This summer’s hottest cruises & destinations

Filled with plenty of on-shore and aquatic adventures, romantic attractions and historic charm, it’s no wonder Grand Bahama Island tops our list of summer destinations. Royal Seas Grand Celebration is the perfect Bahamas getaway, whether you have all the time in the world or are looking for a flexible and inexpensive way to squeeze some vacation fun in your busy lifestyle. The Grand Celebration has 10 passenger decks, with spacious and well-appointed cabins and beautiful terrace suites. Five decks hold family-friendly fun and nighttime entertainment, including outstanding restaurants, a pool deck, spa, performance center, casino and a countless number of lounges with live music to enjoy your favorite beverage and dance late into the night.


Melissa Hanson, vice president of Royal Seas, says: “Our summer cruises are some of our most popular as Grand Bahama Island is a beautiful summer destination. Our cruises offer all of the amenities to accommodate a romantic getaway or fun, family vacation.”

Alaska is beautiful in the summertime, with pleasant temperatures and often sunny skies. You’ll find the best weather for your cruise from June to August with activities and views for the whole family to enjoy. Each day brings a new adventure: river rafting through a bald eagle preserve, taking a helicopter ride over a glacier, stepping into historic Gold Rush towns, or visiting some of the state’s important American Indian sites. Set sail on the veteran Holland America Line or Princess Cruises, or join Celebrity Cruises or Disney Alaska. However you travel, book these fast before winter’s chill sets in.

Make plans now for next year. These highly sought-after river ships typically carry fewer than 200 passengers, and spots are difficult to get in the summer and fall. Take a romantic journey down the Danube, which connects Western Germany to the Black Sea, viewing historic sites and soaking up Central European food and culture; or depart down the Rhine, touring France, Amsterdam, Germany and more.

Why only take 80 days when you can embark on a five-month world tour? See the world’s treasures, from the colorful Caribbean and Latin America to the unexplored Australian outback to the rolling European countryside; and everything in between. Oceania Cruises embarks from Miami in January 2017 and disembarks in July. Wait lists are already filling up for this coveted tour. Oceania’s Insignia boasts a putting green on the top deck, relaxing spa services and group fitness options, global and classically American cuisine, and plenty of comforts to be your home away as you see the world.

Fans of the Viking River Cruises couldn’t wait to check out the 930-passenger Viking Star and its sister ship, Viking Sea. Voyages are already sold out through mid-November, with few sailings beyond that. Tours include Western Europe, the Baltics, Viking Homelands, and several Mediterranean voyages. Reservations for 2017 are already filling up.

There’s springtime in Paris, but have you ever seen Europe in the summertime? Mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival are heading to the Mediterranean in the summer, touring colorful countries such as Italy, Greece, Croatia and Spain, where travelers can tour beaches, art museums, architecture and history — perfect for families who want all the sun and sand of a summer vacation, with a little culture on the side.

If Northern Europe is more your thing, check out the seven-day Seabourn Quest, which, in addition to Stockholm and Copenhagen, also docks in St. Petersburg, Russia for three days and two nights. Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki round out the itinerary, with medieval concerts and a tour of a chocolatier’s workshop.

See Mexico from the East or West coast. These popular summer cruises dock in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel, and offer gorgeous views of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Mexico’s famous pristine beaches and plenty of outdoor activities and nightlife for the whole family. Families booking cruises that include Mexico should check the U.S. Department of State website for any safety information or warnings. Cruise lines are also aware of drug-related violence and caution guests accordingly.