ships have a unique charm, and their more moderate size still appeals to cruisers who want a calmer onboard feel. The newer Pinnacle-class ships also bring a polished atmosphere, along with great spa spaces and plenty of spots to unwind.

You will also find some of the best libraries at sea on Holland America ships, as many loyal cruisers to the line are avid readers and love a quiet place to read a book. The retractable roofs over the pool, wide promenade decks, and comfortable chairs for reading or enjoying a nice conversation provide the perfect atmosphere of peace and quiet.

You won’t find loud music blaring on the lido deck here, and there are great lounges like the Explorer’s Lounge that are quiet during the day and have classical music in the evenings.

Of the three first cruise lines listed here, this one will have the least number of kids running around. If you want a totally kid-free cruise, you can read about Viking below or look into Virgin Voyages as well.

Princess Cruises

If muted background music and quiet aft pools surrounded by several tiers of loungers with an ocean view sound relaxing to you, Princess Cruises would be a great pick as well. Personally, I really like the Grand-class ships, with the likes of Grand Princess and Caribbean Princess offering some of the most unique aft pools and designs.

But there’s something timeless and serene about Royal-class ships within the fleet, with some of the most beautiful atriums you will find at sea and a luxurious thermal suite known as The Enclave.

Princess Cruises offers various quiet and secluded areas onboard, providing passengers with opportunities to escape. The Sanctuary is an adults-only pool and sun deck, a tranquil oasis removed from the bustling main pool deck, and it also happens to have the most plush loungers on the ship.

The Conservatory is perfect for relaxation and reading. This enclosed top-deck area features hot tubs, a freshwater pool, a poolside shower, and plenty of comfy loungers.

Princess has also continued rolling out new 2026-2028 itineraries, so there are still plenty of current options to pair that relaxed onboard feel with a great destination.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity really stepped up their game with the innovative Edge-class ships, but I still love Solstice-class ships for a relaxing vacation and plenty of places to enjoy peace and quiet. After sailing on some of the older ships like Constellation and Infinity, I can still see how these classic ships remain favorites with loyal Celebrity cruisers.

Rooftop Garden or Lawn Club offers great top-deck ocean views in a quiet, organic setting. And luxurious spas with scented saunas can be found on a variety of Celebrity cruise ships.

Celebrity’s 2026 and 2027 sailings continue to lean into the premium, destination-focused feel the brand is known for, which makes it a strong choice for cruisers who want a calmer vacation without going fully luxury.

I also love the winding walking track on Edge-class ships, along with elegantly designed pools and hot tubs.

The three cruise lines above are considered premium mainstream cruise lines and offer ships not quite as small and quiet as the next three on our list. While the above cruise lines are more budget-friendly, the three below offer an almost all-inclusive cruise on small ships.

Oceania Cruises

Besides claiming to have some of the finest cuisine at sea, Oceania Cruises provides a cruise experience that is a level above a premium cruise line. And yes, it’s a true culinary experience just being on an Oceania ship. You can even take first-class cooking lessons on board.

There are several exquisite restaurants with open seating and no surcharge, including an Italian restaurant, steakhouse, and a popular Asian restaurant at Red Ginger. Oceania’s current fleet now includes the elegant Marina and Riviera, the newer Vista, and the newest ship, Allura, which helps reinforce the line’s upscale, calm, and food-focused experience.

For many cruisers, the best place to find relaxation is in their own stateroom. Oceania’s veranda staterooms give you plenty of space, and the newer ships bring a more refined and spacious feel that suits a quiet cruise very well.

The design, décor, and elegance of an Oceania ship are immediately felt on board. Whether you visit the Aquamar Spa or a spacious library on the ship, you will find plenty of opportunities to unwind.

Azamara

Not only does Azamara sail to some of the most exotic destinations in the world, like Croatia, Venice, and Bali, it also provides a relaxing cruise experience on its intimate fleet of small ships.

Most cruise lines only give you 6 to 7 hours to enjoy a port of call before the ship sets sail again. Azamara focuses more on the actual destination and will often stay in ports overnight or until late at night, and that extra time makes for a less stressful and more enjoyable experience.

Azamara has also continued to emphasize overnight stays and longer destination time, which is exactly the kind of detail that appeals to relaxed travelers.

Things like gratuities, many beverages, room service, and self-service laundry are included in the fare price, but excursions and Wi-Fi will cost extra.

Whether it’s White Night on the ship or the “Azamazing” Evening in a port of call, Azamara offers a great blend of relaxation and cultural immersion. Here are 7 reasons to take a cruise with Azamara.

Viking

While Viking offers river cruises and expedition cruises as well, I will refer to their ocean ships here. The simple elegance and decidedly Norwegian design of a Viking ocean ship is calming and relaxing in itself.

From the heated and covered pools to the amazing thermal suites, to the quiet but refreshing Wintergarden at teatime, Viking ships have so many quiet and comfy places to enjoy the views that I cannot list them all here.

