World’s Best Cruising Destinations
There are a lot of ways to enjoy a vacation, but if you don’t really like the typical ones that include going to a choice of two beaches and one hotel for all your party, a cruise is an interesting alternative. It’s an opportunity to visit a myriad of different places all in one trip and have a lot of fun while doing it, which is why a lot of people love it. But the problem nowadays is that you have a lot of cruising destinations to choose from. They’re all different, and you can get a unique experience from each, but which one should you go for? To make things easier, we’ve included some of the world’s best cruising destinations for you to choose from, so let’s take a look at them.
Indonesia If Indonesia isn’t your first choice when it comes to a cruise, it should be. An Indonesia cruise will get you a unique experience through some of the country’s 18,000 islands, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a variety of landscapes and cultural experiences.
What are some of the destinations you can experience? Well, the most popular one is probably Bali, an island that gets you pretty much everything Indonesia has to offer. Then, we have the Spice Islands, a place that is historically incredibly significant, and surprisingly well preserved nowadays for you to enjoy. Raja Ampat is another incredibly popular destination, with clear blue waters and a myriad of small islands that you can enjoy.
Bahamas A quick sail away from Florida, the Bahamas is one the best places to cruise, just make sure you don’t go during the peak of hurricane season. The beauty of cruising the Bahamas is the sheer ease of doing it – you don’t have to overcomplicate things if you don’t want to, and just about everything results in a relaxing atmosphere. The beaches are long and sandy, and they create the perfect environment for you to grab a cocktail and a book, and enjoy relaxation when you’re onshore. When you’re not, you’ll be able to experience crystal clear waters surrounding you everywhere, and a glimpse of the locals having fun, whether that’s surfing, fishing, diving or snorkeling. Overall, the Bahamas are one of those exotic destinations that you might think is unachievable, but it’s actually pretty easy to get to, and pretty easy to make the most of.
Hawaii Another one of those destinations that offer an incredible variety of things to do, Hawaii cruising will result in you visiting one of the world’s best places when it comes to outdoor exploration. This group of islands comes with hundreds of beaches, as well as stunning forests and mountains that you can explore. If you want to hit the beach, Oahu is your best destination. You can tan, you can surf, or you can snorkel if you want, there’s something for everyone. A hike to Rainbow Falls on the Big Island will get you the opportunity to do what’s known as forest bathing, a relaxing experience that you’ll love. Or, you can even head to some of the volcanoes – you can pick between active ones, such as Kilauea, or if you’d rather stick to caution, Mauna Loa is a better bet. While we’re talking about Hawaii, a trip to Oahu will also give you the opportunity to pay your respects to Pearl Harbor victims at the USS Arizona Memorial. Oh, and while Hawaii might remind you of a tropical cocktail with an umbrella in the glass, it’s actually a lot better for coffee lovers – the state is the US’s only permanent coffee producer.
But of course, Hawaii is most popular as being the go-to destination for adventurous types. This is the place that will allow you to surf, explore the forests in a 4×4 or go hiking on some of the world’s most stunning trails. There’s something for everyone, and you’ll love it.
Barcelona, Spain
The port's proximity to the historic center of Barcelona makes the Catalan capital the perfect destination to be explored. Thanks to the wide variety of attractions, the city has become one of the main European summer destinations for different
traveler profiles. In just 10 minutes walk, you will be at the beginning of Las Ramblas, the most famous shopping street in the city, which offers a wide range of bars and restaurants. A few minutes from the port is also the popular beach of Barceloneta, the most popular strip of sand in the Mediterranean, or the Gothic Quarter, a set of medieval buildings full of history.
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
St. Maarten offers all the ingredients for a perfect Caribbean day: turquoise waters, tax-free shopping and the infectious hospitality of the Caribbean people. However, this former Dutch colony has an unusual attraction that is not possible to find on the neighboring islands: an airport on the beach. The planes make the descent towards the airstrip a few meters from the swimmers who enjoy the beach at Maho Beach, accessible in a few minutes by taxi from the cruise terminal in Philipsburg. The island offers yet another unique opportunity in the Caribbean: visiting 2 countries at once. That's because you can easily cross the border with St. Martin, the part of the island that still belongs to France.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Often overshadowed by the gradient of its neighbour Dubai, the city of Abu Dhabi is a jewel set in the desert of the United Arab Emirates. The imposing Sheikh Zayed Mosque is so impressive that it is worth a stopover in the city alone. Entirely built-in white marble and decorated with crystals, the mosque is one of the few in the Arab world that allows non-Muslims to enter. The tour continues with afternoon tea at the gleaming Emirates Palace, a hotel that did not skimp on the gold to finish the decor. It is possible to taste the famous cappuccino with gold powder, the exotic camel meat and other delicacies worthy of the Arab sheiks.
Galapagos, Ecuador
This archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 973 km off the coast of Ecuador, is the destination for expedition cruises par excellence. Held on medium-sized luxury ships, cruises through the Galápagos Islands put passengers in contact with a practically unexplored nature, where mass tourism has yet to reach. This untouched treasure still retains the same atmosphere of isolation that contributed to the naturalist Charles Darwin developing the theory of the evolution of species during his stay in the archipelago, in 1835. The exclusive Galápagos cruises explore in detail this paradise of biodiversity, leaving guests face to face with sea lions, century-old turtles and tropical birds.
Panama Canal, Panama
One of the greatest engineering works in the world, the Panama Canal is not only the shortest route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific, but also the most interesting. The only way to get a close look at the workings of a work that plays a crucial political and economic role in world integration is by being on board a ship. To complete the crossing of the canal, which lasts about 10 hours, the cruise ship will be suspended at 26 meters high by a lock to then be gently returned to the waters of Lake Gatún and continue on the journey.
AMAZON, BRAZIL
Considering that many areas of the Amazon region are still sparsely populated or difficult to access by land, getting to know them by river is an excellent way to reach places far from the tourist route, where virgin nature is impressive. River cruises on the Amazon River and its tributaries include various activities, such as encounters with pink dolphins, a speedboat ride through igarapés, photographic safaris, alligator and bird watching, visiting a caboclo house and fishing for piranhas. The highlight of navigation is due to the observation of one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature: the meeting of the Waters at the confluence between Rio Negro and Solimões.
Mexico We’re wrapping things up with Mexico, a place that combines the ancient past with some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, and tastiest food. Mexico is
home to pretty much everything there is to experience in terms of landscapes, from volcanoes, deserts, jungles and beaches, to bustling cities full of people. Visiting the Mayan ruins at Tulum gives you an opportunity to experience historic sites that date back thousands of years, and there are also the Aztec roots at both Templo Mayor and Tenochtitlan. All stunning locations that you must visit if given the opportunity. If you’d rather get in touch with nature, this is incredibly easy in Mexico. If you want to stay above ground, you can head on a rainforest safari that will get you the opportunity to enjoy everything from stunning landscapes to colorful wildlife like no other.
The waters in Mexico are extremely clear, which makes it the perfect destination for surfing, snorkeling, or diving. And when you’re done, you can grab a cocktail and enjoy the soft sand on the beaches. Of course, you can’t talk about Mexico and not mention the cuisine. The choice of regional food is incredibly good and packed with various flavors that give your taste buds a vacation of their own. And last but not least, if you’d rather get among people and enjoy bars, restaurants, and stores, you can head to Cancun or Mexico City, places that are
full of people all year round. You can get a taste of that local cuisine, as well as enjoy charming neighbourhoods with flowers dripping from all the balconies.