Are you cruise curious? Today’s voyages are rewriting the rulebooks

In today’s travel market cruising reigns supreme. All across the world, savvy travellers have woken up to the fact that the old cliches no longer apply and upscale imaginative cruising is fast emerging as one of the key travel trends of the decade, rivaling land-based holidays in almost every respect.

On today’s ships, families are booking cabins in their droves, drawn to the often incredible offerings for children from pre-schoolers through to teens; young couples are taking advantage of the increasingly sophisticated onboard cultural offerings, and there are even hipster cruises enticing the young with tattoo parlours, vinyl stores and craft beers.

For an in-depth look at this new era of cruising watch World of Cruising TV, the fourth series of which airs this February and March across Freeview, Virgin and Sky on channels including; Film 4, ITV Quiz, U&Eden, TV Warehouse and Travel XP. As well as running competitions with cruise holidays as prizes and showcasing great itineraries and exclusive TV offers, the show sees host Dean Wilson talk to top travel experts of the sofa, including the Independent’s own Simon Calder, who offers his usual array of fascinating insights.

Michelin-starred chef and sommelier Marc Fosh appears in the kitchen, cooking up dishes guests can expect to discover onboard, to show viewers how cruise dining now rivals the world’s best restaurants. New for Season 4, we welcome guest cruisers to the sofa to share their firsthand experiences, while Dean steps onboard Sun Princess for an exclusive sneak peek.

Make no mistake about it, there truly has been a food revolution at sea. On today’s most progressive lines, you’ll find Michelin-starred chef-curated menus and specialty restaurants offering high-end regional cuisine. In Season 4 we welcome Crystal who offer premium dining across multiple world class restaurants, including Umi Uma by Nobu and the acclaimed Beefbar and Osteria d’Ovidio by Michelin starred Alajmo brothers.

In terms of itineraries , there’s also been a sea change in quality. Contemporary cruise operators have seen the value in specialisation with operators like Riviera Travel offering trips like their new 7-night Rhine Cruise to Switzerland sailing, dedicated for solo travellers onboard MS George Eliot.

Across the different operators there is a huge range of options with feelgood shows and Broadway hits on some lines, floating EDM music festivals on others. But these days, there are also subtler, more cultured options.

The ships themselves are constantly evolving. In our side bar, we look at two of the standout launches of 2025 – Princess Cruises’ Star Princess and Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady – both of which offer incredible levels of onboard luxury on proper bucket list itineraries.

Across the operators, options range from long lazy sails through the sun-kissed Caribbean and European river cruises rich in history, to thrilling adventures on the edge of the Arctic Circle. The only question now is: where will you go?

For a deeper dive into the cruise revolution and why you should make your next adventure a cruise adventure, don’t miss the new series of World of Cruising TV, featuring Crystal, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Virgin Voyages, Princess Cruises and Riviera Travel. Visit World of Cruising TV to find where to watch series four. With exclusive offers and savings of up to £500pp, take a look now. Offers end 31 March 2026.