Best Cruise Destinations: Explore Top Travel Destinations

Table Of Content

• The Trends Shaping Post-Pandemic Cruising
• Western Caribbean
• Latest TravelPulse Podcasts
• Best Cruise Destination for Food & Wine Runner-Up: Western Mediterranean
• Night Eastern Caribbean CruiseDetails
• The 16 Best Cruises to Book in 2023, According to T+L's Expert
• Planning a cruise is an exciting experience that offers endless possibilities for adventure and relaxation.

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas remains the most highly-rated cruise line private island, scooping the award for Best Cruise Line Private Island for the fourth year in a row. King’s Wharf in Bermuda – named the Best Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda Cruise Destination – was also the highest-rated destination across the entire Caribbean, including islands in the Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean. Just refurbished, the 165-cabin Paul Gauguin will be exploring the Pacific in 2023, with trips to the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marquesas, and the Society Islands. The single-vessel brand was voted the very best small-ship cruise line in the World’s Best Awards 2022, as T+L readers gave particularly high marks to the Paul Gauguin’s on-board staff. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. Fresh seafood, rich history and colorful fall foliage await on a cruise to Canada and New England.

The Trends Shaping Post-Pandemic Cruising

Good Housekeeping's cruise of the Venetian Lagoon in April 2024 contains all the elements that make Italian cruises so wonderful. The landscapes of Norway are some of the most dramatic in Europe and are beautiful at any time of year. But if you visit between October and March you might also have the privilege of seeing them illuminated by the jaw-dropping Northern Lights.

Western Caribbean

Southern Caribbean cruises tend to attract luxury travelers and repeat cruisers. The islands themselves tend to be more exclusive, with fewer ships visiting on any given day. Luxurious accommodations provide the sanctuary you need after a thrilling day in port. Wonder awaits you on these popular cruise itineraries aboard one of our award-winning ships. The line will offer four different itineraries, but my favorite is the 10-day Persian Gulf option from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, which includes calls on places like Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and Khasab, Oman. The ship will also visit the UAE's island of Sir Bani Yas, which is known for nature and wildlife conservation.

Latest TravelPulse Podcasts

Your ship will also call on Busan, South Korea as required by maritime regulations. Expect to be charmed by this quirky city with its unpronounceable street names, elegant Esplanade and cache of unique churches (among them the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral and the Temppeliaukion Church, aka the Church of the Rock). The city's remarkably intact medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site encircled by red-capped storybook-style towers.

Best Cruise Destination for Food & Wine Runner-Up: Western Mediterranean

We offer exclusive pricing for Cruise Critic members and visitors, ensuring you get the best value for your money. Evoke the glamour of the golden age of ocean travel on the world’s most famous liner, Queen Mary 2, plying a regular schedule between Southampton and New York across 3,565 miles of the wild north Atlantic. Some itineraries include a trip on the West Highland Railway, regarded as one of the most scenic in the world. Sail along the Caledonian Canal, taking in spectacular Highland landscapes, ruined clan castles, whisky distilleries and glassy lochs, as well as the islands and waterways of the Inner Hebrides.

Alaska Glacier

For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. These traditional, wooden boats drop anchor in deserted bays as they ply the coastline, with forays ashore to explore archaeological sites and occasional evenings in port to tuck into a fine Turkish meze. Europe’s most scenic river cruise floats its way through the countryside of the Rhone-Alpes and Provence regions. A slow boat along the Ganges is a chance to absorb the beguiling colours and scenes of rural India. Crumbling palaces, mosques and temples add historic interest but the real enchantment of this voyage is life on the river, from sunrise yoga to strolls through lush farmland and villages where tourists are still a curiosity. Taste wines in the Wachau, see an opera in Vienna, take a day trip to Salzburg, clamber up to the ruins of Durnstein Castle and check out the edgy nightlife and thermal baths of Budapest.

That leaves the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Hawaii, and the South Pacific, and they’re definitely on our must-visit list. Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world. We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor. Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals.

