Sunday, March 31, 2024

Cruise Critics Editors Pick Their Best Cruise Destinations by Itinerary

best cruise itinerary

Couple that with excellent service, and you'll be visiting the Our Lady of Loretto statue in Primosten, touring the Cesme Castle and lounging on stunning Greek beaches from a home base that puts you squarely in the lap of luxury. Royal Caribbean calls these cruises “Culturally Enriching Cruises'' because they immerse guests into the local culture of a specific country or region. Whereas the majority of guests on a cruise from Florida tend to be from the United States or Canada, for example, the majority of guests on a cruise from Singapore or China are from those regions. It takes around 8-10 hours for ships to traverse the canal as they pass through a series of locks which lift ships 85 feet above sea level and back down again. This is a highlight of all Panama Canal itineraries, and you’ll find hoards of passengers on the outside decks watching this process take place.

An Expedition Cruise to Australia’s Remote Kimberley Coast

An Alaska cruise is the perfect itinerary for those looking to explore the state’s breathtaking scenery. If you’re up for a challenge, put on your hiking boots for a summit hike of Mt. Roberts in Juneau. Or, if you'd prefer an adventure on water, kayak amongst the state's scenic fjords and glacial lakes.

Winner: European River Cruises

best cruise itinerary

Expect a personal butler, pillow menu, Egyptian cotton sheets, king-size bed, private veranda, and a mini-bar provisioned to your preferences. Standard Caribbean itineraries are either Eastern Caribbean (visiting places like Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. Maarten) or Western Caribbean (visiting Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Mexico). Southern Caribbean cruises are either longer or depart from Puerto Rico to visit a range of islands, such as St. Lucia, Barbados or Martinique.

Best Cruise Destination for Culture Runner-Up: The British Isles

best cruise itinerary

Although foreign ports are still limited for North Americans at the start of 2022, it looks like this will be the first year since the start of the pandemic where we see far-flung itineraries picking up steam. Resilient Lady, the yet-to-debut ship from adults-only line Virgin Voyages, is scheduled to be repositioned next year in Australia. On its way Down Under, the ship will be offering three unique itineraries throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the South Pacific. The first repositioning voyage will sail in October 2023 out of Athens with stops in Santorini and Rhodes in Greece, through the Suez Canal to Port Said (Cairo) and Safaga in Egypt and on to Dubai. Other offerings include Dubai to Singapore by way of Mumbai, Phuket, and Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore to Sydney with calls in Bali, as well as Cairns and Queensland in Australia.

25 BEST South Pacific Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the South Pacific on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

25 BEST South Pacific Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the South Pacific on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:33:21 GMT [source]

After nearly three years of shutdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan finally reopened to travelers in November 2022. That includes cruise passengers, and several lines — including Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises (which is offering special "Spice Route" voyages that include Japan) — are returning. Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine.

The exotic vacationer

Look for itineraries that sail south to Israel to make this a bucket-list history cruise. When it comes to delicious local specialties and copas with class, it's hard to beat the ports found on a Western Mediterranean itinerary. All the walking you'll do at museums means you can indulge guilt-free, with a glass of local bubbly to buoy your spirits.

25 BEST South America Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to South America on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

25 BEST South America Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to South America on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:02:02 GMT [source]

You’ll find everything from boat tours visiting secluded beaches, walking tours of famous archaeological sites, and beach clubs to kick back and relax with a cocktail. The name of the game here at TPG is to help you travel better and more affordably. Whether you're trying to use some of your hard-earned points or figure out how to earn the most bang for your buck when booking, here are some solid ways to make one of the above voyages work for you if you're considering taking the plunge. These ports will give passengers a chance to witness some of the region's arctic beauty and experience small fishing towns as well as larger cities, such as Bergen, Norway, from which the sailing departs.

Best Destination for Families Runner-Up: The Western Caribbean

Also, consider that the most affordable cruise ships often visit the busiest, most popular ports; if you want to get off the beaten path and go to less touristed destinations, you might be looking at a more expensive trip. Last year, the Australia and New Zealand cruise region gained momentum following the pandemic shutdown. In 2024, the hardly populated Australia region of The Kimberley is gaining popularity. Luxury cruise brand Seabourn will be offering a series of six 10-night voyages between Broome and Darwin on expedition vessel Seabourn Pursuit during what will be early winter in the southern hemisphere. It's no secret that American Queen Voyages has been sailing U.S. rivers for years. But what makes this particular itinerary special is that it will be the line's longest ever.

It also means that the most interesting itineraries on the best ships sell out fast and well before they shove off—and that now is prime time to start planning cruises for 2023. 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. From Bordeaux to Porto to Vienna, the list of potential destinations on European river cruises tend to encompass at least one wine region and a gastronomic capital or two. 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.

We particularly love the best beach in St. Thomas, Magen's Bay Beach, and Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos. This itinerary might very well define the beaten path, but if you're seeking a tan, this is exactly where you belong. Beginning in May of 2025, Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Venezia will sail a series of eight four- and five-night cruises to Bermuda from New York. These itineraries are notable because the line is aiming to increase its presence there but also because the style of the ship is new to even most of the brand's most dedicated passengers. SeaDream's small ships, each of which carries just 112 people, are able to reach locales about which passengers on megaships can only fantasize.

We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. And if all that wasn’t enough, it’s hard to beat the thrill of sailing on a river that humans have masterfully navigated as early as 3,000 B.C.E. “Central and South America are roped into this itinerary seamlessly, hitting hot spots like Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, Lima in Peru, and both Cape Horn and Buenos Aires in Argentina. Pleasant under-the-radar ports of call are woven into this journey as well, like Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands; and even Chile's Amalia Glacier. Vibrant cities, several unique cultures, winery tours, stunning nature, and even penguins in their natural habitat -- this itinerary really has it all.

Another benefit of a Greek Isles cruise is that it’s easy to explore without an excursion. If you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t like to plan organized tours, you’ll find cruise ports in Greece are an excellent place for spontaneous exploration. If you're a World of Hyatt member, you can use points to book Lindblad Expeditions sailings. Alternatively, if you're trying to earn instead of burn, you'll collect five points per dollar spent on Lindblad sailings when you book through Hyatt's FIND platform. You'll also earn applicable elite status bonuses — and get $250 in credit to spend onboard.

The Panama Canal was built in 1914 and was, undoubtedly, an impressive feat of engineering at the time. Prior to the canal, a ship traveling from New York to San Francisco had to travel over 13,000 miles around South America. The 50 mile canal, however, cut this distance to around 5,000 miles, marking a turning point for trading and commerce opportunities around the world. Island hopping and cruising go hand in hand, but our top choice for the world’s best island hopping destination is Greece.

No comments:

Post a Comment

The 7 Best Hot Air Brushes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Table Of Content Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System Remington PROluxe You Adaptive Air Styler Hair Type amika Amika Blowout Babe ...