The world’s 8 best cruises
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” The well-known quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson applies to many aspects of life, but not usually to vacations. However, when you book a world-class cruise, it often may seem like the destination is secondary.
On the right cruise ship, there is no better way to travel — with space to stretch out, entertainment, tasty food and drinks, and incredible views throughout the duration of the trip. Before you set out on the high seas, make sure you pick the right cruise line in the part of the world that best suits your dream getaway. BOSS has assembled a list of the world’s best cruises for every type of traveler to help you plan the perfect getaway.
Oceania Around the World Cruises
The 180-day cruise visits 100 destinations in 43 countries across the globe with 16 overnight port stops. In less than half a year guests on the ship visit 125 UNESCO World Heritage sites on six continents, including Angkor Wat, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Hawaii, the Taj Mahal, and many more.
Ships depart from Miami and Los Angeles and complete the trip in New York. Along the way, guests enjoy top notch hospitality including a spa and meals which Oceania has dubbed The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
Not everyone can afford the money or time off to spend months on a cruise. Fortunately, Caribbean cruises courtesy of Royal Caribbean take you to exotic locales in the eastern or western Caribbean such as Nassau, Bahamas; Labadee, Haiti; Cozumel, Mexico; and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico.
Choose to depart from Florida for the eastern Caribbean or Texas for the western part of the sea for two- to five-night cruises. Onboard activities ranging from dancing to water slides make the cruises fun for people of all ages.
Tropical locales are nice, but some prefer the cold. For those interested in seeing the polar bears and Northern Lights of the Arctic or the penguins of Antarctica, Quark Expeditions offers cruises to polar regions.
Arctic cruises range from 10 to 22 days and visit Russia, Spitsbergen, Greenland, the High Arctic, and the North Pole. On the other side of the planet, trips range from eight to 23 days and visit South Georgia, the Falklands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Looking for a family getaway that is more exotic than a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Take the family on a Disney Cruise to the company’s private island in the Bahamas. Known as Castaway Cay, the island features the turquoise waters and white sands the Bahamas are known for, while also offering the hospitality and entertainment (including character greetings and dance parties) one expects from Disney.
Castaway Cay features family beaches, kids play areas, and an adults-only area known as Serenity Bay where you can enjoy frozen cocktails, massages, and a well-earned break from the little ones. Snorkeling and boating adventures are also available.
For those not into loud cruise ships with water slides and kids splashing in the pool, U River Cruises is an adults-only cruise line featuring karaoke, silent discos, bars stocked with top-shelf liquor, and more. Ships used on the company’s European river cruises hold 120 people and encourage mingling by arranging meetup events.
Eight-day cruises down the rivers of Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, and Slovakia provide a fun, unique, and cost-effective way to visit multiple European destinations in one trip. Of course, with all the fun to be had onboard, it might be difficult to pull yourself away when the ship arrives at one of its ports.
If luxury is what you want in a cruise ship, look no further than the Seven Seas Explorer, which made its debut for Regent in 2016. Each of the ship’s 375 suites features roomy balconies, walk-in closets, marble bathrooms, and other amenities. Additionally, the ship features eight restaurants, casino games, a theater, and cocktail lounges.
In 2020 the Seven Seas Explorer will make its way from Europe to the US and Caribbean and back, before heading to the Middle East, Indonesia, and eventually Australia. Shoe excursions are included in the cost of each cruise.
Nature lovers will be most intrigued by the small ship cruises offered by UnCruise. The company’s adventure cruises afford guests the opportunity to kayak, snorkel, climb glaciers, and come face to face with exotic animals.
Travelers aboard an UnCruise ship are whisked away to Hawaii, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Sea of Cortés, Latin America, or the Galápagos Islands. Hawaiian cruises are available all year, but the others are seasonal, so plan your vacation accordingly.
Debuting in 2020, Virgin Voyages’ ships will feature more than 20 eateries, a gym and spa, a jogging track, a two-story bar, and even a tattoo parlor so you have something to remember your excursion by. There are no hidden fees, from food and drink to workouts, tips, and WiFi, everything is included.
Virgin Voyages sets sail out of Miami with stops in Bimini, Puerto Plata, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, San Juan, and Key West. A highlight of the vacation will surely be the stop at Virgin’s private Beach Club at Bimini, which can only be accessed from a Virgin ship.
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