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Skip to content Menu Go to Home Page * News * Credit Cards * CARD TYPE * Best overall * Travel * Airlines * Rewards * Business * Cash back * All credit cards * CARD ISSUER * American Express * Chase * Capital One * Citi * Bank of America * All issuers * COBRANDED CARDS * American Airlines * Delta Air Lines * Hilton * Marriott * Southwest Airlines * United Airlines * All cobranded cards * LEARN ABOUT CREDIT CARDS * Beginners guide * Credit score * Credit utilization * Credit card reviews * Points + Miles * CREDIT CARD REWARD PROGRAMS * American Express Membership Rewards * Capital One Rewards * Chase Ultimate Rewards * Citi ThankYou Rewards * All credit card programs * AIRLINE REWARD PROGRAMS * American AAdvantage * Delta SkyMiles * Southwest Rapid Rewards * United MileagePlus * All airline programs * HOTEL REWARD PROGRAMS * Hilton Honors * Marriott Bonvoy * World of Hyatt * IHG One Rewards * All hotel programs * LEARN ABOUT REWARD PROGRAMS * Beginners guide to points and miles * TPG points valuations * Award vs. cash calculator * Travel * AIRLINES * Airline news * Airline reviews * Airline deals * All airline stories * HOTELS * Hotel news * Hotel reviews * Hotel deals * All hotel stories * CRUISES * All cruise stories * RESOURCES * Family travel * Road trips * Travel gear * Travel advisories * Travel tips * Tools * TPG APP Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. * TPG POINTS VALUATION See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty program’s currency, based on redemption values. * AWARD VS. CASH CALCULATOR Check here before booking an award fare. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. * CARDMATCH Find the right card for you. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it won’t affect your credit score. SUBSCRIBE Advertiser disclosure Search The Points Guy SUBSCRIBE Advertiser disclosure ADVERTISEMENT Guide THE 6 BEST 2023 CRUISE ITINERARIES TO BOOK RIGHT NOW Ashley Kosciolek Ashley Kosciolek Senior cruise writer In addition to cruising, Ashley is obsessed with reading, lawn gnomes, pizza, cats, CrossFit, SEO and proper grammar. Dec. 28, 2022 • 9 min read Jump to section * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Copy URL * Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. How does a cruise to Arabia sound? Or what about the longest U.S. river cruise ever to set sail? With ships traveling all over the globe, it can be difficult to choose the destination that's right for you, especially when there are so many bucket list-worthy options. That's why I've rounded up some of 2023's most exciting itineraries. From interesting new routes to tried-and-true ones that now have new ships, this list will prime your sense of wanderlust for both far-flung destinations and places close to home as we head into the new year. Prepare to be inspired. Note: All prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Fares do not include taxes and fees. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. JAPAN ON PONANT'S LE SOLEAL Cherry blossoms in Osaka, Japan. YOSHIYUKI KANEKO/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES After nearly three years of shutdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan finally reopened to travelers in November 2022. That includes cruise passengers, and several lines — including Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises (which is offering special "Spice Route" voyages that include Japan) — are returning. However, the most exciting Japan itineraries I've spotted for 2023 are a couple of routes offered by Ponant's Le Soleal. Not only is the line the first expedition ship to take passengers to Japan's southern islands, but its itineraries are also Japan-focused routes that don't include other countries like the ones offered by Holland America and Celebrity. Details: The first route is an eight-day voyage, March 24-31, 2023, offering visits to traditional villages of the Okinawa archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands, as well as Ishigaki and Kume. Prices start at $6,000 per person for an ocean-view cabin. The second route is an eight-day sailing from Osaka to Fukuoka, May 15-22, 2023, taking passengers to stops in the Seto Inland Sea, the oldest sea route in Japan. Fares start from $7,310 per person for an ocean-view room. More information on Ponant's Asia voyages can be found on the line's website. WEST AFRICA ON HURTIGRUTEN'S SPITSBERGEN Deserted beach on the island of Orango, Guinea-Bissau. TIAGO_FERNANDEZ/GETTY IMAGES In a first for Hurtigruten, the line is offering a selection of sailings around the west coast of Africa, including the islands of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau's Bissagos Islands, which are made up of more than 80 beachy islands and islets, only about 20 of which are populated year-round. Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts Email address Sign up By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Cape Verde voyages are rare, making this ideal for anyone wishing to check the country off their bucket list. Plus, with Hurtigruten's rapid expansion beyond its traditional Norway offerings and into expedition cruising, you can be one of the first to try out this first-for-the-line itinerary, which will be available four times in late 2023 (and into early 2024), departing from Dakar, Senegal. Details: These 13-day sailings on Hurtigruten's Spitsbergen depart from Dakar in November and December 2023 and January 2024. Prices start at $5,974 per person for an inside cabin. More information can be found on Hurtigruten Expeditions' website. OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS ON AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES' AMERICAN COUNTESS American Countess. