Mighty Cruise Ships

Chart an escape to paradise aboard MS Paul Gauguin, the only vessel that sails year-round to the most remote islands of French Polynesia. On this 14-day voyage, the waters come in a dozen shades of turquoise and the adventures are too numerous to count. But will a tropical storm bring some unwelcome excitement to the Queen of the South Pacific and her passengers? See how this Mighty Cruise Ship and her crew navigate bad weather along with narrow passageways and shallow waters to provide a five-star luxury experience no other liner can.

She's a new ship voyaging to new destinations on waters that today's mega-cruise ships simply cannot navigate. Set sail aboard Le Soleal on a 14-day voyage through one of the largest archipelagos on the planet: Indonesia, home to diverse wildlife, rumbling volcanoes, and endless coastlines. Passengers pay thousands of dollars for one-of-a-kind encounters here. But reaching such spectacular locations means overcoming substantial obstacles, on sea and land, challenges that will push Le Soleal, and her crew, to their limits.

When it comes to exploring the heart of Asia's most exotic locales, Azamara Journey is in a class of her own. She reaches destinations big cruise ships cannot, navigating through narrow, winding rivers to deliver her passengers to breathtaking worlds. Set sail on a 15-day cruise, highlighted by elephant-guided tours through tropical jungles and overnight stays in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi. Then meet the dedicated crew as they handle shallow waters, fierce weather, and stubborn local pilots en route to an unforgettable journey.

At 122,000 gross tons, Celebrity Solstice puts the "mighty" in Mighty Cruise Ships. She carries 1,255 crewmembers and close to 3,000 passengers during her summer journeys along Australia's northern coast, offering ten restaurants, over a dozen bars, a casino, and even a manicured grass lawn. Hop aboard on a luxurious 17-day journey Down Under and explore the country's marvels from Solstice's comfortable decks. Then see how her crew handles the tough challenges of these untamed shores and stays cool in hot waters.

As other cruise ships head for the Caribbean in late autumn, Marco Polo, the Grande Dame of the Baltic, keeps her cool up north, and that's just how her passengers like it. They've paid to see Old World cities such as Copenhagen, St. Petersburg and Helsinki without crowds of tourists, but traveling this time of year is a risky venture. And while this 50-year-old liner is built to plow through broken ice on arctic routes, a new captain, some unpredictable seas, and a brooding hurricane will make this a historic ride in more ways than one.

Europa 2 is a cruise ship that's small in size but big on luxury, with 370 crew members tending to the needs of just 500 guests, and more space per passenger than any other cruise liner. This floating boutique hotel will do anything to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience to its guests, including letting them choose where the ship will go. Take a ride on Europa's very first "surprise cruise," where a vote will determine which ports they will visit over the course of 10 days in the Mediterranean--a daring concept with the potential for chaos.