10 Cruises in 2026 for Travelers Who Want More Than Just a Floating Resort

Whether you’re a cruise skeptic, or someone who loves the idea of cruising but hates cookie-cutter vacations, 2026 is the year to get over your misgivings. The next 12 months are packed with thrilling voyages that step away from the usual buffet-and-beach itineraries. From an exploration cruise around Greenland to see the August 2026 solar eclipse to the inaugural voyage of a luxury yacht to a bird-watching trip in the Galápagos Islands, the choice is yours. Now is the time to plan next year’s vacations, so check out the following 2026 cruises — undoubtedly the most exciting ones on the 2026 schedule.

Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix With Explora Journeys

• Go for: A front-row seat to the biggest Formula 1 event of the year
• Dates: June 3-8, 2026 (five nights, six days)
• Ship and capacity: Explora I, 922 guests
• Starting from: $14,000

In 2022, MSC Cruises became a global partner of Formula 1 (F1), the most renowned automobile racing competition in the world. Since then, it’s been offering its guests the opportunity to sail to some of the biggest F1 events there are, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Of course, MSC ships don’t technically sail to those events. Instead, they dock in nearby ports for several days and work as luxury floating hotels guests keen to see the races. MSC organizes race-viewing parties and arranges for guests to have tickets to the events and be transported to the race tracks, but the ships don’t actually go anywhere. And because Explora Journeys is the ultra-luxury arm of MSC Cruises, it gets to host guests for the most prestigious F1 race of them all: The Monaco Grand Prix.

In 2026, Explora Journeys’ Explora I will be your host in Monaco. The suite-only ship will be docked in Port Hercule alongside billionaires’ yachts, so you can have a front-row seat to what many consider the most exciting car race in the world. In fact, you’ll be less than a five-minute walk from the official F1 Paddock Entrance. Explora Journeys organizes onboard meet-and-greets with iconic drivers and provides guests with race tickets and VIP Grandstand access — for an additional fee, of course.

One of the many advantages of staying aboard Explora I during this hectic time in the principality is that you’ll have everything you need, including several high-end restaurants, bars, a gym, spa, and pool, all of which are included in the price of your ‘cruise.’ The stint in Monaco is five days long, but if you want to actually sail around the Mediterranean, you can add on a few nights on board before or after the event.

Inaugural Voyage of the Elegant Orient Express Corinthian Yacht

• Go for: Be the first to travel on the world’s largest sailing yacht from the Orient Express
• Dates: June 6-12, 2026 (six nights, seven days)
• Ship and capacity: Orient Express Corinthian, 110 guests
• Starting from: Price on request

Long gone are the days when Orient Express was solely the name of a railway service. Today, the brand includes two trains (The Orient Express and La Dolce Vita Orient Express), two hotels (Orient Express La Minerva and Orient Express Venezia), and a ship: Orient Express Corinthian. But OE Corinthian, currently being built in a French shipyard, isn’t going to be your average cruise ship. At 721 feet in length, with 16,145 square feet of solid sails and 54 guest cabins, it will be the world’s largest sailing yacht. And if Orient Express’ reputation and the few available ship renderings are anything to go by, OE Corinthian will also be one of the most luxurious sailing yachts out there.

To be one of the first travelers to sail on board the world’s largest sailing yacht, book yourself on OE Corinthian’s inaugural sailing in June 2026. The voyage will take you to three cities on the French Riviera: Marseille, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. The movie theater, library, Guerlain-branded spa, lap pool, and many restaurants and bars on board will keep you busy, but there are also a few experiences organized on shore. These includes a 1970s-themed party in the legendary Palais Bulles, a car rally on the winding roads around Saint Tropez, and a truffle-themed lunch.

