5 best places to go cruising
Cruising is the best way to travel. You unpack once and can see dozens of different destinations. It’s easy. It’s affordable.
But where should you go? Some places are better to see by ship than others. Here’s our top 5:
1. Australia
Our country has an incredible coastline. Options for cruising are varied. In November a short cruise heads out of Sydney Harbour bound for Melbourne and the race that stops the nation – The Melbourne Cup. It’s a great way to get a taste for cruising and to take a few days out to relax.
Most cruise lines including P&O and Royal Caribbean offer cruises through the Great Barrier Reef. Shore excursions on these often turn into water excursions as you explore the underwater coral and marine life.
Kimberley Cruises are fast gaining popularity. This remote and harsh environment is hard to access via land. But absolutely stunning when viewed from the water.
2. New Zealand
Milford Sound on New Zealand’s South Island is stunningly beautiful, especially when seen by boat. The deep water allows ships to get close to the waterfalls as they drop into the ocean. It’s a sight you simply can’t experience from land. On the North Island you can’t go past Auckland with its spectacular volcanic islands – including Waiheke, known affectionately as wine island for the growing number of wineries ashore.
3. The Caribbean
The Caribbean is the world’s top pick for cruising. With so many exotic islands and stunning coconut-tree framed beaches to explore it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
What is more stunning is the diversity you will find as you cruise. Dominica has been dubbed the “nature island”. Curacao was once the centre of the slave trade, and has strong links to the Netherlands, Cuba has sugar-cane, communist history and fantastic music, and Jamaica is all about rum and reggae.
4. Alaska
Glaciers, polar bears and dog sleds. If ice adventures get your heart racing, you can’t go past a cruise in Alaska.
In the summer months you can also spot bald eagles, orca whales and caribou from your deck chair. And there’s nothing quite like parking beside an enormous glacier and hearing the roar as a slice tumbles into the ocean. No need to get cold or trek for miles – you can do it all from the comfort of a cruise ship.
5. Europe
European river cruises are the ultimate sophistication. They allow you to travel easily through countries and experience the best of European culture without unpacking once.
See opera in Vienna, drink beer in Germany and marvel at the Eiffel tower in Paris. It’s all possible and far easier on a cruise.
Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of My Discoveries.