Aqua Expeditions, meanwhile, confirms its leap into the Arctic starting May 30, 2026 with Aqua Lares, a 77-meter superyacht carrying just 30 guests, designed for intimate, high-comfort expeditions. The season — June through September — will focus on Svalbard and Arctic Norway, with 5- to 14-night routes and operations adapted for moderate ice navigation, guided by naturalists and featuring a 1:1 service ratio. The company positions the ship as the only one in the Arctic Circle offering both per-cabin sales and full-ship private charters at the same time, and it adds a robust exploration toolkit (tenders, kayaks, paddleboards and diving). Before the boreal summer, Aqua Lares will operate in the Seychelles with expeditions to Aldabra, Alphonse and the granitic islands of Mahé and Praslin, geared toward biodiversity and remote beaches.
On the rivers, VIVA Cruises has opened sales for 2027 with year-round operations and new itineraries linking Basel with Brussels, Dresden with Prague and Amsterdam with Nuremberg, along with additional dates on the popular 15-day Amsterdam–Budapest route due to high demand. The plan includes the addition of VIVA UNIQUE — the brand’s second boutique vessel — to be christened in Venice and sailing the Po starting May 2027. The line maintains its VIVA All-Inclusive product (full board, premium beverages, Wi-Fi, minibar and gratuities), reinforcing its boutique positioning with larger staterooms and an elevated culinary and service proposition.
All three announcements reflect clear market trends: longer journeys with overnights in port across Asia — enabling travelers to slip into local life without rushing —; low-capacity luxury expeditions to frontier destinations like the Arctic; and, in Europe, an ever more diversified river offering that pairs Rhine and Danube classics with less-trodden proposals (the Po, the Elbe, and Central Europe–Benelux links). For agencies and tour operators, the lineup opens segmentation opportunities: from the culture-driven traveler prioritizing Japan and Southeast Asia, to the nature lover seeking photography and wildlife in Svalbard without giving up superyacht comfort, to the European client who values disembarking in each city center with a true all-inclusive.
Commercially, the brands back their news with sales hooks: Holland America Line supports early bookings with extended seasons and overnights; Aqua Expeditions differentiates by combining per-cabin and private charter sales on the same ship; and VIVA Cruises accelerates decisions with an expanded portfolio — boutique brand included — and an all-inclusive policy that simplifies the client’s budget. For 2026–2028, the message is clear: more destinations, more styles and higher service quality for travelers who demand experiences with identity — whether under a torii gate in Kyoto, beneath the midnight sun, or gliding up the Po toward the Venetian Lagoon.