Solar Eclipse Experience in Greenland with Polar Latitudes Expeditions

• Go for: Be onboard in the path of totality for the August 2026 solar eclipse
• Dates: August 10-22, 2026 (12 nights, 13 days)
• Ship and capacity: Ocean Albatros, 189 guests
• Starting from: $13,695

If it’s an outdoorsy, one-of-a-kind cruise you’re after, this Arctic adventure with Polar Latitudes Expeditions (formerly Albatros Expeditions) should be right up your alley. The itinerary starts in Reykjavík, Iceland, before crossing the Denmark Strait to reach the Greenlandic coast, where you’ll spend most of the trip. On August 12, 2026, during the crossing of the Denmark Strait, you’ll witness the total solar eclipse, a celestial phenomenon sure to leave you in awe of the wonders of the far north. During the 13-day voyage, the ship will sail around the eastern, southern, and western shores of Greenland and make a total of nine stops. You’ll visit settlements and meet locals, go on Zodiac and kayak tours, likely spot a multitude of wildlife, and cruise by remote fjords and glaciers, among other bucket-list draws.

It’s ideal for travelers who want an adventure without compromising on comfort. The Ocean Albatros is a modern ship fitted with luxurious amenities, including two hot tubs, a sauna, a spa, a gym, a fine-dining restaurant, and multiple lounge areas offering panoramic views. You’ll want for nothing (except a few more days of vacation time, perhaps).

America’s 250th Birthday Celebration with Holland America

• Go for: See Ellis Island, Williamsburg, and Boston’s Freedom Trail
• Dates: July 4-11, 2026 (seven nights, eight days)
• Ship and capacity: Zuiderdam, 1,988 guests
• Starting from: $1,689

2026 marks America’s 250th birthday, and if you want to celebrate it with a total immersion in American history, Holland America can help. The cruise line’s Stars & Stripes voyage starts in Boston, the birthplace of the American Revolution, on a very special day: July 4, 2026. Departure will be timed perfectly for you to enjoy the city’s legendary fireworks display in Boston Harbor from the ship’s decks. The seven-day sailing includes stops in Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada’s oldest incorporated city), the 400-year-old seaport of Norfolk, Virginia, and an overnight stay in New York City before returning to Boston.

Excursions offered for this unique 2026-only cruise are focused on history and sites of significance, including guided tours of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Boston’s Freedom Trail, among many others. While in New York, passengers will even be able to catch the end of Sail 4th 250, the world’s largest flotilla of tall ships that will take place in the city from July 3-8, 2026.

Zuiderdam is not Holland America’s most modern or recent ship, but it’s a cozy and art-filled space fitted with great amenities, including a spa, a thermal suite, several restaurants, music venues, and more. It’s the same ship that takes passengers around the world every year on Holland America’s famous 120-plus-day Grand World Voyages and is often praised for its homelike, comfortable atmosphere.

Mystery Cruise With Uniworld River Cruising

• Go for: Make 2026 the year of adventure and cruise to a mystery destination onboard a new ship
• Dates: April or May (eight days each) or June (15 days)
• Ship and capacity: S.S. Emilie, 154 guests
• Starting from: $7,499

If you can’t make up your mind about here you want to go — or just want to go on an adventure — let Uniworld do the deciding. The upscale river cruise line has three Mystery Cruises on the schedule for 2026, ideal for travelers with crippling indecision issues. All you’ll know at the time of booking is the departure date and location, the length of the cruise (eight or 15 days), and that you’ll be on a river in Europe. That’s all. The rest will remain a mystery until embarkation day. But one thing you do know is that you’ll be on board Uniworld’s brand-new S.S. Emilie. The boat, launching in 2026, is inspired by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt and is done in an Art Nouveau style, so you can expect some very elegant interiors.

If you’d rather try out a longer voyage, Uniworld has a 50-night Rivers of the World sailing in 2026. The voyage will take place on four different ships and cover three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. The sailing (starting price: $40,795) is in celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary and will be available in 2026 only.

