Our Top 10 Cruise Destinations

Cruising is so much more than just an easy way to travel; it’s a great opportunity to tick boxes on a bucket list, from exploring some of the world’s great cities, to visiting historic and exotic places, and enjoying unique experiences. Think of the drama of cruising into Hong Kong Harbour at sunrise with its cheek-by-jowl skyline, or watching dolphins frolic off the Hawaiian Islands from your own private balcony. Here’s our pick of some of the top destinations to cruise.

Australia

Our backyard appears to have it all; cosmopolitan cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, sprawling deserts, lush rainforest, pristine coral reef, unique wildlife, and kilometres of unspoiled beaches. Why not see it all, including the Great Barrier Reef the exotic Top End and the windswept south including Kangaroo Island and Tasmania on a circumnavigation cruise? 

New Zealand

Across the Tasman lies a nation of immense diversity, blessed with breathtaking scenery and history across two islands. What you’ll experience includes Fiordland’s spectacular Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds to the south, and the drama of the Bay of Islands to the north, and in between a lineup of quaint townships, vineyards, snow-capped alps, fascinating Maori culture, and the glamorous cities of Wellington and Auckland.

Crossing The Atlantic

It’s an iconic journey paying homage to a golden era of travel, a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Southampton to New York. The only way to experience the grandeur of it all is on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, one of the world’s biggest and most expensive ships. What awaits is six days on the high seas to relax and be pampered, ending with a dramatic dawn cruise-by of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan on arrival.

The Hawaiian Islands

Just the name evokes images of white sand beaches and palm trees teased by ocean breezes, dramatic mountain ranges, and waterfalls, but ask anyone who’s been to Hawaii which island they like the best and you’ll get a different answer. Each one offers something different, with a cruise being a great way to settle the debate. Why choose between flying over a volcano on the Big Island, snorkelling with turtles in Kauai, or catching a wave in Maui, when you can do all three?

The Kimberley

One of Australia’s most remote destinations, The Kimberley is an ancient wilderness of grandeur best explored on an expedition cruise. Sights to behold include the King George Falls, dramatic twin waterfalls deep in the King George River, and the vast Montgomery Reef, famous for an immense tidal flow. Also a bonus, daily activities range from crocodile spotting and fishing, to hiking to secluded swimming holes. 

Japan

With a mad mix of neon, gleaming skyscrapers, ancient temples and shrines, Japan fuses a rich and colourful history with the latest in modern technology. Cruising here allows you to dip your toes into the old and the new of a fascinating culture, through great cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, along with historic Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and lesser know gems such as Kochi and Kagoshima.

Alaska

Shaped by massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage is a popular cruising destination for good reason. It’s a dramatic landscape of lush scenery, towering peaks, deep fjords, remote islands, and abundant wildlife, but besides cruising to popular ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, also on offer is the chance to create unique memories from dog sledding to bear watching.

Southeast Asia

This vast and beautiful region is one of the few places on earth offering such a heady blend of exotic cultures, imposing cityscapes, ancient temples, and bustling markets. To cruise Southeast Asia is to follow the wake of ancient maritime traders and explorers. Sail into the majesty of Hong Kong Harbour, observe the centuries-old life of the Saigon River, explore the steamy craziness of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, and be overwhelmed by the rich history of China. 

Myanmar

Rudyard Kipling described the country formerly called Burma as “quite unlike any place you know about”, and it’s a corner of Asia which has changed little since British colonial times. Myanmar enjoys a surreal landscape, from the bustling capital of Yangon to the temples of Bagan, and a cruise along the legendary Irrawaddy River is the best way to see it all. Pack your camera to capture the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay, and touring Inwa by horse-drawn cart. 

Fiji & The South Pacific

The islands of the South Pacific conjure up many images in the mind’s eye from vast mountains rising up from the ocean, stunning white sand beaches, and sunsets illuminating the sky in a wild palette of colours. Undoubtedly it lives up to its tropical clichés, and with more than 300 islands, and another 500 islets, Fiji is also an archipelago which could take an entire life time to explore, making it a wonderful place to explore by ship. 

Antarctica

Antarctica is a wilderness of “other world” quality which can only be explored properly from the water. During the short southern hemisphere summer expedition ships push through the surrounding ice floes with ease to place you on the doorstep of the white continent. Be prepared to have your breath taken away, as what lies ahead is a landscape of spectacular iceberg sculptures and calving glaciers, encounters with gentoo penguins, and spotting seals, whales and seabirds.