Mighty Cruise Ships

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.

Stella Australis is part luxury liner and part expedition ship, whisking passengers to the most remote areas of South America for one-of-a-kind encounters. Join the adventure as she visits sub-polar forests, vast glaciers, and areas so remote you wouldn't believe they actually exist. Providing matchless experiences means overcoming challenges, from handling Cape Horn's notorious Drake Passage to changing the itinerary at nature's command. The captain and crew will need a steady hand, and a good dose of creativity, to ensure a successful voyage.

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.

When guests board the Viking Sea, they're not looking for casinos, bumper cars or discos. They want outstanding scenery, dramatic destinations, and sublime Scandinavian decor, all of which they'll receive, and then some. Join us on a 14-day journey that follows ancient Viking trading routes, from London to Scotland and the northwest coast of Norway. It's a course this new ship has never sailed before, and while it promises majestic views and grand adventure, getting there and back will push the captain and his crew to the limit.

Carnival Vista is the newest, largest ship to join Carnival Cruise Line, with 10 restaurants, an IMAX theater, a massive water park, and a crew of 1,400 ready to tend to the needs of its 4,600 passengers. But with a new ship comes growing pains, and on this 10-day voyage from Athens, Greece, to Barcelona, Spain, Vista's troubles begin from the very moment she leaves port. See how the captain and crew hustle to feed, move, entertain, and problem solve around the clock in order to meet their guests' great expectations aboard this mighty vessel.