• Equinox, best known for its high-end gyms, plans to launch 33 luxury hotels over the next 10 years.
• Equinox Hotels' CEO said at least half will be in the US.
• Its pipeline currently includes coastal resorts and properties in Texas, California, and Hawaii.

Equinox is eyeing a country-wide expansion — not just with its gyms, but its hotels.

The luxury fitness giant operates a New York City hotel with plans to launch 33 more over the next 10 years. At least half will be in the United States, Chris Norton, the CEO of Equinox Hotels, told Business Insider, with properties in Texas, Northern California, and Hawaii already in the pipeline.

Expect a resort on the East Coast to be succeeded by another on the West Coast. Norton called Los Angeles, New York, and Miami "strategic priorities," followed by Nashville, Atlanta, Austin, and Detroit.

Internationally, in addition to an announced resort in Saudia Arabia's Noem development, Equinox Hotels' CEO said the company is now also considering locations in London.

Equinox is best known for its growing collection of more than 110 "fitness clubs," which start at $325 monthly — not including an initiation fee. Despite (or maybe because of) the hefty expense, its fit crowds, eucalyptus-scented towels, and Grown Alchemist-stocked bathrooms have created a cultlike following beloved by investors and affluent fitness buffs.

Expect the same wealthy and healthy tribe at its coming hotels.

At its six-year-old New York City property, guests have in-room supplement mini-bars, daytime and nighttime soaps, a trendy 60,000-square-foot gym, and access to spa treatments such as cryotherapy and IV drips.

Upstairs, they can feast on a fluke crudo and pasture-raised chicken at a trendy rooftop restaurant. Downstairs, they can see and be seen at the outdoor pool with barrel saunas and unfettered views of the Vessel.

"If you stay at the hotel, you can experience this entire universe of a multi-dimensional Equinox experience," Norton said.

The list of amenities has created a five-star go-to for travelers who want to eat, sleep, and breathe (four counts in, four counts out) the lucrative fitness and wellness world.

However, it's also why Norton estimates nine out of 10 of its future properties would have to be new builds.

Not many existing hotels have what the company is looking for: gyms averaging 30,000 to 40,000 square feet with pilates and cycling rooms that might otherwise sit empty between classes.

"The New York hotel has clearly moved and will continue to move Equinox into a luxury lifestyle brand versus a gym brand," the hotel brand's CEO said.

• Cruise lines advertise several promotions from January through March, known as wave season.
• Many premium cruise lines are promoting discounted fares and complimentary credits.
• This article is part of "Well Charted," a series for travelers planning cruise-bound adventures.

If you want affordable cruise fares and enough onboard credit to indulge in a spa day, consider wave season your vacation-at-sea Black Friday.

The cruise industry rolls out several promotions from January to March, known as wave season. Depending on the cruise line, these offers could involve discounts, free cabin upgrades, or hundreds of dollars' worth of credit.

The potential savings have become catnip for seafaring travelers, especially as strong demand raises cruise fares. Jason Liberty, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said on Tuesday that the company already had its strongest-ever wave-season booking week.

Deals such as 50% off Norwegian voyages and 60% off a second Royal Caribbean guest have already ended (though a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Business Insider it would have more wave-season promotions through March). But there are still plenty of discounts to choose from on higher-end cruise lines.

Which cruise lines are offering wave-season deals?

Holland America and Princess, Carnival's premium brands, are advertising discounts, complimentary cabin upgrades, and free fares for third or fourth guests in the same cabin (though Holland America requires they be under 18).

Royal Caribbean Group's Celebrity Cruises is promoting discounted itineraries and a discount of up to 75% on a second guest.

If you prefer higher-end cruise lines, Azamara, Cunard, and Explora are offering hundreds of dollars' worth of onboard credits.

Seabourn is promoting up to $1,000 worth of credit in conjunction with 15% off select sailings, while Regent Seven Seas is advertising a 20% discount on certain itineraries, complimentary suite upgrades, and discounted deposits.

Other ways to save on your next cruise vacation

There are other ways to find a bargain if you couldn't surf this year's early wave-season deals (or are too impatient to wait for more).

Holland America's standby cruise deal starts at $100 per person per day — though your sailing won't be confirmed until two to seven days before departure.

Companies such as Costco Travel, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean also offer discounted last-minute voyages year-round.

Finally, you could use a travel agent who might be privy to promotions you don't know about.

• Royal Caribbean Group's premium brand, Celebrity Cruises, is launching river cruises in 2027.
• Celebrity River Cruises' first 10 ships would sail in Europe.
• River cruising has exploded in popularity and the smaller ships are faster and cheaper to build.

Forget the Atlantic or Caribbean oceans — Celebrity Cruises hopes you'll consider cruising European rivers instead, helping its big bet on a growing and lucrative market segment.

The premium Royal Caribbean Group subsidiary plans to launch 10 river cruise ships starting in 2027, adding significant real estate and further diversity to its vacation portfolio.

The move isn't only to capitalize on the growing river cruise trend or to capture more of the European market, though that certainly won't hurt. Smaller ships — with their shorter, cheaper build times and faster deployments — can help the cruise giant keep up with skyrocketing demand for all types of cruises, from affordable to luxury and ocean to river.

"We could probably be the second-largest operator and it would be significantly less money than the Xcel 2 ship we just bought," Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts on Tuesday. (The first Celebrity Xcel ship, launching in November, cost $1 billion.) "It's not something that has a high barrier of entry on cost, but there is a higher barrier in terms of execution."

River cruises have been gaining popularity as travelers increasingly crave more intimate and upscale floating resorts. Demand has been so high that Viking — which operates more than 90 ships, mostly on rivers — started seeing low capacity for 2025 before the turn of the year.

Royal Caribbean has yet to release specific details about the coming 10-ship fleet, although it noted they would be designed similarly to Celebrity's contemporary Edge Class ocean vessels.

The cruise giant's CEO called river cruising a "fragmented market," which provides the company an opportunity to dominate with its established brand recognition and loyalty program.

Two of its most prominent competitors, Carnival Corp and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, do not oversee large brands in the industry. Instead, Celebrity's biggest rivals would be established and popular river cruise companies like Viking and Avalon Waterways.

2027 would be a defining year for Royal Caribbean. In addition to launching Celebrity River Cruises, it would also be the year the company inaugurates its Perfect Day Mexico private resort and a fourth Icon Class mega-ship.

• Some cruise lines are sailing to places the US State Department has advised against visiting.
• The US has destinations like Haiti, Honduras, and Sinaloa, Mexico, at a "Level 4: Do not travel."
• Industry group CLIA said cruise lines work with security experts and governments to assess their routes.

The warm, palm-tree-dotted beaches of Royal Caribbean's private Haitian resort, Labadee, accommodate thousands of eager cruisers every year.

But a six-hour drive away, near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, the situation couldn't look more different.

The Federal Aviation Administration has halted US airlines from flying into Haiti's primary airport, which the State Department calls a "focal point for armed activity." Amid continuing civil unrest, the US advises against travel to the Caribbean country, warning of robberies, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings, including of American citizens.

Royal Caribbean paused voyages to Labadee for seven months in 2024. But some of its larger ships have since returned — despite the country remaining at the State Department's most severe "Level 4: Do not travel" advisory.

Royal Caribbean has maintained Labadee's safety, telling CruiseHive in late 2024 that the property has private security and minimal crime. (The cruise line did not provide Business Insider with a comment about Labadee.)

Like Royal Caribbean, popular vacation-at-sea companies like Carnival, Norwegian, and Princess also continue sailing to destinations where the US has a Level 4 or Level 3 travel advisory, such as Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, and several Mexican states.

To understand why, you have to read the notices' fine print.

The State Department advises reconsidering travel to Honduras due to heightened levels of violent crimes and gang operations. However, it notes there are more resources and improved policing in tourist areas like Roatan — home of Carnival Corp's Mahogany Bay Cruise Center port.

As such, cruise lines like Celebrity, Princess, MSC, and Oceania all have Roatan itineraries scheduled for 2025.

Similarly, the US government recommends avoiding travel to the Mexican states of Colima and Sinaloa. But the advisory says federal employees can travel to specific tourist areas in Mazatlan, Sinaloa and Manzanillo, Colima — where cruise lines like Norwegian and Princess would sail to in 2025. (Royal Caribbean and Carnival currently don't offer Manzanillo itineraries.)

