Quality cruise destinations in the Indian Ocean: After sailing for a day, you’ll dock in La Spezia, a Tuscan port city located near Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre, a picturesque collection of five seaside fishing villages. Art lovers might decide to head to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, and the home of David’s Michelangelo and masterpieces by Da Vinci, Botticelli, and more inside the Uffizi Gallery. If you and your partner are foodies, take a trip to the village of Lari, where you’ll visit an artisanal pasta producer and enjoy a four-course farm-to-table Tuscan lunch at a vineyard and farmhouse. If you’re into architecture, you can’t go wrong with a day-long excursion around the historical centers of Lucca and Pisa, where you can explore expansive piazzas and have fun taking a couple’s shot in front of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Find additional details on find a cruise.
For an unforgettable journey, carve out a few days in Cape Town, South Africa, then fly inland to Kasane, Botswana, where you’ll embark on the Zambezi Queen for a cruise along the Chobe River. This intimate, 28-passenger AmaWaterways ship features open views of the river and landscape through every window. Take a safari into Chobe National Park, which touts the largest population of wildlife in Africa. After admiring elephants, lions, zebra and gazelles, you’ll end your adventure at Victoria Falls. If a bigger ship is more your style, journey through six South African and Namibian ports over 12 days with Norwegian Cruise Line.
Chris Owen, a travel writer who specializes in cruising, has seen a variety of iconic ports of call come into focus from the balcony of a cruise ship stateroom. One of his top recommendations for the cruise of a lifetime is Alaska, especially for multigenerational groups. He says it’s worthwhile for every American to visit this special place in the northern territory. While Holland America Line and Princess Cruises dominate the market, other large lines offer itineraries to Alaska as well, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises. What’s more, deals on Alaska cruises are available throughout the sailing season, which spans from May to September.
Croatia is a firm favourite European destination for anyone looking for a sailing holiday. This country consists of many picture-perfect islands, historic towns, and wonderful local culture. Croatia is full of natural beauty and is an easily accessible country for sailing around. Some of the top cruising destinations for a holiday in Croatia include Dubrovnik, Split, Kornati, Zadar, and Hvar. There are also smaller islands, like Vis and Korcula that offer incredible experiences. Although the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic is still palpable, you can book your Mediterranean yacht cruise in 2021 with confidence. This year, most of us feel that we need time to relax from day-to-day stress and recharge our batteries more than ever.
When the day is over, a broad offer of hotels and accommodations will be waiting for you, from internationally prestigious establishments to good boutique hotels, from beach resorts offering all-inclusive services to cosy rural villas for those looking for a relaxing stay away from tourist spots. The Spanish island of Ibiza boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Whether you’re into snorkelling in isolated coves, bathing in waters that redefine the word turquoise, or hanging out with celebrities in famous beach bars, there’s something here for everyone. Read on for the ten best beaches on the White Island. The last year was a year we stayed at home. It was the year of coronavirus anxiety, canceled plans, and severe lifestyle changes. With 2020 finally behind us, many of us are hoping for our lives to get back to what we know as ‘normal’: the life without facemasks and fear of illness. Life with schools, offices, restaurants open, and social gatherings and travel plans as things to look forward to. If you cannot wait to pack up and go again, let us show you the destinations that will make you forget about your daily stresses. Start planning your Mediterranean yacht cruise in 2021 in some of Europe’s most secluded locations of blissful beauty. A summer sailing trip in the Mediterranean Sea is a dream vacation that can quickly come true.
Especially popular is the sea area between the northern coast of Sicily, Calabria and the Aeolian Islands. Sicily has an area of 25,426 km² and is the largest island belonging to Italy. It is separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina. In the north it is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the east by the Ionian Sea and in the east and southwest by the Strait of Sicily. Sicily has a largely mountainous landscape, and is the home of Mount Etna – the tallest, largest and most active volcano in Europe. The north and east coasts are made up of high cliffs with numerous bays and sandy beaches. Going south the land is flatter and the beaches become longer. The coastline measures a total length of 1152 km. The capital city of Sicily is Palermo, which lies on a bay on the north coast. The city has many historic attractions, important church buildings, palaces, squares and museums. Other major cities are Catania, Messina and Syracuse.
The Azores are a cluster of tiny Portuguese-owned islands located in the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanic islands are known for their lush green vegetation and dramatic lunar-esque landscapes and are perfect for exploring by boat (Horta is a good starting point). Their remote location means they are unspoilt by the tourist masses and if you’re lucky enough you’ll also get to see the odd whale or dolphin along the way.
From April to October, Sicily enjoys one long Mediterranean summer, which means low rainfall, northwesterly breezes, and temperatures hitting 30C (86F) in July and August. It rarely gets hotter at sea. Winds pick up in mid-summer to a regular 10 knots and frequently tail off each evening. Novice sailors should avoid the far windier Straits of Messina between Sicily and mainland Italy. Especially as there’s so much to see in northern Sicily and the Aeolian islands. Sicily has two equally busy airports. Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino is a 30-minute cab ride to Palermo’s marinas via the ritzy seaside resort of Mondello. Aeroporto di Catania–Fontanarossa sits under the shadow of Mount Etna in eastern Sicily, serving the northeastern marinas closest to the Aeolian islands. See extra info on https://www.cruisebooking.com/.
The idyllic rural scenery of the south of France has inspired painters including Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin with its landscapes of fairytale fortresses, terraced vineyards and fields of lavender and sunflowers. The glorious Rhône and Saône rivers run through several of France’s most enticing regions, making a river cruise one of the best ways to explore. On an eight-day cruise in March, you’ll sail these rivers to discover the history and gastronomy along their banks. You’ll enjoy the region’s incomparable wine and cuisine and discover its many treasures-from the medieval wonders of UNESCO-designated Avignon to Lyon’s lively river banks. Making the trip unique is the company of cricketing legend Ian Botham and chef Rosemary Shrager. Ian will join you for the whole week, including a visit to the Paul Jaboulet Aîné estate’s wine cellar, and Rosemary will give a live cooking demonstration.
Know what you want: Experienced cruisers have a bit of an advantage when it comes to booking a cruise online since they’re likely already familiar with cruise lines, ships, cabins, onboard features, etc., so making selections could be as simple as clicking a button. But if you’re new to cruising or you’re looking to try a new cruise line, destination or cabin type, you’ll want to make sure to do plenty of research before fiddling with an online booking site, or you could wind up confused and overwhelmed by a process that should simplify the travel booking experience.