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World Travel Holdings

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A portfolio of the largest leisure travel providers in the industry.

POWERHOUSE IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

As a powerhouse in the travel industry and the world’s largest cruise distributor with more than 35 diverse brands across three distribution models, World Travel Holdings offers its partners:

• Superior account management and analytics
• Proprietary class-leading technology
• An experienced, highly trained customer care team
• The largest and most comprehensive cruise platform in the industry

GUARANTEED PLATFORM FOR SUCCESS

We have more than 20 years of experience creating and managing private-label travel programs for some of the travel industry’s largest brands. Combine that with a history of increasing sales from all transferred programs, and you have a platform guaranteed to deliver positive results.

CruisesOnly, a Preferred Provider for Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines has partnered with World Travel Holdings to sell voyages aboard the world’s top cruise lines. As part of the Member Rewards program, Mileage Plan members can earn thousands of miles on Alaska Airlines when they book a cruise. This brand features a World Travel Holdings-operated website powered by CruisesOnly.

American Airlines Cruises American Airlines AAdvantage® members can earn miles on their cruise when they book through the American Airlines Cruises program. World Travel Holdings sells cruises through the American Airlines program on cruise lines ranging from the world’s largest liners to more intimate luxury and river ships. AmericanAirlines and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.

Delta Cruises With Delta Cruises, customers can earn 2 miles per $1 spent on the cost of their cruise, plus bonus miles on select sailings. Delta customers can choose from dozens of popular cruise lines on sailings across the globe and will receive all the deals the cruise lines offer. Delta Cruises also boasts 24/7 customer service from knowledgeable Cruise Experts and a 110% Best Price Guarantee.

Frontier Airlines Cruises Frontier Airlines offers cruises on dozens of cruise lines to destinations all around the world. By taking trips with Frontier Airlines Cruises, customers earn frequent flyer miles with Frontier. World Travel Holdings sells cruises through Frontier Airlines.

Free Spirit Cruises Spirit Airlines is a U.S., ultra low-cost carrier operating flights to destinations in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Latin America. Members of Spirit’s Free Spirit loyalty program can earn thousands of points by booking with Free Spirit Cruises, a customized cruise program created in partnership with World Travel Holdings.

United Cruises Members of United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program can earn thousands of miles on any cruise booked with the United Cruises brand. Members can choose from the world’s top cruise lines sailing to the most popular destinations across the globe. World Travel Holdings sells cruises through this brand.

Villas of Distinction | A travel provider for United MileagePlus® United MileagePlus members have access to private villa escapes in over 50 destinations across the globe through their partnership with Villas of Distinction. Members benefit from award-winning service and personalized experiences — and earn 3 miles per dollar spent on every villa booking they make.

British Airways’ Executive Club World Travel Holdings UK is partnered with British Airways’ Executive Club to award Executive Club Members Avios when booking cruise holidays with them. These can then be redeemed on flights and cabin upgrades. Avios is a global currency which can be collected using British Airways partners, such as on flights, hotel stays, car hire, and now cruises. World Travel Holdings UK has an expert team of Cruise Concierge who can tailor-make cruise holidays to include British Airways flights, which fly out to more than 200 destinations.

BJ’s Travel In partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club, World Travel Holdings offers travel deals on cruises, vacation packages, villa rentals, hotels and car rentals for BJ’s Members. This brand offers a World Travel Holdings-operated travel website, in addition to multimedia travel merchandising available to Members in most clubs across the East Coast. Members can take advantage of exclusive savings and bonus offers on a wide variety of travel products.

Booking.com Cruises Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, chose to partner with World Travel Holdings to offer even more breadth of choice, ease of booking, and memorable experiences to their millions of travelers. Booking.com customers can access thousands of sailings on over 30 cruise lines from 55+ departure ports around the globe via https://cruises.booking.com/ .

CheapCaribbean.com Cruises The ultimate resource for beach vacations, CheapCaribbean.com makes it easy to find the best travel deals in the Caribbean and Mexico. Their offerings include packages with air, all-inclusive hotel stays, and cruises on dozens of different cruise lines, which are available on a World Travel Holdings-operated site.

