The fresh salt air, the wide blue ocean, the anticipation of your next port of call, accommodation, food and entertainment in the one place, not having to pack and unpack at each new destination…
… we’ve put together for you 7 of the top cruising destinations around the world and the best time to go! You can also check out our guide to finding the perfect cruise to help make up your mind.
Pacific Islands:
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The Pacific Islands, especially New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu, are a favourite choice for Australians because they’re close to Australia, they’re relatively inexpensive and almost everyone speaks English. They boast a great diversity of culture and customs where visitors are encouraged to join in, they have natural landscapes including coral reefs, lush green jungles and clear blue lagoons, and they also cater to travellers who like diving, snorkelling and hiking.
Best time to visit: Dry season between May to October is the ideal time, although the tropical climate makes it warm all year round. Winter season in both the northern and southern hemispheres are busy times for the islands.
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Australia and New Zealand:
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Why go any further? Cruise around Australia and see our own natural wonders. Or check out the breath taking scenery, art, culture and history of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Again, their proximity make it an easy choice for travellers who want to go on a cruise but don’t have the time or inclination to go too far.
Best time to visit: Australia - outside the school holidays and busy summer season. New Zealand - around February to March for the warmest and most settled weather.
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Asia:
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Cruise a little further, but not too much, to experience the culture rich cities of Asia. Experience cosmopolitan and multicultural Singapore, the wonderful fusion of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures of Malaysia, the temples, food and natural wonders of Thailand, bright lights of Hong Kong and the limestone rock formations of Halong Bay in Vietnam.
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Best time to visit: Weather patterns vary widely even within each country, but the best times to visit are - Singapore: January to October; Malaysia: January to March and June to September for dryer weather; Thailand: generally November to January; Vietnam: avoid rainy season around May through to September.
Alaska:
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Go for the beautiful scenery - icebergs, glaciers, fjords, snow-capped mountains, rivers and rainforests, but don’t forget to look out for the polar bears and whales! And there may also be the opportunity to ride a helicopter onto glaciers for dog sledding, or head to its highest peak, Mt. McKinley for more spectacular views.
Best time to visit: June to August which are the warmest months.
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Caribbean:
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The islands of the Caribbean is around 2, 000 miles long and divides the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Visit their unspoiled beaches, their cascading waterfalls, soft sands, reefs, cays, islets and live and extinct volcanoes. And the many islands cater to all tastes, from the casinos in Aruba, to hikes, beaches and historic sites in Jamaica.
Best time to visit: January and February for beautiful weather.
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Amsterdam to Budapest (River Cruising):
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Cruising the Rhine and Danube are the river cruises of choice to see Holland, Germany, Austria and Hungary. They are smaller than the ocean cruises both in terms of number of passengers and size of ship, so travellers get to see the riverside cities and villages up-close, which traditional large ships can’t access, hence their popularity.
Best time to visit: Spring or Autumn
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Mediterranean:
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French Riviera, Greek Islands, Italian Coast, Istanbul, and Spanish Costa del Sol. Explore historic cities, ruins, sun baked beaches, ancient ports and glamorous resorts.
Need we say more?!
Best time to visit: May to September when its warm.
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What are your best cruising destinations or experiences?
Send us an email or write us a letter - we would love to hear from you - we may even publish it on our blog!
