Awesome cruise destinations in the Caribbean Sea 2023: On a round-trip Alaska cruise from Vancouver, your ship will sail to Hubbard Glacier. Here, you’ll witness one of its thunderous calving displays, which is when enormous chunks of ice split from the glacier and fall into the ocean. Witness the exhilarating thrill of this natural phenomenon up close while sipping a mug of hot chocolate and holding on to your significant other. Then you’ll dock in Juneau, a popular Alaskan destination with nature and animal lovers. Board a helicopter and enjoy the view of Juneau’s Icefield before touching down at Norris Glacier, where you’ll be able to board a dog sled pulled by a trained group of Alaskan Huskies. If you’re looking for even more excitement—especially if you’re on a honeymoon in Alaska—take a river raft through Mendenhall River, where you’ll encounter your fair share of rapids, or take a kayaking trip out to Mendenhall Lake and pass by small icebergs and animals in their natural habitat before reaching the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier. Read additional details at find a cruise.

The Panama Canal is a must-see for many travelers. A number of lines offer the 40-mile journey linking the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. Consider UnCruise Adventures’ Costa Rica and Panama itineraries, which typically run in the winter months. Tim Jacox, president and chief operating officer of the line, says this cruise includes a full Panama Canal crossing. “Panama is not just the canal by any means. We exclusively tie in adventurous exploration on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of the canal with native culture. Kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and paddleboarding lead into uplifting visits with Embera native villagers in the Darien jungle and Guna Yala natives in the former San Blas Islands,” he adds. Larger cruise lines that traverse the Panama Canal include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and more.

A highlight of the Viking Homelands itinerary offered by Viking Ocean Cruises is that it includes stops in eight scenic countries, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark. “Scandinavia is Viking territory, and the Viking Homelands itinerary brings guests along the original trade routes of the Viking explorers. [While] sailing … guests have opportunities to see the great cities of the Baltic Sea, along with Norwegian fjords, rural historical sites and ancient Viking settlements that provide a glimpse at how the original Vikings lived,” says Torstein Hagen, Viking Cruises’ founder and chairman. “One of our signature itineraries, I’m pleased to offer it for guests to experience my home country of Norway and the homelands of the original Viking explorers,” he adds.

Here are some of the top cruising destinations around Europe that you should definitely consider experiencing. When it comes to European yacht holidays, destinations don’t get much better than Greece. This country is known for its magnificent Mediterranean coastline, stunning islands, and historic port towns. You can explore beautiful blue coves, dock at private white beaches, and hop between the many different islands. Although the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic is still palpable, you can book your Mediterranean yacht cruise in 2021 with confidence. This year, most of us feel that we need time to relax from day-to-day stress and recharge our batteries more than ever.

And remember, before or after staying in Ibiza, take the chance and spare some days for a visit to Spain’s mainland cities. Ibiza offers several daily flight connections with Madrid and Barcelona, just 40min away from the latest. Bachelors and singles will enjoy big city life, with good nightlife, shopping, restaurants and fun experiences. Couples and honeymooners may like to extend the trip and immerse in Spanish culture and heritage. Start with Barcelona and continue afterwards to the south, where charming Andalusian cities are waiting with incredible monuments and cosy old towns. Madrid can be the departure city, easily connected from Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga by fast train. Families may prefer to extend the stay in the fantastic beach resorts and end with a short visit to main capitals before heading back home. Celebrity spotters heading to the white sands of Ibiza should look no further than Cala Jondal, a beautiful little cove that is home to the famous Blue Marlin beach club. This is a small and classier version of Marbella’s blingtastic Nikki Beach and is popular amongst well-heeled locals as well as stars from the worlds of sport, cinema and music. Kick back on one of the white leather beds, order your favourite cocktail and admire the lush hills that surround the bay’s clear, still waters. You never know who might set up camp next to you. The last year was a year we stayed at home. It was the year of coronavirus anxiety, canceled plans, and severe lifestyle changes. With 2020 finally behind us, many of us are hoping for our lives to get back to what we know as ‘normal’: the life without facemasks and fear of illness. Life with schools, offices, restaurants open, and social gatherings and travel plans as things to look forward to. If you cannot wait to pack up and go again, let us show you the destinations that will make you forget about your daily stresses. Start planning your Mediterranean yacht cruise in 2021 in some of Europe’s most secluded locations of blissful beauty. A summer sailing trip in the Mediterranean Sea is a dream vacation that can quickly come true.

The sailing season in Sicily begins in April and ends in October. Sicily has a typically Mediterranean climate, the summers are hot and dry and the winters are mild and wet. The average temperature in coastal areas is around 26 °C in summer and 10 °C in winter. In temperatures inland are slightly cooler. Due to the Scirocco, a hot desert wind, Southern Sicily can reach over 40 °C during the summer months and there is almost no rain at this time. From June onwards the water temperatures are between 25 and 28 °C, and the waters around the island belong to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Another beautiful Greek sailing route takes you through the less famous Sporades islands which are located off the East coast. There are eleven islands in total but if you start at Volos or Skiathos, you’ve got a good chance of visiting quite a few. Known as the emerald of the Aegean, expect rich vegetation, unspoiled green-blue waters and a more traditional way of life. Highlights include the picturesque island of Skopelos, the party-island Skiathos and the Marine Park of Alonissos which is dotted with secret coves.

As the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily promises more sand, sunshine and secret anchorages than almost anywhere else. The Aeolian Islands – seven sub-tropical isles and scores of volcanic specks – are Sicily’s biggest yachting draw. Italian A-listers and humble fisherfolk sail atop crystalline waters suffused with seismic bubbles. Both enjoy platters of seafood spaghetti served on volcanic black-sand beaches. Sail in and join the club. They don’t call the island of Stromboli “the lighthouse of the Mediterranean” for nothing. A puffing volcano stands 924m (3,032ft) above the sea, offering sailors a 24/7 navigation point for the other six Aeolian Islands. Tie up in Stromboli’s mini-marina. Then tuck in. Island cuisine is a fiery mix of volcanically charged chillies and swordfish steaks. Read additional details at cruisebooking.com.

One of our favourite things about a cruise is that you can visit multiple bucket-list destinations in one holiday and discover new treasures on your way. The best cruises let you explore places which are difficult to reach on foot, like some of Scotland’s most remote islands and Greece’s hidden coves. They also open up spectacular views you wouldn’t get on land, such as picturesque fairytale castles dotted along the Garonne, Dordogne, and Gironde Rivers or the whitewashed seaside towns of the Greek Cyclades. Choosing a cruise means seeking new adventures, perhaps travelling to a continent you’ve never set foot in before or trying new activities like hiking, wildlife spotting or cooking. There are also other ways to expand your horizons on a cruise, such as seeing some local entertainment or making new friends on board.

Make sure to always read the fine print so you know exactly what you’re getting, and you don’t run into any issues when you arrive for embarkation or once you’re onboard. (Important fine print could include whether or not you can cruise with a baby or while pregnant — which is a much earlier cut off date than on planes.) You should be doubly diligent when it comes to any fees that might be charged in addition to your cruise fare such as taxes, fuel charges and gratuities, as well as to change, cancellation and refund policies. Even if you don’t make any changes, cruises are often subject to last-minute itinerary changes due to weather and sea conditions. There’s no friendly travel agent standing by waiting to spell the terms and conditions out for you, so it’s important that you read every last detail yourself.