Always researching the next big travel plans, and trying to find fascinating and unique experiences, it came as quite surprise how much we enjoyed a couple of cruises as well.!! (Very much like our surprise when we did our first organised tour)
The cruising experience is very much different that other kinds of travel, and cruise people are a completely different kind or animal.! I discovered that there is a whole world of cruise people online, each one wanting to write about the better ship that they have been on, and how many cruises they have done. Be careful reading reviews on CruiseCritic - as these reviews can be brutal on small (very nice) ships by people who really just want to brag about the newest, shiny, biggest on the seas that they have been on. Again, personal preference comes into choosing a cruise destination and style that suits your travel needs. (Personally, l don’t have to have the ships with go-kart tracks and water slides)
Our introduction into cruising was an Alaskan cruise, which after exhaustive research, l found that we just could not cover the ground and really see Alaska doing our own trip. So, my advice is that sometimes a cruise will get you to places that you want to see, or maybe one that you might not want to spend a lot of time staying in.
Say, a European cruise might work well for those who want to “do” Europe, but are overwhelmed at coordinating their own transportation and meals, as this can be too much for some travellers. It is also a great way to cover a lot of destinations, and get a taste of a place that you may plan a return trip to really explore. (Keep in mind, a cruise port and daily excursions will be quite limited by time restrictions and only get you into limited locations - don’t expect to meet the “locals”)
For further, in depth information about cruising and particularly ports - see Tom’s Port Guides
Alaska - 11-Day Voyage of the Glaciers, Denali Explorer Cruisetour
An Alaskan cruise, was simply the best way, that we just could not cover the vast distances if we tried other ways of doing it on our own.
It was an unforgettable vacation, that encompassed both a cruise and a chance to explore that famous Denali National Park in one trip. There were numerous “one-in-a-lifetime” experience, one allowed us to get up close to a glacier in Glacier Bay National Park to witness a massive “calving” event.!! (See experience link). But, if you look at the itinerary, you will see so many others - such as the amazing McKinley Explorer domed railcars for the trip north from Anchorage - Yukon gold rush excursion, and probably the highlight of the Alaskan cruisetour was our flightseeing tour the Misty Fjords.
Paris and the Heart of Normandy River Cruise
Not only do we visit major sights of the romantic “City of Light” with a knowledgeable local guide, but we also cruise the Seine River to Normandy’s beaches, the site of the Allied landings of D-Day. A fantastic cultural and historical vacation.
Romantic Danube River Cruise - Austria, Hungary, Germany
For our second Viking River Cruise, we chose the Romantic Danube cruise on the Viking Jarl. Taking in the spectacular stops in Budapest, Vienna, Krems, Passau and Regensburg gave a great mix of medieval towns, grand cities and fantastic scenery along the “Blue Danube” and the Wachau Valley.
Norwegian Gem - 7-Day Eastern Canada & New England
Our Eastern Canada - New England cruise aboard the Norwegian Gem was exactly what we were looking for - a reasonably priced fall vacation strictly for relaxation.
Starting in Quebec City and finishing in Boston, was a cruise that did not require any planning or big day excursions (partly because we have seen much of the east coast previously). Since most ports were at the dock, and only one tendered, it was leisurely to walk out into the towns and make or own way around.
Tasmania & Melbourne Cruise
While visiting Sydney, we had the opportunity to take a cruise around Tasmania with a stop at Melbourne.
Early in the planning stages, we contacted a couple from Sydney that we met on the Alaskan cruise - and they decided to join us, which made the experience that much more special.!!
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