When you think ofcruising, you probably think of the main destinations that appear in all thecruisingads and that most of the bigcruise linestravel to.
Think the Bahamas and other island destinations in theCaribbean. If you’re on the West Coast, you probably think of Mexico orAlaska. If you’re thinking of cruises around Europe, you’re going to think of the Mediterranean or Fjords cruises through Scandinavia. And, If you’re traveling a little further afield, you might think of acruiseto Hawaii or around Australia.
However, there are so many other amazing destinations that you can visit viacruise ship— often destinations that are remote and might not be accessible otherwise. Here are a few of our favorites, that you need to add to your bucket list, stat.
In This Article:
A Quick Note on UniqueCruise Destinationsand How to Get There
It’s worth noting that, for many uniquecruise destinations, you can’t get there on your average, budget-friendly mega-ship. (You know the ones we’re talking about.)
You’re going to need tocruiseon a smaller ship, as many of these destinations don’t even have the facilities necessary to welcome a mega-ship, and likely with a smallercruise line. In some cases, these destinations can only be reached via a rivercruise ship.
Also, keep in mind that, for some of the more remote uniquecruise destinations, where the focus is onwildlifeand natureexcursions, visitingcruisesare often referred to as “expeditioncruises.” For expeditioncruises, theitineraryis all about exploration andadventure. In other words, if you’re looking for acruisewhere you’ll sit in theluxuryspa all day, drink by the pool, and then pop out to look at some uniquewildlife, these might not be thecruisesfor you.
You’ll also likely need to pay a little bit more than you might for a quick, three-day trip between Florida and the Bahamas. However, the extra cost is going to be worth it.
1.Antarctica
Interest inAntarcticacruisesis booming! In fact, according to oneNPR article,in 2023, it was expected that more than 100,000 travelers would visitAntarcticaviacruise ship! That’s a 40% increase over past seasons.
There are many reasons why this is the case. Some say that, after the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel restrictions, more travelers than ever were inspired to live life to the fullest, and they wanted to finally cross this destination off their bucket list. Plus, the fact that morecruise linesare offeringcruisestoAntarcticamakes getting there even easier!
Photo Credit: Robert Mcgillivray / Shutterstock
So, if you want to go toAntarctica, see the penguins,whalesand otherwildlife, and otherwise step foot on a continent that likely none of your friends will ever visit, you’ve got options.Celebrity CruisesoffersitinerariestoAntarcticathat depart from Argentina.
Silversea actually offers a variety ofAntarcticacruises, on various ships and with a range ofitineraryoptions. Somecruise lines, like Viking, offer longercruisesthat include stops inAntarctica, as you explore the rest ofSouth America.
2. The Galápagos Islands
Located off the coast ofEcuador, the Galapágos Islands is another destination that’s gaining quick interest and, now, about 170,000 tourists visit the islands per year, according toCNN.
Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos (Photo Credit: Emma Jones)
Because the Galapágos are known for their biodiversity, you can expect mostcruiseshere to focus on thewildlifeand responsible, sustainable tourism that allows you to experience this unique habitat to its fullest, while also remaining respectful. A mix of smallcruiseproviders and largecruise linesoffer routes to the Galapágos, including Silversea, Celebrity Cruises and GAdventures.
3. Greenland
Situated about half-way between Canada and Iceland, Greenland is a severely underrated travel destination. LikeAntarctica, it offers vast, dramatic arctic landscapes with glaciers and similar, but like Iceland, it also offers quaint villages and, during the right season, hiking, kayaking among thefjords, culture, cuisine and more.
Cruise Ship Visiting Greenland
Plus, Greenland is so close to the U.S. and Canadian mainlands that getting there from acruise shipthat departs from the East Coast doesn’t take that long at all. Similarly, somecruise linesoffer quick Greenlandcruisesthat depart from European ports, such as Amsterdam or Southampton.
Cruise linesthat offer Greenlandcruisesinclude RoyalCaribbean, Celebrity, Silversea, Carnival and MSCCruises.
