You have already visited many places around your home country or are just looking for a new travel experience? A cruise might be the right thing for you if you want to combine a high level of relaxation with seeing multiple countries and interesting cities. Just imagine you live in a 5 star hotel and every time you get out of bed you will have a different view! Now, let’s face it: most people do not regularly go on cruises since they are quite expensive. In this situation it is even more important to think about where you want to go and we looked at the 8 best cruise destinations and areas to show you what you should definitely consider when planning your cruise!
1. Canary Islands
Next to the African continent but officially belonging to Spain, the Canary Islands are a great choice for cruise travelers who need sun and simply a relaxing time. Throughout the whole year the islands and the surrounding area lure with enjoyable temperatures and once you leave the ship, there are always plenty of things to do ranging from just sunbathing to hiking and doing water sports. On a Canary Island cruise most tour operators take you to at least 4 of the 7 islands. Famous islands of the Canaries include Gran Canary and Tenerife, where you can even experience a volcano – or at least see it!
2. Western Mediterranean
If you decide to take a Canary Island cruise, it could be a good idea to look into the possibility of combining it with a stay in the Western Mediterranean Sea. This area is very popular during the warm months between May and September, where you might want to start from Italy, visit Rome, Pisa, some cities along the French Riviera and the Balearic Islands. This way you can see many countries in a short time and still enjoy the relaxing atmosphere on the ship, which makes the Western Mediterranean one of the best cruise destinations.
3. Eastern Mediterranean
Many people forget that there is also an Eastern side of the Mediterranean, which is at least as beautiful as its Western counterpart and also deserves a spot in our best cruise destinations. Most routes also start from Italy, where Venice could be your first point of contact. From there you will be able to see the Adriatic along the Croatian coast and follow the routes that thousands of ships have taken before in ancient times. After passing Croatia and Montenegro, many operators take you to the Greek islands as well as mainland and later to Turkish sights. Definitely worth considering when you think about where you want to take your next cruise to!
4. North Sea
Especially during the summer times, the North Sea is a popular cruise destination. There are many harbors from which you can start, such as Hamburg, Amsterdam or Rotterdam. From there you have different possible routes that you can take. If you like to have a real Northern experience, there are routes covering Denmark, Greenland and the Northern Fjords while others are more around Great Britain and the Scottish coast. Wherever you decide to go, you will surely have some of the best natural impressions as the landscapes in the Northern areas are really unique!
5. Western Caribbean
Ever wanted to feel like a pirate or Robinson Crusoe? A cruise to the Western Caribbean can at least get you closer to that and has globally been gaining popularity. It is a good idea to fly to the United States first, since some of the best tours go directly from Florida. Depending on your operator you can visit islands and countries such as the Bahamas, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic and if you like beach environments, palm trees and perfect waters, the Western Caribbean might be one of the best cruise destinations!
6. US Westcoast
The United States is not just a starting point for cruises to other countries. In fact, its west coast is a great area to cruise in by itself, covering very diverse landscapes ranging from the rather cold Alaska to the sun state California. Even though you are mostly in waters of the US, each stop has its own characteristics and will not look like the last one. For the ones who are more into getting multiple impressions on North America, this could be a good choice!
7. Southeast Asia
With Southeast Asia you will find one of the most exotic and exciting cruising areas. There are really a lot of very fun places such as Singapore, Bali, the Philippines or some Thai islands such as Koh Phi Phi,. It is difficult to see every good place in one cruise because there are just so many, but we really advise you to look closer into Southeast Asia as one of the best cruise destinations in the world! Another argument to go here is the great food that you can find in most countries, if you just think of Thai Curry or Japanese fish and noodle dishes!
8. Oceania
Far off the other destinations, Oceania already has it in its name: the perfect place to explore by ship! Most operators start in Australia, e.g. in Sydney, from where you can visit the Great Barrier Reef and continue at the Australian coast or New Zealand!
A ship cruise is on the bucketlist of most people and many will only take it once in their lives, if at all. If you decide to take one, it could become one of the best journeys you have had so far, but for that it is important to really think about what you want to see and do. Hopefully our overview of the 8 best cruise destinations gave you some inspiration and ideas about which areas in the world are good to cruise in so you can soon start your own cruise!
