We gone on several over the years and it's not just Gen Z, we

[theking]

..enjoyed it too:

From nautical nostalgia to Gen Z itineraries, these are the biggest cruise trends for 2026
Cruise travel in 2026 is booming, defined by a massive surge in younger demographics, adults-only retreats, and a return to romantic nautical travel. Driven by affordability and convenience, the industry is pivoting away from long, rigid itineraries toward shorter, highly immersive getaways

I've gone on 13 cruises across 12 cruise lines over the past year—these are the ones I'd book again
After spending 85 nights at sea in 2025 across mega-ships, river cruises, yachts, and expedition vessels, these cruise lines and itineraries stood out — and you can book them for 2026.
In 2025, I spent 85 nights at sea on 13 different cruises (across 12 different cruise lines)—ranging from the world’s largest mega-ships to river and expedition cruising. One was a cruise line you've never heard of that held just 36 passengers. Another was a yacht with room for 12. I cruised rivers, crossed oceans, and even joined a small expedition ship built for harder-to-reach destinations.

Those sailings took me to 19 countries across three continents, from the Mediterranean and the Rhine River to the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, and into Asia. At one point over the summer, I even strung together five back-to-back sailings in Europe, mixing ocean and river itineraries without ever fully unpacking — honestly, when it comes to my list of things I always (and never!) do after 40+ cruises, too many back-to-back sailings is getting added to my "don't do" section.

[theking]

Like I've said, we've always had a good time...

Here are some photos I took of the Bon Voyage celebration during departure when the ship actually pulls away from the harbor...