Whenever you consider cruising, you in all probability consider the primary locations that seem in all of the cruising advertisements and that many of the huge cruise traces journey to.
Assume the Bahamas and different island locations within the Caribbean. Should you’re on the West Coast, you in all probability consider Mexico or Alaska. Should you’re considering of cruises round Europe, you’re going to consider the Mediterranean or Fjords cruises via Scandinavia. And, Should you’re touring just a little additional afield, you may consider a cruise to Hawaii or round Australia.
Nonetheless, there are such a lot of different wonderful locations that you would be able to go to by way of cruise ship — usually locations which can be distant and may not be accessible in any other case. Listed below are just a few of our favorites, that you could add to your bucket checklist, stat.
A Fast Word on Distinctive Cruise Locations and The best way to Get There
It’s price noting that, for a lot of distinctive cruise locations, you may’t get there in your common, budget-friendly mega-ship. (You realize those we’re speaking about.)
You’re going to wish to cruise on a smaller ship, as many of those locations don’t even have the amenities essential to welcome a mega-ship, and sure with a smaller cruise line. In some circumstances, these locations can solely be reached by way of a river cruise ship.
Additionally, needless to say, for among the extra distant distinctive cruise locations, the place the main target is on wildlife and nature excursions, visiting cruises are also known as “expedition cruises.” For expedition cruises, the itinerary is all about exploration and journey. In different phrases, when you’re in search of a cruise the place you’ll sit within the luxurious spa all day, drink by the pool, after which come out to take a look at some distinctive wildlife, these may not be the cruises for you.
You’ll additionally possible must pay just a little bit greater than you may for a fast, three-day journey between Florida and the Bahamas. Nonetheless, the additional price goes to be price it.
1. Antarctica
Curiosity in Antarctica cruises is booming! In reality, in accordance with one NPR article, in 2023, it was anticipated that greater than 100,000 vacationers would go to Antarctica by way of cruise ship! That’s a 40% improve over previous seasons.
There are lots of explanation why that is the case. Some say that, after the COVID-19 pandemic’s journey restrictions, extra vacationers than ever had been impressed to reside life to the fullest, and so they needed to lastly cross this vacation spot off their bucket checklist. Plus, the truth that extra cruise traces are providing cruises to Antarctica makes getting there even simpler!
So, if you wish to go to Antarctica, see the penguins, whales and different wildlife, and in any other case step foot on a continent that possible none of your folks will ever go to, you’ve received choices. Movie star Cruises gives itineraries to Antarctica that depart from Argentina.
Silversea really gives a wide range of Antarctica cruises, on varied ships and with a variety of itinerary choices. Some cruise traces, like Viking, provide longer cruises that embrace stops in Antarctica, as you discover the remainder of South America.
2. The Galápagos Islands
Situated off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapágos Islands is one other vacation spot that’s gaining fast curiosity and, now, about 170,000 vacationers go to the islands per yr, in accordance with CNN.
As a result of the Galapágos are recognized for his or her biodiversity, you may anticipate most cruises right here to deal with the wildlife and accountable, sustainable tourism that lets you expertise this distinctive habitat to its fullest, whereas additionally remaining respectful. A mixture of small cruise suppliers and huge cruise traces provide routes to the Galapágos, together with Silversea, Movie star Cruises and G Adventures.
3. Greenland
Located about half-way between Canada and Iceland, Greenland is a severely underrated journey vacation spot. Like Antarctica, it gives huge, dramatic arctic landscapes with glaciers and comparable, however like Iceland, it additionally gives quaint villages and, throughout the appropriate season, climbing, kayaking among the many fjords, tradition, delicacies and extra.
Plus, Greenland is so near the U.S. and Canadian mainlands that getting there from a cruise ship that departs from the East Coast doesn’t take that lengthy in any respect. Equally, some cruise traces provide fast Greenland cruises that depart from European ports, akin to Amsterdam or Southampton.
Cruise traces that provide Greenland cruises embrace Royal Caribbean, Movie star, Silversea, Carnival and MSC Cruises.
4. The Nile River
We talked about river cruises, although, and what river cruise might be extra attention-grabbing and distinctive than a cruise alongside the Nile River in Egypt?
Many Nile River cruises specialize within the luxurious, and small ships are crucial. As such, you gained’t discover all of the big-name cruise traces working right here. Supplier choices embrace Abercrombie & Kent, Nationwide Geographic Expeditions, Viking and Uniworld.
Throughout a Nile River cruise, you’ll float previous the pyramids and disembark to discover historic ruins, temples and world-class museums. Many itineraries depart from, and return to, Cairo.
5. The Seychelles
You could possibly say that the Seychelles are the brand new Maldives. Everybody was eager to go to the Maldives a decade in the past, however now everybody is aware of in regards to the Maldives. That’s not but the case with the Seychelles.
These Indian Ocean islands sit off the coast of Africa, close to Madagascar, and, as you island hop your approach across the archipelago, you’ll discover alternatives for beach-bumming, scuba diving, climbing in rainforests, exploring the native tradition and trying out the native wildlife (like the large tortoises!).
A number of cruise traces journey to the Seychelles, however many bundle a go to to the Seychelles with a broader tour of the area.
Holland America Line and Oceania each go to the Seychelles as a part of broader cruises, akin to Oceania’s month-long Indian Ocean exploration cruise, and Holland America’s cruises between Australia and South Africa. Nonetheless, Ponant does provide shorter excursions that concentrate on the Seychelles, with itineraries that journey between the Seychelles and Zanzibar.
6. South Africa
Whenever you consider luxurious journey journeys to Africa, you in all probability consider a safari journey. Nonetheless, you may bundle your love of cruising with a safari journey, and with a fairly expansive variety of cruise traces.
