Popular Vacation Cruises

Vacation cruises are becoming more and more popular. The cruise ships are luxurious, they cater to your every need, and the variety of cruise destinations seems endless. Selecting your vacation cruise destination might be one of your more difficult decisions when planning your cruise.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to assist you in that decision is to group the most popular vacation cruises by duration of the cruise and by destination. The 3 to 10 day cruises originate from the United States or Canada. The 10 day plus cruises can originate from many different ports around the world.

3 to 5 Day Cruises:

Bahama Cruises - The Bahamas are within 50 miles of the United States and there are over 700 islands in the Bahamas. Less than 50 of the islands are inhabitated, and the cruise ships usually only visit either Nassau or Freeport. A cruise to the Bahamas is a great cruise for anyone, especially if this is your first vacation cruise.

Baja Mexico Cruises - Located below California, the Baja peninsula extends to the south and is dotted with unique Mexican villages and gorgeous beaches. Baja cruises typically depart from Los Angeles or Long Beach. Baja cruises visit Ensenada, Catalina Island, and sometimes San Diego.

Western Caribbean Cruises - The Western Caribbean cruises include the islands south and west of the United States, such as Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Western Caribbean cruises originate in the traditional cruise ports of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. More recently, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, Houston and Galveston are popular ports of departure.

7 to 10 Day Cruises:

Alaska Cruises - Alaskan cruises are some of the most popular in the world. One of the best ways to visit and see Alaska's rugged coastline is by cruise ship. Due to the cold Alaskan weather, the cruise season only runs from May through September. The towering mountains, beautiful coastline, long narrow bays, specatcular glaciers, and amazing wildlife are the reason the Alaska cruises are so popular. Alaskan cruises typically depart from Seattle and Vancouver with stops in Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak. The Inside Passage and Glacier Bay are popular routes and destinations.

Bermuda Cruises - The beautiful islands of Bermuda, with their pink sandy beaches, great snorkeling, and world famous golf courses are definitely a cruise destination to consider. Bermuda cruises run from April through October with ports of departure along the east coast. Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, and Fort Lauderdale all offer departures to Bermuda. Popular Bermuda cruise destinations include St. George, Hamilton, and Kings Wharf.

Caribbean Cruises - The Caribbean vacation cruises are the most popular cruise destinations. The big question is where do you want to go? The Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean. Because we already previewed the Western Caribbean under the 3 to 5 day cruises, we will cover the Eastern Caribbean destinations. Most of the 7 day Caribbean cruises depart from Florida and ports of call often include the Bahamas, St. John, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten. The Eastern Caribbean islands are closer together, so you will have lots of time for shopping and snorkeling.

Mexico Cruises - Cruises to Mexico are available all year long. If you depart from California, you will cruise the western coast of Mexico, known as the Mexican Riviera. These include the Pacific ports of Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan. Cruises departing from the Atlantic or Gulf coasts travel to the Mayan Riviera which includes the Yucatan Peninsula and the resort towns of Cancun and Cozumel.

10 Day and Longer Cruises:

Africa Cruises - When you think of an African vacation, you tend to think of safaris and treks through the vast African reserves and not necessarily on a cruise ship. Well, vacation cruises to Africa are available and some of the best way to see the amazing African wildlife is from a cruise ship. Cruise passengers can also book 1 day shore visits or extend your cruise vacation to go on an African safari adventure.

Alaska Cruises - We already covered the Alaskan cruises in the 5 to 7 day vacation cruises. The longer cruises voyage to some of Alaska's less visited ports. You can also book a land and cruise combination tour and travel inland to destinations like Denali Park.

Hawaii Cruises - The Hawaiian Islands are still a popular vacation cruise destination. While the trip from the mainland to the Hawaiian Islands might seem like a long time at sea without any stops, when you get to Hawaii, you will love being able to travel from island to island. The views of the Hawaiian coastlines are truly breathtaking and much of it can only be seen from the sea. Ports of call can include Honolulu, Hilo, Kona, Lahaina, Lihue and Fanning Island.

Northern Europe Cruises - The Northern European cruises include the Baltic, the Norwegian Fjords and even a touch of the Artic. Northern Europe ports include Berlin, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Helsinki, Oslo, St. Petersburg, and Stockholm.

Orient & Far East Cruises - The Orient has always been an exotic place with cultures rich with ancient traditions and customs. Cruises to the orient focus on eastern China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India. Ports of call typical include Hong Kong, Pusan, Shanghai, and Bombay. Of course a trip to the Orient would not be complete with out day excursions to Beijing, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China.

Panama Canal Cruises - A cruise through the Panama Canal is one of the most vacation cruises you can take. Ninety years after being built, the "Crossroads of the World" links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Panama Canal cruises are available from October to April. It is best to wait until after November, when the rainy season ends. The most popular Panama cruises take the Florida to California route.

South Pacific Cruises - The islands have been called "Paradise on Earth". There are over 7,500 islands in the South Pacific and they have been grouped into three regions. Melanesia cruises includes the Western islands of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. The Micronesia cruises are north of the equator and include Palau, Yap, and the Marshall Islands. Polynesia cruises can include the area from Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. Popular Polynesian cruises include stops in Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Bora Bora and Marquesas Islands.

Southern Europe & Mediterranean Cruises - Cruises to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean let you experience the cultures of Spain, Italy and Greece. The combination of warm weather and fine dining will make your Mediterranean cruise memorable. Port of calls usually include Lisbon, Madeira, Corfu, Venice, Athens, and Casablanca.

Transatlantic Cruises - These cruises are better known as Transatlantic Crossings that usually take at least 14 days. As the name implies, these cruises cross the Atlantic Ocean between America and Europe. The traditional Transatlantic cruises are roundtrip from New York to South Hampton.

World Cruises - The first world vacation cruise took place in 1922 and has continued to be popular cruise with seniors that have both the time and the money. In order to take a world cruise, you should plan on being away for at least 80 to 150 days. World cruises really don't sail around the world, but they do offer passengers a lengthy stay aboard a cruise ship that visits many different ports of call and many different countries and cultures.