A spokesperson for the trade group Cruise Lines International Association told BI that its companies "prioritize safety and security in all of their operations and closely monitor all planned routes, including working closely with global security experts and government authorities."

If needed, itineraries are adjusted to comparable ports, they said.

Of course, not all travel advisories are created equally.

The US has the Bahamas at Level 2 — "exercise increased caution" — due to crime on two of its most popular islands, Grand Bahama and New Providence (home to Nassau).

Yet, the Caribbean country continues to be a popular vacation destination — potentially even more so by the end of the year.

Several cruise giants have been expanding their private port portfolio throughout the two Bahamian islands. Carnival is currently building a $600 million resort, Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama, while Royal Caribbean's coming Royal Beach Club Paradise Island would be a short drive from New Providence.

Both are expected to debut in 2025.

• The Port of Galveston, Texas' only cruise port, expects to accommodate 419 cruise ships in 2025.
• The port had previously exclusively handled cargo and almost filed for bankruptcy in the 1990s.
• Its CEO explains how the influx of cruises spurred an economic turnaround.

In the 1990s, the 200-year-old Port of Galveston almost filed for bankruptcy.

It expects to earn $84 million in 2025, a 6.4% increase from the previous year.

It's an incredible turnaround. And the port's director and CEO says it's all thanks to cruises, which began to spike in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic

The Texas port spent $53 million expanding Carnival's cruise terminal in 2023, a year after Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million terminal. A fourth new, $156 million terminal is set to open for Norwegian and MSC's ship in November.

Galveston expects to accommodate 419 cruises in 2025, a more than 25% increase from three years prior — making it the fourth busiest cruise port in America.

"There was a time we didn't have enough money to make payroll," the CEO, Rodger Rees, told Business Insider. "Luckily, the money came in, but they were that tight at times."

Prior to the turn of the century, Galveston had exclusively been a cargo port. By the 1990s, its decades-old (in some cases, century-old) infrastructure had been in dire need of repair — with money that cargo alone wasn't generating.

"The port really didn't have anything going on 25, 30 years ago," Rees said. "It was like a ghost town out there."

That is until it began pursuing vacation-at-sea companies, which subsequently spurred a much-needed economic windfall.

"I've been selling Galveston to MSC for five years at least," Rees said. "Becoming a cruise port turned this port around."

In the shadows of the cruising limelight, the port still continues to receive cargo (primarily vehicles and parts for New Mexico's coming wind farm, set to become the largest in the US).

However, crucial infrastructure still needs a makeover. For example, the slips have become too small for today's larger cargo ships and were damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

To address this, the port is now using money from its flourishing cruise business — which accounts for 65% of its revenue — to finance its cargo-related renovations, set to be completed in early 2026.

It's a $100 million project, about $60 million of which is coming from its cruise revenue.

"Our best year that I've been here, we made $10 million in cargo business and $50 million in cruises," Rees said. "The cargo business has to really grow in order to keep up with the growth of the cruise business."

• The Port of Galveston, Texas' only cruise port, expects to accommodate 419 cruise ships in 2025.
• The port had previously exclusively handled cargo and almost filed for bankruptcy in the 1990s.
• Its CEO explains how the influx of cruises spurred an economic turnaround.

In the 1990s, the 200-year-old Port of Galveston almost filed for bankruptcy.

It expects to earn $84 million in 2025, a 6.4% increase from the previous year.

It's an incredible turnaround. And the port's director and CEO says it's all thanks to cruises, which began to spike in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic

The Texas port spent $53 million expanding Carnival's cruise terminal in 2023, a year after Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million terminal. A fourth new, $156 million terminal is set to open for Norwegian and MSC's ship in November.

Galveston expects to accommodate 419 cruises in 2025, a more than 25% increase from three years prior — making it the fourth busiest cruise port in America.

"There was a time we didn't have enough money to make payroll," the CEO, Rodger Rees, told Business Insider. "Luckily, the money came in, but they were that tight at times."

Prior to the turn of the century, Galveston had exclusively been a cargo port. By the 1990s, its decades-old (in some cases, century-old) infrastructure had been in dire need of repair — with money that cargo alone wasn't generating.

"The port really didn't have anything going on 25, 30 years ago," Rees said. "It was like a ghost town out there."

That is until it began pursuing vacation-at-sea companies, which subsequently spurred a much-needed economic windfall.

"I've been selling Galveston to MSC for five years at least," Rees said. "Becoming a cruise port turned this port around."

In the shadows of the cruising limelight, the port still continues to receive cargo (primarily vehicles and parts for New Mexico's coming wind farm, set to become the largest in the US).

However, crucial infrastructure still needs a makeover. For example, the slips have become too small for today's larger cargo ships and were damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

To address this, the port is now using money from its flourishing cruise business — which accounts for 65% of its revenue — to finance its cargo-related renovations, set to be completed in early 2026.

It's a $100 million project, about $60 million of which is coming from its cruise revenue.

"Our best year that I've been here, we made $10 million in cargo business and $50 million in cruises," Rees said. "The cargo business has to really grow in order to keep up with the growth of the cruise business."

• Cruise lines are increasingly sailing out of Texas' only cruise port, the Port of Galveston.
• Galveston saw a record 384 cruises and 1.7 million guests in 2024 — half a million more than in 2023.
• The port is located near Royal Caribbean's next two private resorts in Mexico.

Texas — known for chili, cowboys, and increasingly, cruises.

America's cruising culture is irrevocably intertwined with Florida. No other state has seven cruise ports, including the three busiest in the world, and an established grip on the nearby leviathan Caribbean cruise market.

What the Sunshine State doesn't have, however, is Galveston.

The historic and unassuming Texas island is home to the state's only cruise port. Yet, it's quickly become a crucial battleground as vacation-at-sea companies compete for travelers' hearts and wallets.

The Galveston boom

In 2022, Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million cruise terminal in the Galveston. A year later, the port invested $53 million in expanding Carnival's terminal, which now serves as the homeport for Carnival Jubilee, one of the cruise line's largest ships built specifically for the Texas market.

In 2024, the port saw a record 384 cruises and 1.7 million guests — half a million more travelers than the year prior.

Not much compared to the world's busiest Port of Miami, which saw 8.23 million passengers in 2024. However, while Florida's ports are near max capacity, Galveston's market is still quickly growing.

The Texas port plans to open a fourth $156 million terminal in November, which MSC and Norwegian will share. The launch would also mark the start of MSC's Galveston itineraries.

"Florida doesn't have many more terminals," Rodger Rees, the port's director and CEO, told Business Insider. "The market has been somewhat saturated."

Galveston does, however, have more space to expand — and with it, aspirations to someday surpass Florida's Port of Everglades as America's third most popular cruise port.

"These ships are going out of here full every Saturday and Sunday," Rees said — a significant accomplishment, given that Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, and MSC would all have some of their largest or newest ships sailing out of the Lone Star State this year.

For the port of Galveston, the local cruise boom has meant survival. The company almost declared bankruptcy 15 years ago, unable to generate profit from its aging cargo infrastructure, Rees said.

Now, the future is bright — in 2025, it expects to rake in $84 million, a 6.4% growth from the year prior, thanks to the growing vacation-at-sea business.

Bigger, better, and more convenient in Texas

Travelers in cities like Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City are a day's drive from Galveston. Houston and its two airports are only about an hour away — strategic, given that it's a shorter flight there than to Miami from metropolitans like Las Vegas, Chicago, and Phoenix.

Compared to Florida, "Texas is a similar-sized market that has half the penetration with a very similar propensity to cruise," Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in late October 2024.

As important, Galveston is also close to popular ports of call in east Mexico, eastern Caribbean, and Central America, including Norwegian's private island in Belize.

The location is similarly crucial for Royal Caribbean, which has two private resorts — Perfect Day Mexico and Royal Beach Club Cozumel — scheduled to open in Mexico in 2026 and 2027.

"Having assets like the Royal Beach Club will allow us to drive more of the Gulf Coast markets that can have an easier fly-cruise experience and lower cost," Liberty added.

Royal Caribbean's resorts — in conjunction with its Symphony of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships, sailing out of Galveston in 2026 — could continue to catapult its popularity.

"We're getting bigger and nicer ships here," the port's CEO said. "Why go all the way to Florida?"

