• Soria Five Sorian landscapes at the top of the most beautiful in Spain
  • Zamora Arribes del Duero, an empty Spain full of wine and surprises

It may seem like a strange style of vacation. You may have never considered a trip aboard one of these giants of the sea. And yet, there is a fact that draws attention: eight out of ten Spaniards (82%) say they would repeat the experience, according to a recent survey by the MSC shipping company. That is, something has the holidays at sea that hooks. These are some of the most innovative proposals for those with an appetite for cruising.

A new family of boats

One of the news of the year in the cruise universe is the birth of a new family of ships. Explora Journeys unites luxury and maritime tradition. The new MSC brand will launch a fleet of six ships until 2028. The first opens in the first half of July. Explora I will have 461 suites, penthouses and residences to epatar. An example is the Owner's Residence, with an outdoor terrace that occupies the entire width of the ship. Another attraction of these premium ships is the versatility for families, both in the cabins, which communicate with each other, and in entertainment, with programs designed for each age and proposals that go beyond the video game such as, for example, the visit to a space center where they are attended by an astronaut.

The ship 'Explora I', soon to be inaugurated, proposes a luxury ocean experience. TRAVEL

A less intimidating way to get your start at sea is to choose a mini-cruise. Costa Cruises, which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary, offers four- or five-day itineraries in autumn with calls in ports in France and Italy from Barcelona aboard its Costa Fortuna. Before, this ship will make an unprecedented route of two weeks, also from Barcelona, but heading to the Greek islands (Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Kefalonia). One of the novelties of the shipping company is the renovation of the Costa Diadema that since this spring hosts the Archipelago restaurant with three protagonists: chefs Ángel León, Bruno Barbieri and Hélène Darroze, each with a personal menu.

One of the bars on the 'Costa Toscana'. TRAVEL

The nearby Mediterranean

For its part, Disney Cruise Line celebrates 25 years of life. A silver jubilee that serves to underline his experience as a pioneer in quality family tourism on the high seas. The Disney Dream ship has been sailing from Barcelona to the Mediterranean for a few days now. Later it will sail to northern Europe and the Greek islands with novelties in the costumes of its famous characters and an exclusive soundtrack to mark its quarter century at sea.

Soaking in the 'Disney Dream'. TRAVEL

A total of ten NCL ships will sail through European waters until December of this year, including Norwegian Prima, the most avant-garde ship of this company that has opted this year for longer itineraries (nine or more days) and longer stays in port to fully enjoy the destination. European cruises will depart from 15 home ports, including Bilbao, Tromso (Norway), Marseille (France) and Ravenna (Italy) and sail to 150 ports of call in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Greek islands.

The Mare Nostrum is also the scene this summer of seven of Royal Caribbean's ships, including the Enchantment and the Symphony of the Seas, all with a range of family leisure that has broken molds at sea. We are talking about slides ten stories high, surf simulators, climbing walls or laser tag. From Barcelona, the crossings make classic itineraries with stops in cities such as Cannes and Portofino, Florence and Rome.

Ice Adventure

Those who think of cruising as more conventional travel are mistaken. The adventure can be capital if you sign up for one of the expeditions of Hurtigruten, the Norwegian shipping company that crosses some of the most exciting destinations on the map. This year it has presented new tours of the Arctic to get up close and personal with the wild nature and Arctic fauna of Spitsbergen, the largest island of Svalbard. This Norwegian archipelago is known as the Kingdom of the polar bear, a territory with majestic glaciers and fjords, endless tundras and snow-capped mountains. The navigation alternates with trips for hiking and kayaking, always accompanied by expert guides.

Kayak excursion on an expedition of the Hurtigruten.Jan Hvizdal

to liquefied natural gas

The opportunity to debut a ship is also within reach of the traveler this summer thanks to MSC Euribia, the new flagship of the Swiss shipping company that opens in Copenhagen on June 8. And what does a new boat look like in 2023? It can be summarized in three aspects: design with spectacular sea views; an entertainment experience 24 hours a day (seven theatrical productions, live music, ten restaurants, five swimming pools..., etc.); and state-of-the-art environmental technology (powered by liquefied natural gas). Hence, they have chosen the Danish capital as their inaugural port. In addition to having a rich maritime heritage, Denmark is a leader in sustainability and protection of the sea. MSC Euribia's first season will take her through Northern Europe, departing from Kiel (Germany) and Copenhagen to the Norwegian fjords.

You can follow El Mundo Viajes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

  • Tourism

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Learn more