Travel: This hotel floats — and it’s the best way to see Palau

Snorkeling among countless stingless jellyfish in far-off Micronesia would’ve been a pinch-me moment on its own. But doing so in one of the world’s few marine lakes — and without another tourist in sight — well, cruise adventures don’t get much better than that.

Ah, but this wasn’t a cruise, at least not in the traditional sense. True, the jellyfish encounter took place aboard a superyacht — the Four Seasons Explorer, gliding through otherworldly Palau — but the experience felt more like a stay at a luxury hotel than a traditional cruise.

That impression wasn’t just personal, but the goal of a hospitality brand attuned to a growing trend that finds travelers craving less structure and more serendipity. Unlike conventional cruise ships, the Explorer lets guests embark or disembark any day