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With its mountains and glaciers, eagles soaring above and whales surfacing from below -- taking in the scenery is the real reward a cruise in Alaska, no matter what the temperature. Denali National Park, White Pass Railroad and Mendenhall Glacier are a few of the most popular sites on these itineraries. Pack layers and a camera with a zoom lens; this is not the place to rely on your smartphone. It's hard to avoid history in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Greek, Roman and Byzantine historic sites are a huge draw.
Best cruise destination for travelers without a passport: Hawaii
The Pacific Northwest port cities of Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia are the gateways for the majority of Alaska cruises. Inside Passage itineraries are the most popular and cruise lines offer these sailings from May through September. Or you can cruise from Venice, with its splendid 11th-century Basilica of San Marco and palazzo-lined canals, across the Adriatic to the coast of Croatia. The Eastern Mediterranean, where it meets the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas, is home to century-spanning sites sure to tempt any history buff.
Best cruise destination for nature lovers: Panama Canal & Central America
Cruises in this region typically call on Turkey, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Italy, while some also visit Israel, Jordan and Cyprus. More than any other region, the Eastern Mediterranean offers cruisers the chance to step back in time simply by stepping off their ship. 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?
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But the swift expansion of luxury expedition cruising over the past five to seven years has made this frozen polar frontier the "It" destination of the 2020s. Add in the Western Med's top island ports, and it's impossible to cruise here without enjoying some of the world's most memorable foods and flavors. Olives and olive oil are an art form on the Spanish island of Mallorca, while wild boar is a rustic favorite on the French island of Corsica. The Italian island of Sardinia is known for its strong Cannonau red wine, and Sicily is the birthplace of the famous cannoli. Yes, the Panama Canal is manmade, but it cuts across 82 miles of Central American jungle on the isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A transit of the circa-1914 original or the 2016 extension takes a single day.
Some expedition itineraries also venture farther south to the continent while longer sailings call on South Georgia Island and/or the Falklands. When travelers dusted off their bucket list post-pandemic one of the places they most wanted to visit was Antarctica. The seventh continent, a place that belongs to no single nation but hosts research stations from almost 30, has fascinated adventurers for decades.
25 BEST Europe Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Europe on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
25 BEST Europe Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Europe on Cruise Critic.
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The Best Cruise Destinations for Every Traveler
This 3.3-million-acre national park is home to more than 1,000 glaciers, including the accessible and photogenic Margerie Glacier, which extends 21 miles from the mountains to the bay. Have your camera ready to capture the action as huge chunks of Windex-blue ice calve off of its 250-foot-high face with a thunderous crack and crash into the frigid waters below. Many cruise lines also call on Nassau in the Bahamas and their own Bahamian private islands, where beach days are sublime. Some longer itineraries (10 nights or more) also combine Eastern and Southern ports of call with less-visited islands such as St. Kitts and Antigua.
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The coastal mountains and fjords of Norway do have the majesty of scale that you'll find in Alaska, though the snowcapped peaks that form the background of all of your Alaska photos might be missing. However, Norway's coast and fjords have their own special magic, including lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls, picturesque towns and -- for a little imaginary scenery -- folklore abundant with trolls and other mythic creatures. Even Darwin was transfixed by the unusual birds and critters that make this South American archipelago their home. Get up-close and personal with sea lions, iguanas, tropical penguins, blue-footed boobies and some of the largest tortoises on planet earth. Luckily, Cruise Critic has sailed around the globe for you, and we've found the best cruise destinations for every type of passengers. For adventurous couples -- the kind of people who want to take a surf lesson, ride a Jeep over rocky terrain or fly in a helicopter over molten lava -- a cruise in Hawaii is the ultimate bonding experience.
Virgin Voyages cruise destination guide: The line's 5 best itineraries - The Points Guy
Virgin Voyages cruise destination guide: The line's 5 best itineraries.
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Safely on the other side, you'll arrive at landing points in the South Shetland Islands along the Antarctic Peninsula. The fact that the region's top cruise ports are the birthplaces of foodie favorites such as paella, pizza, spaghetti alla carbonara and moules-frites makes a cruise here a delicious indulgence. You can eat your fill of local cuisine in places such as Barcelona and Valencia in Spain, Marseille and Saint-Tropez in France, and Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Rome and Naples in Italy.
The ports on a Western Caribbean cruise, including Belize, Roatan and Honduras, are full of action-packed activities like cave tubing, zip-lining and snorkeling that are sure to entice adventure-seeking teens. Or add a dash of education to your vacation with a friendly visit to Stingray City in Grand Cayman. From the bright lights and youthful energy of modern Tokyo, an itinerary will visit 10 or so Japanese cities. Your ship will also call on Busan, South Korea as required by maritime regulations. 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.
Consider itineraries such as a Rhone River cruise, cruising the Bordeaux wine region or a Douro River Cruise for spectacular food and wine. Many food and wine cruises have excursions centered on local specialties and vineyards. What's even better is that you can bring your finds back on the ship with you; feel free to uncap that Burgundy and drink it on your balcony. For one thing, the island nation is a quick sail from Florida ports like Port Canaveral and Miami. For another, there's a range of activities for adults and kids of all ages on several islands.
Look for itineraries that sail south to Israel to make this a bucket-list history cruise. There's no cruise out there that packs more history into your journey than a Nile River sailing. The route from Luxor to Aswan contains so many ancient sites that you might end up with temple fatigue, while the upper portion of a Nile Cruise (out of Cairo) takes you right to the famous Pyramids of Giza. Expert guides make the experience worthwhile, and there's usually a refreshing glass of mint tea waiting for you when you return to your boat. When it comes to delicious local specialties and copas with class, it's hard to beat the ports found on a Western Mediterranean itinerary.
Highlights of a Hawaii itinerary include a pre- or post-cruise visit to the historic sites of Pearl Harbor and perhaps even an overnight stay in Waikiki. On Maui, you can enjoy active thrills, such as biking down a switchback road on the volcanic slopes of Haleakala or snorkeling the offshore Molokini Crater. Whether viewing regiments of gleaming icebergs from your ship's deck or photographing parades of waddling penguins against a surreal landscape of ice while ashore, the experience is like no other.
The remainder of the cruise will be spent calling on ports in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia (historic coastal Cartagena), Mexico and the Caribbean. For example, cruises often begin in Istanbul, home to the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the elaborate Blue Mosque, constructed between 1609 and 1616. Ports of call also in Turkey may include Kusadasi for the nearby Roman city of Ephesus and its wondrous Library of Celsus. In Greece, medieval and Venetian architecture are thoughtfully preserved in the islands of Rhodes and Corfu, respectively.
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