What does a luxury travel advisor do?

A luxury travel advisor creates personalized itineraries, handles all bookings, provides trip support, and leverages industry connections like Virtuoso to secure room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, property credits, and experiences not available to the public.

What are Virtuoso perks?

Virtuoso perks are exclusive benefits available when booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor. They typically include room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for two, a property credit ($100 or more), early check-in and late checkout, and welcome amenities. These perks come at no additional cost to you.

How much does a travel advisor cost?

Hotel and cruise planning is complimentary. Multi-city itineraries require a planning retainer. Award travel research is fee-based ($150 for economy, $300 for premium cabin). The minimum for booked services is $7,000 per week excluding international flights.

Why use a travel advisor instead of booking online?

A travel advisor saves you hours of research, negotiates perks you cannot get yourself (like Virtuoso benefits), handles problems when they arise, and creates seamless itineraries based on deep destination knowledge. For complex trips with families or groups, an advisor coordinates all the moving pieces so you can relax.

What destinations does Curated by Collins specialize in?

Curated by Collins specializes in Italy, Japan, Thailand, Paris, Greece, and Spain, as well as cruises on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. As a Fora advisor, Yannicke can book travel anywhere in the world.

Do you book trips for families?

Yes, Curated by Collins has expertise in family travel, including multi-generational trips. We understand the scheduling complexity of traveling with children and can recommend family-friendly hotels, activities, and itineraries.

Yes, cruise planning is complimentary. We provide expert guidance on cabin selection, dining options, shore excursions, and onboard experiences for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and other cruise lines.

What is award travel?

Award travel uses credit card points or airline miles to book flights, often in business or first class for a fraction of the cash price. Curated by Collins provides award travel research to find the best redemptions for your points.

Not Your Average Cruise: The 2026 Launches I’m Excited About

Mar 25

Written By Nickie Collins

I know we’re still navigating this year’s travel plans, but if you’re like me, your brain is more than halfway into 2026. As I’ve been looking at what’s hitting the water, I’m seeing a massive shift toward the kind of travel we love: highly curated, modern, and actually designed for how families want to move.

For a long time, "cruising" and "boutique luxury" didn't always live in the same sentence, but 2026 is changing that. Whether you’re looking for a massive ship that keeps the kids busy while you find a quiet corner, or an intimate yacht that feels more like a floating hotel, here is what’s on my radar for Curated by Collins.

The Big One: A "Legendary" European Summer

The headline for 2026 is undoubtedly Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas. As the third ship in the game-changing Icon Class, it is officially heading to Europe for its inaugural season.

This is a huge win for families. Starting in July 2026, you can sail 7-night Western Mediterranean routes from Barcelona and Rome. Imagine spending the day exploring the Colosseum and the evening at the Category 6 waterpark. It’s the first time we’ve had this level of "mega-ship" innovation in the Med. After its European summer, it will head across the Atlantic to homeport in Fort Lauderdale for the winter.

2026 Region Breakdown

Mediterranean & Europe: The Boutique Boom

Beyond the Legend, it’s a strong year for Mediterranean sailing anchored by new boutique ships. Four Seasons I, Orient Express Corinthian, Emerald Kaia, and Explora III are all starting their inaugural seasons here.

The Vibe: These are smaller, intimate vessels that can get into the tiny, secluded harbors the big ships can’t touch.
The Route: As summer peaks, Explora III will push further north into Iceland, Greenland, and the Norwegian fjords—perfect for travelers who want a mix of sun-drenched coastlines and cooler, dramatic scenery in one trip.

Asia: The Next Big Growth Story

Asia is 2026’s biggest expansion. Disney Adventure will operate year-round from Singapore, marking the brand’s most significant international move to date. Royal Caribbean is also positioning Navigator of the Seas in Singapore for the first time, and MSC is launching MSC World Asia. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to take the kids to the Far East, this is it.

Caribbean & Atlantic: Scenic Crossings

The Caribbean is staying fresh with Virgin Voyages adding new routes to Ocho Rios and St. Thomas. But the real "pro tip" for 2026 is the transatlantic crossings. Regent and Virgin are offering "scenic" versions of the Atlantic crossing that route through Iceland and Greenland rather than just open sea—a much slower, more beautiful way to get back to Miami.

South America & Antarctica: Soft-Expedition

Celebrity makes a notable return to South America, including itineraries that reach into the Antarctic Circle. Both Celebrity and The World, Residences at Sea will be exploring the Chilean fjords and rounding Cape Horn. It’s the "soft" version of expedition cruising—bucket-list landscapes with zero sacrifice on comfort.

South Pacific: Postcard-Perfect Water

Norwegian is unveiling new South Pacific itineraries featuring French Polynesia. This is my top pick for 2026 honeymooners or anyone who just wants to disappear into quiet lagoons and clear water for a few weeks.

Key Takeaways for 2026

Asia Leads the Way: More year-round sailings and Disney’s biggest international launch ever.
Boutique is Booming: Small-ship cruising continues to rise, giving us access to quieter, more exclusive ports.
Transatlantic Gets a Glow-Up: Crossings are becoming destinations in themselves by including stops in the North Atlantic.
Epic Journeys: Long-haul is trending. MSC is launching a 131-night world cruise, and Celebrity is introducing a 110-day Grand Voyage from Alaska to Asia.

Whether it’s a high-energy family adventure or a quiet, curated yacht experience, 2026 finally offers a way to sail that feels like it was designed specifically for us.

If you’re ready to start mapping out your 2026 calendar or want to snag a spot on the Legend's inaugural Mediterranean sailings, let’s chat. I’d love to help you find the ship that fits your family’s style perfectly.

CONTACT

Nickie Collins