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY It's no secret that American Queen Voyages has been sailing U.S. rivers for years. But what makes this particular itinerary special is that it will be the line's longest ever. The 23-day cruises, which include travel on both the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, will be offered on the line's newest ship, the 245-passenger American Countess. SEE IF YOU'RE PREQUALIFIED IN UNDER 60 SECONDS CardMatch finds you special offers up to 150,000 points based on your credit profile. Get my offers The vessel will feature stops in some of America's most notable small towns, including La Crosse, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Bettendorf and Burlington, Iowa; Hannibal, St. Louis, Kimmswick and Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Paducah, Henderson, Owensboro, Brandenburg, Louisville and Maysville, Kentucky; Madison, Indiana; Point Pleasant, West Virginia; and Cincinnati and Marietta, Ohio. Details: The first voyage is set to begin in Red Wing, Minnesota (near Minneapolis), on July 24, 2023, and end in Pittsburgh on Aug. 15, 2023. The reverse itinerary will begin on Aug. 15, 2023, when the ship reaches Pittsburgh. Prices start from $10,599 per person for an inside cabin. You can find more details on the line's website. THE MIDDLE EAST ON WINDSTAR'S STAR LEGEND Dubai, United Arab Emirates. JORG GREUEL/GETTY IMAGES If you're looking for a cruise destination that's a bit more far-flung, Windstar Cruises is offering Red Sea and Persian Gulf sailings in the Middle East — a first for the line, which will sail its newly stretched Star Legend in the region, beginning in fall 2023. The line will offer four different itineraries, but my favorite is the 10-day Persian Gulf option from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, which includes calls on places like Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and Khasab, Oman. The ship will also visit the UAE's island of Sir Bani Yas, which is known for nature and wildlife conservation. The sailings include overnights in Doha and Abu Dhabi, too. Details: This itinerary is offered 11 times, beginning in November 2023 and running into early 2024. Fares start from $3,499 per person for ocean-view accommodations. CARIBBEAN AND BAHAMAS ON MSC MERAVIGLIA AND CARNIVAL VENEZIA FROM NYC A view of three of Half Moon Cay's five exclusive Beach Villas from the water. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY Although Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries aren't a new thing from New York, two cruise lines will have a new presence there starting in 2023: Carnival Cruise Line with Carnival Venezia, which will begin sailing from Manhattan in June, and MSC Cruises with MSC Meraviglia, which will be based at Brooklyn's Red Hook terminal beginning in April. The itineraries are fairly standard at first glance, but what's key here is that, for the first time, the lines' private islands — in this case, Carnival's Half Moon Cay and MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve — will be accessible via sailings traveling round-trip from New York. Details: Between April and December 2023, MSC Meraviglia is offering 11 seven-night sailings calling on Port Canaveral (near Orlando), and Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, both in the Bahamas. Prices start from $399 per person for an inside cabin. More info can be found on the MSC Cruises website. From June through December, Carnival Venezia will sail one eight-day Bahamas voyage that includes Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay, with prices starting from $484 per person for an inside cabin. During that time, the vessel is also scheduled to run five eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruises calling on Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay, with fares starting at $684 per person for an inside cabin. For additional details, visit the Carnival website. AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND ON DISNEY WONDER AND VIRGIN VOYAGES' RESILIENT LADY Cityscape image of Sydney, Australia, with Harbor Bridge and Sydney skyline. PRASIT PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES With Australia and New Zealand finally picking up steam again post-shutdown, it's not surprising that some cruise lines are sending ships to the region for the first time in 2023. Beginning in November, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder will sail 14 two- to six-night voyages from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne — calling on places like Hobart and Eden in Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Noumea, New Caledonia — through the end of the year, offering Disney fans another option in terms of destination. Plus, starting in December 2023, Virgin Voyages' brand-new Resilient Lady will