Cruise Vacation

The smell of the sea. Teak decking. Rich wood interiors. Artwork from across time and around the world. Intimate surroundings. Gourmet cuisine, with attention to your taste and palette, and an extensive wine list. Get up early. Sleep late. Exercise, or find a new dimension in relaxation in the onboard spa.

These elements alone are enough the lure the most timid onto an island cruise. But add in beautiful sands, in shades of brilliant white to jet black, seas in shades of blue that one must feel to understand, and the embrace of the sun and it is impossible to resist an island ship cruise.

Ports like Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Martin, and St. Thomas sound heavenly. The lure of cruising Greek islands, like Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Corfu, Lefkada, Akynthos, and Aegina call with an accent that speaks of flavors and scents both ancient and modern. The Roman port in Sicily beckons to the island cruiser.

Ocean Fronts in Your Own Backyard

Island cruising closer to home is another option for the American traveler. Island cruises travel from the southern United States throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. Southern California is another jumping-off point, with cruises to nearby Catalina Island as well as the Hawaiian Islands.

Maybe you’re looking for something a little different. Cruises that follows the coast to Alaska offers the adventurous the chance to experience the rugged frontier of Alaska firsthand from the safety and comfort of the ship. Another local favorite are Channel Island cruises, as well as cruises out of Washington State through the San Juan Islands.

Shore excursions and water sports make every island destination an experience in itself. Often, water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking and excursion boats supplement the opportunities to swim and sun on beautiful shores.

No matter how you look at it, island cruises offer a unique opportunity for anyone that needs to stay close to home, but wants to relax in the comfortable beauty offered only by a cruise destination that can be as close as your own backyard.

Beaches of Greater Distance

More exotic trips such as a Fiji island cruise abound. The western islands of Scotland beckon travelers between the weather-friendly months of March to November. Other destinations include the warm waters of the Mediterranean, including Greek, Italian, Croatian and Sicilian islands. Malta is another popular destination as is Cyprus in the beautiful sea.

A dramatic experience off the beaten path awaits adventure travelers who take island cruises to Africa. Smaller, more intimate cruise ships sail to Southern Africa via Cape Verde, Ascension and St Helens Islands.

Across the Atlantic, island cruise ships traverse the Tierra de Fuego region and Argentina’s southern tip. An arctic parka is standard issue on these adventures.

The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador offer another sort of island cruise vacation experience. Sea turtles and other flora and fauna unique to these islands transport the traveler to another world.

Australia, a huge island in itself, offers its own versions of cruises to local destinations, such as Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Ah, if only one had two lives; one to work and vote and carry out responsibilities, and the other to take island Caribbean cruises!