It’s a cruiser’s favourite time of year: wave season! From now through until March is the chance for travellers to score major savings on cruises and explore the new routes and ships being launched in 2025.
A raft of new itineraries and brand new luxury liners are on offer for those wanting to sail to popular tried and tested waters or to those wanting to discover unusual new destinations off the beaten track.
Vicky Mayer, editor of Cruise and Travel magazine, says there are several major cruising trends to look out for in 2025.
She said: “Ships are either going very big or very small and more exclusive and upmarket.
“There are several new enormous cruise ships launching this year including Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas which will carry 7,600 passengers, has 40 places to eat on board and launches in August.
“These huge new ships are brilliant for inter-generational holidays because there is literally something for everyone to do.
“For those preferring a smaller ship river cruises to Europe or far-flung destinations are a great way to see a lot of places in a short period of time.
“But it is Japan that seems to be the bucket list destination for cruisers in 2025.
“Lots of people are looking to explore Asia because after Covid it was locked down for so long and Japan in particular is especially popular at the moment.”
Vicky says that expedition trips to the poles for that once-in-a-lifetime trip and hybrid sail and rail holidays are also really popular for 2025.
She added: “People travelling a long way are becoming more mindful of sustainability and might want to do more than just the cruise itself while they are there.”
According to Vicky only three per cent of the UK population have actually been on a cruise so read on if you are an armchair traveller new to cruising as here are some of the best new cruise holidays on offer for the first time in 2025.
1. Mystery cruise
Can’t decide where to go? Maybe you’re a first time cruiser or are just looking for something different. Windstar Cruises are launching an eight-day President’s Mystery cruise departing April 19, 2025.
Passengers will be traveling on a round trip from Athens on board the Star Legend, a 312-passenger ship built entirely of suites.
While guests obviously need to know where to embark and disembark, the ports of call on the route are not revealed beforehand.
A spokesperson said: “Each day we’ll reveal the next secret harbour 24 hours prior to arrival.”
However they do offer a small clue: The Star Legend is built to travel through narrower channels and dock at smaller ports a little off the beaten track. Prices start from £3,591pp.
* Book it! www.windstarcruises.com
2. Colombia’s Magdalena River
Amawaterways has just launched its first-of-its-kind itinerary sailing down Colombia’s longest river, departing from both Cartagena and Barranquilla in 2025.
The seven-day fly cruise will explore Colombia’s cultural history with a spotlight on music and food.
As well as the new route, there will be two new ships, the 60-passenger AmaMagdalena and 64-passenger AmaMelodia. Each has 30 staterooms and suites with balconies. Visit the website to request a quote.
* Book it! www.amawaterways.co.uk/
3. Japan and China
Viking Cruises has designed six new itineraries in 2025 called Jewels of Japan and China with sailings starting in September.
On the Viking Yi Dun, a 930-passenger ship, itineraries include immersive onboard experiences and regional cuisine.
There is a 15-day itinerary where cruise-goers make nine stops from Beijing to Tokyo in pursuit of the history, culture and cuisine of the Far East.
Or you can opt for the 20-day Classic China Discovery cruise where passengers are immersed in traditional Chinese customs while sailing the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Prices start from £6690pp.
Book it: www.vikingcruises.co.uk/
4. Africa
Crystal are offering an all new west coast African itinerary from Cape Town in South Africa to Accra in Ghana. It takes in Walvis Bay in Namibia, home to half of the world’s flamingo population during the winter, the rarely visited country of Angola and Africa’s oldest former colonial settlement Sao Tome.
One of the final stops is Cotonou, in Benin, a modern city where traditions such as animism (the belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a spirit) are still part of daily life. Prices start from £5,300pp.
* Book it! www.crystalcruises.com
5. Albania, Croatia and Montenegro
For something a little more glam and a little less busy Variety Cruises is launching seven new European cruises in 2025 aboard its signature small ships.
Their eight-day “Yachting in Albania & Croatia” on board the 34-passenger Callisto stops at Dubrovnik, Korcula and Vis, in Croatia; Kotor, in Montenegro; and Vlore and Durres, in Albania, starting on May 23.
Among the highlights of the cruise are exploring the wine heritage in Korcula at the Bire winery, where you can sample the unique Grk wine dating back to the 5th century AD and learning about hidden Yugoslavian military tunnels in Vis. Prices from £2,340 pp.
* Book it! www.varietycruises.com/
6. Canada
Ponant have lauched a new 13-day cruise from Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to Quebec City for intrepid cruisers to explore the Great White North.
Their Le Commandant Charcot ship is built to withstand and excel in the harsh terrain of the St Lawrence River where passengers will get close encounters with wildlife and a chance to connect with the Inuit and Micmac communities.
It stops at the Magdalen Islands, Gaspé, Sept-Îles and Le Baie and sailings take place in January and February of 2025. Prices from £7,860 pp.
* Book it! us.ponant.com/le-
7. Antarctica
Silversea’s have designed a real bucket list six-day King George Island round trip from November 13 to November 19 2025.
The fly cruise flies guests directly to the southernmost city on Earth, Puerto Williams, from Chile’s capital, Santiago, then on to King George Island in Antarctica.
Guests stay at Silverseas’ 150-passenger hotel in Puerto Williams, opening in late 2025 and overlooking the Beagle Channel, before sailing into to the frozen wilderness.
The route follows the Antarctic Sound to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Prices from £15,800 pp.
* Book it! www.silversea.com/
8. Greek Islands
For travellers looking for something a little more low-key who would prefer to travel in a small group G Adventures is introducing five new purpose-built yachts to its Greek Islands sailing programme for the 2025 season.
The 57-foot vessels, each accommodating 10 passengers, will operate between April and October 2025.
The popular spots can get hugely overcrowded in the summer but G Adventures skippers know the islands’ hidden gems inside and out.
Shoreside excursions will include interacting with and supporting local communities. Among the new routes is a 10-day Santorini to Santorini cruise departing May 2025. Prices from £1439 pp.
* Book it! www.gadventures.com/trips/
9. Florida Coast
American Cruise Lines have two new ships, the 130-passenger American Pioneer and American Patriot to cruise the US East Coast in 2025.
They have also designed a new route along the Sunshine State.
The 15-day Grand Florida Coast & Keys cruise travels from Jacksonville to St Petersburg with he inaugural sailing taking place on October 31.
En-route passengers can explore the antique shop-lined streets of Fernandina Beach, enjoy the sunshine in Key Biscayne and visit the botanical gardens of Punta Gorda. Prices from $13,150 (around £10,705).
Book it! www.americancruiselines.
10. Iceland
For the first-time ever, Celebrity Cruises are offering a mini season of four new seven-night sailings circumnavigating Iceland in July and August 2025 onboard their Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship.
Sailing from Reykjavik, these immersive itineraries enable guests to experience ancient glaciers, breathtaking scenery and hot springs as well as a new port, Djúpivogur, home to the famous black sand beaches and the icebergs of Diamond Beach. Prices from £1,050.
Book it! www.celebritycruises.com/
