On the finish of 1 12 months and the start of the subsequent there’s at all times quite a lot of protection within the media about journey developments. And naturally they’re usually targeted on locations. In a single checklist of “sizzling” locations, Forbes Journey Information tells us that massive occasions just like the Formulation 1 race in Monaco makes its checklist of high locations (we’re forward of Forbes on that one, see why). Greece’s Athens Riviera, simply ten miles south of Athens (and an ideal pre- or post-Greek Isles keep) makes the reduce. Amsterdam celebrates 750th anniversary in 2025.
Numerous the “new” developments for 2025 that I’ve come throughout over the previous few weeks aren’t all that new. Reserving.com tells us that the child boomer era (individuals born from 1946 – 1964) is extra in “high-octane adventures” for the extra adventurous amongst us however our itineraries, significantly within the Caribbean, Tahiti and Central America/Panama Canal have lengthy featured active-focused shore tour menus.
We do love Expedia’s “phenomena checklist” which, once more, isn’t a brand new idea, however highlights some actually cool lures of sure locations, like Iceland’s lava fields and black sand seashores; we’d add that our August 2026 “photo voltaic eclipse” voyage (pictured above) round Iceland goes to be particular.
Extra than simply specializing in stylish, in-demand locations to go to in 2025, nonetheless, we’re seeing that vacationers are intrigued by experiences and journeys that permit explorations in new methods, not simply in 2025 but in addition for a number of years to come back. We turned to Jess Peterson, Windstar’s director of vacation spot expertise & itinerary planning, who stays up on shifts and adjustments as he and his crew at the moment are planning itineraries and laying the groundwork as far forward as 2028 (solely our voyages by June 2026 have been introduced, so watch this house!).
“Whether or not it’s visiting a brand new place or reconnecting with a much-loved vacation spot, one pattern we’re seeing amidst our personal vacationers is the need to expertise journey with contemporary eyes,” he tells me. Particularly, right here’s how Windstar is evolving its personal voyages by 2027.
Second cities
Final 12 months, there have been quite a lot of journey headlines that targeted on over-tourism, particularly (however not restricted to) in Europe, the place demonstrations (and hiked charges for guests) occurred in locations reminiscent of Barcelona, Santorini, Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Venice and extra. Peterson says that as his crew develops new itineraries, it’s trying more and more at “second cities.”
Whereas Windstar nonetheless does sail out and in of main locations, lesser-known locations in comparatively shut proximity provide vacationers a brand new twist. “Milos, in northern Greece, is a good instance,” he says. “It’s a lot much less crowded, very lovely and our company who’ve visited actually prefer it. Reggio Calabria, the toe of Italy’s boot, is kind of new to Windstar, and will get only a few cruise calls. In Asia, now we have a robust Japan program that visits many “second cities” there along with Tokyo and Kyoto. We’ll even be increasing to Vietnam and Thailand.”
It’s not simply the place you go, it’s when
My finest journey in the previous few years was a then-new providing from Windstar – a late winter crusing from Rome’s Civitavecchia to Barcelona, through Florence, Good, and Marseilles. I’d been to all of those cities earlier than throughout extra standard journey months in spring, summer season and fall. Winter was particular; temperatures have been moderately comfy, crowds have been sparse, and since it wasn’t excessive vacationer season, I felt like I used to be having extra of an area expertise. I joined residents in visiting artwork museums and galleries, and indulging in lengthy, lazy lunches at locals’ trattorias, bistros and markets. In actual fact I liked the expertise a lot I signed as much as cruise from Venice to Rome (through Croatia and Sicily) in January of 2025. I can’t wait to see these a lot liked locations by contemporary seasonal eyes.
Windstar’s year-round schedule of Mediterranean sailings has expanded in 2025 to incorporate the Iberian peninsula and the Adriatic; the chance to discover coastal Christmas markets in the course of the festive season is one other lure.
Longer journeys, extra flexibility
As many vacationers in the present day are selecting extra versatile work schedules, slicing again on career-long obligations or retiring altogether, taking longer journeys, consisting of disparate elements, is extra standard.
“One pattern we’re seeing amongst our company is a twist on back-to-back cruising,” Mathy Wasserman, a accomplice in Flying Giraffe Journey, tells me. Cruise strains are nonetheless creating “back-to-backs” that may be booked as seven, 14 or 21 days with out visiting the identical port twice. What’s new, she tells me, is that purchasers (and their trip planners) are cobbling collectively a choice of experiences that each one join. Some are beginning off their European holidays with a cruise, then flying to a close-by vacation spot for a villa rental expertise, after which hopping again onboard.
You don’t need to plan every thing individually, both. Windstar lately launched a brand new tour possibility that mixes a Tahitian cruise with a keep on the magnificent Brando Resort.
New approaches in standard cruise areas
Possibly you’ve traveled to Rome, Naples, and Venice plenty of instances. However have you ever ever skilled Italians’ holidays on the seaside in summer season? Peterson says that Windstar has created a brand new itinerary, roundtrip from Rome, that gives a beach-oriented journey, visiting locations reminiscent of Corsica and Sardinia and increasing the alternatives for the ships’ marinas to be open.
French Polynesia is one other wherein Windstar is creating new experiences, including journeys to the unique Marquesas and one other to Fiji and the Prepare dinner Islands that may be itineraries in their very own rights – and likewise be mixed with Society Island sailings.
And for those who assume you’ve been there and executed that on a Canada/New England cruise, a brand new alternative opens up in autumn of 2026 with an intensive 14-night Newfoundland cruise, working from Montreal.
The place are you hankering to journey or, higher but, what sorts of journeys are you contemplating
For his half, Peterson, who simply returned from an itinerary planning journey to Vietnam, can’t wait till that itinerary can be finalized for 2027. “It’s model new,” he says, “and I can’t wait to expertise it – this time as a passenger.”
What about you? The place will you go this 12 months and subsequent? Will you journey in another way (multi-generational, honeymoon, or a phenomena crusing ) — or all three? Please share your plans within the feedback under.
