Some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality are betting big on cruising. Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman have brought their brands to the water, with smaller yachts designed to feel more like boutique hotels at sea. Think spacious suites with private terraces, posh beach clubs and, in Aman’s case, even two helipads.

And it’s not just the ultra-luxury yacht lines shaking things up. Virgin Voyages skips the traditional buffet, with dining that feels more like choosing a restaurant than filling a tray. It also includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty restaurants for all guests. If you’ve never thought of yourself as a cruise person, maybe it’s time to reconsider.

And if you’re a train person, Bilt just added Amtrak as a transfer partner at a 2:1 ratio, so 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points. Amtrak awards start at 400 points, but the number of points you’ll need varies based on the cash price of the trip rather than a traditional award chart.

You don't need a Bilt credit card to earn Bilt Points. Join Bilt Rewards for free and earn points on purchases you're already making while still earning rewards from your credit card.

Take Lyft, for example. Link your Bilt and Lyft accounts to earn 2X Bilt Points on eligible rides. You can also earn bonus points at participating restaurants, Walgreens, and fitness studios through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits.

Google Flights lets you search by map, which is perfect when you care more about finding a cheap beach than a specific destination.

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I’ve traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, basically to the moon and back a few times, and somehow I have never been on a cruise.

But the more I see what’s happening in cruising right now, the more I’m starting to think I might be missing something.

You’re listening to Departure Digest. We’ve got a new way to use Bilt points for train travel, then we’re talking about why some luxury hotel brands are suddenly getting into cruising.

Okay, so Bilt just added Amtrak as a transfer partner, and this is a pretty interesting one if you take the train with any regularity.

You can now transfer Bilt points to Amtrak Guest Rewards at a 2:1 ratio. So 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points.

That’s not the most exciting transfer ratio, but it’s still a useful new option if you have Bilt points and take Amtrak.

Amtrak award tickets start at just 400 points, so you don’t need a huge balance to get started.

Just know that Amtrak doesn’t use a traditional award chart, so the number of points you need can vary based on the cash price of the trip.

And as a reminder, Amtrak points expire after 24 months of account inactivity, so I wouldn’t transfer any points until you’re actually ready to book something.

On a completely different travel note, I think we might be entering a new golden age of cruising.

I’ve always thought of myself as a hotel person. Give me a nice room, a good pool, a walkable neighborhood and maybe a chic hotel bar, and I’m happy.

My mental image of cruising was basically giant ships, thousands of people, buffets, formal nights and someone’s dad aggressively guarding a pool chair before breakfast.

Maybe that’s still a thing. I wouldn’t know.

But cruising is changing, and some of the biggest luxury hotel names are making a pretty strong case for trying it.

Ritz-Carlton already has three yachts sailing. Four Seasons launched its first yacht this year. Orient Express just entered the market, and Aman is set to launch its first yacht in 2027.

These aren’t the giant megaships you might be picturing. They’re smaller, more intimate, designed to feel much more like boutique hotels at sea.

If your idea of luxury yachting comes from Below Deck, this is probably closer to that than the giant cruise ship you might be imagining.

I love seeing multiple places on one trip, but I’d happily skip the part where I have to repack my suitcase every few days. On a cruise, you unpack once, and your hotel comes with you.

You wake up somewhere new, spend the day exploring, come back to the same room, and do it again the next day.

That part is pretty appealing to me.

And food is a big part of how I travel, which is probably another reason I’ve never thought of myself as a cruise person.

For a long time, the cruise-food stereotype was basically buffets and loud dining rooms.

That’s not really what the newer cruise lines are going for.

Virgin Voyages, for example, has more than 20 included eateries, no traditional buffet and made-to-order dining designed to feel more like restaurants you’d choose on land.

I want to wake up somewhere beautiful, spend the day exploring, and then have a really good dinner without having to figure out where I’m going next.

And Virgin is rethinking cruising in other ways, too. It’s adults-only and has a much more grown-up feel, without some of the traditional cruise extras. All of its restaurants are included, along with Wi-Fi, fitness classes and entertainment.

Okay, going back to the ultra-luxury yacht lines. If you already love staying at the Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, the pitch is pretty simple: you get the kind of hospitality you already know, but now the hotel moves. And for someone like me who has never considered herself a cruise person, I can see the appeal.

Of course, the ultra-luxury version of this comes with a very different price tag. Four Seasons cruises can start at around $3,000 per night for an entry-level suite for two, with just breakfast and select non-alcoholic drinks included. Unlike a typical luxury cruise, though, lunch, dinner and alcohol are all extra.

But I have to admit, I’m getting dangerously close to booking a cruise.

Maybe I’ll take a cruise and come back saying, yep, still not a cruise person.

Or maybe I’ll become one of those people who starts planning the next cruise before the current one is over.

There might not be a middle ground.

Alright, that wraps it up for this week. Smooth skies, smooth seas, and I’ll see you Monday.