Where Will Your Heart Lead You Next? Executive Concierge Leandro Roldan’s 2024 Picks

My heart always leads me back to my family. I have two children with my wonderful wife – Isabella is nine years old and Sebastian is four. We love to travel together and my ideal family vacation is Greece. Last summer we spent a week on Skopelos, the beautiful island where the movie Mamma Mia! was filmed. It was an absolute dream – amazing places with stunning sites, combined with the best Greek hospitality. The memories of exploring the island with my family are priceless. We will definitely return to the Greek Isles again and so some of my favorite itineraries in the new 2024 Collection are those that explore the Aegean Sea and surrounding areas.

In particular, I love a couple of the itineraries during the springtime – the 20-day Venice to Rome Mediterranean Poetry voyage departing May 1, 2024, on Vista and the 18-day Jerusalem to Istanbul Turkey & Greece Unveiled journey also aboard Vista, departing June 1, 2024. They both visit many beautiful Greek Isles combined with other top Mediterranean destinations. The 17-day Istanbul to Venice Timeless Turkey & Greece sailing aboard Riviera at the end of the season also caught my eye – it departs October 8, 2024, and is an enchanting combination of Greek islands, Adriatic destinations and beautiful Turkish ports.

Since falling in love with a life at sea in 2009, I have had the pleasure and fortune of traveling to so many parts of the world. One of the places I’ve not yet sailed to is stunning Antarctica. What a dream travel destination. I grew up in Argentina, so I have always been fascinated by Antarctica and it would be amazing to make this childhood dream come true. Not many have the opportunity to travel there – it would be amazing to experience it and see the untouched natural landscapes. For that reason, Marina’s journeys that trace Argentina, Chile and Peru and head south for Antarctica caught my attention. The 24-day Lima to Buenos Aires Legendary Latin America voyage departing December 18, 2023, as well as December 15, 2024, looks amazing. What a fantastically memorable way to spend the holidays. If you are looking for a truly epic adventure, I suggest considering the 42-day Miami to Buenos Aires Canals, Capes & Icecaps journey aboard Marina, departing November 27, 2024. Not only does it cruise the stunning bays and islands of Antarctica, this itinerary includes a call on Port Stanley, explores beautiful Patagonia, visits the best of Peru, heads north for a Panama Canal transit with relaxing calls in the Caribbean, all before conveniently ending in Miami.

If you happen to be planning one of these 2024 voyages or have a 2023 cruise that embarks or disembarks in Buenos Aires, I encourage you to spend some extra time there. I may be partial since this is where I am originally from, but I have the perfect steakhouse recommendation for you – La Brigada in the charming neighborhood of San Telmo. A few years ago, one of our most well-traveled guests asked for a Buenos Aires restaurant suggestion from me, and ever since, there has not been a single time we meet without talking about their memorable dining experience in La Brigada. In fact, whenever they are in Buenos Aires, they return to this same steakhouse again and again.

Another country I’m drawn to is Japan. Along with Antarctica, this is one of the very few places I have never sailed to. I’m most excited by the possibility of visiting Kobe and enjoying the delicious local cuisine – the beef, of course – the culture and their traditions. The 11-day Seoul to Tokyo Japanese Awakening departing March 9, 2024, and the 12-day roundtrip Tokyo Land of the Rising Sun departing March 20, and April 1, 2024, all aboard Riviera, are exciting options for exploring Japan in greater depth.

Last but certainly not least, Africa is an amazing destination and we have amazing 2024 cruises in this region. One of my most memorable travel adventures to date was definitely when I was aboard Nautica sailing from Dubai to Cape Town, South Africa. I felt incredibly privileged to travel to so many exotic destinations in just 30 days. For this reason, the intriguing destinations featured on the 28-day Singapore to Cape Town Asia & Africa Explorer aboard Nautica departing April 11, 2024, caught my eye. We visited places such as the Seychelles, Zanzibar and the Maldives, all with gorgeous pristine beaches, Madagascar with its exotic fauna, and so many other exciting places. Once in mainland Africa, I had the opportunity to do various game reserve safaris in South Africa, where I had the incredible experience of observing the Big Five in their natural habitats. This is always an adventure that I recommend to our guests.

Wherever I travel – whether big cities like Stockholm and Cape Town or exotic islands like the Maldives and Zanzibar – I have a passion for finding small places that are off the beaten path. It might be a nice little family-owned restaurant serving freshly prepared local cuisine or just a sight that is not in most travel guides. The adventure and reward of finding these places is one of the parts of travel that I find so fulfilling. So when I see you on board next, be certain to stop by the Executive Concierge desk and ask for some personal recommendations. We are always delighted to share the gems we have discovered on our travels with you.

About Leandro Roldan
Leandro Roldan is a hospitality professional who embarked on his career after his studies in Hospitality Management, holding various positions in five-star hotels in Buenos Aires and Dubai. Passionate about Guest Services, Leandro is always ready to assist with his positive can-do attitude. The allure of travel and gaining international experience brought him to sea to discover the wonders of the cruise industry – it was love at first sight. Over the years, his relationship with the sea grew stronger and became part of his life. Originally from beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina, Leandro resides in Romania with his wife, Aurelia, and two beautiful children. When not at sea he enjoys his family, road trips and playing soccer with friends.