The holidays have a way of telling on us.
Not loudly, and not always, but subtly, in how we spent our time, what drained us, what filled us back up, and what we quietly wished we were doing instead. Between the gatherings, the downtime, and the inevitable scrolling through travel photos, our holiday habits reveal exactly how we’re going to travel in 2026.
Think of this less as a resolution and more as a realization.
So, how did you spend the holidays? Let’s decode what that means for your next great escape.
1. If you hosted everything and everyone, you're craving effortless luxury
If the holidays meant planning menus, coordinating arrivals, refilling glasses, and somehow being responsible for everyone’s feelings — your 2026 is about opting out of logistics.
Your travel personality here is clear: you want elevated experiences where the details are handled and the only decision you have to make is what sounds good right now.
That’s exactly why sailing with us feels different. Want a day at the spa? It’s right there. A spin class followed by a big plate of pasta? Why not. With dining, entertainment, WiFi, and fitness classes already included, the experience is designed so you can actually enjoy yourself instead of managing the moment. When you lean into what makes our adults-only onboard experience special, it becomes obvious why it resonates with people who’ve done enough hosting to last a lifetime.
In 2026, you’re ready to be taken care of. (And we’re here to help with that.)
2. If you disappeared into sweatpants and declined plans, you’re a slow travel person
Maybe the holidays were quiet by design. Fewer commitments. No rushing. Long mornings, familiar food, and a strong attachment to being horizontal.
That tells you something important: you don’t want to sprint through your vacations in 2026. You want travel that unfolds gently, with time to wander, pause, nap, and repeat.
This is where cruising really shines. A Mediterranean sailing gives our Sailors the rhythm they’re craving, pairing immersive port days in Marseille, Palma, or Amalfi with sea days that invite you to linger, whether that means reading on deck, booking a class, or doing absolutely nothing at all.
You’re not trying to see everything. You’re trying to feel settled while you’re here.
3. If you traveled during the holidays, you don’t wait for “someday”
If you packed a bag and left town while everyone else was debating schedules and seating arrangements, one thing is clear: in 2026, your travel self is not into postponing joy.
You’re proactive, experience-driven, and far more interested in making memories than maintaining routines. In 2026, you’re drawn to trips that feel intentional — and maybe a little bold. Say, for example, our sailings this August that situate you along the path of totality of the next solar eclipse. For 12 nights in the Med and 15 nights in stunning Northern Europe, these voyages show you the best of ports we don’t often visit, and give you a front-row seat to experience full totality.
Our other long itineraries, like transatlantic and repositioning sailings, could also be the right call for you. These voyages let you fully settle into the journey, crossing regions instead of hopping between them, and embracing travel as a chapter rather than a break.
Because you don’t just go places. You commit to them.
4. If you stayed home but kept dreaming, you’re ready for an easy yes
Maybe you didn’t go anywhere for the holidays — but mentally, you were already planning. Saving destinations. Sending “this looks amazing” messages. Promising yourself that next year will be different.
Your 2026 travel personality is all about making it easier to say yes.
That’s why straightforward planning and accessible itineraries matter to you. Caribbean sailings from Miami or San Juan offer exactly that: warm-weather escapes that don’t require overthinking. When you explore our Caribbean itineraries, it’s clear how seamlessly they fit into your real life while still feeling like a true getaway.
For you, the best trip is the one that actually makes it out of the group chat. And if your group chat has trouble actualizing, our Sailor Services team is on standby to help with booking not only your voyage, but also hotel and airfare if you need it.
5. If you planned every detail, you’re secretly craving surprise
If your holidays were color-coded, scheduled, and backed up with contingency plans — we see you. And while everything probably ran smoothly, part of you wouldn’t mind being surprised for once. Especially if there were kids in the mix. (On our ships, kids are kept at arms’ length — that is, not allowed on board. We love them, just from a distance.)
Your travel personality still values structure, but in 2026, you want room for spontaneity inside it.
Cruising gives you that balance. The itinerary is thoughtfully designed, but each day is yours to shape. Whether that’s discovering an unexpected performance onboard or deciding last-minute which Shore Thing cruise excursion to book, the experience leaves room for delight without chaos.
You’re ready to loosen the reins — just enough.
6. If food was the highlight, you travel for taste
If your favorite holiday moments revolved around meals — the cooking, the ordering, the debating — then food isn’t a side note for you. It’s the whole point.
In 2026, your trips are defined as much by what’s on the plate as what’s outside the window. Destinations with strong food cultures matter to you, but so does what happens between ports.
That’s where our included onboard dining comes in. Our restaurants have menus created by culinary celebrities from New York, Miami, and more, and the food you’ll eat there is included in the voyage fare of every sailing. This way, the ship becomes part of the culinary journey.
When you dig into our dining experience, it’s easy to see why food lovers feel right at home. US News & World Report has already named us one of their Best Cruise Lines for Dining in their 2026 awards, and past honors from trusted publications like Wine Spectator, Travel Weekly, and Cruise Critic have all highlighted the quality and diversity of our onboard dining. No buffets, no set meal times, just adult sophistication and togetherness. And we have dedicated Eat & Drink sailings where our chefs and culinary team push our menus to the max, creating limited-time dishes that only the Sailors on those voyages will ever have the privilege of trying.
The best memories are served course by course — and you’re chasing that in 2026. We’re so there for that.
7. If you were already planning next year’s holiday, you’re thinking bigger
If the holidays sparked conversations about milestone trips, bucket-list destinations, or “this is the year we finally do it,” your travel personality is expanding.
You’re no longer just squeezing trips in. You’re choosing journeys that feel meaningful and well-timed. That might mean grabbing a cabin for Brilliant Lady’s inaugural season in Alaska, where the landscapes feel almost unreal, or taking a sailing through the historic Panama Canal.
Our upcoming Alaska sailings, in particular, are meant to bring a fresh perspective to a legendary destination, pairing dramatic scenery with modern design, thoughtful programming, and an adults-only atmosphere that feels elevated without ever being stiff. We dug deep to offer truly immersive experiences on land that other cruise companies aren’t doing.
Because in 2026, you’re not just traveling. You’re marking time.
No matter how you travel, 2026 is going to be big for you
However you spent the holidays, one thing is clear: your instincts are already pointing you forward.
Whether you’re craving rest, adventure, indulgence, or simplicity, the best trips meet you where you are — not where you think you should be. Our destinations and itineraries across the Caribbean, the Med, North America, and more are designed to flex with real moods, real schedules, and real life.
The best vacations don’t start with a checklist; they start with knowing ourselves and choosing experiences that actually fit.
When you’re ready to turn holiday habits into real plans, the sea is waiting. Browse our sailings and get on board!