• Venice Simplon-Orient-Express' new ultra-luxury sleeper carriage is set to debut in March.
• The L'Observatoire suite has a butler, a secret lounge, and a marble bathroom for $100,200 a night.
• Belmond's luxury train has seen a booking boom amid a revived rail renaissance.

A $100,200 check could change someone's life — or be just enough to cover their one-night stay in Venice Simplon-Orient-Express' L'Observatoire suite, debuting in March.

Luxury travel company Belmond operates a fleet of six trains. Rail enthusiast or not, you'll likely recognize its famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a 108-guest moving hotel with revamped century-old carriages that still retain the extravagance of the time.

It's this old glitz and glamour that has made the swanky train — and its forthcoming suite — a magnet for the growing luxury rail aficionado community.

Gary Franklin, Belmond's senior vice president of trains and cruises, told BI that reservations for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express spiked 10% from 2023 to 2024.

Its six Grand Suites are often the first accommodations to be booked, despite its starting price of £22,360 — about $27,310 — for one night. That's more than triple the cost of the train's basic cabins.

These suites, considered a bucket list for wealthy travelers, are the most luxurious accommodations on the train.

Come March, this title will be dethroned by the L'Observatoire.

The more than 330-square-foot suite would be the largest on the train, spanning an entire carriage.

Travelers in the lowest-tier cabins have to share a bathroom with other parties.

Meanwhile, guests luxuriating in the L'Observatoire would have their own freestanding bathtub, separate from the en-suite marble bathroom.

Take a soak while sipping a glass of Champagne — alcohol is complimentary.

French artist JR designed the restored carriage-turned-cabin.

As such, expect creative details in the bedroom, such as green scalloped walls and a round skylight with wood covers that pivot like a camera lens.

It's perfect for gazing at the night sky while lying on the double bed.

Spend your afternoons lounging in the living room.

Peruse the fully stocked bookshelf or take a catnap on the window-side daybed.

If you're more social — or don't feel like eating in the three dining cars — consider hosting a group of friends at the adjacent dining table.

The space can also be rearranged into a living room with couches. Your butler, available around the clock, can likely help you with this furniture jigsaw.

Play a few rounds of 'I Spy' as you look for hidden nooks and messages around the suite.

Look closely at the library to find a secret door. It will lead you into the "tea room," which is finished with a fireplace, another round skylight, and a miniature train model.

The Venice Simplon-Orient Express has 17 carriages — 18 when guests request this lavish suite.

The L'Observatoire carriage is available upon request for £82,000, or about $100,170, per night, according to Franklin.

Despite the steep cost, reservations have been "fantastic," he said, noting that it had been booked for nine nights — about halfway to its first-year expectations — as of mid-December 2024.

Not bad, considering that it costs more than a year's tuition at a private American college.

• Both luxury trains and around-the-world vacations have been in high demand.
• Railbookers combined both into a 59-day, 12-country itinerary that includes travel on seven luxury trains.
• Railbookers' CEO said the $124,150-per-person trip had a 4,000-person waitlist.

World cruises have been a hot commodity in the luxury travel industry. But if you're prone to seasickness (or don't have more than 100 PTO days to spend), Railbookers has a $124,150 alternative — by luxury rail.

The train-focused tour company's 59-day around-the-world vacation, departing in early September, includes travel on seven high-end trains to more than 20 cities and 12 countries.

Throughout the four-continent trek, globetrotters would go on a safari in India's Ranthambore National Park, cruise the Ganges River, and receive a private tour of the Louvre Museum — all while traveling in bucket-list trains such as Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

It's Railbookers' second year hosting a global itinerary, and travelers rail-y can't get enough.

Luxury trains have been in high demand over the last few years. This itinerary is no different.

Frank Marini, president and CEO of Railbookers Group, told Business Insider that the trip had a 4,000-person waitlist ahead of its launch. (BI could not verify this.)

"The demand was crazy," Andrew Channell, Railbookers' senior vice president of product and operations, told BI. "It's captured the imagination of a lot of people who said, 'I had no idea there was even a luxury train experience you could do there.'"

Some wanted to book the full journey, while others wanted to reserve various legs. Marini said the trip is expected to sell out.

Luxury train enthusiasts will likely recognize several in the itinerary.

The trip starts in Vancouver, Canada, and concludes in Singapore. Guests would travel on seven luxury trains along the way, including three nights touring Scotland on Belmond's Royal Scotsman, two nights sightseeing Italy on the soon-to-debut La Dolce Vita Orient Express, and three nights around South Africa in the renowned Rovos Rail.

Between sleeper trains, guests would spend 32 nights at premium hotels, including Fairmonts in Canada and The Imperial in New Delhi.

The itinerary also requires six flights, five of which aren't included in the price.

Excursions are, however, bundled into the $124,150-per-person cost. These activities include a private tour of Venice, Italy's Saint Mark's Basilica, a sunrise stop at the Taj Mahal, and the chance to see elephants and rhinos in South Africa's Pilanesberg National Park.

A more than $2,000-per-day vacation may not be the cheapest global travel option.

The individual trains on Railbookers' itineraries aren't known to be ultra-affordable.

Three nights on the Royal Scotsman in September (as the itinerary includes) goes for about $22,400 per person.

Similarly, a one-night Venice Simplon-Orient-Express trip from Verona, Italy, to Paris during the late-summer month starts at about $4,730 per person.

Around-the-world vacations have been a hit in the cruise industry.

Several premium cruise lines, such as Regent Seven Seas, offer annual global voyages.

The luxury cruise line's 132-night 2024 and 150-night 2025 world cruises were sold out in record times: three hours for the former and before bookings formally opened for the latter.

About one-third of the travelers who booked the 2025 itinerary — which started at $87,000 per person — were first-time Regent guests, signaling a growing demand for high-end extended itineraries, a spokesperson told BI.

Railbookers' per-day cost may be more than triple that of Regent's, but it's a great express option if you, like many other wealthy travelers, have several luxury trains on your travel bucket list.

• Wealthy travelers are increasingly seeking luxury train trips.
• The Glacier Express' luxurious Excellence Class seats are often the first on the train to sell out.
• A ticket for the eight-hour journey through the Swiss Alps costs about $540, ten times the basic fare.

Glacier Express' Excellence Class seats could turn any miserable 8 a.m. train commuter into Francis Bourgeois.

That is if you can afford it.

A ticket for the plush eight-hour journey through the picturesque Swiss Alps costs about $540, tenfold the price of the train's basic fare. However, the sweet seats may be worth the cost.

The Glacier Express operates one of the most beautiful train trips in the world. Plus, they come with trendy bragging rights — these seats have become a hot commodity.

Frank Marini, president and CEO of Railbookers Group, told BI that his train-focused tour company saw a 68% spike in luxury bookings from 2023 to 2024.

"It keeps snowballing," Marini said. "We see passengers that have come back traveling with us on a lot of luxury rail, and they're like, 'well, where else is there luxury rail?'"

The answer? Around the world and especially in Switzerland, which has become "immensely popular" for luxe train experiences, Andrew Channell, Railbookers' senior vice president of product and operations, told BI, adding that it's one of his favorite destinations.

In the Swiss Alps, you'll find a particularly popular pick — the Glacier Express.

The iconic train brings guests on an eight-hour journey between the resort town of St. Moritz and the base of the iconic Matterhorn in Zermatt.

Along the way, travelers pass through 91 tunnels and 291 bridges, providing a picturesque peek at the snow-capped peaks, majestic gorges, and popular tourist towns.

With views like these — and a fortuitously ongoing rise in "coolcations" — it's no surprise that the train is often sold out, a company spokesperson told BI in an email.

Demand for the Glacier Express' top-tier Excellence Class seats has been particularly strong.

A red carpet rollout and Champagne welcome the train's highest-paying guests to their eight-hour journey (at a window seat, of course).

Relish the Swiss sights as you dine on a five-course meal with a wine pairing.

Expect dishes such as smoked trout with roasted beets and horseradish cream cheese.

If the included booze isn't satisfactory, you could buy a drink at the crystal chandelier-topped Glacier Bars exclusive to Excellence Class guests.

These upscale seats ring in at 490 Swiss Francs, about $537, each.

It's a steep price compared to the cheapest seats, which cost CHF 49, or about $54.

