Boarding a cruise ship is the perfect way to turn boring travel time between destinations into an exciting part of your vacation. Certain places are actually better to visit by ship. It might be that traveling by land would be more difficult or more expensive, or it could be that you'll see more from a cruise ship and get there in the lap of luxury. Here are six vacation destinations that are way better via cruise ship.
1. Lisbon, Portugal
A transatlantic cruise from the U.S. to Lisbon is an unforgettable experience. Usually lasting around two weeks, you can spend several days at sea enjoying everything that the cruise ship has to offer onboard. Once you arrive, there's a port in the Alfama district of Lisbon. Alfama offers inexpensive tours through the streets of the old city with designated stops at the most interesting sights. If you get there via cruise ship, you can avoid carrying your luggage up steep hills on cobbled streets and just enjoy a coffee and a Portuguese custard tart, pastéis de nata, in a cafe by the coast.
2. Egypt
If you've ever considered taking a trip to see the ancient monuments and ruins of Egypt, there is more than one way to do it. The Nile flows from south to north, and cruise ships can travel along the coast, stopping at ports in all the major travel destinations. Ancient Egypt was built along the Nile, and from the comfort of a luxury Nile cruise ship, you can see The Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Edfu, and Cairo to name a few.
Skip the hassle of finding a place to stay at each destination and take a cruise.
3. Ecuador's Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a biologically magical area with beautiful beaches and unique experiences. The islands, being 600 miles from the mainland, do have several hotels, but staying there can limit your experience and be rather costly. Traveling via cruise means that you spend more time enjoying the islands and less time planning. Cruise Lines typically offer trained guides to take you to the best locations allowing you to see more spots than you would if you were staying on the islands.
4. Antarctica
The best way to see all that Antarctica has to offer is to travel along the coast by ship. If you're looking for an easier trip, avoiding the Drake Passage, you can choose to fly in and board a cruise from there to travel around and take in the animal and marine life. To get the most out of the trip, look for plans that have options for exploring the land by foot. Plan your trip wisely, and you'll be able to see the likes of penguins, polar bears and stunning ice caps, all from a safe distance of course.
5. St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg is a destination city rich in history and architectural beauty. Seeing sights such as the multicolored Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood can be difficult because the process of getting a visa to visit Russia is often tedious. You can skip the hassle by taking a cruise with a three-day stop in the city. Cruisers porting for short periods and only touring through do not require passengers to get visas.
6. Cuba
Cuba only recently opened up to visitors from the U.S. Years of economic isolation have left the island feeling like a trip back in time for outsiders. Traveling within the country's road system can be difficult and limiting, but there are cruise ship ports that will take you to the most popular destinations, such as Havana and Santiago. With the opening of the borders to travelers, the cost of accommodations on the island has also increased exponentially. Traveling via cruise ship is easier and less expensive.
If you want to cover a larger area and see more cities and sights without the hassle of booking multiple accommodations, a cruise is your best option. Sometimes you can get the most out of a vacation by letting someone else create your itinerary. Cruise Lines give you options and can introduce you to sights you might not have known existed.