Top 5 Destinations Best Explored by Cruise
Some destinations are best reached and best understood from the water. Whether it’s remote wilderness, rare wildlife, or sheer engineering brilliance, these extraordinary places reveal their true magic when experienced by cruising.
Here are 5 personal recommendations of bucket list destinations that are best experienced from the water.
1. The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
If wildlife and nature are your happy place, the Galápagos should be right at the top of your list and the best way to experience this incredible ecosystem is by cruising between the islands – just like Darwin did.
Each stop reveals something new: giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos hawks and sea lions lounging on the sand. Encounter wildlife up close, perhaps by kayak, snorkelling, diving or on foot. This is definitely one of those trips where every day feels like a nature documentary.
2. The Ross Sea, Antarctica
One of the most remote and pristine places on the planet, the Ross Sea is accessible only by ice-strengthened expedition vessels.
Departing from New Zealand, your journey south includes a stop at Macquarie Island – home to 3.5 million breeding seabirds, four penguin species, and the world’s largest population of elephant seals. Continue on to East Antarctica to visit Commonwealth Bay and Mawson’s Main Base, steeped in heroic exploration history. This is a voyage for true adventurers – raw, wild, and unforgettable.
3. The Kimberley Coast, Western Australia
The Kimberley’s rugged beauty is best appreciated from the deck of an expedition ship. With no road access to its most dramatic regions, cruising lets you uncover ancient cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, and remote natural harbours that few ever see.
It’s Australia’s wild frontier – vast, untamed, and breathtakingly beautiful.
4. The Amazon River, South America
The Amazon, often called the “lungs of the Earth” spans eight countries and teems with an abundance of wildlife. Cruising its mighty river brings you deep into the rainforest, where every bend reveals something new. Try your hand at piranha fishing, join guided jungle walks, and spot three-toed sloths, macaws, capuchin monkeys, and perhaps even an anaconda (from a safe distance!).
This is an adventure for the senses – humid, alive, and endlessly fascinating.
5. The Panama Canal
A triumph of human ingenuity, the Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through a series of ingenious locks. Completed in 1914, it transformed global trade by eliminating the need to sail around Cape Horn – a detour of 15,000 kilometres.
Sailing through the canal yourself is a journey through history and innovation, as your ship rises and falls between oceans in one of the world’s greatest maritime feats.
If this has inspired you to step off the land and explore by water, reach out to me, I’d love to help you find your next unforgettable journey.
