5 Trips Around the World That Will Make You Fall in Love With Cruises
Traveling with intention can challenge you to stray from your standard vacation style, whether it means booking unique accommodations, venturing out in the off-season, or experiencing a totally different type of transportation — like a train trip or a cruise. Think cruises are just for families or older generations? Think again. These days, hip ships offer amazing adult-only on-deck experiences and unique on-shore excursions that’ll suit a solo trip, romantic getaway, or group vacay with your squad. Plus, you’ll only need to pack one time as you hop from hotspot to hotspot by boat.
Shelley Wise, VP of Integrated Marketing at Princess Cruises, says that waking up in a different destination each day is what’s most magical. “From [seeing] picturesque places like Antarctica to catching cherry blossoms in full bloom while sailing around islands in Japan or capturing the perfect Instagram shot with the ancient Mayan ruins as your backdrop, what better way to check off a bunch of bucket list destinations all at once?” she says.
When it comes to winding down after a day of adventure, Wise recommends making the most of lesser-known luxe offerings. “You might not know that adult-only areas have plush lounges and refreshing drinks, as well as world-class entertainment with shows created by Grammy- and Academy Award-winning composers,” Wise says. “You can also treat your taste buds to local cuisine while you see the world, indulging in food from the specific destinations you visit, [like] fresh seafood while in Alaska and homemade pasta in Italy.” Inspired to book a cruise ASAP? Same. Here are five phenomenal adventures to consider when you plan your next trip.
Western Mediterranean
This trip of a lifetime starts in Rome and boasts an amazing itinerary with ports in Crotia, Montenegro, France, Greece, and Spain — plus excursions that include a visit to an active volcano and red granite natural gorges. Just as impressive, though, is the recently upgraded ship, which received a makeover earlier this year with enhanced venues including four top-deck outdoor dining options, Wise tells us. While aboard, plan to hit up The Salty Dog Grill, Slice, Coffee & Cones, and The Mix, all while catching rays and watching the waves below with your crew.
Greenland and Canada
There’s a first time for everything, and this journey is the first Princess ship to sail roundtrip from North America to Greenland. “This itinerary features stops at Nuuk, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik,” Wise says. “You can also add excursions like [seeing] the Tasermiut Fjord; its tall peaks are comparable to the Alps.”
Spring Flowers
Flower lovers and Instagram fanatics, take note: This cruise will take you to see the all of the places with the prettiest flower blossoms in Japan (plus a stop in South Korea). “These itineraries combine the nature of the spring flowers with the tradition and culture of many popular Asian cities,” Wise says. Have a sushi-loving squad? This is definitely the trip for you (and them). “An added bonus with this cruise is getting to experience all of the incredible sushi that Japan has to offer, plus other traditional foods like okonomiyaki and takoyaki,” she says.
South America and Antarctica
“Starting in Argentina, this cruise includes four days of scenic cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula; you’ll see icebergs, glaciers, majestic mountain peaks, and wildlife,” Wise says. “Plus, you’ll visit two continents in one trip.” Stops include Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and the Falkland Islands, where you can see the inlet of Bluff Cove, visit a penguin colony, or take a nature trek. While on land, treat yourself to museum visit or support local artisans on a shopping excursion — there’s no shortage of history to learn or new treasures to take home!
Eastern
Western Caribbean (14 days): Looking for candy-colored sunsets and white-sand beaches? This trip, which combines two week-long cruises (Eastern and Western) merged into a greater adventure, will take you to ports that include St. Maarten, Belize City, and Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. And your taste buds are in for a treat as you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in vibrant Caribbean cocktails and authentic island cuisine. “We’re proud of the unique colors, cultures, and flavors of the Caribbean islands with our Rhythm of the Caribbean program,” Wise says. “In addition to food and drink, we plan on-deck concerts with live music and theme parties.” Cue the island tunes!
