Other Cruising Destinations:
While cruising to the Caribbean is a popular choice, the cruise lines offer the travellers vacations all over the world.
Alaska:
Whether you look to disconnect in the outdoors, explore towns rich in character and history, or watch brown bears fish in the world's largest salmon run, Alaska, also named “the Last Frontier”, has it all for you to explore.
Things to do:
-from Kenai Fjords to Denali National Park, Alaska is remote, pristine and accessible;
-watch the grizzly bears in the wild and walk on a glacier;
-see the gray whale migration and the dance of northern lights;
-experience the famed northern hospitality and fall in love with the land and people.
Port of calls: Anchorage, CollegeFjord, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Juneau and many more.
Best time to cruise to Alaska runs from mid-May to mid-September, but between mid-June to mid-July you’ll find the optimum weather and daylight.
Some of the cruise lines sailing to Alaska are: Viking Ocean Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn and Celebrity Cruises.
For more information, go to alaskacruises.com.
The Mediterranean Region:
A Mediterranean cruise means a trip to the most fascinating places to visit in the world, an especially good choice for the travellers who want to see the history, art, and natural beauty of Europe without having to navigate the roads and train stations, or spend a lot of time planning where to stay and where to dine. It’s a pass to admiring the sites in Venice or Rome, or discover Croatia's stunning national parks, explore the picturesque Greek islands and the ancient temples, also indulging in the flavourful local cuisines.
The eastern Mediterranean cruises will visit Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Cypress, and Bulgaria. In Greece, ships will typically stop in Athens, Corfu, Crete, Katakolon, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, and Volos.
The Western Mediterranean sea basin includes the Mediterranean coastlines belonging to Spain, France and Malta, as well as the portion of Italian coastlines along the Thyrrenian Sea and Strait of Sicily.
The best weather to cruise the Mediterranean is in the spring, summer or fall season, from early April through late November. During the winter, many local shops and restaurants close, making it difficult for travellers to enjoy the full Mediterranean experience.
Best known cruise lines for the Mediterranean are: Seaborn Cruise Lines, Azamara Club, Crystal Cruises, Viking and Celebrity Cruises.
The Scandinavian Region:
Scandinavia is a popular cruise destination due to the Towering fjords, the majestic waterfalls, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Northern Lights that dance above the water at night. The cruise lines best known for sailing to the Northern Europe: Oceania Cruises, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Viking Ocean Cruises and Windstar Cruises (for small ships).
When it comes to weather, Norway in particular can be good for visiting from late May to mid-June, when the days are longer and there are less tourists.
There are a number of cruises to choose from, ranging from three hours to three weeks, and while some only sail during the summer, many are available throughout the year.
You may explore the capital cities of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, or take tours from five to 18 days, which can include the capital cities of Helsinki, Stockholm, and Tallinn, along with the Russian cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow.
At an average cost of 750.00 USD/person, the Royal Caribbean offers an eight day trip, experiencing Norway's Old-World charm, the medieval and Art Nouveau architecture, and natural beauty, stopping in the scenic cities of Stavanger, Bergen, Alesund, and Geiranger before cruising back to Copenhagen.
Australia:
Australia delivers the best of both the city and the country, the beach and the bush, and its locals are laidback and friendly, with a dry sense of humour and their own slang language.
Things to do:
-explore cosmopolitan Sydney, home to Bondi Beach's turquoise waters and the architecturally unique Sydney Opera House;
-visit Queensland to experience the Whitsunday Islands, where you can snorkel to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest living organism;
-for an authentic Australian adventure, check out Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with its red dome known as Ayers Rock.
According to cruisecritic.com, due to a rather temperate climate, Australia is a year-round cruise destination, although the so-called "Wave Season" (October to April) is when Aussies go particularly cruise-crazy, and you'll find the greatest choice of departures, vessels and itinerary.
Just keep in mind that from December through February, it can get incredibly hot.
Among the most popular cruise lines that sail to Australia: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise Lines.
Transatlantic:
The Transatlantic cruises rank among the most iconic types of travel.
While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, indulge in the onboard activities of your ship, such as: educational entertainment and classes like cooking or ballroom dancing, spa treatments for relaxation, casinos and games, shopping or hitting the dance floor at night, after an elegant dinner and a theatre show.
The transatlantic cruises generally fall into two categories:
-The first type is a regularly scheduled transatlantic crossing by Cunard Cruise Lines on a ship as the Queen Mary 2, the only cruise ship that routinely sails back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean between New York City and Southampton, London.
These cruises run between late April and early January and take about six or seven days in each direction because the ship does not have any ports of call.
-The second type is for ships that sail to the Caribbean, Central America, or South America in the winter, and in Europe for the rest of the year.
Most of these ships sail in the spring and fall months, and the crossings are usually longer than a week since they include a few ports of call.
The best time to go is between April and December, while on early and late crossings the weather can be more unpredictable, also foggy in the spring and autumn.
When it comes to the costs, the transatlantic cruises can be cheaper that the regular cruises that visit port of calls, but be sure there will be plenty of opportunities for you to spend a lot money on board.
Some of the cruise lines that offer transatlantic cruises: Cunard Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, Norwegian Cruise Lines.
You can find more information and the latest news regarding cruise ships on cruisecritic.com and cruisemapper.com.
Commentaires