Traveling by cruise ship offers convenience, variety, and value, resulting in a sharp uptick in demand for such experiences in recent years.
Travel agents expect to see increased sales of cruise vacations in 2016, with the
Cruise Lines International Association estimating 24 million cruise passengers, up from 23 million in 2015.
In response, cruise lines continue to expand their offerings. Emerging destinations for cruises include
Cuba and India's Ganges River, Cruise Critic noted.
Latest: What's Your Favorite Type of Vacation? Relaxing or Exploring?
Here are six of the world’s most popular cruise routes.
1. Caribbean — The Caribbean offers countless opportunities for travelers looking for an island vacation. In 2015, 239 ships had
Caribbean itineraries, according to Cruise Critic. The glut of ships keeps prices low for travelers looking for a bargain. Routes are divided by eastern, southern, and western options, and offer stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, and Barbados, among
other destinations, Cruiseline.com noted.
2. Alaska — Cruises to Alaska allow travelers to experience this
difficult-to-access region, TripAdvisor noted. Round-trip and one-way options are available from Seattle or Vancouver. Ports include Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, and excursions offer opportunities for whale watching, bear viewing, sled dog rides, helicopter flights and shopping.
3. Mediterranean — Mediterranean cruise vacations are packed with history and culture. Some of the best Mediterranean cruise ports include Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Istanbul; Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Italy; Santorini, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Venice, Italy; and
Villefranche-sur-Mer, Frommer’s noted.
Tell Us: What Part of the World Do You Like to Visit?
4. Mexico — A wide variety of exotic travel experiences await in Mexico, which has endured as a favorite cruise location for decades. Cruises are divided among the country’s Mexican Riviera on the west coast, its Mayan Riviera on the east coast, and itineraries in the
Sea of Cortez, the Travel Channel noted. Travelers may experience deep-sea fishing, swimming with dolphins, and bullfighting, among other excursions.
5. Hawaii — The eight major Hawaiian Islands can be explored via cruise ship, allowing travelers to experience the state’s cliffs, beaches, and volcano summits. Winter is the most popular time to
visit Hawaii, Cruise Critic noted, adding that whale-watching season runs from November to early May. Itineraries commonly include travel to the islands from California, Canada, or Mexico.
6. Asia — The number of cruises operating in Asia has risen in recent years, with 52 ships in 2015,
The Telegraph reported, citing Cruise Lines International Association data. During a 14-night cruise, travelers can tour Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia, and Thailand. A longer cruise offers stops in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Japan.
Vote Now: Should the Government Be Doing More to Promote Tourism in America?
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.