Mighty Cruise Ships

Seven Seas Explorer is the world's ultimate luxury liner, with décor to rival the most opulent mansions, including nearly 500 chandeliers and priceless works of art. The crew is dedicated to making every cruise a lavish experience and this upcoming 12-day voyage promises to be a big one. It's Seven Seas Explorer's first-ever South American cruise and the ship must navigate into ports they've never seen before. With fares running as high as $40,000, passenger expectations are great, and for the captain, so are the challenges.

The German mega-cruiser AIDAnova is the fifth largest cruise ship in the world and everything about it is "Wunderbar." Guests can party in 23 different bars, feast on their choice of 17 restaurants, or simply kick back on the wide-open top deck. And at every port there's a new island experience awaiting, from driving across volcanic landscapes to submarine dives. But while passengers soak in the excitement, the captain and crew must battle high ocean winds and work out the kinks in the ship's new liquefied natural gas fuel system.

West and East meet on the largest cruise ship sailing around Japan: Diamond Princess. Carrying 2,700 passengers, this liner whisks guests to some of the country's most iconic cities and landscapes, skirting the southeast shore, before heading north to the South Korean city of Busan and then returning to the home port of Yokohama. For guests, it's a unique journey to one of the most exotic lands on the planet. But for the captain and crew, it's a non-stop challenge, dealing with narrow entries, notorious traffic, and broken bow thruster.

Nieuw Statendam is a brand-new ship ready to prove itself in its debut season in the Caribbean, one of the busiest cruise circuits in the world. These seas may be crowded with competition, but Nieuw Statendam has an ace up its sleeve: exclusive access to Holland America Line's private island, Half Moon Cay. Set sail on an eight-day cruise to Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Island of St. Thomas, and the Bahamas. Then see if unpredictable winds and weather will put a damper on the grand finale, private paradise excursion.

Costa Diadema is nicknamed the Queen of the Mediterranean, and it's easy to see why. This 3,700-passenger cruise ship shows off the best that its home waters have to offer, including authentic cuisine, unforgettable sights, and parties that never end. Hop aboard a seven-day voyage from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca to Sicily to the French Riviera and follow passengers as they enjoy all the luxuries provided, on sea and on land. Then see what it takes for the captain and crew to keep this five-star Italian-style experience running 24/7.

Norwegian Joy is on its first-ever season in Alaska and aims to thrill, on and off the cruise ship. For eight days, guests will enjoy such onboard attractions as a go-kart racetrack and aqua park, plus spectacular scenery that includes huge glaciers and humpback whales. Land excursions provide plenty of excitement, highlighted by the largest zipline in the world. This voyage also presents adventures to the captain and crew in the form of tight, twisting passages and maintenance issues that are unique to sailing Alaska's Inside Passage.

Named after the Norwegian explorer and first person to reach the South Pole, Hurtigruten Line's Roald Amundsen lives up to its namesake, bringing guests as close to the bottom of the world as any cruise ship can go. Hop aboard with 335 other daring guests, as we sail from Chile and through the Drake Passage for a tour of Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. For passengers, It's a 16-day, 4,000-mile polar adventure. For the captain and crew, it's a non-stop obstacle course through extreme weather and ice-laden channels.

If you're looking for a tropical adventure in the Western Caribbean, hop aboard the Sky Princess. For eight nights and seven days, this mega-cruiser whisks its 3,500 guests to Cozumel, Belize City, Roatán, and Costa Maya, visiting white-sand beaches, underground rivers, ancient Mayan ruins, and the second-largest barrier reef on the planet. Meanwhile onboard, Captain Tuvo and his crew are hard at work-above and below the waterline-handling twisting channels, an unnerving false alarm, a malfunction in the tanks that keep the ship level, and more.