With at least one shore excursion included in your cruise fare, you can enjoy a day exploring a port, but sea days on a Viking ship are my favorite.

The Explorer’s Lounge at the front of the ship offers a couple of decks to relax, read a book, or listen to some live classical music played by an onboard pianist, and you will get some of the best views while staying warm in this part of the vessel. All of Viking’s ocean ships are practically identical as well, so once you’re back on board, you feel like you’re right at home.

Some of the most relaxing cruises I’ve ever taken were on a Viking ship, and just writing this makes me want to sail with the cruise line again very soon.

This is an adult-only cruise line, so if your version of peace and quiet involves a kid-free environment, this is the cruise for you. Viking continues to be one of the clearest choices for travelers who want an adults-only ship with a calm, understated feel.

All-inclusive cruise lines for a relaxing cruise

For the ultimate cruise getaway, you can opt for a luxury cruise line. These cruise lines are all-inclusive and cost a lot more, but the peace of mind of knowing that everything is paid for and you don’t keep getting nickel-and-dimed for every amenity is worth it to some.

Just remember, if you are paying for an all-inclusive experience but will not be using all of those inclusions, you might be better off paying a la carte with another line.

Some of the most relaxing experiences you can find with an all-inclusive cruise line include Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, and Crystal Cruises, which is now back up and running. One of Crystal Cruises’ ships is even called Crystal Serenity, and it’s that serene ambiance the company strives to provide on every sailing. You can see our 7 favorite all-inclusive cruise lines here.

Final Thoughts

People cruise for different reasons. And there’s a cruise line and ship for just about every type of traveler. But if you want your cruise experience to be a relaxing one (stress-free and quiet), you can’t go wrong with one of the selections mentioned above.

Also, the cruise itinerary itself will make a big impact on how relaxing a cruise is. Sometimes a port-intensive cruise can be exhausting, even though you can create some great memories and see amazing sites. That’s one thing about river cruises. They are an absolute blast, but with two excursions a day and a port to visit every day, it can wear you out quickly.

If you’re retired and on a budget, there are some great Holland America itineraries on some of their older ships that are still very affordable. And if you can afford to check out a Viking or Oceania cruise, I think you will find it one of the most relaxing and yet inspiring trips you will ever take.

Holland America Line has opened its 2028 Alaska season for bookings, and the cruise line will have six ships sailing to the 49th state. This includes rare cruises that will visit somewhere Holland America has never before visited.

The 2028 Alaska season from Holland America Line will have sailings ranging from seven to 18 days in length. Ships will sail roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver, and one-way from Vancouver and Whittier.

The cruise line will also offer a new 11-day cruise from San Diego to Vancouver.

The following six Holland America ships will sail to Alaska in 2028:

• Oosterdam
• Noordam
• Eurodam
• Koningsdam
• Westerdam
• Zaandam

For the first time, Holland America will offer scenic cruising through Nootka Sound on select Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest itineraries.

Read: Reasons to Cruise to Alaska with Holland America Line

Oosterdam will also serve as the primary cruise ship for Holland America Line’s Alaska Cruisetours, allowing guests to seamlessly pair their cruise with overland exploration into Denali and the Yukon. The ship will be the first to receive a massive transformation that’s part of Holland America Evolution.

Details and availability for 2028 Cruisetours will be announced at a later date, while 2027 Alaska Cruisetours are available for booking now.

Itinerary highlights for this 2028 Alaska season from Holland America Line include:

• NEW: 11-Day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers
• 14-Day Great Alaska Explorer
• 18-Day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer
• NEW: 16-Day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer
• 7-Day Glacier Discovery
• 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage
• 7-Day Alaska Explorer

Holland America Line has been sailing to Alaska for over 80 years and offers more than 200 shore excursions, iconic glacier visits, Destination Dining, and destination expertise with onboard experts and National Park Service Rangers.

Paul Grigsby, vice president of revenue planning and deployment for Holland America Line, gave the following statement:

“What has always set Holland America Line apart in Alaska is our ability to combine the iconic experiences guests dream about with opportunities to see the destination in ways they haven’t before. Our 2028 season reflects that approach, pairing the Alaska highlights guests expect with a collection of distinctive experiences, from rare itineraries and lesser-traveled waterways to new ways of enjoying the journey on board. It’s a season designed to give guests an even deeper connection to Alaska.”

“Alaska’s scenery is already unforgettable, and Oosterdam will give guests even more ways to experience it. From taking in the mountains and glaciers from a new Bridgeview Suite to pairing a cruise with an unforgettable journey into Denali and the Yukon, Oosterdam will offer guests new ways to connect with Alaska both on board and ashore.”

Princess Cruises has updated select itineraries to the Caribbean that now include a visit to the private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, beginning in November 2026.

