Million Air Summer 2024

This image Holland America’s Volendam Below Panama Canal

LEADERS IN LUXURY CRUISES

Perpetual cruising

While I chose to spend my junior year of college in Spain eating tapas, a number of my friends opted for a 100-day-plus world cruise, a fl oating university called Semester at Sea. I envied them — their peripatetic classroom where every port, whether Delhi or Hong Kong or Lisbon, became a science laboratory, a language class, an art history tutorial, a treatise on culinary and lifestyle culture, and a fi tness opportunity as they ascended hilly towns or walked down long streets. Launched into what would become a lifelong love a ff air with global travel, these maritime students ate from a metaphorical bu ff et of destinations, capturing snapshots of life that no doubt transformed them forever. What a dream! And perhaps a missed opportunity for me and others who didn’t board that ship back in the day... Lucky for jet-setting grownups with a penchant for sailing voyages, you don’t have to be a student to ship out among the waves for some six months at a time. A plethora of luxurious cruises beckon with captivating itineraries, VIP amenities, peerless service, fi rst-class dining options and a range of onshore experiences so exclusive and so attuned to your adult life experiences, you’ll be glad you waited for these trips of a lifetime until you were older. Some perks? You’ll only unpack your suitcase once — and truth be told, an

able butler will likely be on hand to do that for you. You’ll be entranced by the sense of familiarity as weeks on board lead to new friends, deep connections and the fact that the bartender will mix your favorite cocktail as you walk through the bar’s door every evening. You’ll fall into your own rhythm, not feeling you have to push yourself to get your money’s worth and attend every lecture, cooking class or guided tour through a city. After all, you’ll have weeks to do things — sometimes it may feel right to just sit on your balcony with a book and gaze at the horizon. Providing a sense of belonging as assuredly and comfortingly as membership to a country club, extended cruises o ff eran automatic clique: fascinating friends

who share your passions. Finally, with itineraries that embrace in fi nitesimal

variety — imagine: stops in the South Paci fi c, Antarctica, Asia, Africa and South America — you’ll never be bored.

Perhaps most ideal for cruise devotees already smitten with the scene and its nomadic pace, long cruises can be extended by stringing together one world cruise after another. Who knows? Maybe you’ll cruise perpetually.

by Becca Hensley

HOLLAND AMERICA’S GRAND VOYAGE POLE TO POLE

NEED TO KNOW Round trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 133 days January 25, 2025-June 7, 2025 From $54,399, hollandamerica.com BESTFOR History and science bu ff s, pickleball players and those who enjoy a bit of bygone European allure Following a fi rst-of-its-kind route that fl owssouth north-south, this unique cruise rambles through the Panama Canal, down South America’s west coast to Antarctica, then explores the heart of the Amazon River. Next, it traverses the Atlantic to Africa, sails north to Europe, ascending the North Cape — then on to Iceland, Greenland and beyond. Vibrant capitals, historic landmarks and dramatic scenery comprise only part of this itinerary’s rewards.

mattress. Helmed by a private concierge, the suite includes complimentary pre-dinner canapes in suite, laundry service, priority boarding for tender ports and dinner reservations. Other perks for this suite include round-trip air credit to Fort Lauderdale, one complimentary shore excursion from The Collections of Holland America line, an en-suite liquor setup (four bottles) and a $500 Grand Mariner discount. ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Guests will be immersed in a variety of spectacular experiences including transit through the Panama Canal; an Antarctic expedition through the bays and islands of the Palmer Archipelago; visits to Easter Island and Machu Picchu; scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef; and key architectural moments, such as viewing the majesty of the Baroque in Portugal.

THESHIP A medium-sized ship with capacity for 1,432 passengers, the Volendam draws inspiration from gardens around the world — perhaps even Amsterdam’s tulip fi elds—with fl oral fabrics and large vases awash with stunning fl oral arrangements. It boasts pickleball courts, a fi tness center, the World Stage for riveting shows and plentiful shops. It also has three dining options: Pinnacle Grille, Canaletto and Lido Market. THE TOP SUITE Relax in the Neptune Suite, a haven with fl oor-to ceiling panoramic windows and a private veranda. An ample sitting room with a fold-out sofa for one extra guest invites repose, while a lower sleeping area holds a signature Mariner’s Dream bed featuring a Euro-Top