CRUISE GUIDE 2026
FROM LEFT: Spirit of Ponant II will be modelled after its sister yacht; A&K Sanctuary’s luxury ship Nile Seray PICTURE: Ponant-Julien Champolion/polaRYSE
OCTOBER A&K Sanctuary: Nile Seray Seray means ‘palace’, which offers a clue as to what to expect from A&K Sanctuary’s fifth Nile river ship. It’ll have 32 suites, two restaurants and a pool, and will sail four-night cruises between Luxor and Aswan. Book it: Prices TBC.
abercrombiekent.com
DECEMBER MSC Cruises: MSC World Asia Contrary to the name, MSC World Asia is making its debut in the Med. Expect more than 40 bars, lounges and
restaurants, a new pan-Asian eatery and family Clubhouse. Book it: From £1,049 for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise round-trip from Barcelona.
msccruises.co.uk
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Prestige New features on Prestige include two-storey Skyview Suites with large private terraces, Mediterranean restaurant Azure serving mezze-style sharing dishes and atrium bar Galileo’s. It will spend its first winter in the Caribbean.
MAKING MOVES ON THE RIVERS
Viva Cruises is launching Viva Beyond on the Seine in May under a new Boutique brand. The vessel, which formerly sailed for Tauck, will hold 112 passengers, have three places to eat plus the line’s first master suites.
viva-cruises.com
Tui River Cruises has acquired a fourth river ship, Tui Aria, to sail the Rhine, Main and Moselle from March. It has an indoor pool that converts into an evening à la carte restaurant and a top-deck putting green. It’s reserved for adults only.
tui.co.uk
Escorted touring operator Trafalgar is entering the river cruise sector with two ships, Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity, that previously sailed for Uniworld River Cruises. The vessels will sail the Danube and Rhine respectively from April.
trafalgar.com
Book it: From £6,619 for an 11-night Caribbean cruise sailing round-trip from Miami.
rssc.com
Viking: Viking Sekhmet A sister ship to Viking Ptah (see September), Viking Sekhmet is named after an Egyptian goddess of war. Book it: From £7,395 with flights for a 12-day Cairo and Nile cruise-and-stay trip.
viking.com
Viking: Viking Libra Outwardly, this is like sister ship Viking Mira (see June), but Libra is different because it will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of sailing with zero emissions. It’s sailing the Med and northern Europe. Book it: From £2,495 with flights for an eight-day Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona.
viking.com
Ponant: Spirit of Ponant II Launching in late 2026, this yacht will carry 10 people, cruise in French Polynesia and carry all the gear needed for snorkelling, waterskiing and other watersports. Book it: From €64,000 for a full private charter.
ponant.com
36 December 2025
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
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