Normalizing Cuba-U.S. diplomatic relations creates new business opportunities for both countries. Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, is announcing it received permission from the U.S.

Walter Christen's insight:

Carnival Cruises received approval to set sail to Cuba starting May 2016

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Burma is an enchanting land in the middle of a transformation. After decades of harsh rule under a military junta, the Burmese people are riding a wave of optimism as the country, also known as Myanmar, transitions toward a more open relationship with the Western world, and a new government promises more political and economic freedoms.  I was lucky to visit Burma during an adventurous Irrawaddy River cruise with Avalon Waterways on its new ship Avalon Myanmar. It was an amazing experience, seeing a land with such a unique history and people unfailingly friendly and welcoming. Most Burmese people are as interested in new visitors to their little-seen farming and crafts trade villages as we are in seeing how they live and their proud traditions.

Walter Christen's insight:

An Avalon Waterways river cruise aboard the Avalon Myanmar is great way to see and experience the culture and people of Burma/Myanmar. Fascinating sites and history make this a must see region for the adventurous cruise traveler.

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The sailings will have an emphasis on food, wine, culture and history as well as the Lindblad staples of nature and the environment.

JD Lasica's insight:

You know, there's adventure travel, and then there's the kind of adventure that's really about immersing yourself in local cultures. I'm not so big on spotting walruses in the Arctic. But I do love a great cultural odyssey with guides who know the local landscape. And Lindblad knows how to do it right.

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Continuing its trend of groundbreaking news, the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line will return to the famed Northwest Passage in August 2017. Beginning August 15, 2017, Crystal Cruises’ award-winning ocean ship, Crystal Serenity, will sail a 32-day expedition-style voyage traversing the Arctic Ocean from Anchorage/Seward, Alaska to New York City via the legendary route (500 miles north of the Arctic Circle), first completed successfully by Roald Amundsen more than 100 years ago. The announcement comes shortly after the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line’s plans to reposition Crystal Serenity’s 2017 voyages during the spring and summer to Alaska and coastal itineraries.

The booking window opens on March 7 with all-inclusive “Book Now” fares starting at $21,855 per person, double occupancy, if booked by April 29, 2016.

“We are thrilled to offer intrepid luxury travelers a second opportunity to explore this historical sea passage,” said Crystal’s CEO and President Edie Rodriguez. “Given the tremendous response to our inaugural Northwest Passage sailing in 2016, it’s clear that discerning travelers continue to value rare and memorable experiences as much as they prize unmatched luxury.”

Walter Christen's insight:

Crystal Cruises expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage is a adventure I would love to do.  Imagine cruising on the luxury cruise ship Cystal Serenity, to a place that most people have not been to.

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Wow! Today luxury cruise line Silversea announced a new chapter in luxury cruising with its 2018 Couture Collection, an exclusive series of ocean and land adventures custom-designed for discerning and adventurous travelers.

The offering includes nine pre- and post-cruise land programs of five to 11 days in length designed to provide authentic and immersive travel experiences in the most remote and untouched regions of the Earth.

One of my editors took an Alaska cruise this summer and was bummed out about the excruciatingly slow and sometimes non-existent, Internet service on the ship.  So he did what many of us do, went to port in search of cyber cafes to do his business and posting.

Slow Internet service on ships has caused me to be less than ladylike as I try to file articles and photos while watching that little circle spin around and around or get the dreaded "Internet Connection Not Available."

Viking today announced it took delivery of Viking Sun, the company’s fourth ocean ship. The delivery ceremony took place when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

On Oct. 4, 2017, Viking Sun will set sail on her maiden voyage, sailing from Venice through the Adriatic and Ionian seas. In early November, Viking Sun will cross the Atlantic to sail fall itineraries. On Dec. 15, the ship will embark on Viking’s first-ever word cruise. Over the course of 141 days, Viking Sun will journey around the world, visiting 35 countries and 66 ports, before the itinerary ends in London on May 5, 2018. In 2019, Viking Sun will continue to sail the globe on a recently announced second world cruise, which spans 128-days, five continents, 21 countries and 44 ports with 10 port overnights.

What are the world's largest cruise ships? Whether you measure by gross metric tonnage (a measure of volume, not weight) or number of passengers, you'll come up with a similar top 10 list.

Cruiseable's Ship Discovery Tool lets you sort more than 400 ships by size (largest, smallest), age, ratings, passenger to crew ratio and roominess index. But for a quick at-a-glance look at the big ships as well as a summary of highlights, it's hard to beat this infographic from Nature’s Water, providers of water treatment systems in Ireland. Feel free to download and share (and click the infographic to enlarge it).

Here are the World's 10 Largest Cruise Ships:

It’s time to plan your next cruise with our annual list of some of the best ships to set sail this year. We’ve pulled together a panel of experts — including Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine; Jason Leppert, editor of PopularCruising.com; and Anne Campbell, editor of CruisingFromNewYork.com and ShipCriticBlog.com — to help choose our coveted Travel’s Best Cruises. See what cruise lines were picked for specific categories such as Best Caribbean Cruise, Best Luxury Cruise, Best Mediterranean Cruise and Best Theme Cruise. And find out which cruise ship made our list for the second year in a row.

In between taking careful peeks at the solar eclipse today, you may want to try to find time to check out some new offerings from the major cruise lines. Look for ocean cruises with winemakers, a South Seas sailing to a new destination, river cruises along the Mekong, a preview of a venue on 2018's Celebrity Edge that changes throughout the day and more. 

New itineraries

Mike TaylorThe northern lights dance over a hillside village in Norway as seen from a cruise ship on the coast.

Viking Sky chases the Northern lights

Oh, those Northern Lights, always a lure for cruisers who love to chase romance in the sky. Viking Ocean Cruises is delivering with a new ocean cruise itinerary that allows guests the rare opportunity to explore the far north during Norway’s winter — peak time for those majestic illuminations that slash across the night sky. Come January 2019, the 13-day “In Search of the Northern Lights” itinerary will begin sailing between London and Bergen on the 930-passenger Viking Sky.

One of my most fantastic experiences was a cruise that included three wet and wild days at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival (or Carnaval) in Rio is surreal. It is one nonstop party where even Rio's infamous pickpockets take time off.

Well, you can indulge in the wild wonders of Carnival in Rio on Silversea's new, enchanting Silver Muse, which is heading south from Ft. Lauderdale on a 69-day Grand Voyage on Jan. 3, 2018 (which is coming up soon, believe it or not).

Viking Cruises on Tuesday announced it has expanded its portfolio of partnerships with premier cultural institutions, with a summer season of events around the country. Viking has signed on to sponsor the United States tour of the acclaimed English boys choir, Libera, and the Ballet Sun Valley international festival this summer. The company has also extended its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl for the fifth consecutive season.

These new partnerships build on Viking’s commitment to drive cultural insight and personal enrichment, with current partners that include National Geographic’s “Genius,” PBS’ Masterpiece, TED, The Metropolitan Opera, BBC, Highclere Castle, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Oslo’s Munch Museum and St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, among others.