Photography trip with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions

• Go for: See rare species and learn from Nat Geo photographers on how to capture the moments
• Dates: April, May, or June 2026 (Nine nights, 10 days)
• Ship and capacity: NatGeo Resolution or Endurance, 138 guests
• Starting from: $13,182

Last-chance tourism may sound ominous, but there’s no denying that climate change is shifting what some of the planet’s most fragile landscapes look like. And if you’ve always dreamed of seeing threatened and endangered species like polar bears, puffins, and bowhead whales, consider springing for one of the few 2026 Lindblad/NatGeo Expedition cruises to Svalbard, Norway. The ship is an icebreaker — one of only a few in the region — meaning it can break through sea ice to travel further north than many other Arctic cruises. That means it can travel to more remote areas for more opportunities to spot iconic wildlife.

The few photo-specific tours offered each year are led by NatGeo photographers, with a free camera rental library on board for guests who want to practice shooting on DSLRs and high-end cameras (or don’t want to pack their own). If you have your own camera, great — but if you don’t, there are plenty of sessions and tips for taking photos with just a smartphone, too. The itinerary is intentionally kept flexible, with each day’s schedule set the night before so the experts on board can make the best decisions based on weather, tides, and photography opportunities.

Sailings include all meals and excursions of different ability levels, so each day, you can choose if you’d rather trek up a snow-covered hill for fjord views, or stay closer to shore and learn about the relics of historic whaling sites. As with all Lindblad trips, the ship is as high-end as can be, with on-board hot tubs, the opportunity to sleep under the midnight sun in an outdoor igloo, and chef’s table dining experiences that will make you wonder how they can make dishes so fresh from inside the Arctic Circle.

A modern (but historically inspired) tall ship cruise with Sea Cloud

• Go for: Celebrate the sailing spirit on a historical-inspired ship
• Dates: August 13-22, 2026 (nine nights, 10 days)
• Ship and capacity: Sea Cloud Spirit, 136 guests
• Starting from: $5,385

Those who pine for the good old days of tall ships that look straight out of the 1700s can rest assured: there’s a cruise for you out there, too. Sea Cloud Cruises is a unique cruise line that operates three tall ships, two of which are celebrating milestone birthdays this year: Sea Cloud II (25th anniversary) and Sea Cloud Spirit (fifth anniversary). Though both look historic, they’re modern as can be and outfitted with luxe amenities for the small number of guests on board.

Sea Cloud Spirit is taking the celebrations all the way to the Mediterranean for a 10-day trip with multiple stops in Spain and Portugal, and two days at sea under full sails. As a 21st-century ship, Sea Cloud Spirit has all the comfort and amenities that you would expect onboard a luxurious, modern vessel: spacious cabins, a restaurant, a bar, a lounge, a library, a spa, a fitness area, and even an elevator to take you up and down its four decks. That said, it remains a three-mast, full-rigged ship, and feels far more impressive and romantic than any other cruise ship you’ve ever encountered.

Get to know the least-visited islands in French Polynesia with Aranui

• Go for: Exploring some of French Polynesia’s least visited islands
• Dates: February, March, September, or October (13 days, 12 nights)
• Ship and capacity: The Aranui 5, 230 guests
• Starting from: $4,392

After 2025, there’s no excuse for not understanding the problems caused by overtourism. So in 2026, if you want the postcard-worthy beaches and tropical scenery of the South Pacific, but want to make sure your tourism spend responsibly supports local communities, book a trip with Aranui Cruises. The brand first became famous for sailing to the far-flung Marquesas Islands on the Aranui, a ship that’s half luxury cruise ship and half shipping vessel. The income from the cruise side of the operation supports the ship’s delivery services, which are a lifeline for the islands, who rely on the ship for nearly all their imports and exports. While the ship unloads, passengers get to explore the islands, go on hikes, check out the island beloved by artist Paul Gauguin, or visit local markets, among other draws.