4. TheNile River
We mentioned rivercruises, though, and what rivercruisecould be more interesting and unique than acruisealong theNile RiverinEgypt?
ManyNile Rivercruisesspecialize in the luxurious, and small ships are necessary. As such, you won’t find all the big-namecruise linesoperating here. Provider options include Abercrombie & Kent, National Geographic Expeditions, Viking and Uniworld.
Nile River Cruise
During aNile Rivercruise, you’ll float past the pyramids and disembark to exploreancient ruins, temples and world-class museums. Manyitinerariesdepart from, and return to, Cairo.
5. The Seychelles
You could say that the Seychelles are the new Maldives. Everyone was keen to go to the Maldives a decade ago, but now everyone knows about the Maldives. That’s not yet the case with the Seychelles.
TheseIndian Oceanislands sit off the coast of Africa, near Madagascar, and, as you island hop your way around the archipelago, you’ll find opportunities for beach-bumming,scuba diving, hiking in rainforests, exploring the local culture and checking out the localwildlife(like the giant tortoises!).
Le Jacques-Cartier Cruise Ship in the Seychelles (Photo Credit: Nancy Pauwels)
Severalcruise linestravel to the Seychelles, but many bundle a visit to the Seychelles with a broader tour of the region.
Holland America Lineand Oceania both visit the Seychelles as part of broadercruises, such as Oceania’s month-longIndian Oceanexplorationcruise, and Holland America’scruisesbetween Australia andSouth Africa. However,Ponantdoes offer shorter tours that focus on the Seychelles, withitinerariesthat travel between the Seychelles and Zanzibar.
6.South Africa
When you think of luxuriousadventuretrips to Africa, you probably think of a safari trip. However, you can bundle your love ofcruisingwith a safariadventure, and with a pretty expansive number ofcruise lines.
South Africa Cruise (Photo Credit: LouieLea)
Norwegian Cruise Lineoffers Africancruisesthat take you to destinations suchSouth Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Angola, Madagascar and Mauritius. Oceania similarly visits ports in Senegal, Tanzania, Madagascar and Gambia. Azamara does as well, with regionalcruisesthat focus on Western orSouth Africa.
Read Also: Scenic Cruises – Everything You Need to Know
Depending on your chosencruise, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to disembark and explore, whether you want that classic safari experience, or you’d rather explore the cultural and historic spots in cities like Cape Town.
7. Sir Bani Yas Island
Been to Africa before and done the whole safari thing? If you did really enjoy it, but just want something a unique destination to explore, consider Sir Bani Yas, awildlifereserve, bird sanctuary and all-around outdooradventurehub where you can enjoy not just safaris, but also biking, kayaking and exploringancient ruins.
MSC Virtuosa Cruise Ship at Sir Bani Yas Island (Photo Credit: Sergey_Bogomyako)
Visiting Sir Bani Yas, which is located a very short distance off the United Arab Emirates coast, in the Persian Gulf, is typically bundled into a broadercruisethroughout the Middle East or to at least the UAE. For example, MSCCruisesvisits the island duringcruisesthat also visit Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
8. The Kamchatka Peninsula
This very remote Russian peninsula, which juts off Russia’s east coast and into the Bering Sea, is an incredibly unique destination and not for the faint of heart. The destination is home to more than 150 volcanoes (some active) and boasts the highest density of brown bears on the planet.
Cruise Ship in Kamchatka (Photo Credit: Alexander Piragis)
Reaching it often requires crossing the Bering Sea fromAlaska, and not a whole lot ofcruise linesand theirpassengersare going to go here. Currently, you’ll have to travel with National Geographic Expeditions to get there, or private tour providers likeAdventureLife (though, in the past, other, more mainstreamcruise lineshave visited, so keep your eyes peeled for new options).
If you’re an intrepidadventureand do manage to make to this peninsula, you’ll be rewarded with amplewildlifewatching opportunities and opportunities to delve into the unique cultures of remote Russian villages.
