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Ocean Cruising Travel Guide

Several cruise ships sail through a scenic fjord, surrounded by steep, lush green mountains with snow-capped peaks under a cloudy sky.

Ocean Cruising Travel Guide

The MS Volendam cruise ship sails through calm water with distant mountains and a forested shoreline under a blue sky.
MS Volendam

Elegant and spacious, the MS Volendam takes its décor cues from the garden. Its grand public spaces are graced with floral fabrics and tapestries, as well as huge vases of fresh floral arrangements.

The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship sailing through a majestic fjord with steep, green cliffs and waterfalls reflecting in the calm water.
Queen Mary 2

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 represents the pinnacle of maritime achievement as the world’s only true ocean liner. Built in 2004 and extensively renovated in 2016, this 17-deck ship can accommodate 2,092 guests in 1,046 cabins on its transatlantic cruises. Each airy cabin has a contemporary vibe with interactive TVs, a spacious wardrobe, en suite bathroom, individual temperature control and a sofa. Indulge in state-of-the-art facilities and activities that include Gala Nights, Afternoon Tea, a 3D cinema, planetarium, library, spa and casino.

The Paul Gauguin cruise ship floats on turquoise water in front of a towering, lush green mountain peak in a tropical ocean travel destination.
Paul Gauguin’s Paul Gauguin

Custom-built to sail among the shallow atolls of the French Polynesia and the South Pacific, the Paul Gauguin is a luxurious gateway to Tahiti and her sister islands. Join Road Scholar onboard for an immersion into Polynesian culture, meeting local communities and, of course, plenty of opportunities to snorkel among technicolored coral reefs.

A Holland America Line cruise ship named Amsterdam sails on the calm, blue ocean under a partly cloudy sky for an ocean travel guide.
Holland America’s ms Amsterdam

The refined ms Amsterdam is one of four mid-sized ships comprising Holland America’s Rotterdam class (R class). Sailing to Alaska in the summer and the waters of the Pacific in the winter, the ms Amsterdam is a spectacular setting for Road Scholar's educational adventures among extensive art collections and elegant décor.

The red, white, and black MS Fram expedition ship sailing on calm water under a hazy sky.
Hurtigruten’s ms Fram

Built to endure the polar regions of the world, Hurtigruten’s ms Fram summers in the Arctic and Greenland and spends its winters transporting explorers across the Drake Passage to and from Antarctica. As a higher ice-class expedition vessel, the ms Fram is an “expedition base-camp” from which Road Scholar can share the beauty of these remote areas.

The Crystal Serenity cruise ship sails through a fjord with steep, green mountains reflecting in the calm, blue water.
Crystal Cruise Line’s Crystal Serenity

Sail around the world in style onboard Crystal Cruise Line’s Crystal Serenity. With one of the highest ratios of space-per-guest at sea, the Crystal Serenity is a spectacular setting to conquer the seven seas with superb dining experiences and Road Scholar-exclusive excursions in ports around the world.

 

 

The sun-drenched pool deck of an ocean travel cruise line is lined with empty blue lounge chairs, with the open sea in the background.
Cruise Lines We Sail With

Road Scholar works with a number of cruise lines to provide an authentic regional experience, using regional companies with a local crew whenever possible.

  • Celestyal Cruises 

  • Crystal Cruises

  • Cunard Line

  • Holland America Line

Road Scholar Ocean Voyages

“This program onboard Queen Mary 2 fulfilled a life-long dream to cross the Atlantic on a Cunard ocean liner. The best parts, however, were the wonderful Group Leader and lecturers. They were superb!”

— Sarah, Road Scholar Class of 2018, from Phoenix, Ariz. —