People looking for a unique vacation idea may want to consider a cruise. All-inclusive cruises to the Caribbean often spend a night or two at a resort while those to Alaska often travel the Inside Passageway along with parts of Canada. European river cruises often offer the opportunity to explore some of the most scenic rivers in the world on a smaller vessel while Mediterranean cruises usually visit the French Riviera. Cruising gives participants the opportunity to visit many different ports without the hassles of packing and unpacking all the time. This means there’s far more culture that can be enjoyed by getting a little taste of culture with each stop. Beyond that, on boat accommodations have become much more impressive over the years.
Caribbean Cruises
There are many different Caribbean cruises. As a rule, they are divided into Eastern Caribbean cruises with many stopping in Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico while Western Caribbean cruises often stop in Mexico, Belize, Roatan, Honduras, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. It is also possible to combine both parts on longer cruises. Others choose to travel to Barbados or Puerto Rico allowing them to take a Southern Caribbean cruise often visiting Martinique, Guadalupe, St. Bart's, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.There are many cruise lines offering Caribbean cruises including:
- Allure of the Seas
- Carnival
- Holland America
- Regent Seven Seas
- Royal Caribbean
- Princess
Others offer unique Caribbean cruising options on smaller vessels often with a different focus than the larger ships. These include:
- Paul Gauguin Cruises
- Star Clippers
- Seabourn
- Windstar Cruises
Alaska Cruises
People who love exploring unspoiled natural beauty or are looking for a break from hot weather may find an Alaska cruise an awesome option. Most visit the Inside Passage with stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan with a stop in British Columbia. Check out cruise options with:
- Emerald
- Norwegian
- Oceania
- Crystal
- Princess
- Royal Caribbean
Others choose to cruise in Alaska on a smaller vessel exploring areas that the big ships cannot get. People who are determined to see a bear in Alaska stand a better chance when on a smaller vessel. Companies offering these cruises include:
- Alaskan Dream Cruises
- American Cruise Lines
- The Boat Company
- Fantasy Cruises
- Lindblad Expeditions
- Maple Leaf Expeditions
- UnCruise Adventures
European River Cruises
The hardest part of going on a European river cruise is often deciding which river to explore next. Danube is the second longest river in Europe, and the only major river to run east to west. The Rhine River runs from the Swiss Alps to Holland while the Main River runs through Germany. The Moselle River runs through Europe's beautiful wine country while the Rhône River offers the opportunity to travel from Greece to the Mediterranean. Some other cruises choose to cruise on the Saône River by itself, it is also incredibly easy to combine these cruises with Rhone River cruises. Finally, the Seine flows through the heart of Paris. Paris on a river cruise is something truly wonderful to behold. Cruise companies offering European river cruises include:
- AmaWaterways
- Avalon Waterways
- Crystal Mozart
- Emerald Waterways
- Scenic
- Tauck River Cruising
- Viking River Cruises
- Uniworld
Mediterranean Cruises
Like the Caribbean, most Mediterranean cruises either choose an eastern itinerary or a western itinerary. Choosing to cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean takes you through the heart of man's earliest civilization including countries like Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon. Meanwhile, those choosing a Western Mediterranean cruise often have the chance to visit France, Italy, and Spain. In fact, a seven-day Western Mediterranean cruise often visits a new port every day allowing cruisers to check many must-see attractions off their list. Cruise companies offering Mediterranean Cruises include;
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Costa Cruises
- Cunard Line
- Holland America
- MSC Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Lines
- Oceania Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas
- Royal Caribbean
- Silversea Cruises