Half Moon Cay is currently visited by sister cruise lines Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival recently opened a pier on their side of the island that allows two ships to visit each day.

Starting in November, select Princess sailings to the Caribbean will now stop at the island. Some of the Princess ships that visit will use the pier, while others will anchor offshore and use tenders to bring guests to the island.

Six Princess cruise ships are currently scheduled to visit Half Moon Cay. They are:

• Enchanted Princess
• Caribbean Princess
• Sun Princess
• Coral Princess
• Regal Princess
• Sky Princess

Princess guests will be able to use their Princess Plus and Premier packages while visiting Half Moon Cay. However, beverage packages will be honored only on the same side of the island that the ship visits.

For instance, if the ship docks on Carnival’s side with the pier, only that side of the island will honor the drink packages. And if a ship has to anchor and use tenders, the drink packages will only be honored on Holland America’s side of the island.

Shore excursions and experiences will open for Princess sailings that visit Half Moon Cay in the near future.

Complimentary lunch will be offered on the island. Each beach grill at Half Moon Cay has gluten-free, vegetarian, and nut-free offerings for those with allergies or dietary preferences.

Guests with an active onboard internet plan can enjoy seamless complimentary Wi-Fi access at Half Moon Cay, just as they do onboard the ship.

For those without a plan, 24-hour internet packages are available for purchase onboard the ship, not on the island. Even without an internet plan, the Princess app will remain accessible.

Princess Cruises gave the following description of Half Moon Cay:

“Consistently ranked among the Caribbean’s most beloved private island destinations, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay offers guests an idyllic beach escape featuring powder-soft white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, exciting shore experiences, and opportunities to relax in a truly breathtaking setting. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities, from horseback riding along the beach and water sports to private cabanas and beachside dining, creating unforgettable vacation memories in the Bahamas.”

Galveston, Texas is already home to cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. And soon, another cruise line will be added to that list: Margaritaville at Sea.

It’s been full steam ahead for Galveston lately. The cruise port recently announced a fifth cruise terminal and has been attracting the latest and largest cruise ships. With yet another cruise line for local residents to choose from, the Texas port is going head-to-head with some of the Florida powerhouses.

In a recent news report from the Port of Galveston, the board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a brand-new operating agreement with Margaritaville at Sea.

Starting in October 2027, the cruise line will begin operating year-round, weekly Friday departures out of Cruise Terminal 28.

This makes Margaritaville at Sea the seventh major cruise line to homeport in Galveston.

Galveston Is on the Move

It’s no secret that Galveston has been growing at an incredible pace. I saw this firsthand at the last terminal grand opening and for the debut of MSC Seascape back in November 2025. This marked MSC Cruises first time calling Galveston home to one of their ships.

Here are a few accolades the port has racked up lately:

• #4 Busiest US Cruise Port: Galveston ranks as the fourth-largest cruise homeport in the entire United States.
• 3.9 Million Passenger Movements: The port expects a record 3.9 million passenger movements and 446 sailings this year alone.
• 7 Major Cruise Brands: Margaritaville joins Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian, Disney, Princess, and MSC.

Which Ship is Coming?

Of course, the big question is “Which ship is coming”? Right now, those details are still under wraps.

While Margaritaville at Sea and Port Galveston officials are holding back the exact ship name until a joint announcement event in September, we can take a look at the existing ships in the fleet.

If you’ve followed the line’s history, you know that Margaritaville at Sea hasn’t built brand-new ships from scratch. Instead, their fleet is comprised of classic, beautifully updated former Costa Cruises cruise ships that undergo multi-million-dollar transformations.

Here is how the fleet breaks down by size and scale:

• Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (formerly Costa Classica, 1991):
  • Size & Capacity: 52,926 gross tons | 1,680 passengers
• Margaritaville at Sea Islander (formerly Costa Atlantica, 2000):
  • Size & Capacity: 85,619 gross tons | 2,650 passengers
• Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber (formerly Costa Fortuna, 2003):
  • Size & Capacity: 102,669 gross tons | 3,470 passengers

What Should Galveston Cruisers Expect?

Whichever ship is sent to Galveston in October 2027, Texas cruisers are in for a unique experience compared to the other cruise lines.

Margaritaville at Sea brings a totally different vibe to the other ships that call Galveston home.

Rodger Rees, Port Director and CEO of Port Galveston, put it this way when speaking about the news:

“This agreement represents a fantastic win for the Port of Galveston and our community. Margaritaville at Sea offers a distinct, fun-filled, laid-back brand of cruising that will resonate hugely with vacationers across Texas and the surrounding region.”

Cruise Fever has sailed with the cruise line several times, and we’ve always been impressed at the incredible value Margaritaville offers. We also grabbed one of the best steaks we’ve had at sea on one of their ships.

The 7-day Friday-to-Friday schedules out of Galveston will offer Western Caribbean and Central America itineraries, and again, it’s another option for local residents to choose from.