Quality cruise destinations in the Caribbean Sea right now: On a Southern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, you’ll spend two relaxing days at sea before arriving in Oranjestad, Aruba. Spend a day swimming in the refreshing ocean at Aruba’s Eagle Beach and enjoying a good book on its long stretch of white sand. End the day by boarding a wooden catamaran and sailing off to Aruba’s western coast, where you and your partner can sip on hand-crafted cocktails while admiring the pink, violet, and golden colors of the sunset. From there, you’ll sail to Willemstad, Curacao, a charming port city with pastel-colored coastal buildings and beautiful beaches. Board an open-air bus and tour the Dutch island’s wildlife, salt flats, and stop and take a photo posing with a pack of bright pink flamingos. See extra info at find a cruise.
This region’s annual springtime spectacle takes place from mid-March to mid-May, with the tulips usually at their peak in mid-April. That’s the best time to hop on a river cruise and travel the canals of Amsterdam and Bruges to see these beautiful European cities and quintessential windmills in the scenic countryside. Cruisers can soak in endless displays of the colorful famed flower of the Netherlands, particularly at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Sail with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection for its 10-day, all-inclusive Tulip and Windmill Cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp, Belgium. Or, opt for a luxury Crystal Cruises river boat for a weeklong Blooming Tulip voyage, roundtrip from Amsterdam.
Chris Owen, a travel writer who specializes in cruising, has seen a variety of iconic ports of call come into focus from the balcony of a cruise ship stateroom. One of his top recommendations for the cruise of a lifetime is Alaska, especially for multigenerational groups. He says it’s worthwhile for every American to visit this special place in the northern territory. While Holland America Line and Princess Cruises dominate the market, other large lines offer itineraries to Alaska as well, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises. What’s more, deals on Alaska cruises are available throughout the sailing season, which spans from May to September.
Portugal is a brilliant country to visit for a number of reasons. If you are planning a sailing holiday, then Portugal becomes even more desirable. This country has a stunning coastline and some world-class islands. With a rich history, delicious food, and plenty of historic sites. Portugal is always a good idea. Some top cruising destinations in Portugal include Madeira (one of Europe’s best islands) and Lisbon (the capital city). Between these, there are many other worthy places to visit. Discover the Mallorca’s Balearic Islands and swim in their crystal-clear waters or book an Ibiza yacht charter cruise to discover sheltered, hidden coves and enjoy the best sunsets you’ll ever see. With more than 6,000 islands, Greece is an ideal destination for sailing. From ancient ruins and breathtaking culture to incredible cuisine, idyllic villages, endless olive groves, and turquoise waters, Greece offers countless opportunities for fun and relaxation.
May is the time when the beautiful island of Ibiza starts to come to life once again. Usually, Ibiza should be now getting ready to inaugurate a busy summer season, with the opening of its famous clubs and discotheques and of a wide range of first class accommodations, ready to welcome most demanding guests travelling to the Island to enjoy Med’s ultimate destination for clubbers. On an island where most of the beaches are fairly small, Comte stands out for its size as well as for the beauty of its setting. Overlooking a smattering of little islands (and the not-so-little Illa des Bosc) that rise out of its perfectly clear waters, the beach is 800m (2,624ft) long and is divided up into three sections, two of which are sandy and one of which is slightly rockier and just for nudists. It is lined by some slightly weird looking bars which offer incomparable views of the much-vaunted Ibiza sunset as well as decently priced food and drinks. The Best Time for Mediterranean Yacht Cruises? Summer is the best time to visit the Mediterranean, and it is definitely the high travel season in this part of Europe. The millions of people from all around the world flock to the Mediterranean’s beaches during summer months for much-deserved summer break due to the region’s pleasant climate. The summers in the Mediterranean are sunny and hot, and the sea is warm. However, the best time for Mediterranean yacht cruises is late spring (May-June) or early fall (September-October) when the temperatures and the sea are pleasurably warm, days are sunny, and the crowds in popular destinations are far fewer than in summer.
Especially popular is the sea area between the northern coast of Sicily, Calabria and the Aeolian Islands. Sicily has an area of 25,426 km² and is the largest island belonging to Italy. It is separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina. In the north it is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the east by the Ionian Sea and in the east and southwest by the Strait of Sicily. Sicily has a largely mountainous landscape, and is the home of Mount Etna – the tallest, largest and most active volcano in Europe. The north and east coasts are made up of high cliffs with numerous bays and sandy beaches. Going south the land is flatter and the beaches become longer. The coastline measures a total length of 1152 km. The capital city of Sicily is Palermo, which lies on a bay on the north coast. The city has many historic attractions, important church buildings, palaces, squares and museums. Other major cities are Catania, Messina and Syracuse.
Island hopping around the Greek islands is at the top of many a traveller’s bucket list and the famously beautiful Ionian islands are a great place to begin. Start from Corfu or Lefkada and then meander through turquoise seas stopping off at each of the seven large islands and some of the smaller ones along the way (Paxoi and Antipaxoi make excellent sailing destinations). Expect all the usual cliched Greek images such as harbours filled with coloured fishing boats, white-washed villages, beautiful beaches, rugged mountains and traditional tavernas.
A classic Sicilian sailboat makes for fabulous day-long tours around Palermo harbour plus overnight trips to the Aeolian Islands. There’s fishing gear and a barbecue to grill the grouper you’re sure to catch. Fingers crossed. SamBoat has dozens of modern sailing yachts for charter. Dream Yacht Charter also offers bareboat and skippered vessels, not to mention luxurious Aqualodge Villas, So, grab your pals for a dreamy sail into the Sicilian sunset. Discover more details on https://www.cruisebooking.com/.
The idyllic rural scenery of the south of France has inspired painters including Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin with its landscapes of fairytale fortresses, terraced vineyards and fields of lavender and sunflowers. The glorious Rhône and Saône rivers run through several of France’s most enticing regions, making a river cruise one of the best ways to explore. On an eight-day cruise in March, you’ll sail these rivers to discover the history and gastronomy along their banks. You’ll enjoy the region’s incomparable wine and cuisine and discover its many treasures-from the medieval wonders of UNESCO-designated Avignon to Lyon’s lively river banks. Making the trip unique is the company of cricketing legend Ian Botham and chef Rosemary Shrager. Ian will join you for the whole week, including a visit to the Paul Jaboulet Aîné estate’s wine cellar, and Rosemary will give a live cooking demonstration.
Take care when selecting dates and entering names of passengers. Since cruises run the same itineraries on repeat, it can be easy to select the wrong date and end up with a cruise that doesn’t work for your schedule or even departs in the wrong year! You should also be aware that passengers’ names must match their passport exactly when it’s time to board the ship, so when you type it in to make your cruise reservations online, check and then double-check. (This is especially important if you’re planning a honeymoon cruise and you anticipate changing your last name.)