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The ocean cruises worth travelling for in 2027 and 2028

Imogen Eveson Imogen Eveson
Ocean cruising remains a favourite way to travel, with new experiences breathing fresh life into classic destinations while a broader map opens up lesser-known ports and places.

There’s nothing quite like cruising the Mediterranean and waking up to a new sun-baked coastline each morning. The chance to tick off multiple destinations on one trip is the biggest lure for cruisers worldwide, according to the 2026 State of the Cruise Industry Report by Cruise Lines International Association’s. Here are the ocean cruises and experiences that need to be on your radar for the seasons ahead.

Explore Japan with Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice ship
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice ship has undergone major refurbishments ahead of the upcoming season. (Credit: Celebrity/Michel Verdure)

While one in six global cruise passengers sailed the Mediterranean in 2025, Asia has seen an almost 20 per cent increase as a cruise destination. Celebrity Cruises has announced a full season onboard the renewed Celebrity Solstice dedicated to exploring the one country Australians can’t get enough of right now. Sailing Japan from April to October 2028, the ship will give guests the chance to get tangled up in the streets of Tokyo, enjoy overnight stays in Kyoto and Aomori, and experience cultural festivals like Gion Matsuri.

From Amsterdam to Reykjavík with Holland America Line

Reykjavík, Iceland
Sail to Reykjavík onboard Zuiderdam with Holland America Line. (Credit: Getty/Victor Huang)

In 2028, the newly transformed Zuiderdam will form part of Holland America Line’s expanded Northern Europe season, with highlights including an 11-day Wild British Isles voyage and journeys tracing Viking heritage between Amsterdam and Reykjavík.

Royal Caribbean’s exclusive new beach clubs

Royal Carribean Santorini Beach Club in Greece
Royal Beach Club Santorini is Royal Carribean’s first beach club in Europe.

Private island destinations continue to appeal to those looking to pair exploration with a relaxed beach escape. Royal Caribbean has opened Royal Beach Club Santorini, its first beach club in Europe. Closer to home, the southern hemisphere’s first private island cruise destination will debut in October 2027. Cruisers on Royal Caribbean’s South Pacific itineraries will soon be able to drop anchor at Royal Beach Club Lelepa for a beach day on the sunny shores of Vanuatu.

Build local connections with Hurtigruten

Bergen, Norway
Hurtigruten is known for connecting its guests with authentic local experiences across Norway. (Credit: Mao Yuqing)

Hurtigruten has this year added refreshed MS Midnatsol to its Signature fleet in response to continued demand for Norwegian coastal and Svalbard voyages that allow more time in each destination and a closer connection to local culture.

Deep dive Asia with Windstar Cruises

Star Seeker, Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises officially launched its 112-suite Star Seeker ship earlier this year. (Credit: Windstar Cruises)

Windstar Cruises’ brand of yacht-style cruising means access to smaller ports that other larger vessels can’t get to. During its 2028 Asia season, the 112-suite Star Seeker will deliver travellers straight to the heart of hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City, as well as smaller destinations like the quiet beaches and villages of Thailand’s Koh Yao Noi.

Princess’s largest European season to date

Galway, Ireland
Princess Cruises will visit Galway in Ireland for the first time in 2028. (Credit: Getty/No Limit Pictures)

As more travellers look to cooler climes for their holidays, the British Isles and Northern Europe are also on an upward stroke. As part of its largest-ever Europe season for 2028, Princess Cruises will make maiden calls to Galway and Killybegs in Ireland, and drop into destinations such as Stockholm, Hamburg and Copenhagen for late-night and overnight stays.

Norwegian Cruise Line extends port hours

Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Cruise Line
Sea days have never looked so good onboard Norwegian Viva.

Norwegian Cruise Line is responding to demand with its 2028 season offering more time in port than ever. Norwegian Viva’s nine-, 10- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages factor in overnight stays in Istanbul and late departures in Santorini and Mykonos. Hello sundowners!

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Imogen Eveson
Imogen Eveson is International Traveller’s Print Editor. She was named Editor of the Year at the 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards and in 2023, was awarded the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australia’s Media Award. Before joining Australian Traveller Media as sub-editor in 2017, Imogen wrote for publications including Broadsheet, Russh and SilverKris. She launched her career in London, where she graduated with a BA Hons degree in fashion communication from world-renowned arts and design college Central Saint Martins. She is the author/designer of The Wapping Project on Paper, published by Black Dog Publishing in 2014. Growing up in Glastonbury, home to the largest music and performing arts festival in the world, instilled in Imogen a passion for cultural cross-pollination that finds perfect expression today in shaping Australia’s leading travel titles. Imogen regularly appears as a guest on radio travel segments, including ABC National Nightlife, and is invited to attend global travel expos such as IMM, ILTM, PURE, Further East and We Are Africa.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    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.