5 Best Cruising Destinations In 2024
People prefer cruising over any other mode of travel because of the unique experience it provides. We love discovering a country from the water, seeing landscapes and cities unfolding in front of us. This sense of adventure – along with great value for money and personalized services – is what attracts people to cruising.
Here, we have listed some of the most popular cruising destinations in 2024.
1. Alaska (USA)
Alaska is a place of majestic glaciers, tundra, and breathtaking northern lights. It’s also a place of wildlife: cruising through the cold waters of the Inside Passage of Alaska, you’ll spot many rare breeds of orca, humpback whales, and dolphins.
Some of Alaska’s highlight destinations:
Glacier Bay, a National Park and Preserve, one of the world’s largest international protected areas. It’s a landscape of snow-capped mountains and huge blue-hued glaciers that come right up to the water’s edge. Glacier Bay is one of the best places in the world to witness glaciers. You’ll see lots of wildlife: humpback whales, sea otters, and bald eagles. Glacier Bay is full of inlets and popular activities include kayaking, river rafting and fishing, all activities offered by your cruise ship.
Ketchikan is home to the Misty Fjords National Monument, a wilderness area administered by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Tongass National Forest. It is a region of mountains, forests and streams home to Grizzly and Black bears, Salmon and bald eagles. Ketchikan itself is known for its native culture and you’ll see many Native American totem poles around this pretty town.
Sitka. A gorgeous city with Russian culture. You’ll find the usual Alaskan treats: snow-capped mountains, forests and rugged coastal views….but you can also visit the Sitka National Historical Park and the Russian Bishop’s House which are unique to the region.
Alaska is fantastic. There are few places in the world where you can witness animal life or see huge glacier chunks crashing into the water as you cruise by.
Best Time To Go: May and September are the best times to travel to cruise through Alaska.
Best Things to Do: Train rides, helicopter tours over glaciers, wildlife sightings, dog sledding, salmon fishing, hiking, and biking.
2. Greek Islands
Greece is a small country comprised of many islands. They are all different but all beautiful. The dramatic landscapes, cuisine and the pretty towns (painted in traditional whites and blues) are all reasons why the Greek Islands are a popular cruising destination.
Highlights:
Santorini. Still one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been. A rugged volcanic island where towns – traditionally white and blue with cascading flowers everywhere – are built high above the sea. Incredible views everywhere.
Mykonos. Arguably the most famous Greek island, Mykonos is the most cosmopolitan of the islands, LGBT-friendly and known for its vibrant nightlife, epic beach parties and international DJ’s. Despite that, it is traditional with sugar-cube houses, traditional windmills, picturesque churches, and paved alleys.
Rhodes. Known for its stunningly beautiful beaches and architecture. Its medieval old town is a Unesco World Heritage site with palaces, an acropolis, towers and ancient Geek ruins.
Corfu. Another gorgeous island that is also a Unesco World Heritage site. Two huge fortresses, a pretty old town, and views across turquoise waters to the coast of Albania (where you’ll see snow-capped peaks).
Crete. It is the largest of the Greek islands known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters…but also archaeological sites (Europe’s first advanced civilization, the Minoans, settled in Crete back in 2700BC), natural wonders (the Samaria Gorge is the largest gorge in Europe) and some of the best food and wine in Greece.
No matter where you visit you’ll find incredible beauty and culture.
Best Time To Go: August and May to October (i.e., late spring to early fall) are the best months to visit Greece.
Best Things to Do: Relax on sunny beaches, explore ruins of the Greek past, and learn about vibrant culture.
3. Galveston (Texas) as a place to embark on a cruise
Texas, more particularly, Galveston Island, is one the most famous destinations in the USA for cruising. From here, there are a multitude of cruises to some of the highlights of the Caribbean.
They include:
Cozumel (Mexico). A gorgeous island with white sand beaches, Cozumel is the perfect tropical vacation. It is known for its snorkelling and diving – one of the largest reef systems in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, runs just off the coast of Cozumel. That makes it an underwater paradise for those who enjoy water activities.
