Cruising is booming around the world. But there are now so many places welcoming cruise ships it can be overwhelming to narrow down where to cruise. 9Travel has put together an ultimate bucket list of money-is-no-option cruise destinations to inspire.
Read on for our ten favourites. For the ultimate Euro Summer, hop on a Med cruise. With multiple companies to choose from and departure ports including Rome, Barcelona and Athens, it's an easy way to tick off multiple countries while only unpacking once.
Sailing through the spectacular Fjords of Norway is a dream trip. There are various ways to do it, including sailing from Southampton in the UK. It's a classic must-do, sailing in the Caribbean.
Visit colourful islands and exotic beaches on a dream tropical trip. You can cruise on a round trip from Florida, and with so many options there is a ship for every budget. An Antarctica cruise is certainly a pricey bucket list item to have.
There are different options though- some ships just sail past the frozen continent, while more indulgent trips take you closer to the land, and wildlife, on Zodiac boats. Cargo-come-cruise ship Aranui 5 is small enough to get around the exotic South Pacific islands. Sailing from Tahiti it offers 12 day jaunts to some of the most isolated spots in the world, including the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.
The shop has just over 100 cabins - as well as some shared dormitories. The isolated American state is a land of glaciers, epic scenery and wildlife. Alaska cruise depart from Seattle in the USA or Vancouver in Canada and start at a week in length.
Read about what it's like on an Alaska cruise here. Sailing in or out of the spectacular Sydney Harbour is a must for many cruisers. We are lucky to have the prime spot on our doorstep.
Head on a cruise to the South Pacific, New Zealand, or even a long weekend to Queensland. Swap the ocean for a river by joining a river cruise with a firm such a Scenic. Much smaller ships allow you to visit destinations along routes such as the Mekong in Vietnam, or the Rhine in Europe.
Sailing through the Panama Canal is a feat only certain ships can do, because of their size. The feat of engineering connects the Caribbean to the Pacific. Typical cruises which include a squeeze though the canal go from Florida to the US west coast, or vice versa.
The cruises also visit destinations in Central and South America. Sailing from New York to Southampton or vice versa on a Cunard ship is on many people's wish lists. Called a crossing and not a cruise, it takes seven days.
As you cross date lines, you change your watch by an hour each evening before going to bed. The ship even has capacity for dogs. The highly sought-after kennels are on their own deck, and the ship is equipped with both UK and US fire hydrants to cock their leg against.
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