Yet, the sumptuous accommodations — which see a 94% to 96% occupancy rate throughout the year — are often the first section to be reserved, according to the spokesperson.

The company saw more than 281,300 passengers in 2023, the strongest year in its more than 90-year history.

To keep up with demand, the Glacier Express increased its winter capacity in 2024, accommodating almost 290,000 guests. (It operates 1,820 trips annually, about 70% in the summer.)

After all, Disney's Matterhorn bobsleds likely don't compare to views of the real thing.

• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is among the most famous luxury overnight trains in Europe.
• The train's six grand suites start at about $30,800 and are often the first to be booked.
• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express grand suites have private bathrooms and extravagant decor.

Forget yachting in the French Riviera and skiing in Switzerland — the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express grand suites sit atop the wealthy traveler's bucket list.

The luxury travel company Belmond operates six trains. Perhaps its most famous is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, comprised of revamped 100-year-old carriages.

It's also among the most luxurious trains in Europe. The 108-guest moving hotel operates 44 routes in 17 cities, mostly in Europe. Prices start at about $8,850 for a cabin on its one-night journey from Venice, Italy, to Paris.

If you want to travel in the train's top-tier accommodation, you'll have to pay more than three times that price. A journey in a grand suite costs around £25,000, or about $30,800, Gary Franklin, Belmond's senior vice president of trains and cruises, told Business Insider.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express grand suites are the epitome of European luxury train travel.

Red carpets welcome all guests on their overnight journeys, complete with lavishly decorated vintage carriages, fine-dining restaurants, and jaw-dropping views of passing scenery.

However, only the grand suites offer guests luxurious amenities such as private showers and around-the-clock butler services.

It's worth it to many — the accommodations are "definitely a rich and famous-type bucket list item," Julie Durso, a Scott Dunn Private travel manager, told Business Insider in November.

Over the past few years, Belmond has seen a spike in demand for its trains. Franklin told BI that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has become especially popular, with bookings growing 10% from 2023 to 2024.

The train's flashy grand suites have concurrently piqued the interest of wealthy travelers — according to Franklin, they're often the first accommodations to be booked. And for good reason.

The train has 54 cabins, six of which are in the highest-end grand suites category.

The accommodations, first introduced in 2018, each have a unique design inspired by a city on the train's routes.

For example, the Venice, Italy-themed suite fuses Italian Baroque and Renaissance designs. Venetian furniture, vintage glass light fixtures, and a marriage of silk and woven fabrics fill the room with a historic Italian ambiance. The headboard combines arches and sharp edges, a nod to the country's Renaissance castles.

Similarly, the Budapest suite features Gothic and Ottoman architectural styles, with ornate marquetry and embroidered silk-patterned furniture. The tall, curved headboard recalls the cathedrals and mosques of the Ottoman Empire.

No matter the decor, all suites include a couch, closet, double bed, dining area, and en-suite bathroom.

Most of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express accommodations have shared restrooms without access to a shower.

But there's no need to share in the grand suites — the private bathrooms all have a rainfall showerhead, a glass-blown sink, and heated marble flooring.

The living room then separates the bathroom from the bedroom.

The train has three restaurant cars. Guests staying in these high-end accommodations can instead dine in the privacy of their suite and unwind.

Staying in the luxurious moving hotel room also includes welcome caviar, 24-hour butler service, and bottomless Champagne.

It's a good time to be in the luxury travel business.

Travelers are increasingly spending big for unique, high-end vacations.

To capitalize on this, Belmond added two grand suites to its Scottish train, the Royal Scotsman, in 2024.

The new accommodations were "exceptionally well-received," Franklin said — so much so that the company is now building more to debut in 2025.

• Disney Cruise Line's sixth ship, Disney Treasure, set sail in late 2024.
• Its most luxurious Tomorrow Tower Suite has a private elevator, four bedrooms, and a spiral staircase.
• The suite starts at about $57,440 for a family of four.

If you're a Disney cruise fan with a genie, consider using one of your three wishes on a stay in Disney Treasure's Tomorrow Tower Suite.

Otherwise, expect to pay more than $57,000 for the luxury marine penthouse.

Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Treasure, set sail in December 2024, marking the sixth vessel to join the entertainment powerhouse's fleet. Don't expect the company to slow down — its popular cruise arm plans to double its fleet over the next six years.

It's no wonder fans of the brand have been indulging in its floating theme parks. Treasure is filled with amenities referencing Disney films and rides.

If you fondly remember the Jungle Cruise ride, grab a drink at the themed Skipper Society lounge. If you're a "Zootopia" fan, grab an ice-cream cone from Jumbeaux's Sweets.

If you love Walt Disney World's Epcot, consider booking Disney Treasure's Tomorrow Tower Suite.

The two-story suite's unconventional art, metal accents, and glittering stained glass are callbacks to Epcot. It's also about 1,970 square feet, making it Disney Treasure's largest and most luxurious cabin.

With luxury comes a hefty price tag.

The ship is spending its inaugural year operating weeklong Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The suite starts at about $57,440 for a family of four (about $22,625 per adult and $5,660 per child), as per a sailing in late November.

To compare, inside cabins on the same voyage start at $7,330.

The price for the high-end Tomorrow Tower is relatively steep. Yet, it's already been booked for several of Disney Treasure's coming voyages.

The luxe accommodation is perched in the ship's funnel — off of a private elevator, no less.

The front door opens to a cozy living space with a lounge, dining table, and bar, all bathed in light from the adjacent two-story floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the ship's top deck.

Use the motorized sheer or blackout curtains for more privacy. Or, enjoy the sun with a pick-me-up from the coffee maker or a soda from the stocked bar.

Keep a chilled bottle in the bar's wine cooler and snacks in the pantry's refrigerator.

No need to hand-clean any post-grazing dishes — the expansive pantry also has a dishwasher.

Take the spiral staircase to the upstairs bedrooms.

The penthouse can sleep up to eight people with its two primary bedrooms (both with walk-in closets), a children's room with bunk beds, and a library with a queen mattress.

Expect a sumptuous slumber courtesy of the down duvets, 1,000-thread-count Frette cotton linens, and pillows of your choice, courtesy of the "pillow menu."

The living room and bedrooms all have their own TVs and bathrooms.

The primary bedrooms' restrooms are especially luxurious, outfitted with dual sinks, bathtubs, and rain showers.

No need to share — visitors can use the downstairs guest bathroom.

Guests also receive perks exclusive to those vacationing in the ship's Concierge-level cabins.

This includes a team to help book nursery or spa services and a private lounge with a pool and two hot tubs.

Ultra-luxury, one-of-a-kind suites have become popular picks in new floating resorts.

Similar to the Tomorrow Tower Suite, several of Royal Caribbean's new mega-ships have a distinctive two-story family suite with amenities like a slide, air hockey table, and butler-like Royal Genie.

The aptly named Ultimate Family Townhouse on the cruise line's one-year-old Icon of the Seas had been reserved for most of 2024 — for an average cost of $100,000 a week.

• Four Seasons' portfolio includes popular private jet tours and a coming yacht-like cruise ship.
• Its CEO said these alternative vacation options create a "halo effect" for its hotels and resorts.
• Some of its 2025 jet itineraries are sold out, and bookings for its 2026 vessel already look "very successful."

If Four Seasons' president and CEO, Alejandro Reynal, had it his way, travelers would be turning to the luxury hospitality company for vacations on land, at sea, and in the air.

About 80% of the luxury hotel brand's revenue comes from its renowned hotels and resorts, Reynal told Business Insider in late November 2024. However, over the past few years, the company has expanded its portfolio with extracurriculars such as private jet tours and cruises — all in a bid to keep high-paying customers within its travel network.

These extracurriculars create a "halo effect" for the brand, he said, complementing its core business while creating more avenues for maintaining relationships with loyal customers.

"How do we create this luxury ecosystem around the brand, and which businesses do we need or don't need to be in?" Reynal said.

For Four Seasons, that now includes the cruise business.

The luxury hospitality giant plans to debut its 95-suite, yacht-like cruise ship in 2026. Despite the wait, the company's CEO said bookings have already been "very successful," with about two-thirds coming from existing customers.

Travelers aren't booking it because they love cruises — they're booking it because they love the brand. "People were very favorable for us to pursue a Four Seasons experience at sea," Reynal said.