CruiseWise CruiseWise, in partnership with World Travel Holdings, is a dedicated cruise brand that provides unmatched expertise, exclusive offers, and a wide selection to customers interested in booking a cruise vacation.

Entertainment Book Cruises Entertainment® and World Travel Holdings have partnered to offer exclusive savings on cruises for Entertainment Members. This brand offers a World Travel Holdings-operated website as well as cruise coupons in Entertainment’s nationally distributed savings books.

Priceline Cruises A pioneer of online travel sales, priceline.com offers consumers amazing deals on the Web through two booking methods: a unique “opaque” model for last-minute trips and regular retail for consumers who require more flexibility in their travel arrangements. World Travel Holdings provides cruises aboard the world’s top cruise lines through priceline.com.

Choice Privileges® Cruises Members of the Choice Hotels International loyalty program can earn and redeem Choice Privileges points at any of the company’s hotel brands across the globe.  Choice Privileges® Cruises  provides unbeatable prices and exclusive offers for Choice Privileges members. For all sailings on the world’s top cruise lines, Members can either earn Choice Privileges points or redeem them for certificates that can be used to save on cruise vacations.

Marriott Bonvoy, Cruise with Points Marriott Bonvoy and World Travel Holdings have partnered to offer two ways for Marriott Bonvoy members to save on cruises – earn thousands of bonus points by booking a cruise or redeem points towards a cruise booking. The partnership offers a wide array of options on more than two dozen cruise lines.

RCI RCI is the leader in vacation exchange, offering the world’s largest vacation exchange network and providing products and services that enhance the vacation ownership experience. World Travel Holdings provides RCI members with the opportunity to also get the best value in cruising, by offering all the major cruise lines and exclusive deals through cruise.rci.com.

World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations.

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Booking.com Launches Cruises in the U.S.

Dennis Schaal , Skift

November 9th, 2023 at 10:51 AM EST

There doesn't seem to be much of a downside for Booking.com getting into cruises. As with flights, which it launched in 2019, we can only say — what took you so long?

Dennis Schaal

Known for many years as primarily a Europe-focused accommodations business, Amsterdam-based Booking.com on Thursday launched cruises in the U.S. through a partnership with cruise agency World Travel Holdings .

For Booking.com, which is the flagship brand of Booking Holdings, the deal to offer a white label cruise site powered by World Travel Holdings in the U.S. punctuates the company’s commitment to be a larger force in the U.S., where it competes with Expedia and Airbnb. The U.S. is the largest cruise market in the world, representing 58% of all cruise bookings, the company said.

Booking Holdings’ initial brand, U.S.-based Priceline.com, likewise offers cruises with World Travel Holdings, the largest cruise agency stateside, as its partner.

Booking.com Cruises’ Differentiation

Asked how Booking.com Cruises would be different from the rest of the pack, a spokesperson said: “Key differentiators for Booking.com Cruises are that customers will have access to exclusive offerings and deals on our platform as well as an enhanced onboard spend process. On Booking.com, when travelers make a cruise booking and board the ship, their onboard account will be automatically credited with the spend amount they can use to purchase food, beverages, spa treatments, excursions etc.”

Booking.com customers will be able to select from more than 10,000 sailings 30-plus cruise lines. Customers are eligible for “up to $50, $100, $500 or even $1,000” shipboard credits depending on how much money they spent to book their cruises, and on Black Friday the company is doubling these numbers.

Best Price Guarantee

Booking.com also offers a 110% Best Price Guarantee. If a customer finds a lower price on a competitor website with 48 hours of making their booking on Booking.com Cruises, then Booking.com pledges a refund of 110% of the difference.

“Additional exclusive spend at sea deals will also be offered on select cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and several others,” Booking.com stated.

Cruise Phone Bookings

Most cruise bookings are done over the phone due to the complexity of typical reservations and World Travel Holdings’ agents will handle the bookings, support and customer emails. There’s also live chat on the website.

For now, Booking.com’s game plan is to launch cruises in the U.S. only, a spokesperson said, although the company wants to expand its customer base across all its verticals, including stays, flights, car rentals, attractions, airport taxis, and now cruises.

