Our roundup of the latest itineraries and cruise offers includes Jewish heritage tours on the Rhine and Marvel Super Hero adventures in The Bahamas.
American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines is inaugurating its latest cruise ship the American Constellation, uniquely designed to navigate the inland waterways of the U.S. East Coast. The 163-passenger ship will make its maiden voyage in summer 2017 on the 10-night Grand New England itinerary. The cruise will explore the seafaring heritage of the coastal towns and island villages of New England with visits to Boston, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard and Portland. Guests will have a chance to sample the succulent lobsters of the Penobscot Bay and the best chowders of Nantucket, as well as explore the region’s cobblestone streets, unique shops and maritime history. For more information, visit americancruiselines.com.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has announced its first-ever Marvel Day at Sea on select Disney Magic sailings from New York in Fall 2017. The seven special voyages will include all-day entertainment featuring Marvel Super Heroes, including exclusive interactions, a deck party, Marvel-themed youth activities and special merchandise.
The immersive day includes activities such as a meet-and-greet with Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor and other Marvel Universe characters; a party on the upper deck with music, dancing and games that culminates in a spectacular pyrotechnic display; and Marvel-themed trivia games where kids and families can test their superhero knowledge; as well as activities, arts and crafts for young heroes-in-training at Marvel’s Avengers Academy in the Oceaneer Club.
The Marvel Day at Sea will take place on a single day of 7- and 8-night Disney Magic Bahamian cruises departing from New York on Oct. 6, 14 and 28, and Nov. 4, 11 and 18, 2017. All cruises will stop at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral, Florida, with a day at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Marvel Day at Sea will also be on one 7-night Canadian Coast cruise departing from New York on Oct. 21, 2017, with stops at Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax. For more information, call (888) 325-2500 or visit disneycruise.com.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
The cruise line is launching its first-ever new build ship, National Geographic Quest, in June 2017. The 100-passenger coastal ship is currently being built in Seattle and aims to bring guests to the same remote ports of call that the fleet has explored for decades. All of the public spaces on board the ship will be designed for maximum viewing capability with easy access to decks for outdoor sightings. The ship will be equipped with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling equipment to get guests out into the wild. The ship’s inaugural voyage will depart on June 26, 2017 for a 13-day exploration of Alaska and British Columbia.
The newly transformed National Geographic Endeavour II, previously known as the Via Australis, is also making her debut in 2017 with an inaugural voyage to the Galapagos Islands. The ship can accommodate 96 passengers in 52 cabins, and has been completely redesigned with a new restaurant, lounge and bar, open-air observation deck, underwater gear area, dual Zodiac boarding platform and state-of-the-art expedition equipment. For more information, visit expeditions.com.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Next year, the all-inclusive Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will introduce two new itineraries to its European offerings for 2017. The Rhine-Main Discovery & Munich and Paris & Impressions of the Seine itineraries will focus on exploring the history, art, gastronomy and architecture of Germany and France by river. The 10-day Rhine-Main Discovery & Munich itinerary will also introduce Uniworld’s Jewish heritage programming, which features excursions to learn the historic roots of Judaism in Germany. The 10-day Paris & Impressions of the Seine itinerary, meanwhile, explores the countryside of Northern France and the beaches of Normandy, taking in UNESCO designated sites such as Le Havre, the cradle of the impressionist movement.
Uniworld will also inaugurate its new Super Ship, the S.S. Joie de Vivre, in March 2017, sailing on a Seine River itinerary. The 410-ft. ship can accommodate 128 passengers and is permitted to dock in the heart of Paris on the Seine River, allowing direct access to the city. The ship will feature farm-to-table cuisine and superb local wine selections. For more information, visit uniworld.com/en.
Windstar Cruises
For its 2017 Europe sailing season, Windstar Cruises has announced details of 22 itineraries being offered between May and November. The lineup includes two new itineraries focusing on Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro. For instance, the new 8-day Quintessential Croatia cruise departs from Venice and calls at Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Opatija, Korcula, and Zadar in Croatia, as well as Piran in Slovenia, before returning to Venice. The 12-day Marvels of the Croatian Coast & Greece cruise, meanwhile, sails from Venice to Athens and takes in 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Bay of Kotor, the original Olympic Stadium in Olympia, Corfu’s historic Old Town, the walled city of Dubrovnik and more. For more information, visit windstarcruises.com.
