Vacations Blog

The great thing about cruises is that whatever your holiday style, you’ll be able to find a holiday type that suits you. While culture-vultures may be tempted with a river cruise visiting the sites of the River Nile, beach-bums might prefer a two week break in the Caribbean. Travellers can even go off the beaten track by choosing a selection of cruises that travel around rugged, unexplored territory. Here are two examples:

Travel on the Celebrity Xpedition to the Galapagos Islands to discover plants and wildlife that are like nowhere else in the world. The well-equipped cruise ship has been especially designed to help protect the world-famous archipelago and features environmentally sound design that allows you and up to 91 fellow guests to explore the islands in style. Sadly, the islands are not a cheap cruise destination, but the price is well worth it for that once in a lifetime experience

The islands were famously founded by Charles Darwin and helped create the basis for many of his theories on evolution. Lonesome George is the sole survivor of his species and can be visited at the Charles Darwin Research Centre where experts will explain what sets him apart from the other giant tortoises on the island. Easily distinguished by their bright blue feet, blue-footed boobies are perhaps the most unique bird that you’ll catch sight of in the Galapagos.

What could be more appealing on an adventure cruise than travelling the remotest continent in the world in search of wildlife? Strangely it’s also perhaps the only destination in the world where people book cruise holidays to, but never end up leaving their ship. This concept might sound strange yet most of Antarctica’s attractions can be seen from the ship; perhaps because most of the attractions in the region are of the furred and feathered variety. Keep a look out for humpback whales and emperor penguins which can often be seen swimming in the ice-cold waters below your boat.

In this part of our guide to cruise holidays we look at Hawaii…

A wish come true is the only way a great deal of people can describe going on a Hawaiian cruise. Sailing far out into the amazing Pacific Ocean on a luxury cruise seeking an Eden like paradise that is the Hawaiian islands is something only a select few travel adventures can obtain. What an amazing locale it is as well! Beautiful women with sarongs dancing on the beach, palm trees laden with coconuts and tropical drinks down by the gently lapping waves is what you will get to experience on a Hawaiian cruise.

If you are from North American, you can pick any port to leave from on the west coast. Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego are the main ports of departure to Hawaii, although several of the other ports up and down the coastline offer cruise services to Hawaii too.

Most Hawaiian destination cruises are round-trip last anywhere from 15-18 days and you will visit Hawaii’s main island along with a few of her smaller ones. You can also book a one-way cruise where you choose to fly back from Hawaii.

Some cruise line companies that do Hawaiian cruise vacations even offer up to one month stays! These extended cruises are an excellent choice for those wishing to experience a more intense adventure in Hawaii and also for those who would like the opportunity to spend some time on the other islands of Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.

Besides lying on the deck by the pool and sunbathing on Hawaii’s beautiful beaches, there are numerous shore excursions on a Hawaii cruise that will satisfy even very restless travelers. On the Big Island itself you can turn intrepid adventurer and explore the dormant volcanoes of Mauna Kea or the smaller Kilauea crater. If you don’t fancy the hike you can always do a Circle of Fire tour by helicopter.

On the south side of the Big Island near the port of Kona is the Kona Cloud Forest botanical walk. Don’t forget you still have plenty of ocean to explore; from snorkeling to surfing to taking an underwater adventure in a submarine; your Hawaiian cruise can offer a little bit of everything!