Renderings promise a sleek and luxurious vessel with 11 upcharged restaurants, a marina, and cabins up to almost 10,000 square feet, some with au pairs and security personnel. As such, suites during its first year in service currently start at $19,700 for a five-night voyage — about $3,940 per night.

Prefer to travel by air? Since 2015, the hospitality giant has also operated multiweek group jet itineraries with TCS World Travel.

Like a traditional at-sea cruise, the aircraft — a 48-seat Airbus A321LRneo — brings travelers on multi-country itineraries and overnight stays at the brand's properties, creating an end-to-end Four Seasons vacation that would entice any of its loyalists.

And enticed they have been. In 2024, the company's eight jet trips were almost sold out, Reynal said.

Several of its 2025 tours already have a waitlist. The few that don't start at $148,000 per person for a 13-day journey through Africa.

Reynal said the company was considering expanding the program with more itineraries of varying aircrafts or lengths.

"We have a high repeat rate of guests that stay with us or go through the private jet experience," he said. "We don't do it so much because of the revenue that it provides to the business. It's because it's a tremendous compliment to what we do as a brand."

Four Seasons is one of a few luxury hospitality companies diversifying their portfolios.

Aman, best known for its 35 ultra-luxury properties, plans to launch its 50-suite ship in 2027 in addition to the private jet tours it's been operating since 2013.

Similarly, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launched its first vessel, Evrima, in 2022. Its ships have since been considered a successful litmus test for the hotel-to-cruise pipeline, and it now expects to debut a third in July.

• Wealthy travelers are increasingly booking luxury train vacations.
• High-end suites often include amenities like bottomless Champagne, butlers, and private bathrooms.
• A night on Belmond's iconic Venice Simplon-Orient Express starts at about $4,370 per person.

Vintage luxury is making a comeback. Not just with clothes, but with a particularly beloved mode of transit — trains.

Set to debut in April, Italy's La Dolce Vita Orient Express would offer guests luxuries like a stylish lounge, Champagne buckets from Giobagnara (which can command more than $500 each), and meals curated by the chef of Rome's three-Michelin-starred La Pergola.

Expect dishes like calamari carpaccio and lamb with artichoke and truffle shavings — for lunch, no less.

"It's all a bit pricey, but we're determined to put all the finest stuff made in Italy on board this train," Samy Ghachem, the coming train's general manager, told Business Insider.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express is not to be confused with Belmond's iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, best known for its sumptuously restored century-old carriages. Both trains are helping lay the tracks for a revitalized rail renaissance characterized by surging demand and increasingly high-end amenities.

Luxury train bookings are going loco-motive

Train-focused tour company Railbookers had been experiencing double-digital growth before 2020. However, after the pandemic and the subsequent boom in "slow travel," popularity started going express.

Frank Marini, president and CEO of Railbookers Group, told BI that 2023 and 2024 have consecutively been the company's best-performing years, with no signs of slowing down. During this period, Railbookers also saw a 68% spike in luxury-level bookings.

"It keeps snowballing," Marini said. "We see passengers that have come back traveling with us on a lot of luxury rail, and they're like, 'well, where else is there luxury rail?'"

Unlike bus tours or flights, the vacation experience doesn't begin when you arrive at your destination. Instead, like cruises, it starts when passengers board.

And unlike their at-sea counterparts, trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel.

Plus, the amenities can be as lavish as a five-star hotel. Guests traveling Canadian Via Rail's Prestige Class have enhancements like a butler and a private bathroom with heated floors. Gold-level US and Canada's Rocky Mountaineer travelers get a dining room, an open-air viewing platform, and glass dome lounges.

On Belmond's Andean Explorer, based in Peru, suite guests slumber in 141-square-foot bedrooms with private bathrooms and lounges.

Such luxury comes at a cost, of course.

Andrew Channell, Railbookers Group's senior vice president of product and operation, estimates a typical multi-day luxury train trip, but not of the highest-end tier, could cost around $3,000 per person and day.

And then there's the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient Express, where a one-night journey from Venice, Italy, to Paris starts at about $4,370 per person for a basic cabin with a shared bathroom.

The train's most luxurious Grand Suites come with a private restroom (plus upgrades like bottomless bubbles) — for about four times the cost.

They are, after all, a "rich and famous-type bucket list item," Julie Durso, a travel manager for agency Scott Dunn Private, told BI.

Gary Franklin, Belmond's senior vice president of trains and cruises, told BI that reservations for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express spiked 10% from 2023 to 2024. The Grand Suites are often the first accommodations to be booked.

To adapt to this swell in demand, the train — which only accommodates about 100 passengers — now operates a longer season than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The popularity of train travel is seeing a renaissance," Franklin said, adding that bookings for Belmond's five — soon to be six — other trains also increased. This includes a 25% boost for the Royal Scotsman, which was almost fully booked through 2024. (A two-night roundtrip Edinburgh, Scotland journey on the high-end locomotive starts at about $5,940 per person.)

Full steam ahead on luxury

Popular commercial travel companies, like airlines and cruise lines, often offer cheap, low-tier options to capture more guests. Think interior cabins on cruises and basic economy seats on airlines.

Belmond is taking the opposite approach by enticing wealthy travelers with increasingly luxurious add-ons.

In 2024, the company introduced two Grand Suites to the 40-year-old Royal Scotsman. The addition was "exceptionally well-received," Franklin said — so much so that Belmond plans to add more in 2025.

The train had previously been updated in 2023 with a Dior-branded spa carriage, now also available on the recently relaunched Eastern and Oriental Express.

"We all lead these very frenetic lives," Franklin said. "This is an opportunity to slow down, look out the window at the incredible scenery, and come together with fellow travelers in a nice luxurious environment with great food and beverage."

Not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars for a night on Belmond's trains. However, the financial barrier isn't deterring travelers from their luxury vacation dreams.

According to Marni, all of Railbooker's conventional train bookings now include some touch of extravagance, such as a cabin upgrade, a night's stay at a high-end hotel, or an exclusive excursion. This "little luxuries" trend, as he calls it, only started a few years ago.

Or, if you're rail-y in the mood to splurge, you could request Belmond's new L'Observatoire suite. The skylight-lit moving hotel room spans the entire carriage — hidden tearoom and marble bathroom with a tub included — all for about $101,515 a night.

Sounds pretty train-quil, doesn't it?

• The CDC randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses.
• 27 cruise ships received a perfect score in 2024.
• Norovirus can spread quickly on packed vessels.

Not all cruise ships are created — or operated — equally.

In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 13 bacterial and viral outbreaks (mostly norovirus) on ships. However, not every floating resort is damned to become a floating petri dish.

Quite the opposite — in 2024, the public health agency awarded perfect sanitation scores to 27 vessels.

Norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, is the most common virus to afflict cruises. Crowded ships provide an ideal setting for the highly contagious bug to spread fast, often through contaminated water, food, surfaces, and people.

Just as quickly, it can ruin your vacation — the four predominant symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.

To help mitigate these incidents, the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program regularly inspects cruise liners and scores them from zero to 100.

The reviews — which include checking heavily trafficked areas like pools and children's activity centers — are random and unannounced.

Vermin and improperly stored food are big no-nos. In addition to the obvious, inspectors also look behind the scenes for more nuanced details, such as the dishwasher's water temperature and the frequency at which the pool's hair and lint strainer is disinfected.

The CDC has performed 151 inspections in 2024, including repeat inspections on 23 ships. The majority scored above 95, and 27 (listed below) have received perfect marks:

• Celebrity Apex — Celebrity Cruises (inspected November 10)
• Seven Seas Grandeur — Regent Seven Seas Cruises (inspected October 23)
• Norwegian Jade — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected October 21)
• Carnival Magic — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected October 13)
• Star Pride — Windstar Cruises (inspected September 29)
• Jewel of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 28)
• Serenade of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 10)
• Carnival Spirit — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected September 3)
• Zuiderdam — Holland America Line (inspected August 24)
• Viking Orion — Viking Ocean Cruises (inspected August 18)
• Seabourn Odyssey — Seabourn Cruise Line (inspected August 16)
• Norwegian Jewel — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected July 24)
• Oceania Regatta — Oceania Cruises (inspected July 24)
• Radiance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected July 21)
• MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises (inspected July 9)
• Norwegian Bliss — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected June 22)
• MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises (inspected May 26)
• Norwegian Sky — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected May 23)
• Brilliance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected May 16)
• Viking Polaris — Viking (inspected April 2)
• Celebrity Equinox — Celebrity Cruises (inspected February 25)
• Norwegian Breakaway — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected September 22)
• Norwegian Escape — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 27)
• Explora I — MSC Cruises (inspected January 25)
• Disney Fantasy — Disney Cruise Line (inspected January 24)
• Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises (inspected January 7)
• Norwegian Gem — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 2)

In 2023, 24 vessels racked a perfect score.

