Are you cruise curious? Today’s voyages are rewriting the rulebooks

World of Cruising TV returns this autumn to showcase a new golden age of travel, where fine dining, immersive entertainment and spectacular destinations set the course for unforgettable adventures

For a fascinating look into the ever-growing popularity of cruise holidays, tune into World of Cruising TV as it returns for a third series (Getty Images)

In today’s travel market cruising reigns supreme. All across the world, savvy travellers have woken up to the fact that the old cliches no longer apply and upscale imaginative cruising is fast emerging as one of the key travel trends of the decade, rivalling land-based holidays in almost every respect.

On today’s ships, families are booking cabins  in their droves, drawn to the often incredible offerings for children from pre-schoolers through to teens; young couples are taking advantage of the increasingly sophisticated onboard cultural offerings, and there are even hipster cruises enticing the young with tattoo parlours, vinyl stores and craft beers.

For an in-depth look at this new era of cruising watch  World of Cruising TV, the third series of which airs this September and October  across Freeview, Virgin and Sky on channels including; ITV Quiz, True Crime and 5Star. As well as running competitions with cruise holidays as prizes and showcasing great itineraries and exclusive TV offers, the show sees host Dean Wilson talk to top travel experts of the sofa, including the Independent’s own Simon Calder, who offers his usual array of fascinating insights.  Mitchelin-starred chef and sommelier Marc Fosh appears in the kitchen, cooking up dishes guests can expect to discover onboard,  to show viewers how cruise dining now rivals the world’s best restaurants.

The Independent’s own Simon Calder joins other travel experts on the sofa to share his unique insights (World of Cruising TV)

Fine dining at sea

Because, make no mistake about it, there truly has been a food revolution at sea. On today’s most progressive lines, you’ll find Michelin-starred chef-curated menus and specialty restaurants offering high-end regional cuisine. Take, for example, Norwegian operator Havila Voyages, whose onboard fine-dining restaurant Hildring, sources incredible ingredients from local producers all over Norway – lamb from Dovrefjell and king crab from Varanger – to create its signature tasting menu. Other operators offer incredible variety, like Marella Cruises, which on its Marella Discovery has an astonishing range of specialist outlets from a surf & turf steakhouse to a sushi bars well as a brand-new gastropub called Picadilly’s, which offers British classics with a twist.

Expect Michelin-starred chef-curated menus, and wines as delicious as the views on today’s progressive cruise lines (Getty Images)

In terms of itineraries , there’s also been a sea change in quality. Contemporary cruise operators have seen the value in specialisation with operators like Riviera Travel offering trips like their The Blue Danube River Cruise, which features a guided tour of Dürnstein and a visit to Benedictine Melk Abbey.

NEW SHIPS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady

There’s a perfect balance of virtue and vice on Virgin Voyages’ thrilling new ship. The state-of-the-art nightclub, The Manor, modelled on Branson’s first recording studio is of a piece with the hedonistic Tom Dixon-designed suites (think Peek-a-Boo showers and bottomless minibars) and the Rojo, an opulent new dining venue a Spanish-Mexican tapas restaurant. All of which is perfectly complemented by the Brilliant Lady’s onboard running track and ultra-modern Redemption spa with its seaweed wraps and saunas.

Princess Cruises’ Star Princess

With its stunning sphere-of-glass Piazza which offers panoramic views of the ocean, Princess Cruises’ Star Princess elevates cruise ship design to a whole new level. Their all-new Cabana mini suites have the finish of a top-end hotel room, and the Arena brings Broadway-standard shows to the waves.. The ship’s many speciality restaurants - which includes an impeccably designed Umai Teppanyaki - are all also aesthetically on point. Perfect for design and foodie lovers.

Entertainment reimagined

Across the different operators there is a huge range of options with feelgood shows and Broadway hits on some lines, floating EDM music festivals on others. But these days, there are also subtler, more cultured options. Atlas Ocean Voyages operates three expedition-style yachts, all of which host fewer than 200 guests guaranteeing an intimate atmosphere. As you travel from one fascinating destination to another on their ships, you can attend enriching lectures on the sites you’re visiting delivered by experts in their field from museum curators to Fellows of the Geological Society of London.

Behind the scenes on set of the new World of Cruising TV series (World of Cruising TV)

The ships themselves are constantly evolving. In our side bar, we look at two of the standout launches of 2025 – Princess Cruises’ Star Princess and Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady – both of which offer incredible levels of onboard luxury on proper bucket list itineraries.

Across the operators, options range from long lazy sails through the sun-kissed Caribbean and European river cruises rich in history, to thrilling adventures on the edge of the Arctic Circle. The only question now is: where will you go?

For a deeper dive into the cruise revolution and why you should make your next adventure a cruise adventure, don’t miss the new series of World of Cruising TV, featuring Marella Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Princess Cruises, Riviera Travel, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Havila Voyages. VisitWorld of Cruising TVto find where to watch series three. Offers ends 31 October2025.