As the weather gets warmer and summer approaches I start dreaming about vacations, don’t you? By now I usually have solid summer travel plans in place, but as the COVID-19 pandemic contines to spread we find ourselves confined to our homes wondering when and if we can safely travel again. Our normal day-to-day lives have been turned upside down, and many of us are suffering from a bad case of cabin fever.

It seems like every few hours a news notification pops up on my phone announcing how many more positive cases of coronavirus there are in my area. It can feel unnerving. Now, more than ever, we need a lift in our spirits and an escape for our minds. Those of use who love to travel especially need to feel like we can momentarily escape our lockdown and get out and explore.

Well, we are in luck! (Sort of). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has basically halted cruising temporarily with their newly extended no-sail order, but several passenger cruise lines have developed various virtual tours and other experiences to help frequent cruisers get their cruise “fix” and assure that we are still thinking of these businesses for our future travel plans.

Carnival Cruise Line

I have been on a few Carnival cruises, and they are always fun. That ship in the picture above was my home one week in 2018. The internet has lots of virtual cruise videos on YouTube and elsewhere – some are professional and some just from passengers. But this interactive, 360-degree YouTube Video of a Carnival Caribbean cruise is pretty cool. With your mouse controlling the camera, you can experience a Virtual Caribbean Mini Cruise. Just look at that clear blue water and sunshine. We need this!

Imagine yourself strolling along the beach with the deep blue waters splashing at your feet and feel the warm sunshine on your face. Then imagine that you return to the Fun ship for a trip down its super fast waterslide, a leisurely walk on the pool deck, and a breathtaking view of the sunset off the stern.

Here is another YouTube video that gives you a virtual tour of Carnival’s ship Horizon. I love the Dr. Suess themed area for kids of all ages! Wow!

Royal Caribbean

I think this is really cool. Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise director, Abe Hughes, has recently created his own imaginary vessel, the ‘Virtual of the Seas’. With this series sanctioned by the cruise line, he’s hosted several voyages and is now hosting his fourth virtual voyage. This one is to the Caribbean!

Each day, Abe Hughes puts out a Royal Caribbean Daily Compass (RCI’s newsletter), live updates on Facebook, fun RCI trivia, several signature recipes, and cruise activities that can be done at home such as quizzes, scavenger hunts, and arts-and-crafts. Daily updates are given out on Hughes’ Facebook page, and are also being tweeted out by Royal Caribbean’s chief fleet meteorologist James Van Fleet. How fun is that?

Viking

Check out this panoramic tour from Viking Cruise Line’s Star. Viking actually has a great deal of new virtual content that can be viewed on your smart TV just as easily as on tablets or mobile devices. You can explore the Viking experience through world cookbooks, photography, and connections to history, art, music, literature and film.

Friday is Downtown Day, when fans of the TV program “Downtown Abbey” can peek inside Highclere House with Lady Carnarvon. Tune in to “Tor’s Corner” for the latest coronavirus updates and important messages from Viking chairman, Torstein Hagen (Tor).

Viking has an interactive live stream series hosted by Viking senior vice president Karine Hagen. It is called “Conversations with Karine and Friends” and features presentations from resident experts on different topics and special guests. Viewers can ask questions in real-time during the show, which is scheduled Monday through Friday at 2:00 p.m. ET. There are also lecture series from experts and interesting discussions on the cultural aspects of the destinations where Viking sails.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruise has a new online program called Crystal@Home, where you can go on a virtual voyage aboard one of its luxury vessels. Each week there is a new theme with plenty of interesting content.

Using social media channels, Crystal@Home connects with people through various theme days such as “Storyteller Monday” celebrity podcast segments, “Wellness Wednesday” with demonstrations from Crystal’s certified fitness instructors, “Thirsty Thursday” spotlighting creative cocktail recipes from the cruise line’s bars, and “Friday Nights at the Galaxy”, which are live Facebook events at 6:00 p.m. ET where the ship’s talented onboard performers give us a taste of entertainment.

There is also “Sail Away Saturday”, where guests are encouraged to share photos and videos from their past Crystal cruises using the hashtag #CrystalFamily. And on Sundays at 3 p.m. ET there are live cooking lessons from Crystal’s celebrated British chef Jon Ashton.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line (HAL) has a new online “HAL@Home” series with plenty to see for would be cruise goers. Their first release was a YouTube video in which HAL Culinary Council member, Chef Ethan Stowell, shows us how to cook one of his favorite pasta dishes: spaghetti with garlic, chili and anchovy.

In addition to more cooking lessons, The HAL@Home programming includes entertainment from HAL’s onboard talent staff, highlights of various ship itineraries, and features of different cruise destinations to keep loyal cruisers interested.

Silversea Cruises

Luxury line, Silversea Cruises has some virtual content on its social media channels called “To the Curious.” They also send this information in emails to previous customers.

There is an around-the-world journey of 60 cocktail recipes, with mixology tutorials being posted to Silversea’s YouTube channel. The cruise line also asks its previous passengers to share the current view from their windows onto the world by posting to its Facebook page with the hashtag #YearningToSailAgain. Um, I’m not sure this is helping my cabin fever.

Linblad Expeditions

On the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic company website and their social media channels you can experience a “Virtual Expedition.” Their tag line says, “Let’s Explore Like We Did Before. Join Us For Wildness, Wonder, and More.”

Since we can’t be out exploring the world, they say they are bridging the distance with the “tonic of wildness” from the world’s pristine places. The Virtual Expedition is an online cruise that runs Monday through Friday, with it’s program changing daily.

From the Morning Wakeup from expedition leaders to the Evening Recap this exhilarating exhibition lets you discover new exotic places, observe wildlife, and enjoy special performances and presentations. Included are photo tips, wellness moments, virtual guests, virtual music lounges, art, and more. They even provide cocktail recipes to enjoy at home together with other viewers!

Which one do you like the best? Is there a cruise you have always wanted to take? Leave some of your thoughts on cruising in the comments below.