Four of our favorite cruise companies will start exploring regions they’ve never sailed in before, each with a sleek new ship launching this year. Yet another line will be returning to two popular destinations after a two-year hiatus. The cruises promise to treat guests to an impressive array of memorable excursions, such as visiting remote Amazonian villages, kayaking in one of Alaska’s most beautiful national parks and wandering through a spectacular Japanese garden. Plenty of luxuries await on board, of course, including glamorous new suite categories and gourmet dining.

A&K in the Amazon

In mid-2025, Abercrombie & Kent Sanctuary launches Pure Amazon, its first riverboat in Latin America, offering three- to seven-night itineraries in the Amazon Basin’s Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in northeastern Peru. Guests can count on an intimate experience, given that the vessel has only 12 cabins and will sail with a maximum of 22 passengers. Activities include guided nature walks for close-up encounters with rainforest wildlife, as well as lagoon boat rides in search of pink river dolphins, immersive cultural experiences in local villages and after-dark excursions to learn about the ecosystem’s nocturnal animals. Luxurious staterooms feature handcrafted furniture made from locally sourced materials and large windows for sweeping Amazon views. Guests can enjoy cocktails in indoor and outdoor lounges, and a dining room showcases regional Peruvian cuisine. The small ship also manages to fit in a wellness room, a gym and an observation deck (surely a memorable spot for yoga classes).

Charting a New Course

AmaWaterways will also make a South American debut. The new 30-stateroom AmaMagdalena will start cruising between Cartagena and Barranquilla, dipping as far southeast as El Banco, a strategically located town at the meeting of the Magdalena and César rivers (and the capital of cumbia music). Passengers will also make excursions to the stilt houses of Nueva Venecia, the historic little town of Mompox and the bird-rich wetlands outside Magangué. On board, cabins start at a healthy 237 square feet, and all have furnished balconies (the two 516-square-foot Grand Suites are great choices). On the top deck are a massage room, a gym and a small pool near the bow. This ship may well be the best way to explore the historic and natural riches of Colombia, and we certainly plan on taking a cruise ourselves to find out for certain.