9. Papua New Guinea
For a tropical oasiscruiseand plenty of opportunities for hiking, diving and exploring traditional tribal villages — and all in a bucket list-worthy destination that not many of your friends have visited before — Papua New Guinea, located just north of Queensland, Australia, is the place to go.
Papua New Guinea Cruise (Photo Credit: Annalucia)
Despite Papua New Guinea being a relatively uncommon travel destination for many (especially if you live in the western hemisphere), you can find a nice selection ofcruise linesthat travel there. You can take a Carnivalcruiseor P&OCruisescruisefrom Australia to Papua New Guinea.
OceaniaCruisesstops by Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, during a range ofitineraries, including those that go fromAsiato Australia or New Zealand, and those that cross thePacific Ocean.
10. TheAmazon River
Another great rivercruise, beyond the Nile? How about anAmazon Rivercruise? Dive deep into the jungle and see what awaits in this pristine natural habitat that still holds its fair share of secrets. It’s even easier to do, when you consider that somecruise linesactually offer Amazoncruisesthat depart from Florida, so you don’t even need to hop a plane toSouth America!
Amazon River Cruise (Photo Credit: Nestor Morales Moreno)
That said, thosecruise linesaren’t going to actually take you down the Amazon, for a truly immersive experience. For that, you will need to head on down to the Southern Hemisphere and board a small river ship, with small shipcruiseproviders like AdventureSmith Explorations, National Geographic Expeditions or Avalon Waterways.
11. The Faroe Islands
If your idea of an island getaway includes more rainy days, cozy sweaters, cottages and roaming sheep than palm trees, sunshine and sand, you’ll want to go on a Faroe Islandscruise. These Scandinavian islands sit betweenNorwayand Iceland, and offer all the Scandinavian charm you’d expect. Think small villages, puffins and European history for days.
Faroe Islands Cruise (Photo Credit: Chris Christophersen)
Often, trips to the Faroe Islands are bundled into larger regional trips. For example, OceaniaCruisesvisits the islands duringcruisesbetween the European mainland and Iceland, as do Viking and Norwegian Cruise Line.
12. The Mekong River
Another river cruise option, the Mekong River, is the 12th-longest river in the world and stretches through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and China. Many Mekong Rivercruisesfocus on Vietnam and Cambodia, and allow you to explore the cities, small villages, cultural attractions and outdoor wonders along the way.
Mekong RiverCruise (Photo Credit: Madee)
You can find Mekong Rivercruisesoffered by Viking, Uniworld and Avalon Waterways, among others.
13. Easter Island
Like the Galapágos, another unique cruise destination is Easter Island situated off the South American coast, in the Pacific, but further South, offChile. The main reason anyone goes to Easter Island is to, of course, see all of the ancient moai, but there’s plenty else to do beyond seeing the archaeological sites, including trekking tours, cycling tours and even snorkeling.
Cruise Ship at Easter Island (Photo Credit: Peto Laszlo)
Manycruise linesbundle a trip to Easter Island into larger, extensiveoceanvoyages, as is the case for Holland America Line,Regent Seven Seasand MSCCruises. However, you can also find Polynesiancruisesthat visit Easter Island, such asitinerariesfrom both National Geographic Expeditions andPonantthat travel fromTahitito Easter Island.
Worth Reading: What Is a Transpacific Cruise?
14. Juan Fernández Archipelago
Not too terribly far away, you can find the Juan Fernández archipelago, also off the coast ofChile. Here, the islands make up a national park and include Robinson Crusoe Island, a notable island where a Scottish sailor was marooned in the early 1700s, inspiring the fictional tale of Robinson Crusoe. Today, you can explore the very mountainous and beautiful terrain, with all its endemic species that attract nature lovers of all types.
Juan Fernández, Chile (Photo Credit: Sarah Spiess)
It won’t be easy getting there, but you can find somecruisesthat put a stop at Robinson Crusoe Island onitinerariesthat also explore Oceania and the Chilean coast, such asitinerariesfromSeabourn.
