From starry nights to tasting tours, Cruises are a pack-it-all adventure. There are cruises for history buffs, wilderness enthusiasts, hippies, love-all-things-engineering guys, and many more. Deciding the best cruise destination for the coming season can be a daunting task.
No need to sweat over it. We have put together the top cruise destinations around the world for you.
Caribbean
Every Cruise liner and every list for the top cruise destinations across the world includes the Caribbean. And why shouldn’t they? The Caribbean is- to say the very least- mind-blowing. The Postcard-ish blue lagoons, the turquoise water, and the diverse coral reefs all are reasons to rank the Caribbean at the top amongst the best cruise destinations across the world.
Caribbean cruises stand out not only for the vibes but the cost and accessibility. 2-day Cruise Tours from the US start at a mere two hundred dollars. And the list of activities and excursions includes snorkeling, scuba diving, traditional markets, and much more!
The top destinations in the Caribbean are The Bahamas and Barbados. If not the Bahamas, you can head to the Cayman Islands.
Bahamas: Try the culinary delights of Nassau or an underwater swim along stingrays, or visit the amazing Thunderball Grotto from the Bond’s movies. Finish of your day in the Bahamas soaking in the view from nineteenth century lighthouses.
Barbados: In the beautiful country of Barbados, you can dive to ruins from ships long forgotten. If such passive adventures aren’t your thing, you should witness action-packed horse races. Whatever you choose from the two options, you must finish of your trip with a visit to Hunte’s gardens.
Alaska
Are you, like us, sunburnt and looking for a getaway towards cooler regions?
The best cruise destination for you then is Alaska. With greater access, and greater numbers longing to visit the snowy land called Alaska, more and more cruise liners are offering Alaskan Cruises. Daily excursions will take you fishing, to cute little towns where you can purchase memorabilia, raft rides amidst seals, and animal shelters. All in all, Alaskan Cruises are the best cruise destination if you are looking to get away from the heat and the hustle-bustle of the concrete jungles today’s metropolitans have become.
You’ll find scores of different Itineraries for cruises heading to Alaska. Make sure to choose the ones passing by Glacier Bay.
Italy
Italy-cliché and romantic-is among the best cruise destinations in Europe. From historic castles to modern supercars to Instagram-savvy beaches, Italy is a you-can’t-miss destination. Mediterranean cruises make it a point to dock at the Italian towns of Rome or Sicily.
Now, what can you do in Italy?
You can hike, race, or roam. Whatever you ask for, Italy has a better version. And we have not even started talking about Italian Cuisine. It is a whole another story in itself.
Twenty bucks say you love pizzas. Ten says you can’t go without Pasta!
Well, Italy is the birthplace of most of the world’s favorites.
And then there’s the fashion capital of Milano. From Versace to Armani, all came from Italy. You can board a cruise liner stopping over at one of the many Italian Ports or if googling Italy’s pictures have you drooling, you can opt to fly to Italy and cruise a ship from Rome or Sicily to head back.
Some destinations that must be visited in Italy are-
Rome: Home to the remnants of the great Roman empire, the city of Rome is also the capital of Modern Day Italy. The Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon all sit within Rome.
Sicily: Sicily is the hometown of the notorious but glorified Sicilian Mafia. You must have caught a glimpse of this spectacular beach-town in one of the several movies shot here. The Godfather Series, Ocean’s Twelve, and Aqua Man all feature Sicily.
Venice: If one is going for a cruise, why not just head to the canal city of Venice. The time-honored city of Venice has no roads. Instead, a network of canals and waterways make up the transportation system.
Naples: Naples, in southern Italy, sits close to Mount Vesuvius-the volcano that burned the city of Pompeii alive. From Castles to historic theatres, Naples is the perfect spot for admirers of Victorian Architecture.
Santorini, Greece
Did you know the largest volcanic eruption, as far as records go, birthed the Beautiful Santorini?
Well, thank goodness, for the island is “unbelievably beautiful”. There must be something special about the place for the hometown of a mere 15000 welcomes over one and a half million tourists from all across the globe. The white buildings against the sun setting over blue calm waters make the perfect spot for photographers. And who would have guessed that the somewhat-of-a-croissant-shaped island had ancient civilizations inhabiting it? The Museum of Pre-historic Thera showcases remnants from olden times.
Cruises from another must-visit destination, Athens, dock at Santorini and neighboring Cycladic islands. Santorini is for sure one of the best cruise destinations in the world you must visit.
Panama Canal
The fifty miles of the Panama Canal connect the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. But here’s the twist: the canal is not like other waterways. Mother nature did not carve it out over periods un-imaginable. Instead, engineering legends the likes of John Frank Stevens, John Findley Wallace, and George Washington Goethals made it happen in over three decades. Quite rightly, the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) labeled the canal as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Strategically placed locks raise or lower the passing ships by flooding or draining water. This ingenious system avoided excavation work whilst the canal was being built.
Enough about the Canal. The question is, what does this Cruise hold for those who have the least bit of interest in engineering?