Roatán (Honduras). With the same snorkeling and diving as Cozumel (Roatán is the southernmost point on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef), this island also offers mangrove forests and dense jungles. See monkeys and “Jesus” lizards, zipline through the jungle and snorkel among stingrays.
Puerto Costa Maya (Mexico). This port has become popular as a stopover for cruise ships and offers a glimpse into a lesser known area of Mexico (being in the state of Quintana Roo, about 150 miles south of Cozumel). Beaches are of course beautiful…but visitors also like to visit inland Mayan temples (the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins are located about 30 miles from Costa Maya), visit the seven colors lagoon, or go to a water park.
Board the best cruises in Galveston.
But Galveston and Galveston island have their own attractions. The Bryan Museum, which is famous for native American artifacts and arts, is a top museum. Galveston’s historic seaport will tell you how the city was created. This is Texas where you’ll find signature BBQ dinners under the star-lit skies, extensive cowboy culture and American-style rodeos.
Best Time To Go: Pick the time from June, September, or October to taste light summers and slightly chilly winters.
Best Things to Do: Walk the seawall, Visit Island State Park, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Museum, and 1892 Bishop’s Palace, and tour historic homes and museums.
4. The Caribbean
The Caribbean islands are the perfect destination for exploring rich local culture and participating in local festivities. In fact, each island offers unique attractions, catering to visitors of different tastes and vibes.
The Bahamas have laid-back beaches and lively nightlife. You can also explore Blue Holes National Park (where you can dive in turquoise-colored underwater caves), see the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay, dive along the Andros Barrier Reef (the 3rd largest reef in the world), and go to Paradise Beach to see pink flamingos.
Barbados is known for its English culture having been a British colony (you can still have a British tea experience here). The beaches are beautiful but there’s more: visit beautiful Bridgetown, surf at Bathsheba Bay, see St. Nicholas Abbey (a rum plantation. Barbados is the birthplace of rum) and visit the Animal Flower Cave.
Puerto Rico makes for a great cruising destination for those looking for history, wildlife and culture. Visit El Yunque National Forest for wildlife. In San Juan, walk the cobblestone streets and visit landmarks like Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
St Lucia is a dramatic, green island with volcanic beaches and wild forests full of waterfalls. For an unbelievable adventure, hike to the top of Gros Piton. There are hot springs, you can visit an active volcano…lots to do in St. Lucia and it is one of the gems of the Caribbean.
There are many other great cruising destinations in the Caribbean: Panama, Colombia (Cartagena is a wonderful stop on any cruise), the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Martinique for a taste of French culture…It all depends what you are looking for.
Best Time To Go: Months from December to April are the best times to enjoy cruising in lovely weather. To avoid peak season, consider visiting the Caribbean in early November.
Best Things to Do: Snorkeling underwater, Swimming at Stingray City, Hiking on Gros Piton, and Visiting Old San Juan and Mayan ruins.
5. Iceland
Iceland is known for its towering glaciers and azure ice caves. Don’t miss visiting Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to see icebergs calving from Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier.
While cruising through this unique landscape, expect to enjoy the sightseeing of giant whales, like orcas and humpbacks in broad daylight.
In the winter you can see the magical Northern lights dancing across the night sky. For those wishing to see the Northern lights, winter is the best time to visit Iceland.
However, considering the short daytime hours during winter (where you can get as little as 4 daytime hours), the first-time visitors should visit in summer to fully appreciate the island. Remember that Iceland is a volcanic island and many attractions are tied to its unique geography: the blue lagoon is a geothermal spa and is the island’s most famous attraction, its beaches are black (the remains of volcanic rock that have eroded over time) and there are 130 volcanos scattered around the island which makes for a dramatic landscape.
Best Time To Go: June, July, and August are ideal months to enjoy summer. Visit between September and May to witness northern lights with less crowd.
Best Things to Do: Tour whale-watching, black beaches, hot springs, and the famous Fagradalsfjall volcano.
Summarizing
Cruising is an experience of a lifetime, whether for a solo trip and family adventure. It’s a way to see the world with the comforts and options that you don’t have travelling independently. If you haven’t’ cruised, the above destinations can get you started on your cruising journey of discovery.
Related: 10 Unbeatable Wildlife Cruise Holidays for Nature Lovers
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