Some U.S. consumers will be able to view Booking.com’s new cruise site starting today, and that percentage will grow over the next few weeks, the company said. It will be available on desktop and mobile.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: booking holdings , booking.com , carnival corp. , carnival cruise line , celebrity cruises , norwegian , online travel newsletter , royal caribbean

Photo credit: The Carnival Liberty sailing out of Miami. Source: Mike McBey/Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/158652122@N02/49476509766/in/photolist-2io53BQ-2nVW2Hc-2oev7Co-7GSnc8-7GWio3-2nWN8RQ-2o6eeHk-2mgftPf-2nmXdoV-2omvC3i-2oiQaFW-2nNpnzz-7GWihs-2o4qFZ8-2ns6Nsf-bCzcfr-7GWioo-2ocRznN-2nH5sW5-2ogKzY7-2omb9Zh-2kep5AF-2nMUJJt-2nY5JN1-2obZsEa-2nMTM6p-7GSnbk-2obhTw4-7GWijj-7GSn58-7GSn4p-7GWisd-2nC9c5j-Boosun-2nn2DEr-2kMfNmb-2oo9EQE-2oeEUBU-2okXVjp-2oc3M3v-2md6tNq-2mfS5ZZ-2kX7Vow-2kivHQZ-2mnT7Rd-2okSNR3-2m6pStm-2nrtM3S-2mkPK8n-2meLGAZ Mike McBey / flickr

The UK division of World Travel Holdings , the world’s largest retailer of cruise, we specialise in all cruise holiday products from sailings from the UK, to ultra luxury cruises, yachts and expedition cruises, providing over 15 years of expertise via our specialist brands. We tailor-make holidays to your exact requirements enabling you to personalise your very own bucket list cruise experience which may include rail journeys, safaris and tours and excursions throughout the world.

Bringing you thousands of exclusive deals from every major cruise line, Cruise118.com has a strong and dedicated team of expert Cruise Concierge, committed to exceptional service. Not only will we help you find the perfect cruise but the perfect deal too.

As Europe's leading luxury cruise travel agent, SixStarCruises.co.uk works closely with the world's finest cruise lines to offer you a host of exclusive deals and is dedicated to providing an expert tailored service and taking you on an unforgettable journey.

RiverVoyages.com are specialists in river cruising, offering a wealth of exciting itineraries and exclusive deals as well as an experienced River Cruise Concierge team with a passion for helping you to find your perfect river cruise escape and an excellent price.

What's unique about us?

• Our dedicated specialist Cruise Concierge team on hand to give you advice when you call
• We get to know you and assist with finding the perfect cruise for you
• Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm 7 days a week
• Your very own personal website once you've booked: our exclusive iCruiseConcierge allows you to access pages tailored specifically to your cruise holiday
• Our specialist cruise brands include Cruise118.com , SixStarCruises.co.uk and RiverVoyages.com
• We're fully bonded by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) for your protection
• We're part of World Travel Holdings, the largest cruise retailer in the world

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We take great pride in the flexible and award-winning service of our dedicated Cruise Concierge team, each of whom uses their expert knowledge to guide you through every stage of your booking, making sure that you get exactly what you want from your cruise holiday.

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Our award winning Cruise Concierge are always focussed on the customer and have won numerous awards, including:

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World Travel Holdings Announces Multi-Million Dollar Investment for Infrastructure for Travel Advisors

Dream Vacations and CruiseOne advisors will reap the benefits from IT team enhancements

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 5, 2024) – After a strong month of wave season comes to a close, World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company, is announcing a multi-million-dollar technology investment in 2024 in its B2B division. This investment will be a driving force in increasing individual agent efficiency, productivity and profitability for its award-winning vacation franchise brands Dream Vacations and CruiseOne.

“As a trailblazer in technology, we want to consistently feed the successes we’ve seen from our previous technology investments and the way to do that is to invest even more in our travel advisors,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. “The success of our home-based travel agents is our only business, and we are committed to constantly increasing our support, investments and resources so we can provide the best technology in the industry.”

