Ditch the cruise control: four fresh ways to shake up your next sailing
Plot a new course
If your cruise goal is to sail to the tropics and immerse yourself in the sun and surf, there are ample great choices out there. And you are likely to have a favorite line because you feel you know what to expect from a particular cruise line, but don't let that keep you in a cruise rut. If you're a fan of beaches and crystal-blue water, think about visiting a port in the Caribbean you haven't already been to. Some cruise ships have varying itineraries, so a bit of research on your end can facilitate a visit to a new island stop. For example, there are Southern Caribbean itineraries on Celebrity Cruises that visit Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Bonaire, and Curacao. These ports could be new ones you haven't experienced.
Sail into a new season
If your cruise plans are to escape the winter season and visit sunny and warm destinations, you could be repeating the same trip every year. If you are a fan of cruising due to its ease of travel, consider swapping the time of year for your next cruise. For example, consider a summer cruise to Alaska or Iceland. Many of these high-demand sailings book up a year in advance, so consider booking your stateroom for next summer now. Winning picks include Crystal Cruises to majestic Alaska and Viking Ocean in Iceland, which offers an Iceland's Natural Beauty itinerary featuring an included shore excursion in each port.
Think beyond the buffet
There's no shortage of food on cruise ships, and that's what makes a cruise so much fun and value-based. These impressive buffets serve breakfast, lunch and dinner—and sometimes bonus meals—to guests and the menu and selections are well-curated and bountiful. Additionally, your ship's main dining rooms offer sit-down table service, changing menus and attentive staff that make you feel like you're truly on vacation. Additionally, some cruise lines offer included themed venues and poolside grills, as well as additional complimentary options.
Consider elevating your dining experience. Most cruise lines now offer specialty dining restaurants that elevate your cruise experience. These will come at a cost. During your next cruise, it could be a treat to pay extra for a visit to a specialty venue or two for gourmet meals or top-tier service. My favorite specialty dining picks include Cagney's Steakhouse on Norwegian Cruise Line, Eden Restaurant on Celebrity Cruises and Pinnacle Grill on Holland American Line. Splurge on a specialty dining venue on your next cruise, you'll be glad you did.
Trade sea views for river vibes
Whether you enjoy the unpack-once convenience of a cruise or the concept of using a cruise ship as your floating hotel, you can expand your vacation options by trying a new mode of cruise travel. For example, river cruise vacations can open new sailing opportunities. For example, river cruise itineraries sail on calm rivers in Europe, offering city-based excursions that provide up-close culture, history, and culinary immersion. Viking River Cruise offers several good choices in the Danube, Rhine and other rivers. Other river cruise carriers, such as Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, offer themed cruises, including Christmas Market sailings to various European cities. Standout choices on Uniworld include the Belgian Holiday Markets and Magical Parisian Holiday, which offer cruise guests the gift of visiting various Christmas markets to experience the enchanting holiday season abroad.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
2 days ago
- Time Out
These NYC hotel restaurants are officially among the best in the country
New Yorkers don't always think of hotel restaurants as go-to dining destinations, but that's changing fast. According to a new list from OpenTable and Kayak, hotel dining is having a moment, and two NYC spots just made the cut on the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America: The Whitby Bar & Restaurant and Zou Zou's. The announcement comes amid a broader cultural shift: travelers—and locals—are seeking out hotels not just for a place to crash, but for what's on the menu. OpenTable and Kayak's joint data shows a 51% year-over-year spike in the use of KAYAK's 'restaurant' hotel filter, while nearly half of Americans (47%) admit to booking a trip specifically to visit a restaurant. Forget room service; it's all about the food. Representing New York on the list, The Whitby Bar & Restaurant, tucked inside Firmdale's Whitby Hotel in Midtown, blends British flair with downtown energy—its colorful interiors and refined comfort food have long drawn a fashion-meets-finance crowd. Meanwhile, Zou Zou's, the lively Eastern Mediterranean restaurant at the Pendry Manhattan West, is a scene-stealer with wood-fired meats, smoky spreads and one of the city's prettiest dining rooms. 'Hotel restaurants have become formidable players over the years,' said OpenTable's Scott Hudson. 'Many are equally as popular among locals too.' The numbers back it up—38% of survey respondents said they've booked a hotel stay specifically for the restaurant, and 73% said they'd return because of a great dining experience. The full Top 100 includes Michelin-starred legends (like Addison in San Diego), scene-y rooftops (hello, The Roof at Esmé in Miami Beach) and quiet countryside gems (looking at you, Castle Hill in Newport). But the common thread? These spots make the hotel the destination, not just a backdrop. As for the NYC food scene, don't sleep on hotel dining. You might just find your next favorite meal hidden behind a concierge desk. And if you're booking a stay? Maybe check the dinner menu before you check in.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
At least 25 injured on Delta Air Lines flight to Amsterdam as jet hits violent turbulence & makes emergency landing
