Can you see yourself lazing on the ship deck in the cool ocean breeze, with nothing but water in every direction? How about sitting on a balcony and watching the European countryside drift by? Or having your own personal butler serve you champagne and canapés as you gaze out at the beautiful sunset?
If you saw yourself in any of those situations, then a cruise could be the perfect holiday for you. There are many different types, so anyone can find their ideal holiday out on the open water. We’ve put together a snapshot of the most exciting cruises out there so you can begin to plan your dream trip.
Want adventure and excitement on your next getaway? Take an expedition cruise and have the opportunity to experience new locations. You can visit Antarctica and admire the icy scenery. On this type of holiday, you will even be able to leave the ship on day trips and have a real snow adventure. The main expedition cruise lines heading to Antarctica and Alaska are Aurora Expeditions, Orion Expeditions and Princess Cruises. Mediterranean yacht expeditions are also available through Globus.
South America & Antarctica Explorer (Holland America Line) 19 Nights, Santiago to Buenos Aires from $3,799*
Immerse yourself in the foods of the world by taking a gourmet cruise. Taste international cuisines at each port of call and refine your cookery skills with classes and demonstrations. Love Spanish food? Take a cruise around Spain. Always wanted to learn how to cook Italian? Cruise around Italy learning from the best. If you love to wine and dine, then what better way to holiday then to travel in comfort and style. Travel with P&O Cruises to Auckland, Louis Cruise Lines to Greece and Silversea Cruises to the Caribbean and Asia.
Luxury cruises offer a much more indulgent experience, with spacious rooms, fine dining and state of the art facilities. Enjoy a bottle of champagne on arrival and be pampered with heavenly spa treatments. Take a long holiday with an around-the-world cruise while you have your own personal butler aboard the Queen Mary II or opt for a shorter taste of luxury with a two day cruise. Enjoy activities such as dance lessons, croquet and afternoon tea by day and indulge in fine dining, live music and dancing in the evening. Cunard offer some very luxurious cruises to worldwide locations.
If you don’t have the money to take an all-expense, round-the-world cruise, you may prefer to take a look at a budget cruise. This offers a more basic experience, yet you can still enjoy a relaxing holiday out to sea. Close to home cruises can also offer savings as you don’t have to pay for expensive flights to the starting port. P&O offer shorter trips around Australia, New Zealand and to the Pacific Islands.
Thinking of holidaying with a group of friends or family and looking for some privacy? Then group or charter cruises may be right for you. You can find small or large ships that can accommodate numbers anywhere from 12 to 3000, so it’s up to you how large the celebrations will be. You can even choose the destination of the cruise to perfectly tailor the holiday to you. Have you always wanted to take your family snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef for a week? Royal Caribbean, French Country Waterways and Crystal Symphony offer ships for charter.
River cruises through Europe offer a more intimate experience as the ships are smaller and there are fewer passengers on board. Rather than just ocean views, a river cruise will offer ever-changing countryside as you watch rolling hills transform into quaint villages. Have you always wanted to see the scenery and little towns in Germany? Take a river cruise down the Oder River and watch the beauty as you drift by. With a river cruise you get to visit many amazing locations and you only have to unpack once! River cruises don’t only run through Europe; you can take a trip down the Nile, through South East Asia and through Russia. Viking River Cruises, Uniworld, Scenic Tours and APT take passengers down the rivers of the world.
Are you a thrill-seeker or a foodie? Do you prefer luxury or are you looking for a big family holiday? Which is the type of cruise for you?
This article is sponsored by Escape Travel and they have written the story with us, specifically for over 60 travellers. We bring you this article to share insights into what we feel is relevant and interesting to our community. Consider Escape Travel for your next holiday. Click here for more information.