Exotic Wildlife, picturesque river banks and the nearby city of Panama offer all kinds of activities. From ziplining to strolling the Colonial Town of Antigua in nearby Guatemala, Panama is the perfect cruise destination for families as well as solo adventurers.
Here are a few activities/places you should be checking out-
Bocas Del Toro: Vibrant colonial hues and hippies are calling you at this beautiful beach. You can go for a Surf or dive beneath the turquoise water. And don’t worry! Bocas Del Toro is affordable for all.
Go for backpacking in Boquete: If you are a coffee enthusiast or just want to enjoy a good hike, you must visit Boquete. Along the hiking trails, you will find abandoned Castles, exotic birds, and captivating waterfalls. For coffee lovers, the Boquete region grows Panama’s coffee. Try out a coffee made from recently harvested beans and you will find it hard to like your average store-shelf grounds.
Go for a stroll around Old Town: For photographers, Panama City’s old town makes the perfect destination. Admittedly, the streets are cramped but that’s the beauty of the old town. The historic brick-paved walkways, and the colorful tall buildings, the churches, and the plazas, all are perfect backdrops for your pictures.
Galápagos, Ecuador
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos Islands get their name from their enchanting tortoises. Darwin’s work in the “Origin of Species” owes a major chunk to these Islands. Today, these islands house the Darwin Research Station and are known to have one of the most diverse eco-system. The Iguanas are rainbow-colored, the finches have different beaks on different islands-even on different areas of the same Island.
Quick question: Have you read or watched Journey to the center of the earth or The Mysterious Island?
The Galapagos are the closest you are getting to Verne’s Islands. If you are into observatories or are a Bio-geek, The Galapagos Islands are the best cruise destination for you.
The Baltics
The Baltics cover the extreme north of Europe. Ask those who have been there, and they’ll tell you that to do justice to the Baltics you have to go there again and again. All the different locations you would be docking at in the Baltic are vacation destinations on their own. Stockholm, Helsingborg, Tallinn are just some of the places you can visit. On a single cruise to the Baltics, you can experience tens of different cultures. From sky-high glass towers to serene villages, Baltics have it all. You’ll find German influences on daily life, Russian spoken around the corners, Finnish folklore, and so on. The Baltics are a melting pot of culture with populations from all over Europe.
Here is a list of Places worth visiting in the Baltics-
Tartu, Estonia: For university students, the university city of Tartu makes the perfect destination Albeit small, the diverse foreign student body inhabiting the city, and the scores of cafes in the main city have made it a famous destination for students from all over the world.
Riga, Latvia: Latvia’s Capital blends history and today’s fast-paced world together harmoniously. In its eight-hundred years of existence, the city has hosted the Russians, the Germans, and the Swedish. Needless to say, the city still has their influences. For architecture buffs, the city is the perfect destination in the Baltics.
Tallinn, Estonia: The capital city of Estonia is straight out of a fairy tale. But don’t mistake it for a slow-paced historical location. The city has made the charts again and again as the birthplace of the greatest technologies there are. Skype and TransferWise came from Tallinn. Even the EU’s IT Agency and NATO’s Cyber Defense Centre are located here.
Norwegian Fjords
You must have heard of the Fjords or at least longed to Visit Norway watching Harry Potter. (Remember the train scenes? That’s Norway!) There are over a thousand Fjords, and you won’t have trouble finding Cruises heading to these beautiful, spectacular wonders. To the south we the Lysefjord; we have the Hardanger fjord blossoming with countless apple trees in springtime; we have the Sognefjord-the king of all Fjords and many more. Describing the dazzling Fjords in words is pretty much impossible. The narrow ones have an aura of their own, the wider ones offer different excursions. There are the northern fjords and the southern fjords. There are waterfall fjords and rocky fjords. It’s a daunting pick between the scores of options, but trust us, all are worth seeing.
Norwegian Fjords are the perfect cruise destination if you are looking for lush green forests against striking rivers.
Cairns, Australia
The Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef are easily among Australia’s most astonishing regions. The Great Barrier Reef is home to numerous world-famed destinations. Although you won’t see elegant skyscrapers, Rainforests and nature are plenty. You can spend a day with Aborigines (No one knows how they got there), or go for a helicopter ride over the Cairns-it’s an out-of-this-world experience. You could zip line or ride hot air balloons above the looming trees. As a plus, the Cairns boasts exquisite seafood.
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
The last on the list of the top 10 cruise destinations in the world is more of a family location. The sheer number of activities you can indulge in on these 144 Islands (Yes, you read that right!) calls for another post. To name a few you get to ride horses across Island Bridges, hear folklore from the local tribes, snorkel on one of the most diverse shores in the world, fish, go Jet skiing, or even skydive. And that’s just the tip of the Iceberg. The Bay of Islands is the perfect spot for families.
Wrapping it up….
Reading the descriptions up above, you must be tempted to visit all the locations. And you should! But for first-timers, we suggest the Caribbean. They are cheap, accessible, and of course picturesque. If you are looking for some European location, try out the Baltics! We can bet you won’t regret it!
Tell us which one you think is the best Cruise Destination in the world down below!