• Cruise lines are spending millions on private islands and ports exclusive to their guests.
• These private Caribbean properties are money trees for companies like Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
• In-house destinations are becoming increasingly necessary amid rising fuel costs and port restrictions.

About 140 miles east of Miami, Royal Caribbean's private Bahamas island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, receives thousands of eager families virtually every day of the year.

The cruise line and its competitors don't just own ships — they also have land-based portfolios. Across the Caribbean and in countries like Honduras and Belize, almost every major cruise company has snatched up and developed beachfront properties exclusively for their guests.

To travelers, these secluded ports of call are convenient, safe, and cherished: "The vast majority of people love the islands," Patrick Scholes, a lodging and leisure research analyst at Truist Securities, told Business Insider in March.

To cruise lines, they're cash cows. And now, maybe more than ever before, a necessity as operators seek out profits amid rising operating costs and ever-restrictive ports.

The industry is cruising into a private island renaissance

Cruise lines like Princess, Holland America, and MSC collectively own 17 ports and private destinations in the Caribbean (including properties still under development).

Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told analysts in 2023 that the CocoCay had seen robust demand, including from repeat travelers. As such, the financial returns on the $350 million investment have been "exceptionally high and significantly above its target," Naftali Holtz, CFO of Royal Caribbean Group, said a few months prior.

Given travelers' appetite, the cruise giant has continued to grow its splashy Bahamas getaway.

The most recent extension opened in January, adding the adult-only Hideaway Beach to CocoCay's 14-slide waterpark, upscale beach club, massive pool, and umbrella-lined beaches. Perfect Day Mexico is set to open in 2027.

Carnival is also growing its real estate portfolio — next with Celebration Key, a $600 million resort on Grand Bahama Island scheduled to open in 2025, and expansions to its private Half Moon Cay a year later.

Private ports have become a cruise line goldmine for three major reasons.

1. Fuel is expensive

Fuel is a major expense for the cruise industry. Fortunately, most Caribbean private destinations are only a night's sailing from Florida's major ports.

Amid rising fuel costs, it's easy to see why cruise lines are increasingly focusing their itineraries on these nearby stops.

In September 2023, Josh Weinstein — president, CEO, and chief climate officer of Carnival Corp — called the forthcoming Celebration Key a "win-win-win for the environment, our guests, and the people of the Bahamas," citing the property's proximity to its Florida homeports and the subsequent reduced fuel expenditure.

It could certainly be a "win" for travelers: In the same call, he told analysts that a guest-fronted fuel surcharge is "certainly not off the table."

2. Private destinations keep profits in-house

These private ports offer plenty of opportunities for guests to spend big. And with no need for third-party excursion operators, cruise lines can keep more profits in-house.

Before its debut, pre-cruise bookings for CocoCay's new Hideaway Beach surpassed the company's expectations, Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in October 2023.

Admission can cost up to $89 per person during peak season. Nearby, entry to the more exclusive beach club could be shy of triple that cost.

Even the otherwise complimentary parts of the island have splurge-enticing options like rentable cabanas and snorkeling gear.

Travelers content with a basic beach chair and the lunch buffet don't have to ball out on these up-charged luxuries. But they sure are hard to resist, especially as cruisers have become eager to spend more on their vacations.

For families, skipping CocoCay's waterpark could be as sacrilegious as skipping Disney World during an Orlando vacation, Scholes said. A day pass to Thrill Waterpark can exceed $100 per person — that's more than $400 down the drain for a family of four in one afternoon.

3. Some popular ports are saying 'no' to giant cruise ships

The world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, can carry 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew.

This sudden influx of travelers could overwhelm smaller destinations and their locals, like the more than 25,000 residents of Santorini, Greece, and 25,600 of Key West, Florida.

With concerns like pollution and over-tourism, it's no surprise the popular Greek island limits daily cruise visitors, while its Florida counterpart has faced a fraught battle to restrict cruise tourism.

They're not alone. Cities across the US and Europe have increasingly limited travelers coming by sea — either through size restrictions, daily visitor limits, or complete bans. This includes desirable ports like Juneau, Alaska, French Polynesia, and Venice, Italy.

Ironically, at the same time, mass-market cruise lines have continued to grow the size of their vessels — so much so that several of these new mega-ships are now simply too big to fit into some ports.

So, if you can't beat the ports, why not join them? Especially if you can outfit your private properties with dozens of profit-growing amenities.

• The CDC randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses.
• The average score of vessels in 2024 is 95.9 out of 100 — 85 or less is considered failing.
• The nine dirtiest ships scored between 86 to 89. Two others failed but passed in later reviews.

A "B" is considered a passing grade on most exams.

For cruise ships, scoring an 85 out of 100 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program review is considered a failure.

In 2024, the CDC reported 13 bacterial and viral outbreaks on ships. Most incidents were of norovirus, a highly contagious bug that quickly spreads through tainted food, water, surfaces, or people.

Best not to be a victim. Its main symptoms — vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain — can quickly ruin a vacation.

To mitigate these outbreaks, the CDC conducts random and unannounced sanitary inspections on cruise ships. The public health agency then scores the vessel from zero to 100, with outcomes of 85 or lower considered inadequate.

The review includes checking common spaces like pools and children's activity centers. Obvious issues like vermin and improperly stored food will cost points. As will subtler problems, such as buffet handwashing stations with lights less than 110 lux and produce stickers left where cleaned cooking equipment is stored.

The CDC has performed 151 inspections in 2024, including repeat inspections on 23 ships. The average score is about 95.9. 27 vessels achieved perfect marks, while two failed but later passed in later reviews.

Nine vessels didn't break into the 90s range, including Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's ultra-luxury Evrima:

1. Hanseatic Inspiration — Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, scored 89 (inspected October 28, previously received a 62 on September 29)
2. Carnival Elation — Carnival Cruise Line, scored 89 (inspected March 14)
3. Adventure of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International, scored 89 (inspected January 23)
4. National Geographic Sea Bird — Lindblad Expeditions, scored 88 (inspected July 25)
5. Carnival Miracle — Carnival Cruise Line, scored 88 (inspected April 21)
6. MSC Magnifica — MSC Cruises, scored 86 (inspected May 17)
7. Evrima — Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, scored 86 (inspected February 9)
8. Carnival Breeze — Carnival Cruise Line, scored 86 (inspected March 21)
9. Caribbean Princess — Princess Cruises, scored 86 (inspected March 20)

Crystal Serenity received an 89 on February 2 but was bumped to a 90 seven months later. Similarly, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise received a failing score of 83 on May 1 but passed a subsequent inspection with a 92 on July 2.

What the cruise lines have said

A spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd told Business Insider that Hanseatic Inspiration's initial lower score was a "very unfortunate incident" that didn't reflect the company's operational standards. "We have been consistently meeting strict hygiene requirements worldwide for many years with exemplary results," they said.

Following the inspection, the cruise line addressed the ship's "operational aspects" to meet its quality standards, as showcased in the vessel's follow-up passing score in October.

The spokesperson said lingering issues are "being addressed and will be completed in a timely manner," and the company will continue to improve its "quality management processes" particularly with regard to the requirements of the CDC."

Similarly, a spokesperson for MSC Cruises told BI in October it had implemented an "improvement plan" on MSC Magnifica according to the CDC inspector's suggestions. Many of the changes were immediate and only needed "minor" efforts, it said. The cruise line said that it believes Magnifica's score "is not a true reflection of the ship as it is today" and would "welcome any future inspection."

MSC noted that many of its ships frequently achieve above 90, including the MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seashore, which both received perfect marks in 2024.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Lindblad Expeditions, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and Princess Cruises didn't respond to a request for comment.

• I've been to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, three times.
• The cruise line has seen strong demand for voyages to the profitable resort-like port.
• Royal is set to debut three resorts through 2027 as it competes in the growing cruise-owned destinations market.