In 2024 the size of the IT team will significantly increase adding a dozen positions, further strengthening the Dream Vacations and CruiseOne technology team. These additional IT professionals will allow the company to continue accelerating current initiatives, simultaneously creating cutting-edge solutions and best-in-class technology, giving the travel agency network a significant lead over the competition.

“We continue to build upon our level of innovation and my team has already exceeded agent expectations in creating the award-winning technology we currently offer our agents. They are excited to welcome new experts to the team and work with them to take our technology offerings to new heights,” said Sandi Szalay, vice president of information technology for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. “People rely on travel advisors more than ever, so it is crucial that we continue to provide our home-based travel businesses with the latest advanced technology solutions. What we have on schedule will really ‘wow’ our network of agents and enable them to maximize their time cultivating relationships and selling dream vacations.”

World Travel Holdings has been making incremental multi-million-dollar technology investments since 2014, which has compiled many accolades and experienced success with a proven track record and history. For example, the Groups Application was recognized with a Silver Magellan Award from Travel Weekly last fall and a Silver Travvy Award for Best Travel Technology Provider.

The investment in augmenting the IT team comes just ahead of the 2024 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne Marketing and Technology (MarTech) Summit on February 7 and 8. The two-day virtual summit will provide the hundreds of agents who registered with direct access to Dream Vacations’ and CruiseOne’s travel and marketing partners as well as keynote addresses in vital topics like Google Ads, social media marketing and AI.

Those passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne.

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne ®

A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne ® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne is part of World Travel Holdings and has received franchise partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com . Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise , follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness .

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11 epic around-the-world cruises that will check off all your bucket list travel destinations

I magine the joys of traveling seamlessly from one bucket list country to another without packing and unpacking, switching hotels, boarding countless flights or even doing laundry.

Think it's a fantasy? It's actually a world cruise, the nirvana of many ocean-going devotees. As a bonus, most of these around-the-world voyages include enviable perks, like pre-cruise hotel stays, alcohol, shipboard credit, exclusive-access shore excursions — and, yes, laundry service.

Retired, taking a job hiatus or working remotely? A world cruise is a safe, easy and exhilarating way to score a global adventure beyond compare. You might even make new lifelong friends sharing similar interests.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

So, pull out your travel wish list and find an itinerary for those coveted destinations.

Here, you can learn more about what's involved in an around-the-world cruise and drool over 11 terrific choices across a range of fares for an incredible monthslong voyage at sea.

What is a world cruise?

Never mind the moniker, a world cruise may visit several continents but not circumnavigate the globe. Cruise lines usually designate one ship (a few offer two) to sail about 100 days or longer — some even sail more than 200 days — without repeating ports.

World cruises traditionally start in January and end around April or May. They sail round-trip from one American city, such as San Francisco or Miami, or offer a choice of starting points on both coasts, making access easy.

What to know about world cruises

With so few world cruises available, book far in advance. Bookings open roughly two years in advance, and some small-ship cruises sell out within hours. You'll need the extra time to make arrangements to leave your home for months. For that reason, this story will focus on 2025 world cruises.

Related: Hot cruises you'll need to book at least 1 year in advance — maybe even 2!

Around-the-world cruise cost

Such lengthy sailings cost plenty. The bigger ship lines offer the lowest fares, although extra fees for what's not included (such as shore excursions and alcohol) can add up quickly. If contemplating a big-ship voyage, read the inclusions carefully, as they vary among lines.

Luxury vessels bundle many costly amenities into the fare, like business- or first-class plane tickets and luxury hotel stays, and charge the most. They also deliver fine dining, pampering service, glam surroundings and impressive special events. (Silversea Cruises has previously rented out an entire island to entertain its world cruise guests.)

Thus, expect considerable price differences. Count on spending about $20,000 per person minimum to score an entry-level accommodation on the bigger ships and approximately $80,000 to $90,000 per person for an ultraluxury vessel.

Note that for the poshest lines, "entry-level" may mean a spacious, elegant suite with a veranda. For other lines, the most basic cabin is a small, windowless room.

Read on to discover where you can sail to in 2025 on a world cruise.

