Cruisers Share Their Favorite Cruise Destinations

Due to the ongoing global health concerns, cruising has been suspended for the foreseeable future. Many of us have had upcoming cruises cancelled and remain uncertain of just when we will be able to step back onboard a cruise ship. Now more than ever, cruisers all over the world are going through some major withdrawals and cruise blues. While we remain optimistic that the cruise industry will rebound after this crisis, we wanted to help spread some positivity about cruising in the meantime. So, we asked that Cruisers Share Their Favorite Cruise Destinations with us to show our support to the industry and perhaps some travel inspiration to others.

Cruisers Share Their Favorite Cruise Destinations

John from New Jersey is the man behind InTheLoopTravel, a website focused on active travel and cruising. He votes Alaska as his favorite cruise destination partly because of all the active options available for cruisers.

“Alaska offers an endless amount of natural beauty. It’s a fantastic option for people who love to be active, with hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and even snorkeling, among the outdoorsy things you can enjoy there. Plus, it’s among the best places in the world to simply savor the wonders of nature and get some amazing photographs of landscapes and amazing creatures. There is plenty of culture and history to explore, as well.”

John and Colleen enjoying the great outdoors in Alaska during their cruise on Regent Seven Seas Mariner

Kim and Kenzie from Pennsylvania vote Roatan, Honduras as their favorite Caribbean cruise port. Who doesn’t love a sloth encounter?

“My Mom and I love Roatán because it is home to our favorite excursion, a sloth encounter. We chose this excursion on our yearly cruise last year and it did not disappoint. It is home to rescued sloths and other rescued animals. We also went snorkeling in one of the most beautiful reefs that we have snorkeled in. Even though the port is less developed than others, it is definitely our favorite!”

Views of the port of Roatan

Steve and Ann from Nebraska run their own travel website, Postcard Jar. Their vote for favorite cruise destination goes to St. Kitts. This Caribbean island happens to be one of our favorites also!

“St. Kitts is one of our favorite ports in the Caribbean. As we drove along the shoreline and into the verdant rainforest that encompasses a quarter of the land in St. Kitts, we were amazed by the tropical plants, flowers, trees, and wildlife. We loved the kindness of the locals in St. Kitts, the salt fish and provisions meal we ate, and the unique photo op of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.”

What a great shot of the lush landscape of St. Kitts

Sheri from California is the face behind CruiseTipsTV. She tells us all about why she chose Japan as her favorite cruise destination and why her most meaning family cruise was this trip on Diamond Princess back in December 2018.

“Our 12 night cruise was impactful in so many ways. Not only did we cruise 2,857 miles from Tokyo, Japan to Singapore, visiting 5 countries in under two weeks, but we met friends from all over the world, from Australia, Malaysia, the UK, New Zealand.  We also fell in love with Japan as a destination, and can’t wait to return to see more of Japan’s small towns. The locals, each morning when we docked would come to the pier, with their dogs and children to watch the ship come in. They were so friendly, and would chat with passengers as they exited the ship. As the ship pulled away at night, the locals would come back. In some ports, we were serenaded by full, live bands, and in ALL ports, the locals would wave and smile as we pulled away. Passengers would head out on deck to wave back. It was the most MOVING experience in all our thirty-something cruise experiences. From Mt. Fuji, near Tokyo (pictured), to the orange-red gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto to the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the cruise offered an incredible, exotic look back into history, and a refreshing glimpse at how other people live, halfway around the world. The ship also offered unique Japanese touches, like green tea soft serve by the pool deck- yes please! And, Izumi, the Japanese onsen style bath made the ship truly unique. We can’t wait to return!”

Sheri’s great capture of Mt. Fuji

Lynn from Be Your Own Travel Guide believes that Bonaire is the “epitome of every Caribbean cruiser’s dream destination”. She loves the crystal clear water and the laid-back atmosphere.

“The pristine water is the highlight of Bonaire. The colour resembles more something that you would see in the Maldives, and the coral reef is the last healthy one in the Caribbean. Bonaire offers many dive and snorkel tours if you wish to see it firsthand, many of which are accessible from your ship. The reefs right offshore come at a cost – the beaches are often littered with crushed shells and broken pieces of coral, which is not ideal for walking. However, there is an exception: Klein Bonaire, an untouched nature reserve only a short water taxi ride from the port of Kralendijk. Klein Bonaire is an uninhabited island right across from where your ship will dock. The water taxi will take you to what is appropriately called “No Name Beach,” where you can bask in the sun and relax on the soft, white sand. I consider Bonaire one of the last few “hidden gems” accessible by a Caribbean cruise. Most ports have evolved to support the masses of tourists, which also means that they are built up to a large-scale. An uninhabited island (with a few other guests of course), is a welcome and relaxing escape during the week.”

