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From the Nile to the Inside Passage, small ships are selling something megaships can’t: history
Luxury cruise bookings are up 22.4% this year, according to Virtuoso, as travelers choose smaller heritage vessels for intimate, history-rich trips.
Luxury cruise bookings have surged 22.4% this year, according to industry tracker Virtuoso, as travelers increasingly seek heritage vessels over floating mega resorts.
Megaships continue adding water parks and casino floors stacked a dozen decks high, yet passengers now prioritize intimate heritage vessels offering authentic coastal and cultural experiences.
Siblings Jason Tabalujan and Jasmine Chong built the 45-meter phinisi Celestia in 2023 using UNESCO-recognized Sulawesi techniques, while crew member Ahmad Jais helped construct the 30-meter phinisi Rascal in 2015.
Passengers aboard these vessels "live and breathe coastal history," co-owner Maureen Gordon said, whether sailing traditional dahabeyas on the Nile or navigating the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
The sister ship Rogue launches in spring 2027, while luxury hotel brand Oberoi debuts two new dahabeyas, Melouk and Malekat, sailing between Luxor and Aswan in 2027.