Holland America wants travelers to live on a cruise ship for 4 ½ months while it sails to 39 countries on all 7 continents — see what it'll be like

Tech Insider : Travel
Holland America Line's Zuiderdam
Holland America Line says its 2026 Grand World Voyage will sail to 47 ports in 39 countries on all seven continents.

Holland America Line

Royal Caribbean's CEO said its massive new ship was designed for Instagram. I saw 9 things on board that make it a social-media sensation.

Tech Insider : Travel
Icon of the Seas' water park
Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's president and CEO, said Icon of the Seas has "Instagrammable moments" that generate "FOMO" from guests' friends and family, in turn driving more bookings.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

We took trips on a year-old Norwegian Cruise Line ship and a 25-year-old one. The differences show the evolution of the industry.

Tech Insider : Travel
The Norwegian Sky next to the Norwegian Prima.
The newer Norwegian Prima (bottom) is larger with more grandiose amenities compared to the older Norwegian Sky (top).

Norwegian Cruise Lines

I got a peek at the new adults-only area at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay. I'm sure it'll become a smash hit on the $350 million private island.

Tech Insider : Travel
Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay's Hideaway Beach's with guests lounging under umbrellas
Royal Caribbean launched Hideaway Beach, the new adult-only section of its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in January.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

My $540-a-night cabin on the world's largest cruise ship was shockingly small and disappointing

Tech Insider : Travel
Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas' ocean-view balcony cabin's bed and living room
I'm not sure a family of four could happily coexist in the $3,790 per person ocean-view balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas cruise ship.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The world's largest cruise ship just launched, and Royal Caribbean's next giant vessel is only months away. See the upcoming Utopia of the Seas.

Tech Insider : Travel
Royal Caribbean's rendering of Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's rendering of its upcoming Utopia of the Seas shows a colorful mega-ship with amenities like a sports court and a surfing simulator.

Royal Caribbean International

I was one of the first guests on Royal Caribbean's $1,800-per-person Icon of the Seas. Nothing prepared me for what it was like on the world's largest cruise ship.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Icon of the Seas' outdoor decks
Royal Caribbean's giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship lived up to its equally giant hype — maybe in the worst way possible.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Royal Caribbean's cruises have never been this popular. Good luck booking one of its giant ships.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Royal Caribbean logo on Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Group has half as the number of available cabins in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time in 2023.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I was one of the first guests on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas — these are the 9 things you should know about what it's like on the world's largest cruise ship

Tech Insider : Travel
Icon of the Seas docked at port
I attended one of Icon of the Seas' preview cruises and spent most of my three nights lost and overwhelmed by its size and amenities.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I sailed on two Norwegian cruises — one that's $685 a night and one that's $130. Here's how I think they compare.

Tech Insider : Travel
Composite of a Regent Seven Seas Grandeur cabin and a Norwegian Prima cabin
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' traditional Norweigan cruise brand and ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas target the opposite travelers.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Subscribe to cruise-industry