The 16 Best Cruises to Book in 2023, According to T+L's Expert

We're talking Hawaii, where a seven-night inter-island itinerary visiting four islands doesn't require that you have a passport. These itineraries are offered year-round aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. It's impossible to choose since every island is fringed by talcum-soft sand and warm turquoise water and is home to lively beach bars offering music and tropical cocktails that will make your day in the sun all the more fun. Perhaps you've heard of two little islands called Mykonos and Santorini before? Well, summer is high season for the international party set here, and a cruise visit will put all of the clubs, bars and -- in the case of Mykonos cruises -- beaches you need to tie one on within an easy walk or cab ride. You'll also have plenty of options for romantic date nights, fresh seafood and boutique shopping.

Top 10 Most Popular Cruise Destinations for 2024 - Virgin Voyages

Top 10 Most Popular Cruise Destinations for 2024.

Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This large secluded sea has served as the birthplace of civilization and likely the first area that connected different cultures. This is where you’ll find the beaches of the Greek islands, the wonders of Ancient Rome, cities such as Barcelona, Monaco, Venice and Dubrovnik, and a plethora of other places of interest. As you scroll down this list, you’ll notice the immense variety in cruise destinations. This is not a ranking of any kind, though, just a simple overview of the world’s greatest places to cruise.

Another popular itinerary for first-timers is the Eastern Caribbean, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, the Dominican Republic and/or San Juan, Puerto Rico. Longer cruises or smaller-ship itineraries might stop elsewhere in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, Antigua or St. Kitts. Which itinerary is best for you will depend primarily on which port you want to depart from and how long a vacation you can take.

Easily explored on foot, it's home to architectural landmarks that include Gothic-spired churches, Hanseatic merchant houses and a Pseudo-Russian cathedral. Equally captivating is Stockholm, where a stroll through Old Town (Gamla Stan) will take you back to medieval times. A visit to the one-of-a-kind Vasa Museum offers a fascinating glimpse at a doomed 17th-century wooden warship, and a few hours in the ABBA Museum will have you humming the band's hits for hours afterward. In port, choose from hiking amid boreal forests to sea kayaking among seals and sea otters. You can fish for salmon (and have it shipped home), zipline above a landscape inhabited by black bears and gaze down at massive glaciers from a seaplane or helicopter (and even land atop one).

Go from colorful Caribbean towns to iconic European capitals, or explore bazaars, exotic isles and dense rainforests in regions like the Arabian Gulf, the South Pacific and Latin America. Sun, sand and sea are what most travelers want when they book a cruise to the Caribbean. If you want to trade chilly weather at home for warm, sunny days spent relaxing on a beach or swimming in clear blue waters, a Caribbean cruise is an ideal vacation. Unlike a resort stay, you can sample multiple beaches in various destinations, as well as the pool life on board the ship.

Pam and her husband, Myron, travel almost three months of the year, enjoying all the benefits of premium cruising. She's learned a thing or two and has a checklist for nearly everything related to cruising, and enjoys sharing those tips and lists with you. Japan is a country full of contrasts, and a cruise around its islands will show you everything from traditional temples to ultra-modern cities.

Our Greece cruises sail to a mixture of popular islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Hydra, and lesser explored destinations including Volos and Thessaloniki. While all of the beautiful places visited by Celebrity Cruises provide incredible experiences, there’s always somewhere new and exciting to try. From up-and-coming hotspots to new ports of call full of natural wonders, you’ll find a top cruise destination to visit no matter what type of getaway you’re looking for. Alaska is a land of rugged natural beauty, and it’s best explored by cruise ship. You’ll see towering glaciers, breathtaking fjords, and maybe even some wildlife such as whales, bald eagles, or bears (from a safe distance, we hope!).

You can find weeklong sailings from Florida, but more commonly, they're eight nights or longer. Common destinations on Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada. You'll find everything from gorgeous beaches and diving destinations to lush rainforests and flowing waterfalls.