Sailing from Chile and Peru to Ecuador and Costa Rica, the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer cruise ship is full of marble, granite and almost 500 chandeliers.

The AIDAnova cruise ship boasts 23 bars, 17 restaurants and an amusement park. What keeps this state-of-the-art vessel running as it navigates the Atlantic Ocean?

The Diamond Princess is a British-registered cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She began operation in March 2004, carrying nearly 2,700 passengers to some of Japan's most iconic cities, navigating unpredictable weather and tricky ports.

Pinnacle-class cruise ship MS Nieuw Statendam. At 300 metres long, it is the world's largest boutique cruise ship which debuted in December 2018 and is capable of carrying over 4,000 passengers.

Costa Diadema is a Dream-class cruise ship owned by Carnival Corporation and operated by Costa Crociere. The ship was ordered in October and delivered to Costa exactly four years later. It gives its 3,700 passengers the ultimate Mediterranean experience as Captain Giorgio Moretti uses his 37-year experience to guide this 306-metre-long vessel.

The Norwegian Joy is tailor-made to sail through the daunting waters of Alaska. This €700,000,000 vessel aims to give its passengers an unforgettable experience.

The Roald Amundsen sails where few ships will ever go. The vessel was built specifically to take passengers on an unforgettable voyage to Antarctica.

The Sky Princess, which carries passengers from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to three central American stops. Techniques are employed to get this massive vessel get in and out of the ports.

The crew of the Regal Princess, Princess Cruises' largest ship, faces narrow channels, shifting waters, shallow harbours, and transport vehicles.

Life aboard Europa 2 is all about luxury. That means having plenty of room to relax. This ship offers more space per passenger than any other. There should never be cause to queue up. There is always a free chaise by the pool or a table available in the restaurant. And the crew caters to every request or whim. A special aerial tour in an exotic port? Done. A surprise beach barbeque to celebrate a family birthday? No problem. The credo on this vessel is simple: “Small ships make big things happen.”

Koningsdam is Holland America's newest, largest and most technologically advanced ship; sailing the narrow Norwegian fjords on a mega-ship presents numerous challenges for the bridge team.

The crew of the Marina, Oceania Cruises' largest ship, makes a 12-day, five port voyage.

Carnival Vista is the new flagship for one of the world’s largest cruise lines; it carries more than 4,600 passengers and boasts 10 restaurants, nearly 2,000 staterooms, and a crew of 1,400 ready to tend to guests’ every need.

Viking Sea is the second ocean-going vessel launched by the owners of Viking River Cruises. Reviews for the first cruise ship were stellar, but each ship – and each voyage – is a new test. No casinos, bumper cars or discos on this ship; just fine food, dramatic destinations and sublime Scandinavian décor that makes Viking Sea one of the most beautiful cruise ships in the world.

She's a new ship voyaging to new destinations on waters that today's mega-cruise ships simply cannot navigate. Set sail aboard Le Soleal on a 14-day voyage through one of the largest archipelagos on the planet: Indonesia, home to diverse wildlife, rumbling volcanoes, and endless coastlines. Passengers pay thousands of dollars for one-of-a-kind encounters here. But reaching such spectacular locations means overcoming substantial obstacles, on sea and land, challenges that will push Le Soleal, and her crew, to their limits.

The crew of the world's largest river-cruising company takes to the waters of the ocean-cruising industry, navigating narrow passages and rough seas around Spain, Normandy and Amsterdam.

Royal Clipper is the largest sailing cruise ship in the world, with five masts soaring 58 metres high, supporting 42 sails carrying the ship to a speed of 17 knots.

MSC Divina is divine – all marble and mirrors, with dramatic lighting and Swarovski crystal staircases. Featuring the best of Italian design and American convenience, this ship cruises the Caribbean in a style more often associated with ships one-quarter its size. Carrying 4200 passengers from 70 different countries, a cruise on this ship offers the best of Europe on board, with stops at the top ports in the Caribbean.

Viking Long Ship Gefjon visits the great cities of the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers but the crew must navigate through 67 locks, and face bridges only a few centimetres higher than the ship and river beds that narrow to tight channels.

As other cruise ships head for the Caribbean in late autumn, Marco Polo, the Grande Dame of the Baltic, keeps her cool up north, and that's just how her passengers like it. They've paid to see Old World cities such as Copenhagen, St. Petersburg and Helsinki without crowds of tourists, but traveling this time of year is a risky venture. And while this 50-year-old liner is built to plow through broken ice on arctic routes, a new captain, some unpredictable seas, and a brooding hurricane will make this a historic ride in more ways than one.

A crew of 2,200 on the Symphony of the Seas tends to more than 5,500 passengers as they sail to ports in Spain, France and Italy.

With an ice-strengthened hull and a fleet of Zodiacs, Ocean Endeavour is the perfect vessel for adventure. A voyage on this ship is not just a cruise. It’s an expedition. In the hands of an experienced staff who are experts in Arctic ice, wildlife and natural history, each trip ashore promises a rugged but enriching experience. The ship’s modern amenities soothe the body and the soul, with a pool, sauna and hot tub, along with comforting meals awaiting guests as they step back aboard.

In the series premiere, Paul Gauguin navigates delicate waters and offers five-star luxury while sailing the coral reefs, mountainous islands, and tropical playgrounds of French Polynesia.

At 122,000 gross tons, Celebrity Solstice puts the "mighty" in Mighty Cruise Ships. She carries 1,255 crewmembers and close to 3,000 passengers during her summer journeys along Australia's northern coast, offering ten restaurants, over a dozen bars, a casino, and even a manicured grass lawn. Hop aboard on a luxurious 17-day journey Down Under and explore the country's marvels from Solstice's comfortable decks. Then see how her crew handles the tough challenges of these untamed shores and stays cool in hot waters.

When it comes to exploring the heart of Asia's most exotic locales, Azamara Journey is in a class of her own. She reaches destinations big cruise ships cannot, navigating through narrow, winding rivers to deliver her passengers to breathtaking worlds. Set sail on a 15-day cruise, highlighted by elephant-guided tours through tropical jungles and overnight stays in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi. Then meet the dedicated crew as they handle shallow waters, fierce weather, and stubborn local pilots en route to an unforgettable journey.