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These ocean cruises should be on your 2025 bucket list

International Traveller
Sailing the high seas offers easy access to incredible destinations from Japan to the Caribbean.

Alaska with Holland America Line

Combine your Alaska cruise onboard Holland America Line with a journey into Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon Territory as part of its 2026 Cruise tour offering. Eighteen itineraries can be combined with an overland journey, giving guests more access to the region’s glaciers, wildlife and expansive landscapes with incredible accommodation such as Holland America Denali Lodge (formerly McKinley Chalet) boasting breathtaking national park views. 

Queen Anne makes a grand entrance into Southampton in this stunning aerial shot, a highlight of ocean cruises 2025.
Cunard’s Queen Anne arrives in Southampton.

World Voyage III with Viking

Eighty days isn’t enough. Taking in 41 countries, with overnight stays in 18 cities and a whopping 82 guided tours, Viking’s 170-day World Voyage III onboard Viking Sky is an epic once-in-a-lifetime journey. It combines some of the world’s most iconic cities from Sydney to London, with lesser-visited destinations, such as Zanzibar, Casablanca and Ghana, with privileged access to institutions on the ground and cultural enrichment onboard. 

The Wintergarden is a serene, beautiful space where afternoon tea is served, and it can also be used for craft groups or simply relaxing.
Enjoy quiet moments and afternoon tea in the Wintergarden.

Asia with Norwegian Cruise Line

Whether you are longing to see cherry-blossom season in Japan, want to cruise through Vietnam’s breathtaking Halong Bay or experience the vibrant cities of South Korea, Norwegian Cruise Line’s upcoming Asia Pacific season will have an itinerary that will tick the boxes. Until April 2027, four of its ships will cruise across the region – with Norwegian Jade making her Asian debut – offering a choice of seven departure ports and more than 50 itineraries. 

Iconic Arabia with Celestyal Cruises

Hot on the heels of its debut Arabian Gulf season, Celestyal Cruises has refreshed its itineraries for the 2025 season, kicking off in December. The Iconic Arabia sailings feature enthralling new destinations such as Ras Al Khaimah, a site of continuous human habitation for 7000 years that dates back to the Neolithic period. Other ports of call include Sir Bani Yas Island, a salt dome island created millions of years ago, now home to a diverse array of wildlife. 

The Celestyal Iconic Arabia Abu Dhabi, one of the must-try ocean cruises 2025, offering an unforgettable journey through the Arabian Gulf.
Explore captivating new destinations like Ras Al Khaimah and Sir Bani Yas Island. (Image: Felicity Millward)

Japan with Windstar Cruises

Off the back of unprecedented demand, luxury small-ship operator Windstar Cruises has opened its 2027 Japan bookings earlier than planned. Its popular 10-night Grand Japan itinerary includes scenic cruising in the Inland Sea, the abandoned island of Hashima and smaller, but fascinating ports such as Takamatsu and Karatsu.  

The Med with MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has opened bookings for its next World Class ship, MSC World Asia. Launching in the Mediterranean from December 2026, the 6758-guest ship will feature more than 40 restaurants and bars, seven pools, 13 hot tubs and an expansive wellness centre. It will operate seven-night itineraries calling at ports such as Barcelona to Valletta. Meanwhile, ‘coolcations’ are heating up as travellers are increasingly seeking out wintry wonderlands. Great timing, as MSC is set to launch its first sailing to Alaska in 2026. 

The MSC Poesia Deck offers a blend of elegance and relaxation, featuring spacious sun decks, sparkling pools, and panoramic ocean views.
Relax on the MSC Poesia Deck and enjoy breathtaking ocean views.

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.