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However, if you'd rather not share the beach with several ships' worth of cruisers, take the ferry to nearby St. John for the day and find a U.S. national park and a more chill beach experience. Take the kids to the Coral World Ocean Park, your sweetie on a catamaran sail or snorkel trip and your crazy friends on a helmet dive or BOSS underwater scooter adventure. Southern Caribbean cruises tend to attract luxury travelers and repeat cruisers.
Expedition Cruising With Seabourn
The award-winning ship offers 18 dining venues, a waterfront cocktail lounge, spa, and wide range of staterooms. Relax and enjoy the amenities as you sail to Berlin for your first port and then on to Helsinki, Finland. In St. Petersburg, you’ll have two days to take in the city’s museums, architecture, and culture before cruising on to Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. Stockholm, Sweden is the next port before a day at sea takes you back to Copenhagen. Transatlantic and transpacific sailings offer plenty of relaxing sea days and stops at must-visit cruise destinations. Go from colorful Caribbean towns to iconic European capitals, or explore bazaars, exotic isles and dense rainforests in regions like the Arabian Gulf, the South Pacific and Latin America.
Cruises Closer to Home With American Queen Voyages
Just refurbished, the 165-cabin Paul Gauguin will be exploring the Pacific in 2023, with trips to the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marquesas, and the Society Islands. The single-vessel brand was voted the very best small-ship cruise line in the World’s Best Awards 2022, as T+L readers gave particularly high marks to the Paul Gauguin’s on-board staff. After immersing yourself in history, unwind on the sun-kissed shores of Banje Beach or indulge in the local culinary delights at a seaside café, where the fresh seafood is as captivating as the view. Venice’s must-visit spots, including the iconic Rialto Bridge, provide a window into the soul of this unique city. Here, engaging in a traditional kava ceremony connects you with the deeply rooted customs of the Fijian people, offering a taste of the communal spirit and hospitality that the islands are known for. Maui invites travelers to journey along the scenic Road to Hana, where waterfalls and tropical flora abound, and to witness the celestial sunrise atop Haleakalā National Park.
Eastern Caribbean
A Mekong River cruise includes stunning variety, from Buddhist temples to POW camps and genocide museums, from busy cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh to sleepy riverside villages. The city’s top attractions, including the majestic Lovrijenac Fortress, offer a glimpse into the enduring legacy and natural beauty of Dubrovnik, making every moment spent in this Adriatic gem truly unforgettable. Each of these landmarks, including the bustling La Boqueria Market, combines to paint a picture of Barcelona as a city where history, art, and gastronomy intertwine, inviting travelers to immerse themselves in its unique charm. Here, the powder-white sands of Patong Beach invite you to relax under the sun, while the serene waters of Kata Noi Beach offer a peaceful retreat from the world. Matira Beach, with its exquisite stretch of white sand and crystal-clear waters, provides the perfect setting for relaxation, sunbathing, and moments of pure tranquility, making Bora Bora a true slice of heaven on earth. Navigating through the Greek Isles, you’re transported into a world where sapphire waters cradle islands adorned with iconic white-washed villages and ancient ruins whispering tales of yore.
There's more to explore
Explore the scattered jigsaw of remote islands that forms untamed Patagonia at the curled southern tip of the continent. Treat yourself to a performance at the grand Sydney Opera House, or spend the day in the sun at Bondi Beach. Tour Darling Harbor by boat for a unique view of the city center and historic Pyrmont Bridge. You’ll also set sail to the port of Cairns, the tropical gateway of Queensland where rainforests house immense biodiversity and beautiful beaches line the shores of the city. Explore the area’s interior forests by railway, or take a scenic cable car ride above the treetops.
Starting in Monte Carlo, Monaco, this fifteen-day cruise visits Provence, Barcelona, Malaga, Casablanca, Lisbon, Bordeaux and other glamorous ports before ending in London. A day of cruising the Mediterranean and Bay of Biscay provides time to enjoy the amenities of the fabulous new ship. Upstart cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers all-inclusive fares on its two 98-suite vessels, and, in a departure from industry norms, the brand doesn’t charge solo travelers a single supplement. It will sail nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night round-trips from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica through March 2023 before heading to the Mediterranean to hit Spain, France, and Portugal. Beach, beach and more beach — Aruba is definitely a port to be in, on or near the water.
Belize City, Belize
The ship proceeds along Moscow Canal to the historic town of Uglich and then on to Lake Rybinsk and the city of Yaroslavl, a UNESCO city designed by Catherine the Great. After passing through rural villages and lakes, the cruise reaches St. Petersburg and its canals, churches, palaces, and Hermitage Museum. The new all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Splendor was christened in February 2020, showcasing luxury in its 350 suites, Elite Slumber beds, eight dining venues, infinity edge pool, and entertainment venues.
Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club at Bimini is the perfect Bahamian escape, giving Sailors the chance to relax poolside to the chill sounds of a DJ, rent a private cabana, or spend the day lounging on the beach. You can also indulge in poolside drinks and a curated menu of complimentary snacks. In addition to your lightweight clothes, pack sun protection while visiting the Caribbean -- and consider reef-safe sunscreen and bug spray. Sun showers can happen, so a thin waterproof layer or umbrella might keep you dry during a surprise thunderstorm. And if you're looking to save money on your next cruise, be sure to visit our Caribbean cruise deals page.
Hats, sunglasses, moisture-wicking athletic clothing and your favorite cover-ups and sundresses are all must-pack items. Shopping is a popular diversion, from high-end French stores in Martinique and St. Barts to crafts markets and souvenir shops. Historical attractions range from forts erected to protect against pirates to Mayan temples. (Yes, even you can learn to salsa.) Active travelers will find plenty of hiking, biking, zip lining and ATV tours.
The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise - The Points Guy
The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Posted: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
As with the Western Caribbean, seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises are the most common itinerary length. The shortest options are four nights, typically visiting only Grand Turk or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The longest, around 10 to 12 nights, will often include Southern Caribbean ports or start from more northerly home ports. Another popular itinerary for first-timers is the Eastern Caribbean, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, the Dominican Republic and/or San Juan, Puerto Rico. Longer cruises or smaller-ship itineraries might stop elsewhere in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, Antigua or St. Kitts.
For a nature-filled adventure in Iceland, join a whale-watching tour to spot humpbacks and orcas. After dark, if you’re visiting late in the season, keep an eye on the sky for the Northern Lights dancing across the heavens. You’ll get the chance to see cascading waterfalls and steaming geysers, soak in geothermal springs, and even descend into the ice under a glacier. Sail through the Inside Passage, dotted with forested islands and rich in marine life, from pods of black-and-white orca to dolphins and humpback whales. You could also sail from Hong Kong and Singapore to Vietnam and Thailand, with a chance to explore incense-scented temples, golden palaces, and lively street markets, as well as the poignant history around Ho Chi Minh City.
The next four days crossing the Atlantic can be spent enjoying the ship’s pool, lounges, restaurants, and ocean views. At Horta and Punta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores, guests can experience the volcanic landscape, natural hot springs, and beaches before two more cruising days and arrival in Lisbon. Every destination has a unique story to tell — and with Royal Caribbean, getting there is part of the adventure. Not only are our ships filled with gamechanging ways to play and unwind — we offer unforgettable excursions that let you dive deeper into each destination’s vibrant culture, natural wonders and local charm.
Admire historic forts and the colorful old center of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or unwind on the long, sandy beaches of St. Kitts, St. Maarten, or Tortola. Some cruises visit sleepy Bimini, where you can feed docile stingrays or snorkel among reef sharks. Try your hand at sport fishing, or paddle a kayak over the aquamarine shallows. On an expedition cruise, generally roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina, you'll first have to cross the Drake Passage, a notoriously rough and windy body of water. Safely on the other side, you'll arrive at landing points in the South Shetland Islands along the Antarctic Peninsula. Along with enjoying Japan's top sights on guided excursions, you'll also have a chance to experience the country's traditional music and dance, visit museums filled with centuries of art and soak in thermal hot springs.
The luxurious new AmaDahlia, AmaWaterways’ 25th river cruise ship, will set sail beginning September 2021 with an 11-night land and cruise adventure. The 68-passenger ship will offer 10 staterooms and 24 suites along with a heated pool on the sun deck and Chef’s Table specialty restaurant. Guests will visit the Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings and Queens, Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Sphinx. A private tour of the Abdeen Presidential Palace and a visit to the Egyptian Museum and Alabaster Mosque in Cairo are also on the itinerary. American Queen Voyages will offer the longest trips in the line’s history in 2023, with two 23-day river itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio aboard the 123-stateroom American Countess. “The ship will sail more than 1,700 miles from Minnesota down the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi River, calling on more ports and offering more guided tours than ever before,” as T+L reported in August.
This is the cultural heart of the country with great restaurants serving authentic Panamanian food, bars, and Spanish colonial architecture clustered within the chunky walls. Get a front-row seat to see the incredible design that has made the Panama Canal work so efficiently for over 100 years. You’ll find a sophisticated bar and restaurant scene in the pretty port, which spills over a natural amphitheater around a busy harbor. You can join a thrilling hike in Norway from Stavanger, climbing up to the flat rock plateau of Pulpit Rock. Admire the intricate art deco architecture of Alesund and the enchanting wooden houses of Old Stavanger. Norway’s serenely beautiful fjords are at their loveliest in summer, when they are green and lush.
The islands themselves tend to be more exclusive, with fewer ships visiting on any given day. 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. White sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters are the biggest attractions for most Caribbean cruisers.