Royal Caribbean is poised to build a vast and highly profitable vacation network — driven not solely by its cruise vessels but by its land-based portfolio.

The company's planned three Icon Class ships are expected to launch through 2027, coinciding with the debut of its next three private ports: Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in 2025, Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, and Perfect Day Mexico in 2027.

At first glance, it may seem ironic for a vacation-at-sea company to invest millions into land-based destinations.

So, to understand Royal Caribbean's real estate conquest, look at the accomplishment of its first private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in October that its continued success can be partly attributed to its highest-rated port, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I've visited the in-demand destination three times since 2022. It's no surprise the 5½-year-old Bahamian retreat has become the inspiration for the company's quickly growing private port-folio.

I relish the thrill of ultra-planned, stress-inducing travel where my survival relies on Google Maps and Translate.

However, behind this superiority complex, I also secretly love indulging in a vacation.

Not an emotionally taxing trip — a mushy-brained break where I get to rot on the beach and indulge in frivolous luxuries like guiltless naps and sugary beverages.

That about sums up why cruisers love Royal Caribbean's private island.

Some travelers criticize CocoCay for being an inauthentic Bahamian experience. While true, and for better or worse, that was never its promise.

The island was designed as an extension of Royal Caribbean's ships — a beach resort on steroids.

CocoCay is best for travelers who crave the conveniences of an all-inclusive resort: secure confinement, glittery beaches, and easy food and beverage kiosks.

The island has options for every type of paradise-seeking traveler. And much like going on a cruise, there's no need for planning as part of your visit (save for excursions like entry to its beach clubs). It's all set out for you.

For kids, CocoCay has a waterpark, a zipline, a water playground, and easygoing activities like ping-pong tables.

For adults, the island has two pool clubs: a boozy Vegas-style party at Hideaway Beach and a pricier high-end retreat at Coco Beach Club.

For traditionalists seeking a no-frills beach day, CocoCay's sandy waterfront is lined with innumerable lounge chairs and slow-sloping banks.

Plus, the island feels relatively safe.

Several popular cruise ports are in destinations where the US Department of State has issued travel advisories, such as Mexico's Ensenada, Baja (Level 3 — "reconsider travel" ) and Manzanillo, Colima (Level 4 — "do not travel").

The agency also suggests travelers "exercise increased caution" when visiting the Bahamas, home of CocoCay.

Yet, the island felt like one of the safest places I've recently toured.

CocoCay is only accessible by Royal Caribbean Group's ships.

As such, the only people there are its staff and the ship's crew and guests.

My biggest fear there? Getting a sunburn.

That's great news for concerned parents traveling with children or folks who may have read one too many cruise-related horror stories.

Most importantly, for Royal Caribbean, it's a proverbial goldmine.

Travelers love splurging during their daylong visit. The island doesn't require third-party excursion operators, allowing Royal Caribbean to maximize these profits.

Sections like the waterpark and beach clubs cost money to enter, from about $100 per person for the former to upward of $300 for Coco Beach Club.

Free parts of the island also have eye-catching upgrades, such as snorkeling equipment and costly cabanas.

Expect more opportunities to spend big at Royal Caribbean's coming properties.

Liberty told analysts that the cruise giant is "very mindful of having sizable significant returns" as it relates to its private properties. (It recently acquired the land for Perfect Day Mexico for $292 million.)

The company is using what it learned from CocoCay to design the Mexico location, which would also have free and paid amenities.

The same can't be said for the coming Royal Beach Club Collection.

The inaugural Paradise Island resort would accommodate about 4,000 guests a day. All would have to pay to enter, which would it a strong revenue driver.

For travelers, CocoCay is convenient, safe, amenity-rich, and beloved.

For Royal Caribbean, the island is a source of demand and increased revenue.

These private ports are a win-win all around, although competition could soon be stiff.

Carnival Corp is also racing to expand its private port portfolio.

The competing cruise giant plans to debut its $600 million private resort, Celebration Key, in 2025 and expand its existing private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, in 2026. It's already selling 2026 itineraries that include both destinations, starting at about $350 per person for a four-day sailing.

• Four Seasons, Aman, and Ritz-Carlton are expanding their portfolios with private jet tours and cruises.
• The offerings are part of a strategy to keep enticing high-paying customers in 2025 and beyond.
• This article is part of "Transforming Business," a series on the must-know leaders and trends impacting industries.

If you want to relax at a hotel, sip mai tais on a cruise, or see the world by private jet, you soon won't have to look further than your favorite luxury hotel brand.

Just don't refer to their vessels as "cruise ships." They'd rather you call them yachts.

Over the past few years, high-end hospitality companies such as Ritz-Carlton, Aman, and Four Seasons have expanded their portfolios to sea or air travel in a bid to keep high-paying customers within their networks.

After all, if you loved your Ritz-Carlton resort experience, wouldn't you be more inclined to try the at-sea version — even if you've never cruised before?

Four Seasons and Aman are creating an in-house vacation network

Aman and Four Seasons are in several markets — hotels, residential, retail, and travel "experiences" like private jet tours.

Alejandro Reynal, Four Seasons' president and CEO, told Business Insider that hotels and resorts accounted for about 80% of the company's revenue. Extracurriculars like its jet tours and coming ship then create a "halo effect" for the brand — an extension of its core business and another way to maintain relationships with loyal customers.

Both companies operate their multiweek group jet trips using third-party specialists. Four Seasons' launched in 2015 and uses a 48-seat Airbus A321LRneo. Aman's took flight two years prior, offering guests a sleek 19-seat loungelike aircraft (often an Airbus ACJ319).

Both include multicountry itineraries and overnight stays at their respective properties, creating a dream vacation for Four Seasons or Aman megafans.

For some travelers, these trips mark their first time staying at one of the luxe properties. But once they're in, they're hooked, Ben Trodd, Aman's COO, said.

"They will often come back and stay at our hotels and resorts individually," Trodd told BI in an email.

Four Seasons hosted eight jet trips in 2024. Almost all sold out, Reynal said, adding that the company was considering additional itineraries with varying aircraft or lengths (several of its 2025 tours already have a waitlist).

Despite their steady successes, both companies don't plan to go all in on private jets. Rather, they're turning their extra attention and resources to the friendly seas.

Ritz-Carlton is leading the hotel-to-cruise pipeline

In recent years, a flurry of hospitality companies announced their cruises — often in the form of yacht tours — in close succession: Ritz-Carlton in 2017, Aman in 2021, and Four Seasons in 2022.

It's a great time to be in the cruise business. Throughout 2024, industry giants such as Carnival and Norwegian reported record revenues and bookings.

These luxury cruises aren't anything like what you'll find on massive boats from mass-market cruise lines.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's first vessel, Evrima, was a litmus test for the ultraluxury smaller-ship segment when it launched in 2022.

It was a success, with only a few availabilities during its inaugural year.

The 149-suite vessel is 623 feet long, a far cry from Royal Caribbean's almost 2,000-foot-long vessels. It also has a yachtlike feel with an almost 1-to-1 guest-to-staff ratio, attracting travelers who might not have been interested in traditional cruises.

"There's been a ton of buzz about how they knocked it out of the park," Jackie Roth, a Scott Dunn Private travel manager, told BI. Once concerned, she now believes the Yacht Collection has "elevated" Ritz-Carlton's brand, she said.

The company expects to sail its third ship in 2025.

By then, Four Seasons will still be a year from its vessel's planned launch.

Four Seasons' and Aman's 'floating resorts'

In 2026, Four Seasons plans to expand its "experienced-based business" beyond private jets with a 95-suite ship.

Reynal said bookings were already "very successful," with about two-thirds coming from the company's repeat customers.

"How do we create this luxury ecosystem around the brand, and which businesses do we need or don't need to be in?" the Four Seasons CEO said. "People were very favorable for us to pursue a Four Seasons experience at sea, and it has proven right."

Aman offers at-sea vacations with Amandira, a traditional five-cabin luxury yacht.

Its next vessel, set to launch in 2027, is planned to be more like a 600-foot-long cruise ship, flexing 10 times as many cabins.

Loyalty to the brand — not cruises — is key for these projects.

"People will follow Four Seasons wherever they go and whenever they launch a new experience," Roth said.

Other travel agents said they'd already received requests for the coming floating resort.

