2024 CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD

1 OVERNIGHT | JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 1, 2024

If asked to imagine paradise, the image that comes to mind likely resembles Bora Bora. The scent of vanilla and frangipani welcomes you to this incredibly photogenic locale that is beautiful from any vantage point, whether you’re lying on a beach, bobbing on a boat or standing atop a hillside overlook. The landscape is dominated by two peaks – Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia – both more than 2,000 feet high. Take amazing photos as you cruise around Bora Bora’s dazzling lagoon, go snorkeling to discover the brightly colored marine life or head off on an exciting off-road adventure across the island.

1 OVERNIGHT | FEBRUARY 12-13, 2024

The Maori name for Auckland roughly translates to “city of many lovers” – named for the myriad cultures that have loved this place. Sailing past picturesque islands as the city skyline comes into focus, you also will become one of its many lovers. Partake in urban adventures at museums and cultural sites in New Zealand’s most cosmopolitan city, or experience spectacular landscapes from luminescent caves to working sheep farms to rugged beaches that host raucous gannet colonies. Wherever you find yourself, when it’s time to eat, the region’s rich farmlands provide the freshest of ingredients and award-winning wines.

1 OVERNIGHT | MARCH 24-25, 2024

Tokyo perfectly combines reverence for tradition with cutting-edge technology and culture, so you’ll want to visit the ancient shrines and formal gardens as well as the modern Tokyo Tower that soars above it all. You can expect to encounter a lot of people in a city of millions, but you can also find quiet spots in which to relax, such as lovely Ueno Park. If the cherry blossoms are in bloom, even the parks will be bustling with viewing parties known as hanami, so your best bet is to put on your walking shoes and join the throng. Visit the temple, eat the sushi, sing the karaoke, buy the kimono and embrace this fascinating city.

2 OVERNIGHTS | APRIL 2-4, 2024

Standing on The Bund gazing across the Huangpu River to a forest of skyscrapers, it will be hard to believe that a few decades ago there was barely a building over 10 stories here. While the global economy has transformed Shanghai’s skyline, you can still find history and culture during a quiet moment in the 16th-century Yuyuan Garden. Or try shopping for yixing teapots, jade and 3D kitten photos and savoring pan-fried dumplings and scallion pancakes in the Old City. For the hip and modern, head to M50, a collection of factories and cotton mills that have been turned into galleries, and view works of established and emerging Chinese artists.

1 OVERNIGHT | APRIL 10-11, 2024

Exploring the streets and neighborhoods of Hanoi, you’ll find the city’s tumultuous past and enduring spirit everywhere. Standing in front of the French Colonial architecture of the opera house and St. Joseph’s Cathedral inspired by Notre Dame, you will feel like you are in Paris instead of Southeast Asia. Then Vietnam’s culture unfolds in the 11th-century architecture of the Imperial Citadel and Temple of Literature and in Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence in 1945. Equally unforgettable is the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay, an amazing UNESCO-listed landscape dotted with hundreds of limestone islands.

2 OVERNIGHTS | APRIL 28-30, 2024

Formerly known as Rangoon, Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar and yet retains an old-school feel that is rare for a city of millions. You’ll find more quaint colonial buildings than slick skyscrapers, and its most famous structure – the heavenly Shwedagon Pagoda – is about 2,600 years old. Beyond that golden icon, the gilded Sule and Botataung pagodas are also worth visiting. To get an authentic feel for the entire city, the Yangon Circular Railway makes a three-hour loop around town and gives you the chance to rub elbows – literally – with the locals. When you need to refuel, try a bowl of mohinga, a delicious fish soup with rice noodles.

1 OVERNIGHT | MAY 12-13, 2024

As Dubai has carved its place in the vast desert as a glittering tribute to all that money can buy, you may find it hard to believe that the city’s skyline had only a few modest high-rises as recently as the 1990s. After learning about the monumental journey from fishing village to international symbol of opulence at the Dubai Museum, discover for yourself what all the fuss is about in this city of superlatives. Ride the world’s longest elevator to the top of the world’s tallest building, shop in the world’s largest mall, ski the world’s first indoor black-diamond run or lounge on a white sand beach on the world’s largest artificial island.

1 OVERNIGHT | MAY 24-25, 2024

Long before bucket lists, there was Luxor, the site of the ancient city of Thebes and a breathtaking monument to the awesome power and wealth of Egyptian pharaohs during the 16th to the 11th centuries BC. As you stand in a 50,000-square-foot hall at the base of columns towering over 80 feet, your size and place in this ancient world will not be difficult to determine. For a humbler take on life in the desert, travel to a Bedouin settlement to sip tea, break bread and learn about this nomadic culture, or spend the day relaxing on the Red Sea Riviera, where travelers flock for some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world.

1 OVERNIGHT | MAY 28-29, 2024

While the majority of the population is Jewish, Haifa is a diverse melting pot of cultures and faiths. Consider the German Colony, established in the 1800s by German Templars and now a prime tourist area thanks to its excellent restaurants and view of the Bahá’í Gardens. Nearby is Stella Maris Monastery, a beautiful Catholic abbey. Likewise, you’ll find historic sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims if you travel south to Jerusalem, one of the world’s holiest cities and home to treasures such as the Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, Damascus Gate, Church of the Holy Sepulcher and more. Prepare for ample walking and amazement.

1 OVERNIGHT | JUNE 29-30, 2024

Although it’s one of the smallest capitals in the world, Reykjavik is home to two-thirds of Iceland’s population, making it the ideal place to immerse yourself in the local culture. The city exists in harmony with the strikingly beautiful landscapes surrounding it, reflected in places such as the botanical gardens, the Reykjavik Art Museum and the Reykjavik Maritime Museum. Experience the majestic countryside firsthand with a day trip to Geysir – an erupting hot spring – and the nearby waterfall of Gullfoss. For a different sort of adventure, try some harkarl – fermented shark – or play it safe and stick with traditional Icelandic fish stew.