Posted on Wednesday, 19 July 2023

Welcome aboard! 

A cruise is a tantalising prospect: the views, the sense of adventure, the romance - few other types of holiday can match a week or two on a luxury cruise liner.

If you have the desire, the time, and the money, the only real stumbling block is: which cruise to choose?

There have never been more cruises to consider, each offering their own unique set of experiences.

But in this article we've eschewed the Caribbean and Mediterranean (as amazing as those destinations are), instead picking out some of the most unique - and even life-changing - cruises for your ultimate cruise bucket list…

Alaska Cruises

Alaska is the third most popular cruising region on the planet - and it’s easy to see why. Dramatic coastal vistas, vast glaciers, and awe-inspiring wildlife are the main draws. 

Alaskan cruises are popular with people of all ages. Highlights include the Hubbard Glacier, where you can see glacial ice 'carving' into the sea; the White Pass and Yukon train in Skagway; glacial walks in Juneau; and let's not forget the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan!

While many cruise lines venture into this wild area, the season is short - running from April to October.

Norwegian Fjords Cruise

Alaska's prime competition is the Norwegian Fjords - and stiff competition it is. Lofty, rugged mountains and eye-popping fjords make for a truly memorable cruise.

Highlights include the diminutive towns located at the end of fjords such as Skjolden, Eid fjord, Nordfjordeid, together with larger settlements like Stavanger, Flam, and Bergen.

Activities are as diverse as they are thrilling: must-tries include the train in Flam, fjord trips on smaller boats, and hikes to attractions like Pilgrim's Rock and Pulpit Rock - both offering tremendous fjord views.

Many cruise lines currently run trips to the Norwegian fjords, including top-rated local providers Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages.

Unfortunately, opportunities to visit the Norwegian Fjords are likely to shrink in 2025, when the Norwegian government will ban all but zero-emission ships from entering the country's two UNESCO World Heritage Fjords.

Mekong River Cruise

For Britons, a cruise on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia is a truly memorable experience, because it gets you up close to the sights, sounds and culture of this remarkable part of the world.

Passengers see how both rural and urban people live, and gain an understanding of the region's rich - and sometimes shocking - history.

More sombre aspects include museums dedicated to the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Genocide, while the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat offers an experience unlike any in the world - after all, it’s the largest complex of its kind anywhere.

Most Mekong cruises take in three cities: starting with the Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam, before stopping off in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and culminating in Siem Reap - gateway to the delights of Angkor Wat.

Danube River Cruise

Among the many European river cruises available, the Danube offering is arguably the most impressive.

A classic Danube river adventure takes in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. These give you the chance to explore stunning cities such as Passau, Nuremberg, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Other highlights include going through the locks, the onboard cuisine as it changes with the country, and the varied locally themed entertainment.

It's a short cruise season, running from April to October, although there are some winter cruises that take in some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Occasionally there may be water level issues - where the vessel cannot proceed due to low water levels. 

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Cruise

As the only genuine ocean liner operating today, the Queen Mary 2 - which plies the route from Southampton to New York - offers a unique experience.

Harking back to the halcyon days of pre-aero plane transatlantic travel, a voyage on the Queen Mary 2 offers experiences like dressing up for balls, enrichment lectures - often given by famous politicians and authors - and the ceremony of afternoon tea.

But the biggest thrill of any QM2 trip is entering New York - giving you views of the Big Apple that few get to enjoy in such style.

The three classes available onboard this cruise are Britannia, Princess grill and Queens Grill - and where you dine each evening will depend largely on which class you've chosen.

Japan Cruises

A cruise is a great way of seeing some of Japan's most alluring sights, cities and attractions.

For most Europeans, Japan has an unexpected - yet often delightful - impact, revealing a way of life quite unlike anything back home.

Highlights often packaged with Japanese cruises include stop-offs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (the sites where the nuclear bombs were dropped in World War two), Mount Fuji and Osaka - which is the gateway to the incredible Golden Temple.

Credit: Sonja Birkelbach - stock.adobe.com

Iceland Cruises

This land of ice and fire is expensive if visiting on a land-based trip, but taking a cruise is much more affordable.

A cruise makes even more sense because most of the key sites are located on the coast; the interior consists of less interesting lava desert.

Highlights include the Golden Circle, which features Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, the Geyser geothermal area, Strokkur, and Thingvellir National Park.

The other main sites are collectively known as the Jewels of the North. This includes Godafoss Waterfall, the Namaskard bubbling mud pools, Lake Myvatn and the Skútustaðir craters, and the Dimmuborgir lava fields.

Reykjavik and its famous Blue Lagoon are also included on most Iceland cruises.

Tahiti & French Polynesia Cruises

Often considered to be among the most beautiful islands on the planet, island hopping is the main pursuit on a cruise in this fabulous region.

Cruises generally include visits to various public islands and beaches but many lines also have their own private beaches, or even islands.

Aside from beach combing, there's boating, hiking and cycling to enjoy.

Stunning Bora Bora is the famous highlight of these cruises, which are operated year-round by the likes of Paul Gauguin and Aranui.

Galapagos Islands Cruises

While the landscapes of the Galapagos might not be as dramatic as Iceland's, its wildlife is incredible.

Since humans have not historically been a major predator to the creatures that live here, they are unafraid of visitors - which means you can see them up close.

Exotic beasts include iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, penguins, blue-footed boobies, and giant tortoises.

Snorkelling is a must, enabling you to see stingrays, sharks and turtles.

A Galapagos cruise is very expensive, so only dedicated (and well-heeled) nature lovers need apply!

Antarctica Cruises

Those who've been lucky enough to cruise the Antarctic say it’s one of the most memorable places they have ever visited. Even seasoned cruise goers who've experienced various global cruises place this at or near the top of their cruise favourites.

Highlights include South Georgia, with its abundance of wildlife. Salisbury Plain, for instance, is home to hundreds of thousands of penguins, and innumerable elephant seals.

Around the Antarctic Peninsula visitors are mesmerised by vast, angular icebergs that dominate the dramatic and other-worldly vistas.

Like Galapagos, Antarctic cruises are extremely costly - even when so-called "budget" options are chosen. This is very much a once-in-a-lifetime trip for most of us.

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