CIREside Chat: July 2025

By Melissa Chaquea, Luxury Vacation Advisor & CLIA-certified Cruise Expert

Hi travelers! Melissa here! I’m stepping in for Eric while he’s on vacation, basking in that Kennebunkport coastal sunshine. I’m excited to host this month’s CIREside Chat to dive into a subject that may either ignite fond memories of family vacations or trigger cringeworthy thoughts of Kathie Lee Gifford commercials. Ready? Let’s talk cruises!

Forget everything you know about cruising and close your eyes. Now, think about the best vacation you’ve ever had. Got the visual? Reliving the adventure? Or perhaps you are reliving the relaxation part? Either way, now visualize it on glistening water with stunning views, and no need to unpack more than once. Paradise! If this sounds enticing, guess what? We have something perfect for you.

Three New Luxury Cruise Launches 

With new exclusive properties launching every month, how do hospitality brands cut through the noise? By shifting gears… literally! From the shore to the sea, the evolution of high-end travel is full steam ahead. The brands we love (Aman, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons) have reimagined the cruising experience and are now creating what feels like their very own sanctuaries on water.

Here are the three new, dream-worthy launches I’m most excited about this year and beyond:

1. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection – Luminara (July 2025)

For well-traveled guests with passports full of stamps, it’s time to take to the sea and rediscover your favorite destinations in a whole new light. Following the successes of Evrima and Ilma, their newest ship, Luminara raises the bar with more space, elevated cuisine, and Ritz-Carlton’s signature service, now with even more sea views.

2. Four Seasons Yachts (2026)

Fifty-six sailings across 34 unique voyages in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, the inaugural Four Seasons Yacht invites you to “indulge in the art of yachting”. It will offer 95 spacious suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace, bringing the brand’s legendary service to the seas. Expect world-class dining, a full-service spa, and an elegant marina deck for seamless ocean dips.

3. Aman at Sea – Amangati (2027)

If Aman’s serene resorts are any indication, its entry into luxury cruising will redefine barefoot elegance. Amangati means “peaceful motion” in Sanskrit, setting the tone for this 47-suite superyacht that promises privacy, tranquility, and Aman’s intuitive service. Maiden voyage? The Mediterranean, of course. We’ve stamped our passports with the Italian and French Riviera blazing summer before. Now, it’s time to explore it from the water and without the crowds.

Which new sailing has you dreaming of the sea?

Group Travel by Sea

I can’t help but toot our own horn after we here at CIRE just bid bon voyage to our biggest cruise group of 50 individuals. It was an amazing feat with travelers coming from all over to gather for a special Norwegian Fjords cruise out of Rotterdam. And it went off without a hitch! Clients seamlessly arrived in groups, successfully transferred by premium vehicles from the airport to Rotterdam, checked into their lodging, just footsteps from the cruise port (which also conveniently housed Rotterdam’s lively food hall), all before setting off on their journey.

From a private Llama excursion in Skjolden to tasting their way through Sandnes with a local guide, our group experienced vacation bliss together on land and at sea. The experience was a resounding success for the travelers and for our team, working tirelessly behind the scenes.

At CIRE Travel, we take pride in opening exclusive doors—galley doors, in this case—for our clients, wherever their journeys take them. I hope this little peek gives you a new and improved visual of what awaits you at sea! 

CIRE Travel is a full-service travel agency headquartered in New York, NY.  Our expert corporate travel planners, honeymoon travel agents, and luxury travel planners support clients across the country and around the world.