"We are led by the demand of our guests, who often call for us to expand into certain categories," Trodd, Aman's COO, said. "Our customers will travel because it's Aman first and the destination as a second consideration."

Potential road (or sea) blocks

"The luxury cruise market is niche but very competitive," Patrick Scholes, a lodging and leisure research analyst at Truist Securities, told BI. "Operationally, it's not easy. The risk and complexities are far greater than a land-based hotel."

Plus, not every wealthy traveler loves cruises, especially if their only experience is with the stereotypical attraction-filled, crowded megaships.

To overcome this, Four Seasons and Aman could simply continue doing what they do best — creating an ultraluxury experience.

"Customers are going to expect six-star service, and you better get it right," Scholes said.

Four Seasons' ship will be no Carnival cruise. According to its CEO, it won't even resemble some of the traditional industry's smaller luxury ships.

Renderings promise a sleek and luxurious vessel. On board, guests are planned to have 11 upcharged restaurants, a marina that opens onto the water, and cabins up to almost 10,000 square feet, some with au pairs and security personnel.

Aman, for its part, has remained mum about details. Its renderings also flex a yachtlike look. And as with its on-land properties, Trodd said the vessel would provide privacy, space, and a "restorative" experience.

When Four Seasons' and Aman's ships join Ritz-Carlton's, there will be no need to go to airlines for flights or cruise lines for cruises.

Just stay loyal to your favorite hospitality company, as they would want.

• I spent three nights on Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas in mid-November.
• The world's second-largest cruise ship is operating short voyages to appeal to first-time cruisers.
• It's overwhelming, overstimulating, and great for cruise-curious travelers who might like action-packed ships.

Utopia of the Seas' list of amenities sounds like a holiday carol: 27 eateries, 18 bars, eight hot tubs, five pools, three waterslides (and a partridge in a pear tree?).

The new 5,668-guest ship's activities are the gifts that keep giving — maybe overwhelmingly so.

Royal Caribbean launched its 28th cruise ship, the world's second-largest, in July. Despite its gargantuan stature and equally sized list of amenities, Utopia is only operating three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

If you've traveled on Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis-class vessels, the new ship should feel familiar. If it's your first time on a cruise, Utopia will have succeeded in luring new guests — and you'll likely be overwhelmed.

This was my third Royal Caribbean cruise. Yet, even I was engulfed by its semi-controlled chaos.

The sprawling pool deck has three pools, a children's water playground, and three waterslides.

The music was loud, the unclaimed lounge chairs were sparse, and the waterslide lines were long.

I was especially partial to the two racing slides.

The third option, a toilet bowl-shaped slide, closed for maintenance halfway through my four-day voyage before I could attempt it.

Otherwise, I didn't spend much time at the pool deck. It was too chaotic, and I hated simmering shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers in the overloaded hot tubs.

The mega ship clocks in at 1,188 feet long. Plenty. of room for fun and games.

Lots of those activities are near the pools.

There, you'll find a mini golf course and playground, both great for kids. Or, head to the sports court for events like pickleball and basketball. (The ping pong tables are separate, wind-proofed behind glass walls.)

The surf simulator has viewing platforms for those who want a show.

Be wary of the zipline — you could spend more time in line than on the slow-moving ride. And if you don't look up upon landing, you might break your glasses (as my sister did).

At least the racing dry slides are foolproof (sorry, Ashley).

The slide's twists and turns spit riders out onto the wood-planked Boardwalk.

The neighborhood offers family-friendly activities reminiscent of a beachside pier: a carousel, a kid's netted climbing wall, arcade games, a Johnny Rockets, and a sports bar.

Splurge on sweets from the candy store. Then, sweat out the sugar high at the two rock climbing walls.

Revisit the Boardwalk in the evening for 'Aqua80too.'

The ship's Boardwalk area is anchored by the water-based Aquatheater, home of the swim, dance, dive, slackline, and tightrope-walking "Aqua80too" show.

The unforgettable performance, named after its nostalgic 1980s soundtrack, is as chaotic as the pool deck at 1 p.m., especially if you sit in the splash zone.

Make time for it — you'll regret missing the thrilling performance.

There's also a figure skating show, 'Youtopia.'

Expect impressive twirls, jumps, and calisthenics.

It was an exceptional step up from the ice show on Utopia's predecessor, Wonder of the Seas, which I left early out of boredom.

Depending on the day, the rink also opens for free skating or transforms into a laser tag arena.

For a more traditional song-and-dance show, book 'All In.'

I rarely enjoy these staple cruise shows. However, "All In"'s unexpected acrobatics and detailed high-tech sets wooed me.

Was it as unique as the other two shows? No — but it was an inspired and feverish take on a tired formula.

That said, I'm tired of hearing covers of Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" on every ship.

Good luck finding a quiet reprieve from Utopia's frenzied energy.

So, you've sent the youngsters to the children's club. Now what?

Well, you're never far from the ship's 16 bars, six of which are in the mall-like Royal Promenade.

The tiki-themed Pesky Parrot is great for frozen drinks and conversing with the animatronic parrot. Or, grab a drink at Rising Tide, a platform that levitates between the Royal Promenade to Central Park throughout the day.

Boardwalk is for excitable children as Central Park is for overwhelmed parents.

Its plant-engulfed benches and restaurants are cocooned from the rest of Utopia, save for the looming echoes from the overhead pools.

It's Utopia's calmest section and a great place to play chess, listen to live jazz, or indulge in a glass of bubbles.

(Most cocktails are about $14. Wines and beers start at about $8 each.)

If the bars aren't enough, the ship also hosts themed parties.

Relive your young 20s with a silent toga and "Royal Kappa Chi."

For a less collegiate affair, lace up your dancing shoes for the cover band-directed Music Hall or the Latin band-led Boleros.

Otherwise, your only option for an adult-only reprieve will be the Solarium.

Utopia has almost no adult-only zones, save for the Solarium lounge's pools and hot tubs.

It's indoors, tucked under a glass-paneled dome. So, if you want to relax without the kids, you'll have to contend with the ever-present smell of chlorine and the lack of unfettered sunlight.

It's located near the Solarium Bistro, a contemporary Mediterranean-Californian restaurant with a breakfast buffet.

Its morning crowds are typically less chaotic than Windjammer, the primary all-day buffet, and El Loco Fresh, the Mexican-inspired buffet with long lunch lines.

The former serves relatively diverse options, such as an Indian-themed night.

You'll have some great meals on Utopia.

I ate most of my evening meals in the main dining room.

The menu rotates daily. Order the prime rib when available — it's one of the best I've had.

Other complimentary venues include the Boardwalk's hot dog stand (pass) and the two cafés (smash, especially the soup at Central Park's café).

Grab a drunk slice of pizza from Royal Promenade's Sorrento's or a mid-swim snack from the poolside Spare Tire.

17 of the ship's 27 dining options cost extra.

They're as small as $6 shave ice and as hefty as $155 per person omakase at Izumi.

Or, splurge on the Japanese restaurant's other options: teppanyaki, sushi, and bento box takeout.

Sit down for a bowl of pasta and glass of wine at the two-deck Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.

The terrace has a great view of the Boardwalk, where you can similarly pay for a burger from Johnny Rockets or wings from the adjacent sports bar.

For American fare, the ship has returning favorites like 150 Central Park (upscale and modern) and Chops Grille (a steakhouse).

Head to The Mason Jar for Southern comfort and Hooked Seafood for coastal classics.

Or, opt for the cruise line's first Royal Railway, an interactive train-themed restaurant that's as hard to book as it is pricey, starting at $120 per person.

You could try a new restaurant and bar every day without hitting any repeats.

The options to pass the time on Utopia are seemingly endless, from the four slides to arcade games to bar-hosted karaoke and trivia.

Not once did I sit still, wondering if I'd run out of things to do.

Instead the opposite — I intermittently retreated to my cabin, overwhelmed with decision paralysis.

If you're a hyperactive child, Utopia will be perfect. If you're seeking a quiet cruise, Utopia could be your worst nightmare.

If your family includes both active children and activity-reluctant parents, the floating summer state fair might still be a great option.

You won't be aboard Utopia longer than four days, enough time for kids to stay engaged with its amenities. It's a great trial run for cruise-curious travelers, especially those who might enjoy giant activity-packed ships.

A four-night Utopia voyage in 2025 currently starts at about $650 per person.