World Voyage

Thanks to an overwhelming response to its 2024 world cruise (which is currently waitlisted), Azamara announced itineraries for both 2025 and 2026, both aboard the 684-passenger Azamara Onward.

Azamara Onward is the newest ship to join the Miami-based line's four-vessel fleet. The ship's size provides an intimate experience and allows it to call on small towns bigger ships can't access.

For 2025, the 155-night, 37-country voyage begins in San Diego and ends in Southampton, England, with visits to exciting locales in French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Italy, France and others.

Along the way, world cruisers can sample authentic Hawaiian cuisine; explore the unspoiled beaches and the lush rainforest on Stewart Island, New Zealand; and visit the world's largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia.

The itinerary will include a pre-sailing welcome party, exclusive cultural events, concierge service and other upscale perks.

The 2026 world cruise sets sail from Miami and concludes in Barcelona. The itinerary for this 155-night expedition features some of the world's most iconic landmarks and sites.

Cruisers will have the opportunity to explore the great pyramid of Kukulcan and other ancient Mayan sites in Chichen Itza, Mexico; wander among Rio de Janeiro's architectural gems and experience the awe of Iguazu Falls in Brazil; sample Peruvian cuisine and soak in the landscape of Machu Picchu in Cusco; scale the Great Wall of China; and enjoy other bucket-list worthy adventures.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2025. Prices start from $89,001 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 6, 2026. Prices start from $85,141 per person.

World Cruise

If luxury and unparalleled personal service are important to you, consider Crystal 's 2025 world cruise aboard Crystal Serenity .

The beloved upscale line went bankrupt and stopped sailing in 2022. However, luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent acquired it and brought it back to life with a $150 million glow-up, starting with 740-passenger Crystal Serenity.

With newly renovated expansive suites, an array of social areas and nearly one staff member per guest, Crystal Serenity offers ultimate comfort, quality and personalization. Every cabin comes with a butler ready to assist with reservations, laundry and any other needs you have during your global odyssey.

Beginning in Fort Lauderdale and concluding in Barcelona, the sailing spans 123 nights with visits to 31 countries. The cruise kicks off with a welcome celebration, and guests can enjoy themed onboard and shoreside events and gala dinners throughout the sailing.

Exciting destinations along the way include Belize, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Jordan. Passengers can get a close-up look at Argentine tango through performances, enjoy street food in Sri Lanka's capital city and celebrate like a Greek god on Mount Olympus, among other events.

Custom excursions and pre- and post-cruise tours organized by Abercrombie & Kent are available along the way (for an additional cost).

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $66,200 per person.

Cunard Line

Be among the first to explore the world aboard Queen Anne, the line's first new ship in 12 years. Scheduled to launch in May 2024, the 2,996-passenger ship will take over Cunard 's world cruise duties in January 2025.

Queen Anne's maiden World Voyage in 2025 will span 111 nights, beginning and ending in Hamburg, Germany. Along the way, guests can explore historic churches in the Old Town of Lubeck, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site; visit the historic city of Antigua, Guatemala's original capital; and indulge in retail therapy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's bustling shopping hub.

Passengers will enjoy spectacular new elements on this ship. The vessel's main pool area, The Pavilion, is topped with a gorgeous retractable glass roof that will act as a showpiece and also a functional structure to keep poolgoers dry on rainy days.

If you're seeking the most luxurious accommodations and exclusive experiences on board, book Princess or Queens Grill suites. Fares include outstanding amenities such as private dining rooms, coffee and specialty tea service, priority boarding, and a private outdoor lounge area.

Queens Grill suite passengers receive butler service, too. However, many lovely inclusions, such as white-gloved servers presenting complimentary daily tea, are available for all guests.

Departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $17,799 per person.

Holland America

Grand world voyage.

Holland America 's 124-day Grand World Voyage on the 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam cruises round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. The enticing itinerary ventures far from Florida to must-visit cities such as Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore and Istanbul. The ship will also traverse the Panama Canal.

Many included overnights allow opportunities to dive deep into local cultures and experiences. Spend extra time in Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; and Singapore. As a bonus, Zuiderdam will take guests to incredibly remote locales, such as the Amazon.