Norwegian Cruise Line gives African cruises that take you to locations such South Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Angola, Madagascar and Mauritius. Oceania equally visits ports in Senegal, Tanzania, Madagascar and Gambia. Azamara does as nicely, with regional cruises that concentrate on Western or South Africa.
Learn Additionally: Scenic Cruises – Every part You Have to Know
Relying in your chosen cruise, you’ll get loads of alternatives to disembark and discover, whether or not you need that traditional safari expertise, otherwise you’d reasonably discover the cultural and historic spots in cities like Cape City.
7. Sir Bani Yas Island
Been to Africa earlier than and carried out the entire safari factor? Should you did actually get pleasure from it, however simply need one thing a singular vacation spot to discover, take into account Sir Bani Yas, a wildlife reserve, hen sanctuary and all-around out of doors journey hub the place you may get pleasure from not simply safaris, but additionally biking, kayaking and exploring historic ruins.
Visiting Sir Bani Yas, which is positioned a really brief distance off the United Arab Emirates coast, within the Persian Gulf, is usually bundled right into a broader cruise all through the Center East or to at the least the UAE. For instance, MSC Cruises visits the island throughout cruises that additionally go to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
8. The Kamchatka Peninsula
This very distant Russian peninsula, which juts off Russia’s east coast and into the Bering Sea, is an extremely distinctive vacation spot and never for the faint of coronary heart. The vacation spot is dwelling to greater than 150 volcanoes (some lively) and boasts the very best density of brown bears on the planet.
Reaching it usually requires crossing the Bering Sea from Alaska, and never an entire lot of cruise traces and their passengers are going to go right here. Presently, you’ll must journey with Nationwide Geographic Expeditions to get there, or personal tour suppliers like Journey Life (although, prior to now, different, extra mainstream cruise traces have visited, so maintain your eyes peeled for brand new choices).
Should you’re an intrepid journey and do handle to make to this peninsula, you’ll be rewarded with ample wildlife watching alternatives and alternatives to delve into the distinctive cultures of distant Russian villages.
9. Papua New Guinea
For a tropical oasis cruise and loads of alternatives for climbing, diving and exploring conventional tribal villages — and all in a bucket list-worthy vacation spot that not lots of your folks have visited earlier than — Papua New Guinea, positioned simply north of Queensland, Australia, is the place to go.
Regardless of Papua New Guinea being a comparatively unusual journey vacation spot for a lot of (particularly when you reside within the western hemisphere), you could find a pleasant number of cruise traces that journey there. You may take a Carnival cruise or P&O Cruises cruise from Australia to Papua New Guinea.
Oceania Cruises stops by Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, throughout a variety of itineraries, together with people who go from Asia to Australia or New Zealand, and people who cross the Pacific Ocean.
10. The Amazon River
One other nice river cruise, past the Nile? How about an Amazon River cruise? Dive deep into the jungle and see what awaits on this pristine pure habitat that also holds its fair proportion of secrets and techniques. It’s even simpler to do, when you think about that some cruise traces really provide Amazon cruises that depart from Florida, so that you don’t even must hop a aircraft to South America!
That stated, these cruise traces aren’t going to truly take you down the Amazon, for a very immersive expertise. For that, you will want to go on all the way down to the Southern Hemisphere and board a small river ship, with small ship cruise suppliers like AdventureSmith Explorations, Nationwide Geographic Expeditions or Avalon Waterways.
11. The Faroe Islands
In case your thought of an island getaway consists of extra wet days, cozy sweaters, cottages and roaming sheep than palm bushes, sunshine and sand, you’ll wish to go on a Faroe Islands cruise. These Scandinavian islands sit between Norway and Iceland, and provide all of the Scandinavian attraction you’d anticipate. Assume small villages, puffins and European historical past for days.
Usually, journeys to the Faroe Islands are bundled into bigger regional journeys. For instance, Oceania Cruises visits the islands throughout cruises between the European mainland and Iceland, as do Viking and Norwegian Cruise Line.
12. The Mekong River
One other river cruise choice, the Mekong River, is the Twelfth-longest river on the earth and stretches via Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and China. Many Mekong River cruises deal with Vietnam and Cambodia, and permit you to discover the cities, small villages, cultural points of interest and out of doors wonders alongside the way in which.
You’ll find Mekong River cruises supplied by Viking, Uniworld and Avalon Waterways, amongst others.
13. Easter Island
Just like the Galapágos, one other distinctive cruise vacation spot is Easter Island located off the South American coast, within the Pacific, however additional South, off Chile. The primary purpose anybody goes to Easter Island is to, in fact, see all the historic moai, however there’s a lot else to do past seeing the archaeological websites, together with trekking excursions, biking excursions and even snorkeling.
Many cruise traces bundle a visit to Easter Island into bigger, intensive ocean voyages, as is the case for Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas and MSC Cruises. Nonetheless, you can even discover Polynesian cruises that go to Easter Island, akin to itineraries from each Nationwide Geographic Expeditions and Ponant that journey from Tahiti to Easter Island.
Value Studying: What Is a Transpacific Cruise?
14. Juan Fernández Archipelago
Not too terribly far-off, you could find the Juan Fernández archipelago, additionally off the coast of Chile. Right here, the islands make up a nationwide park and embrace Robinson Crusoe Island, a notable island the place a Scottish sailor was marooned within the early 1700s, inspiring the fictional story of Robinson Crusoe. As we speak, you may discover the very mountainous and exquisite terrain, with all its endemic species that entice nature lovers of all sorts.
It gained’t be simple getting there, however you could find some cruises that put a cease at Robinson Crusoe Island on itineraries that additionally discover Oceania and the Chilean coast, akin to itineraries from Seabourn.
