Mighty Cruise Ships

Chart an escape to paradise aboard MS Paul Gauguin, the only vessel that sails year-round to the most remote islands of French Polynesia. On this 14-day voyage, the waters come in a dozen shades of turquoise and the adventures are too numerous to count. But will a tropical storm bring some unwelcome excitement to the Queen of the South Pacific and her passengers? See how this Mighty Cruise Ship and her crew navigate bad weather along with narrow passageways and shallow waters to provide a five-star luxury experience no other liner can.

She's a new ship voyaging to new destinations on waters that today's mega-cruise ships simply cannot navigate. Set sail aboard Le Soleal on a 14-day voyage through one of the largest archipelagos on the planet: Indonesia, home to diverse wildlife, rumbling volcanoes, and endless coastlines. Passengers pay thousands of dollars for one-of-a-kind encounters here. But reaching such spectacular locations means overcoming substantial obstacles, on sea and land, challenges that will push Le Soleal, and her crew, to their limits.

At 122,000 gross tons, Celebrity Solstice puts the "mighty" in Mighty Cruise Ships. She carries 1,255 crewmembers and close to 3,000 passengers during her summer journeys along Australia's northern coast, offering ten restaurants, over a dozen bars, a casino, and even a manicured grass lawn. Hop aboard on a luxurious 17-day journey Down Under and explore the country's marvels from Solstice's comfortable decks. Then see how her crew handles the tough challenges of these untamed shores and stays cool in hot waters.

Europa 2 is a cruise ship that's small in size but big on luxury, with 370 crew members tending to the needs of just 500 guests, and more space per passenger than any other cruise liner. This floating boutique hotel will do anything to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience to its guests, including letting them choose where the ship will go. Take a ride on Europa's very first "surprise cruise," where a vote will determine which ports they will visit over the course of 10 days in the Mediterranean--a daring concept with the potential for chaos.

When guests board the Viking Sea, they're not looking for casinos, bumper cars or discos. They want outstanding scenery, dramatic destinations, and sublime Scandinavian decor, all of which they'll receive, and then some. Join us on a 14-day journey that follows ancient Viking trading routes, from London to Scotland and the northwest coast of Norway. It's a course this new ship has never sailed before, and while it promises majestic views and grand adventure, getting there and back will push the captain and his crew to the limit.

Carnival Vista is the newest, largest ship to join Carnival Cruise Line, with 10 restaurants, an IMAX theater, a massive water park, and a crew of 1,400 ready to tend to the needs of its 4,600 passengers. But with a new ship comes growing pains, and on this 10-day voyage from Athens, Greece, to Barcelona, Spain, Vista's troubles begin from the very moment she leaves port. See how the captain and crew hustle to feed, move, entertain, and problem solve around the clock in order to meet their guests' great expectations aboard this mighty vessel.