On board, relish music venues like Billboard Onboard and BBC Earth in Concert, where a live orchestra plays before a huge backdrop of spectacular wildlife footage. Step One Dance Company presents works by noted choreographers. Count on a buzzy casino, fine dining at specialty restaurants and a professionally staffed fitness center.

Departs Jan. 4, 2025. Prices start from $24,999 per person.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is doing something a little different with its 2025 world cruise. It's offering a choice of four embarkation ports — Rome and Genoa in Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona. Passengers will return to the same port they left from.

The 2,550-passenger MSC Magnifica is the home base for the 116-night journey. The itinerary features port calls at 50 destinations across 21 countries in the Mediterranean, South America, the South Pacific, Australia and Asia. Among the cities you'll explore are Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro; Casablanca, Morocco; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Broome, Australia; and Auckland.

Spend your port days ogling at Genoa's majestic Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Lawrence and Doge's Palace; exploring the peaceful mountaintop monastery in Montserrat, Spain; and wandering through the restored ceremonial village of Orongo, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a World Heritage Site.

Departs Jan. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2025 (depending on your embarkation port). Prices start from $14,469 per person.

Oceania Cruises

Around the world cruise.

The lovely 656-passenger Insignia sails a whopping 200 days from Miami to New York for Oceania Cruises ' 2025 world cruise. It might seem a long way away, but inside cabins and some suites are already waitlisted for the sailing.

Prepare to tear up any bucket list on a cruise this long. The ship begins in the balmy Caribbean islands, ventures to the Brazilian Amazon, explores more of South America and then heads off to Africa and Asia. Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii and Latin America round out the itinerary before Insignia circles back to the Caribbean (different ports on this end) and sails triumphantly back to Miami.

Oceania Cruises is renowned for fine dining. Expect to eat and drink exceptionally well on board.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $54,099 per person.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises promises an unforgettable journey on its 116-day world cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale (or Los Angeles, as an alternative embarkation port) on the 2,200-passenger Island Princess.

This ship delivers many onboard activities like cooking and dance classes, trivia contests, enrichment programs and games of basketball, volleyball and tennis on the sports court. A putting green ensures golf games stay sharp.

You can also expect outdoor movies, original musical productions and onboard wellness features such as a spa and fitness center.

World cruisers can visit 26 countries with 51 destinations across six continents; the exciting port of call include Lisbon; Bali; Naples, Italy; Milan; and Haifa, Israel. With late-night stays in 11 ports of call and a Dubai overnight, you can relish multiple opportunities to wine, dine and enjoy the nightlife ashore.

For 2025, Princess offers two 116-day world cruise itinerary options on Island Princess, one round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and the other round-trip from Los Angeles.

From Fort Lauderdale: Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $16,225 per person.

From Los Angeles: Departs Jan. 20, 2025. Prices start from $16,298 per person.

Related: Big vs. small cruise ships: Which will I like better?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Navigate the world.

World cruises prove perpetually popular on this ultraluxe line. They often sell out in the blink of an eye.

Availability is limited on the 2025 150-night world cruise on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner, sailing round-trip from Miami to San Francisco. This itinerary includes cruising in Antarctica, the Chilean fjords, French Polynesia, Taipei and Bali.

Perhaps because its 2025 sailing is nearly sold out, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to announce its 2026 world voyage, also on Seven Seas Mariner.

This journey will be the line's longest, sailing for 154 nights and visiting 77 ports in 41 countries across six continents. The itinerary includes three new ports of call for Regent, including Lifou Island and Mare of the Loyalty Islands in the New Caledonia archipelago. Count on visiting 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Robben Island in South Africa.

For all its around-the-world cruises, Regent piles on primo inclusions — first-class flights, unlimited shore excursions, luggage service, an open bar and a visa package are among countless amenities.

The 2025 world cruise departs Jan. 7, 2025. Prices start from $87,999 per person.

The 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 10, 2026. Prices start from $94,999 per person.

Related: The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Grand Africa Voyage

Wander the majestic Grandmaster's Palace in Malta. Snorkel the pristine waters along the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Ogle the tropical beauty of the 115-island archipelago of the Seychelles. Soak up the beauty of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain.