The flight was operating on an Airbus A33-900 FLIGHT HELL At least 25 injured on Delta Air Lines flight to Amsterdam as jet hits violent turbulence & makes emergency landing Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AT least 25 people were injured when a Delta Air Lines flight to Amsterdam made an emergency landing after violent turbulence. The flight with 275 passengers and 13 crew members on board was forced to divert to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Footage showed emergency responders arriving at the tarmac to take those injured to the hospital Credit: X 2 The Delta Air Lines flight took off from Salt Lake City, Utah and was headed to Europe (file picture) Credit: Getty The airlines said that 25 of those injured were rushed to the hospital "for evaluation and care." The Air A33-900 took off from Salt Lake City, Utah and was headed to Europe. But shortly after taking off, the plane is said to have experienced major turbulence that forced the pilots to axe the flight and return to the ground. Footage showed emergency responders arriving at the tarmac to take those injured to the hospital. A spokesman said: "Delta flight DL56 - flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam - diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Wednesday after the flight encountered significant turbulence while en route. "The aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, landed safely at MSP, and medical personnel met the flight upon arrival to evaluate customers and crew. "Twenty-five of those on board were transported to local hospitals for evaluation and care. "We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved. Safety is our number one value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs." It comes as another Delta Air Lines flight packed with 150 passengers narrowly avoided a runway disaster after another plane nearly landed right on top of it just before takeoff. The flight was forced to abort takeoff seconds before the other plane landed directly in front of it. Delta Flight 590 was rolling out of Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez in Mexico City to Atlanta when AeroMéxico Connect flight 1631 flew over the plane less than 200 feet away on Monday. As the flight was preparing for takeoff, the crew saw another plane landing on the same runway, CNN reported. The jet then landed in front of the Delta flight. After the near-crash, the plane turned back around to the terminal. The near-crash comes after months of frightening flight incidents popping up across the globe. In January, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., killing everyone on board. US on edge over 'cluster' of plane crashes A SERIES of devastating plane crashes, including the mid-air collision above DC that killed 67, has left Americans terrified of traveling by air. However, aviation expert and attorney Jason Matzus told The U.S. Sun the crashes can be attributed to "random clustering." "While these events are tragic, the likely explanation is simply 'random clustering,' which occurs when multiple crashes occur over a short period, warping our general perception and causing us to think that there is an increasing trend in plane crashes," Matzus said. "When in reality these crashes, despite being so close together, are merely coincidental and not caused by a systemic safety issue." The short period Matzus referred to was just a matter of three weeks. The aviation mishaps included: January 29 - A military helicopter and American Airlines plane collided at the Washington DC airport, killing 67 people January 31 - An air ambulance carrying a 6-year-old girl and her mom crashed on a street in Philadelphia, killing seven people in total February 5 - A Japan Airlines flight hit a parked Delta plane at Seattle SeaTac Airport and no one was injured February 6 - A small commuter plane on its way to Nome, Alaska, crashed killing all 10 people on board February 10 - Motley Crue singer Vince Neil's private jet collided with another plane, killing the pilot and injuring four others February 17 - A Delta plane crashed on the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport, miraculously killing no one but injuring 21 February 19 - Two planes collided at Marana Airport in Arizona, killing two people February 24 - Smoke filled a Delta Airlines flight cabin forcing passengers to evacuate by a slide after making an emergency landing in Atlanta March 9 - A Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft crashed into a retirement village parking lot in Manheim, Pennsylvania March 13 - An American Airlines jet engine erupted into flames at the Denver airport, forcing passengers to escape onto the plane's wing More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Mum's holiday fury as Italian seaside town 'shoulder to shoulder' with tourists
Regina Simmons complained Positano, Italy, was full of tourists - and far from the portrayal on social media of a town with "calm empty streets" and "amazing views" A holidaymaker has described her "complete chaos" trip to an Italian seaside town which she said was "shoulder to shoulder" with tourists. Regina Simmons, 38, was excited to visit Positano, Italy, after seeing "amazing views" and "calm empty streets" in photographs and videos on social media, including TikTok. After the mother of two had flown 10 hours from her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, she and her family were disappointed with the historic town on the Amalfi Coast. Regina said: "In the videos, you see everything looks completely empty and calm. In real life there were far too many people. It was just bananas... We were overwhelmed by the amount of people. We had to look for a restaurant to hide in and make a game plan." Her experience comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain. Regina, her husband Dan Simmons, 46, and their daughters Sofia, 16 and 13-year-old Camila also visited Rome and other tourist hotspots during their time in Italy last month. After watching TikTok clips, Regina anticipated "amazing views" along with "calm empty streets" and "locals buying fresh vegetables from the markets". But they encountered difficulties from the moment they arrived at the train station - which Regina described as "like a horror movie" - because of the sheer volume of tourists. It was something Regina, the owner of a chain of restaurants, had not expected. "Positano is all these tight little streets and everyone is walking together. Half the people are going up and half are going down. It was complete chaos. Everyone was touching, shoulder to shoulder," the mum continued. "There are hundreds of beautiful videos of Positano which inspire you to go. This year feels very trendy - lots of my American friends are travelling to Italy this year." Regina and Dan, who are from Las Vegas, imagined serene streets, peaceful local markets of fresh produce and hidden-away eateries. When they did see a charming shop, they found the walkways too crowded to stop and browse. Regina, who had stayed at a hotel in Sorrento and ventured east to Positano for a day trip, said: "We found everything was in English and there were Americans everywhere. I actually took Italian classes, and I never needed to use it." If they return to Europe for a holiday, the couple say they will look at other countries. Mum-of-two Regina continued: "If it's trendy on social media, everyone wants to do what everyone else is doing, Myself included... Don't believe everything you see on social media."