offer five two- to 14-night sailings from Melbourne, providing locals with a more modern ship. (It's rare for the Australian market to see brand-new vessels.) Voyages include stops in Hobart, Burnie or both Tasmanian ports. On the two-week sailing, ports also include Sydney, as well as Picton, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland in New Zealand. Details: Disney Wonder's per-person fares for inside cabins start at $946 for two nights, $1,604 for three nights, $2,000 for four nights, $2,118 for five nights and $4,078 for six nights. For more information, visit the Disney Cruise Line website. Virgin Voyages' per-person prices for interior accommodations start from $245 for two nights, $613 for five nights, $753 for six nights and $2,240 for 14 nights. Check out the Virgin Voyages website for more details on these cruises. Have cruise questions? TPG has answers: * Banned items: What not to pack for a cruise * Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships? * What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships? * What are the largest cruise ships in the world? * What is a gentleman host on a cruise? * What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships? * What is a lido deck on a cruise ship? * What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money? * What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler? Featured image by ULRICH HOLLMANN/GETTY IMAGES Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 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See rates & fees TPG Editor‘s Rating Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 4.5 / 5 Go to review Apply Now Apply for Capital One Venture X Business at Capital One's secure site REWARDS 2 - 10X miles details 2X miles2 miles on every purchase5X miles5 miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel10X miles10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel INTRO OFFER 150,000 miles details 150,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening ANNUAL FEE $395 RECOMMENDED CREDIT 740-850 Excellent more info Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. WHY WE CHOSE IT The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. Pros & Cons PROS * The Capital One Venture X business card offers a welcome offer of 150,000 miles. * In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and, at a reasonable annual fee of $395. * Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free. CONS * The card requires a high spend of $30,000 in the first three months to earn the 150,000-mile welcome bonus. * Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Travel. More Details * Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions * This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. 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See rates & fees Best business card for traveling CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X BUSINESS TPG Editor‘s Rating Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 4.5 / 5 Go to review REWARDS RATE 2X miles2 miles on every purchase5X miles5 miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel10X miles10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel * INTRO OFFER OPEN INTRO BONUS 150,000 MILES ONCE YOU SPEND $30,000 IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS FROM ACCOUNT OPENING 150,000 miles * ANNUAL FEE $395 * RECOMMENDED CREDIT OPEN CREDIT SCORE DESCRIPTION CREDIT RANGES ARE A VARIATION OF FICO© SCORE 8, ONE OF MANY TYPES OF CREDIT SCORES LENDERS MAY USE WHEN CONSIDERING YOUR CREDIT CARD APPLICATION. 740-850 Excellent WHY WE CHOSE IT The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. View More Pros & ConsMore Details PROS * The Capital One Venture X business card offers a welcome offer of 150,000 miles. * In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and, at a reasonable annual fee of $395. * Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free. CONS * The card requires a high spend of $30,000 in the first three months to earn the 150,000-mile welcome bonus. * Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Travel. * Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions * This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. The annual fee on this card is $395 * Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening * Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs * Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options * Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel * Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease * Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. Then enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group lounges * This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month * Elevate your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits on every booking MAXIMIZE YOUR TRAVEL * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube * Twitter * TikTok SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST NEWS, DEALS AND TIPS. Email address Sign up I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See PRIVACY POLICY. 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While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Copyright © 2024 The Points Guy, LLC. All rights reserved. A Red Ventures company. We need your input