You'll find many pinch-me moments on Seabourn 's 90-day, 26-country Grand Africa cruise in late 2024 and early 2025. It takes place onboard the 450-passenger all-suite Seabourn Sojourn and sails round-trip from Barcelona. (The line is not currently offering a more traditional world cruise in 2025.)

On the ultraluxurious vessel, you can expect exclusive VIP celebrations, like a Caviar in the Surf party. (Note that complimentary Champagne and caviar flow freely on board, too, adding to the happy vibe.)

There's much to love about Seabourn Sojourn. Its intimate size allows truly personalized service from a polished, attentive crew. Seabourn Square, a living room-like venue, is a magnet for affable passengers who quickly make new friends. Count on superb dining and 24-hour room service among a slew of upscale amenities.

Departs Nov. 30, 2024. Prices start from $38,999 per person.

Related: 7 extremely decadent things you can do on a luxury cruise vacation

Silversea Cruises

Controtempo.

Silversea Cruises ' 2025 world cruise aboard the ultraluxurious, 596-passenger Silver Dawn looks amazing. The around-the-world cruise is designed to visit far-flung and more remote ports, often out of season, to avoid the touristy crowds.

This 136-day voyage sails from Tokyo to New York and explores 59 ports in 30 countries. Count on visiting enchanting cities, including Istanbul, Naples and Stockholm. Wonderfully remote ports, like Cochin, India; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Nuuk, Greenland, tempt travelers to come aboard for the long haul.

Silversea's world cruises are known for showcasing exceptional special-access events, and this sailing is no different. On this cruise, applause goes to a private tour of Cairo's 500-room Abdeen Palace and an inimitable evening at Versailles in lavish Marie Antoinette style (pre-guillotine, of course).

Silver Dawn is a wowser with a game-changer spa , all-suite accommodations, tux-clad butlers for all passengers and complimentary caviar service anytime, anywhere. Expect many fare inclusions, such as business-class flights, shore excursions and private transfers.

Departs Jan. 13, 2025. Prices start from $81,900 per person.

Viking World Voyage II

Imagine the joy of ticking many bucket list boxes on Viking World Voyage II, Viking 's 163-day world cruise on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky in 2025. Book quickly; availability is extremely limited, with many suites and penthouses already sold out.

The Los Angeles-to-New York voyage visits 29 countries and 78 ports.

Palm-tree ports are plentiful, including Moorea, French Polynesia; Bay of Islands, New Zealand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You'll cross many seas, such as the Tasman, Arafura and Arabian, and take your pick of a plethora of possible excursions, including a visit to a Balinese Hindu temple in Indonesia and a tour of the ancient Elephanta Caves in India. You can pretty much do it all on this world cruise.

Departs Jan. 5, 2025. Prices start from $74,995 per person.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Shore Excursion Details

Victoria highlights by night, victoria, british columbia.

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• 2 1/2 hrs Estimate Duration

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Victoria at night, when the city is brightly illuminated and most atmospheric, and cap off the evening with free time in the Inner Harbour area. Victoria looks captivating any time of the day, but especially at night when the city lights are twinkling. You will begin your exploration near Mile 0 – the western terminus of the nearly 5,000-mile Trans-Canada Highway – continue past leafy Beacon Hill Park and travel on into Old Town, where remnants of Fort Victoria overlook the waterfront. Chinatown is also extraordinarily historic as it is the oldest such neighborhood in Canada. It really comes alive in the evening as shoppers and diners crowd the pedestrian-friendly streets, which are strung with brightly colored lanterns. Not to be outdone, the Parliament Buildings and many of their domes are outlined in thousands of lights. You can further explore this engaging area on foot during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS • Drive through Victoria’s downtown at night, when the city is most radiant. • See the best of Old Town and enjoy outstanding views of the oldest Chinatown in Canada. • Pass the neo-baroque Parliament Buildings, which look spectacular outlined in lights. • Explore the wonderfully atmospheric and vibrant Inner Harbour area on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS • Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

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WEATHER ALERT

7 warnings and an advisory in effect for 9 regions in the area

Dozens of united airlines passengers headed to houston fall ill after international cruise, “thirty minutes before we land, we get told that they’ve been exposed to an unknown virus.”.

