30 Cruise Ship Trips to Consider in 2018

Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Bliss will be the largest-ever cruise ship to sail to Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau this year. A pair of double-decker observation lounges will make the classic route even more scenic.

Adding to the allure of Havana, Cuba alone, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering 7- and 9-day Caribbean sailings that tack on bonus stops to both its private islands-Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

New this year on Paul Gauguin Cruises are 7- and 10-night Polynesian itineraries that exclusively feature Vairao, Tahiti Iti and its beautiful cliffs, caves, waterfalls, seas and beaches, as well as deep-sea fishing, surfing and scuba diving.

For those who enjoy fine wine and traveling, AmaWaterways has over 50 European itineraries in 2018 hosted by North American winemakers, winery owners and penologists. The Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace regions as well as Moselle and Rhine valleys are included.

Combining the family-friendly knowhow of Disney with the river cruising expertise of AmaWaterways is Adventures by Disney sailing down the Rhine. France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands come alive with character on "Beauty and the Beast"-themed voyages.

Adventures by Disney is also offering land extensions to Disney Cruise Line sailings from San Diego. Three-night packages add behind-the-scenes tours of The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Archives, Disneyland Resort and more.

If you've never sailed with Disney Cruise Line and are curious to try, short two-night getaways from San Diego offer a great taste including Pirate Night festivities plus a day visit in Ensenada, Mexico.

American Queen Steamboat Company is showcasing new American Duchess itineraries along the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, plus the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River. A featured route from Louisville to Cincinnati is already sold out but plenty of others remain.

New for Emerald Waterways is its 11-day Sensations of Southern France & Nice circuit along the Rhone River. Guests sailing aboard a modern Star-Ship visit Lyon, Chalon-Sur-Saone - Beaune, Macon, Tournon, Avignon and Arles before departing for Nice.

Holland America Line just announced its latest EXC In-Depth Voyages ranging in length from 12 to 34 days to the exotic locales of French Polynesia, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, South America and beyond.

For something just shy of a world cruise conveniently roundtrip from Los Angeles, Holland America Line's 82-day Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage visits destinations in Russia, Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa.

Offering its own Grand Voyages is Oceania Cruises with the likes of the 85-day Epic Encounters voyage aboard the line's latest acquired Sirena. Highlighted destinations include Bermuda, Spain, Portugal, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and more.

For a genuine world cruise in 2018, many have either already embarked or are sold out, but Princess Cruises' 106-day one roundtrip from Sydney, Australia still has availability. The Sea Princess will head as far as Reykjavik, Iceland.

Princess Cruises is also one brand to feature sailings through the newly enlarged Panama Canal. The sizable Caribbean Princess makes the journey roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale through the fresh Agua Clara Locks' bigger passage.

Quark Expeditions may ordinarily be considered for cruises, but it also offers an 8- or 10-day shoreside itinerary in the Canadian Arctic at Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge on Somerset Island, Nunavut. Featured points of interest include the Northwest Passage.

Riviera River Cruises is quickly making itself known thanks to a pair of new itineraries geared towards solo travelers. These 8-day routes sail the Danube, Saone and Rhone rivers free of single supplements.

A Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours voyage is already something special, but its new National Geographic River Cruises make them even more so. As such, already popular itineraries such as the Danube Christmas Markets sailing are further enhanced with historical experts.

For its 30th anniversary, Seabourn will explore Europe more than ever before, making over a dozen maiden calls. New to the luxury cruise line in 2018 will be Hamburg, Wismar and Bremerhaven, Germany; Szczecin, Poland; Turku, Finland and more.

Its eastern and western Caribbean circuits may be relatively common, but MSC Cruises' roundtrip itineraries from Miami offer the chance to sail on one of this year's most praiseworthy new ships-the MSC Seaside.

Silversea has officially converted its original Silver Cloud for luxury expedition cruises, and Antarctica is now part of its schedule. That means guests can travel to one of the most remote areas of the globe from Ushuaia in greater comfort.

Windstar Cruises will be making its long-awaited return to Alaska with Signature Expeditions aboard the Star Legend. The sleek intimate yacht will visit favorites like Juneau and Ketchikan but also less-frequented ports such as Wrangell, Haines and Metlakatla.

If a replica coastal steamer is more your speed, UnCruise Adventures' timeless S.S. Legacy also offers expedition cruises to Alaska between Seattle, Sitka and Juneau. Guests can kayak immediately off the ship in secluded bays and inlets.

Newly scheduled to come online for Crystal River Cruises this year are the luxurious Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel. Debussy will sail between Amsterdam and Basel, and Ravel between Basel, Budapest and Vienna.

One of Viking Ocean Cruises' signature Norwegian routes is Into the Midnight Sun north to Honningsvag with stops at Bergen, Geiranger, Molde, Tromso, Lofoten and more in the beautiful British Isles along the way.

Still continuing strong where it started is the Viking River Cruises brand with its original Waterways of the Tsars itinerary in Russia. After four days in Moscow, highlights include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kuzino, Kizhi, Mandrogy and four days in St. Petersburg.

It doesn't get much more convenient for Californians than a roundtrip Alaskan cruise from Long Beach courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. A special 14-day Carnival Journeys sailing goes to Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and more.

Carnival Cruise Line is sailing its larger Carnival Splendor from Long Beach following the port's recent redevelopment. More guests can be processed through for weeklong sailings to the Mexican Riviera in anticipation of the new Carnival Panorama coming in 2019.

Cunard's transatlantic itinerary may go nowhere besides from point A to point B. However, it remains the traditional route of vintage ocean liners for those who prefer not to fly and relish relaxing sea days on the Queen Mary 2.

Another reason to cruise to Alaska this year is Regent Seven Seas Cruises' enhanced Seven Seas Mariner. Following a major refurbishment, the ship will showcase up to 11 nights between Vancouver and Anchorage (Seward) with less common stops at Kodiak.