While the Marquesas are stunning as can be, in 2026, there are four sailings to the Austral Islands, often considered the least-visited of French Polynesia’s five island groups. You’ll visit islands like Rurutu, Rimatara, Tubuai, and Rapa, among others, seeing islands and lagoons as beautiful as those of Bora Bora, but where Aranui passengers will likely be the only visitors. That said, the cruise stops for one day in Bora Bora, so you won’t fully miss out.

As a company, Aranui has a strong emphasis on cultural, social, and environmental responsibility. Nearly all the crew are Polynesian, and there’s no separation between guests and crew. Everyone is encouraged to socialize together, with crew sharing their talents via activities like ukulele nights and lectures on local culture. There’s a new ship launching in 2027 (the Aranoa), which will travel on a more regular basis to the Australs. So we recommend going now, while it’s still pretty under the radar — and, more importantly, as we expect the trips may get pricier once the new luxury ship launches.

Embrace birding in the Galápagos with Ecoventura

• Go for: See some of the rarest birds on earth, accompanied by an expert birder
• Dates: May or November (seven nights, eight days)
• Ship and capacity: Origin, Theory, or Evolve, 20 guests
• Starting from: $10,950

No longer the domain of retirees, birding has been making a comeback for the last few years. And there’s no better place to embrace it than in the Galápagos, home to 190 bird species, about 45 of which are found nowhere else on earth. One of the best ways to do it is via an ultra-small ship, as the Ecoventura ships hold a maximum of 20 passengers.

Ecoventura is one of the most renowned cruise lines in this part of the world, offering guests the chance to see the archipelago in small, luxury ships staffed with experienced naturalists. While you can’t go wrong with any of Ecoventura’s cruises, their offerings for next year are clearly one step above the rest. Ecoventura has four seven-day photography and birding-themed departures on the schedule for 2026: two in May and two in November. They’re led by two expert naturalist guides (a certified photography instructor and a seasoned birder), and early morning and late afternoon excursions allow for better wildlife sightings. And the slow-paced hikes will enable you to set up your gear and capture all the images you want without being rushed.

All trips start from the island of San Cristóbal, but one itinerary goes to the southern and central islands while the other focuses on the west and northern islands. Both have their advantages: trips to the south increase the odds of seeing the Galápagos albatross, while you’re more likely to see Galápagos penguins in the north. You can also combine both itineraries for a 14-day adventure.

Make new friends on a shared sailing trip with Dream Yachts

• Go for: Island-hop like a millionaire on an everyman budget
• Dates: Multiple, May to September
• Ship and capacity: Sun Loft 47 sailboat, 10 guests
• Starting from: $1,160 per person

Destinations like Italy and Greece are epic sailing destinations. But Croatia, in central Europe, is just as beautiful — or perhaps more so, as it has fewer crowds and is (hooray) far less expensive than Italy. One of the best ways to see it in 2026 is by leaving the big cruise ship behind and booking a berth on a shared sailboat, offering more of a “jump off the deck” vibe than a “giant stage show at sea” vibe. The Sail Share Kornati trip is new for 2026 and the rate includes half board, excluding lunch or dinner. The 47-foot sailing yacht travels through the Kornati archipelago in Dalmatia, and while there’s a set plan, it may change a little based on weather or what everyone feels like doing on any given day.

Unlike big ship cruises, this is a sailing trip, and guests are part of the team. You can help sail if you want, but otherwise, you’ll still be on a relatively small ship, with everyone hanging out in the shared common areas. Rooms are basic with shared bathrooms, though private bathrooms are available. But it’s a sailing trip, and the point is to enjoy being on board and seeing the coast, not staying in your cabin. Fortunately, the price is one almost any traveler can afford, with a starting rate of under $1,000 per person (plus another $250 or so in additional fees and taxes).

If the idea of sailing through Croatia sounds amazing, but you’re not keen on doing it with strangers, fear not. Dream Yacht Charter focuses mostly on private yacht charters, so you can always get a group of friends together and plan your own trip through the Mediterranean.