I TRUST YOU’LL ENJOY our Cruising Issue, a topic we didn’t focus on when we launched Global Traveler 16 years ago. Like cruising, we changed a great deal over the past years. Where we once turned up our noses at taking that typical cruise, we have come to learn cruising not only has its place in our travels, but it can hold a special place.

About 10 years ago I took the family, with their plus-ones, on a Christmas cruise with Celebrity Cruises, since then embarking on three more with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, as well as trans-Atlantic crossings on the Queen Mary 2. The GT team has enjoyed many other ocean and river cruises; be sure to read their reviews on these pages.

The rise of river cruising is astounding — there is even talk about overcrowding on some rivers. I hope to take a river cruise in the spring and am reviewing the many itinerary options. Expedition cruises offer a wonderful way to experience places like the Antarctic or the Galápagos. This segment also enjoys substantial growth, including the likes of Ponant, fairly new to the American market.

With so many available cruising styles and ports of call, destinations like Hawai’i and Mexico find it challenging to keep pace. Avid travelers collect destinations and experiences, reveling in doing what others have not done. Traveling to Lanai, I was surprised to learn how many people have never been there, even those who frequently travel to Hawai’i or even live in Honolulu. I stayed at the Four Seasons; please look for my upcoming Golf column and GT Tested review of the property. (A side note: I do not recommend flying through Honolulu unless you have TSA PreCheck. The lines were ridiculously long, and nobody seemed to care or help. Without TSA PreCheck, I may have missed my flight.)

Our next issue announces the results of the 16th annual GT Tested Reader Survey, which will award some perennial favorites (which hung on hard for their top spots) and some new favorites. The Peninsula Beverly Hills will host the event Dec. 11 at its poolside rooftop venue, and we are hoping for warm weather just in case a guest decides to topple in, as happened a few years ago. The property says no one fell in the pool before or since, so we hold a proud record. Our winners prefer to make a splash to celebrate!

Until next month, peruse these pages and plan your cruise … and to those of you who say, “We don’t cruise,” find a voyage to meet your expectations and personality.

Mahalo nui loa!