The beauty of Bonaire

Franny from Germany loved her cruise to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands with TUI Cruises. Be sure to follow Franny on Instagram for travel inspiration.

“This was a beautiful tour, from the Canary Islands to Cabo Verde and Dakar! It was a varied route with beaches, nature, culture, and history. There were a lot of different and new cultures for me (Cabo Verde and Dakar), and even in March and April, it was really lovely weather!”

Mein Schiff 4 docked in Dakar, Senegal

Heidi from Massachusetts, The Princess of Eat Sleep Cruise, picks St. Petersburg, Russia as her favorite destination visited on a cruise so far. Though, Alaska and Hawaii are close seconds.

“We visited St. Petersburg, Russia, along with other Baltic capitals, on a Viking ocean cruise last year. We participated in the Ultimate St. Petersburg excursion offered by the cruise line, and it certainly lived up to its name. We were able to see so much of this beautiful city in the two days that we were in port. Some of the highlights included visiting the Hermitage Museum, the sheer elegance of Catherine Palace and Peterhof Palace, and the ornate architecture- especially the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood. Oh, did I mention that we even attended a Russian ballet? This is truly one of our best cruise memories to date.”

Yours Truly in front of the Peterhof Palace

Nick from Florida loved his 12-night Sunshine in the Canaries cruise back in 2015. Nick’s trip included stops at Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Lanzarote, Spain (Canary Islands), Tenerife, Spain (Canary Islands); Gran Canaria; Funchal, Madeira; and La Corona, Spain. His favorite port on this cruise was Tenerife. Be sure to follow Nick on Instagram for all his latest cruise adventures, or cancelled cruise adventures as of late.

“Tenerife was probably our favorite port but we also really loved Lisbon. There is so much history there to see and learn about. We would do this exact trip again!”

Nick and his wife enjoying their Sunshine in the Canaries cruise

Ilana from Montreal, Canada runs the cruise blog Life Well Cruised. While she admits that it is hard to pick just one, her vote for favorite cruise destination goes to Bermuda. 

“One of my very favorite cruise destinations is Bermuda. Cruising to Bermuda is a special experience, in that it almost feels like one portion cruise, and one portion land vacation. Having an opportunity to visit several parts of Bermuda when docked for 2-3 days is amazing. Our favorite things to do in Bermuda includes a day at Horseshoe Bay Beach, time on the water with a catamaran excursion, and visiting Crystal Caves. The blush pink sand, blue waters and friendly people keep us returning again and again.”

We love Horseshoe Bay Beach in Bermuda too

Don from Massachusetts, also known as DB from Eat Sleep Cruise, shares that one of his favorite cruise destinations is the Caribbean island of Aruba.

“The island is home to one of the best beaches in the entire region, Eagle Beach. Best part, the beach is open to the public. In fact, all of the beaches on the island are free. Another gorgeous spot, although a drive from the cruise terminal, is Baby Beach. Perhaps what is so amazing about the island is its unique landscape. Aruba looks more like a desert than a tropical island. This means there is some amazing topography and landscapes. For those who like to go off-roading, this is the island for you. Adventure lovers will want to book an ATV or Jeep tour, but be prepared for one bumpy ride. The island’s national park, besides offering amazing views and out of this world landscapes, is home to a natural pool that is well worth the rocky drive. With plenty of outdoor activities, as well as world-class dining, shopping, and a variety of tours and excursions, Aruba is one island I will continue to visit on a cruise.”

The views from Eagle Beach in Aruba

Christina from New York can’t pick just one favorite cruise destination. She shares her votes for Athens and Santorini Greece, as well as Sorrento, Italy and Taormina, Sicily. 

Why? She loves “the beach parties, Oia’s beauty, and the great city of Athens”. She also loves “Sorrento’s food and culture + buzzing vibe”, as well as “Taormina’s Godfather presence- old school Italy in the deep southern heat!”

The stunning views in Taormina, Sicily

And there you have it, these are just some of the amazing places you can visit on a cruise that fellow cruisers and bloggers have shared with us. If you want to share your favorite cruise destinations with us, feel free to send your submission to editor@s33722.p856.sites.pressdns.com including your name, location, favorite destination, and why, along with a photo. If we get more contributions, we might have to put together a Part 2!

Comments

Have you visited any of these ports of call? What are some of your favorite cruise destinations? Drop us an anchor below to share all the great places that you have visited via cruise ship.