Gage Goulding , News Reporter , Houston, TX

Michael Lemons , Photojournalist

Ahmed Humble , Digital Content Producer

HOUSTON – More than two dozen people on a United Airlines flight to Houston on Friday became ill while the plane was traveling from Canada.

RELATED: United Airlines says it has regained some privileges that were suspended after problem flights

United Airlines flight 1528 was flying from Vancouver, British Columbia to Houston. During the flight, 25 people became sick.

According to the Houston Fire Department , the sick passengers reported symptoms of nausea.

“About an hour and a half before we hit Houston, they ask for if you’ve been on this cruise ship, could you raise your hand,” James Snell recounts from his flight.

All of the ill passengers were previously on a cruise. A total of 75 passengers flying on the plane were on that cruise.

🤒 More than two dozen passengers aboard a @united flight to @iah on Friday became sick. @HoustonFire says the passengers just got done with an international cruise. @KPRC2 is also learning that the @CDCgov is also involved in the investigation. pic.twitter.com/y9Bdmx2Nbr — Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) June 1, 2024

Firefighters and paramedics met the passengers as they landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport following the five-hour flight from Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Then all of a sudden, the flight attendant, she put on a mask, and the guy next to me is like, ‘What do you think’s going on?’ And I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t know. You know? I mean, COVID, we’re all going to die.’ You know what I mean,” said Snell.

Three people were “evacuated” from the airplane, but no one was taken to the hospital.

MORE STORIES INVOLVING UNITED AIRLINES

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the plane landed around 6:30 p.m.

“Then firetrucks and ambulances started pulling up,” Snell said. “They didn’t hold us very long, maybe 45 minutes-ish.”

Passengers aboard the airplane say that the pilot and flight attendants alerted them that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the illness.

“This is where it got weird,” Snell said. “He [the pilot] got over the speaker, but he came out to us and he said, ‘Hey, in my 25 years of flying, I’ve never seen anything like this. We have been quarantined by the CDC. Nobody can exit the plane until the CDC lets us off.’”

After being let off the plane passengers were screened by paramedics from the Houston Fire Department.

“As soon as you got off, you got mobbed, wanting to know if you had any symptoms and did you want to be triaged,” Snell said. “But then they let us off and I thought, man, you’re letting us off in Houston airport. Like we’re going everywhere in the world. This is how it started the last time.”

The last time refers to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s what he and other passengers thought they could be dealing with.

“We’re all trapped in this tube, and we’ve all lived through Corona. And I was just like, ‘oh, come on. Not again,’” Snell said.

KPRC2 asked the FAA, CDC, Houston Fire Department and United Airlines for information about which cruise ship the passengers who got sick were on and for the illness, but none of the organizations would provide further information.

According to information from the CDC, there have been seven outbreaks of illness on cruise ships this year.

The most recent is a norovirus outbreak on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship.

Norovirus is commonly known as the “stomach bug” and can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s a highly contagious virus, but is typically not a severe illness and passes in a few days, the CDC reports.

According to Celebrity Cruises’ website , the Celebrity Summit ship is currently sailing between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vancouver is where the United Airlines flight full of sick passengers took off.

KPRC 2 asked Celebrity Cruises for more information about their outbreak and if it’s connected to the sick passengers that landed in Houston. We’re still waiting for an answer.

Meanwhile, United Airlines tells KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding that the plane is being pulled from rotation until it can be deep cleaned.

UNITED AIRLINES STATEMENT

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston tonight. United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

CDC Statement

“CDC is aware of a flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, that arrived at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Friday, May 31.

Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board. Most of the ill passengers reported mild GI symptoms. No passengers were noted to have a fever during the flight or upon public health assessment at landing. No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up. Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans.”

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Gage goulding.

Gage Goulding is an award-winning TV news reporter and anchor. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he comes to Texas from Fort Myers, FL, where he covered some of the areas most important stories, including Hurricane Ian.

Ahmed Humble

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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