Cruising Beyond The Ordinary

Isn’t It Time You Explored Cruising Beyond The Ordinary?

Usually the largest percentage of cruise itineraries focus on the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Australia adding up to over 70%.

Going beyond those cruises of the Hawaian Islands, California and Mecican coast, Caribbean, Alaska and the Panama Canal you’ll find cruise itineraries in the Pacific can include Japan, Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Galapagos and Somoa. The peak season usually focuses on the dry season from May to October, featuring temperatures around 70-80°F. You can book 7- to 14-day and longer itineraries starting around $1,000 per person, departing from hubs like Honolulu, Sydney, or Los Angeles with many being repositioning cruises.

A few of the major cruise lines serving those ports include Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, NCL, Holland America and P&O.

Going beyond the ordinary many major cruise companies offer African cruises that often include Cape Town as a departure port with its amazing scenery, Casa Blanca with its deserts and Moroccan culture, Cape Verde Islands for a completely different destination along with a number of Indian Ocean ports. Those Indian Ocean cruises offer a mix of amazing tropical beaches, exotic wildlife, and intrigueing cultures. Key destinations are the Maldives for diving and the famous overwater bungalows, Seychelles for granite rock formations and giant tortoises, Mauritius with waterfalls and coral reefs, Madagascar for lemurs and rainforests and Sri Lanka with ancient temples and wildlife.

Carnival Cruise Line offers itineraries that may include South Africa and the surrounding regions. Royal Caribbean International features cruises that explore various African destinations, including South Africa and nearby islands. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers cruises that may visit African ports, especially in the southern region. Holland America Line known for longer itineraries that may include several African destinations, particularly in the Cape Town area. Princess Cruises offers cruises that may include stops in Africa, focusing on scenic and cultural experiences. Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 and other ships may have itineraries that explore Africa, particularly during world cruises.

Popular destinations in Africa for cruises often include Cape Town with its Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Durban, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Mombasa, Kenya.

Explore Antarctica cruises for a truly new experience. Antarctic cruises are offered by several major cruise companies, like Celebrity and Viking starting at around $3,500 per person. Most cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, or Puerto Williams, Chile, and last 10 to 22 days. Options include Classic Peninsula (Paradise Bay) sailings, Fly-the-Drake routes, and extended South Georgia or Falkland Islands itineraries. For a Antarctica landing page from Celebrity Cruises click HERE

A cruise ship and expidetion boats in Ushuaia, Argentina

In addition to the large ships there are also what are known as expedition cruises like Quark Expeditions or AdventureSmith Explorations start at $15,000 per person. There are also Fly-and-Sail itineraries that will skip the rough two-day Drake Passage crossing by flying directly to King George Island from Punta Arenas, Chile. Packages like those with Antarctica21 start closer to $6,000 per person for 6-day trips. Extended Voyages: Include the Falklands and South Georgia, lasting 18–25 days are ideal for extensive wildlife viewing (thousands of penguins and marine mammals). These premium trips can actually start at $20,000+ per person through operators like National Geographic Expeditions.

Seasonality and When to Go

November to December: Early season featuring pristine snowscapes, massive icebergs, and courtship rituals for penguins.

January to February: Peak season for wildlife, when penguin chicks are active and whale watching is at its absolute best and it isn’t unusual to find temperatures in the upper 30’s F.

March: The end of the austral season, characterized by longer days, dramatic sunsets and massive whale congregations, but temperatures do begin dropping.

Additional “Cruising Beyond The Ordinar” itineraries can include ports in India, the South China Sea, South America and the North Atlantic. Many are really less expensive than you would think and often are part of what are known as repositioning cruises wher ethe cruise ships are moving to seasonal cruise areas.