Day 6 of our Alaska cruise aboard Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) brought us to Ketchikan on June 29, 2022. After visiting Sitka the previous day, the ship continued south through Southeast Alaska for our final Alaskan port before beginning the return voyage to Vancouver.

Early on the morning of April 4, 2026, Norwegian Luna (Norwegian Cruise Line) was docked at PortMiami at the beginning of her inaugural Caribbean season. Delivered only a month earlier, the new Prima Plus-class ship was preparing to depart later that day on her first seven-day Caribbean cruise from Miami.

Ovation of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) sails from the Port of Los Angeles on July 18, 2025, beginning another voyage from Southern California. Entering service in 2016, the Quantum-class ship is easily recognized by the North Star observation capsule rising above her upper decks.

Serenade of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) spent April 1, 2026, docked in Oranjestad during a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Colón, Panama. The 2003-built ship is a member of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class, a group known for extensive glass and ocean views throughout its public spaces.

Weather brought an unexpected visitor to Aruba on April 1, 2026, when the Celebrity Silhouette (Celebrity Cruises) made an unscheduled call at Oranjestad. The 2011-built ship is the fourth member of Celebrity’s five-ship Solstice Class and is especially recognizable for the real grass Lawn Club covering part of her upper deck.

Just before sunrise on April 4, 2026, the illuminated Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) dominated the scene at PortMiami. The massive ship was preparing for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise later that afternoon, with calls at Costa Maya, Roatán, Cozumel, and Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning to Miami.

Our Alaska cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) began at Vancouver’s Canada Place on June 24, 2022. These photographs were taken while the ship was docked and we were preparing to board for a seven-night voyage to Alaska, with visits to Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan before returning to Vancouver.

The colorful harbor of Willemstad provided the setting for the Celebrity Silhouette (Celebrity Cruises) on March 31, 2026. A regular visitor to the Caribbean during her seasonal deployments, the 2011-built ship is the fourth member of Celebrity’s five-ship Solstice Class and remains recognizable for the real grass Lawn Club covering part of her upper deck.

Early on the morning of April 4, 2026, the Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line) was docked at PortMiami during her season of Caribbean cruises from Miami. Entering service in 2019 as the fourth and final ship of the Breakaway Plus Class, Norwegian Encore is one of the largest ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.

On December 14, 2025, the Queen Anne (Cunard) was in Southampton, United Kingdom, following an overnight voyage from Hamburg. Introduced in 2024 as Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne combines the line’s traditional ocean liner influences with a new generation of design and passenger spaces.

Early on the morning of April 4, 2026, the Carnival Sunrise (Carnival Cruise Line) was docked at PortMiami before departing later that day for a five-night cruise to the Bahamas. Originally entering service as Carnival Triumph in 1999, the ship was extensively rebuilt and renamed Carnival Sunrise in 2019.

On August 29, 2026, the Seven Seas Navigator (Regent Seven Seas Cruises) was in Civitavecchia, Italy, during a nine-night Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona. Entering service in 1999, the intimate luxury ship was photographed during her final season with Regent after more than 25 years with the cruise line.

On August 22, 2026, the Celestyal Journey (Celestyal Cruises) was in Piraeus, Greece, during her summer season in the Mediterranean. Originally entering service as Holland America Line’s Ryndam in 1994, the ship has sailed under several names and operators during a career spanning more than three decades.

On August 22, 2026, the Sun Princess (Princess Cruises) was in Piraeus, Greece, at the beginning of a Mediterranean cruise from Athens. Introduced in 2024 as the first of Princess Cruises’ new Sphere Class, the ship is easily recognized by the large glass Sphere built into the sides of her superstructure.

In the early morning hours of April 4, 2026, the MSC World America (MSC Cruises) was docked at PortMiami before sunrise. With the ship fully illuminated against the dark morning sky, it was a great opportunity to see one of MSC Cruises’ newest and largest ships before the start of another day in Miami.

On August 29, 2026, the Mein Schiff Flow (TUI Cruises) was in Civitavecchia, Italy, during her first season of service. Delivered just a few months earlier, the new InTUItion-class ship was an especially interesting sight so early in her career.

The Freewinds made for an interesting sight in Oranjestad, Aruba, on April 1, 2026. Originally entering service as the Bohème in 1968, the ship has spent decades sailing the Caribbean and is one of the oldest passenger ships still in active service.

On June 6, 2026, the Carnival Panorama (Carnival Cruise Line) was docked in Long Beach, California, preparing for another cruise to Mexico. The Vista-class ship has been a regular visitor to the port since beginning service from Long Beach in 2019.

EUROPA 2 (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises) was in Los Angeles on January 25, 2026, at the midpoint between two long-distance voyages. The small luxury ship had completed a 17-day cruise from Colón, Panama, and was preparing to depart that evening on a 20-day Pacific voyage from Los Angeles to Tahiti.

My first cruise was a seven-day Caribbean voyage aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Song of Norway in March 1990, sailing roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Only a few photographs remain, but the memories are vivid: skeet shooting at sea and standing in front of the ship during our visit to St. Maarten. That voyage began a lasting fascination with cruising and life aboard passenger ships.