Top 10 Cruise and Stay Destinations
Of course, some places have so much to offer that you really need a few days to take it all in and that is where a cruise a stay getaway comes into its own.
The great news for fans of cruising is that many of the world most popular holiday destinations are also turnaround ports that allow you to spend time before or after your holiday exploring and enjoying all that is on offer.
For this list, we have considered lots of things including the range of cruises on offer, what is on offer in the destination itself, the ease of getting there and our own personnel thoughts on the destination.
Our Top 10 Cruise and Stay Destinations
Barcelona
Barcelona is one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations and it is also one of the region’s leading cruise ports, so if you mix them 2 facts and you have our top choice for a cruise and stay destination.
The city is also well connected to the world via its international airport that welcomes millions of visitors each year to take in the sights such as the Sagrada Familia, the Barri Gotic, the Casa Batllo, the Magic Fountain and the Camp Nou, amongst many many other attractions and experiences.
From a cruise point of view, Barcelona is one of the world’s largest cruise ports so there is lots of options all year around with trips around the Western Mediterranean, to the Eastern Med, to the Canaries and even across the Atlantic to Florida and the Caribbean amongst the most popular.
Miami
Florida is often considered as the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’ and whilst that could be argued, it is certainly one of the busiest regions for the industry and leading the way, is the port of Miami.
Many of the world’s biggest and newest ships based themselves in the port to sail around the Caribbean and whilst there are lots of other ports to choose from to visit that region, Miami would be our choice for a cruise and stay getaway.
Miami is different to all other major American cities as it doesn’t really feel like you are in the US but that you are in Cuba.
That is thanks to the sunny weather, the colourful houses, the fact Spanish is more spoken than English all gives the city a Hispanic feel whilst a visit to little Havana transports you to the heart of Havana.
Rome
The Italian capital city of Rome needs no introduction as a tourist destination as millions of visitor’s head there each year to take in its numerous historical sites.
The cities cruise port at Civitavecchia is also one of the leading cruise ports in Europe and offer slots of choices for holidaymakers wanting to add a cruise to their visit to the eternal city with the likes of the Western Med, the Eastern Med, the Greek Islands and even the Middle East all offered by numerous cruise lines.
New York
Start spreading the news…. New York can not only be a great place to visit to take in the sites, enjoy some shopping and see a show, but you can also do all of that and then set sail on a great cruise holiday.
Itineraries setting sail from either New York or New Jersey includes trips north to Canada or Greenland, trips south to the Caribbean and of course the iconic New York to Europe transatlantics.
Athens
The Greek capital is full of history and culture and is well worth visiting but from a holidaying point of view, it is relatively small and easy to explore in a few days and that makes it ideal for a cruise and stay destination.
The nearby port of Piraeus offers a wide range of cruse itineraries with the likes of cruises around the Greek Islands, to the Adriatic Sea, to the Black Sea and even to the Middle East all offered.
Vancouver, Canada
If you would like to head to Alaska on a cruise, you have 2 main options for where to start your getaway, with the first been Seattle and the second been Vancouver.
Whilst we love Seattle, and it is certainly an option to consider, by starting your holiday in the Canadian city of Vancouver, you already feel like you are in Alaska.
That is because Vancouver is surrounded by beautiful mountains, has a stunning waterfront and it is easy to see the local wildlife despite it been a major city offering a blended culture from across the world and many must do attractions.
Sydney
If you are wanting to enjoy a cruise in Australia and New Zealand, the chances are that you will have a long-haul flight to get there.
To make sure that you can make the most of your time at sea, we would recommend adding a few days holiday before you set sail to allow you to acclimatise to the conditions ad to get over any jetlag.
Thankfully there a few good options to do just that and have somewhere great to start your holiday including Sydney, which features many much see sights including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge whilst it is also the ‘home of Rugby League’, so why not take in a game?
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a massive city, but it is one that seems so familiar to us thanks to the seemingly never-ending list of movies that have been filmed there.
That attracts millions of visitors a year to see the more famous sites, visit the Hollywood sign and to take a walk down the Hollywood Stars, amongst many other attractions and must-see sights but few may think of the city as been a cruise port.
That is something that is changing however with numerous lines offering itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, to Hawaii and repositioning cruises including Pacific Coastals and Panama Canal trips.
Singapore
Singapore is simply a must visit destination if you love culture, nature, history or modern attractions as the city state offers it all and more.
The city features futuristic attractions, skyscrapers and a clean mass transportation network that sits side by side with historic shop houses and bumboats.
The garden city also features numerous places to enjoy the beautiful nature of south-east Asia, with even a traditional park taken into the future at the wonderful Gardens by the Bay.
Singapore has also recently invested in an ultra-modern cruise terminal where you can visit places such as Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and even Australia.
Dubai
Dubai has quickly developed into a leading holiday destination, and it has an airport that connects to most parts of the world, but it is perhaps lacking in terms of offering enough to enjoy for a long stay there.
That makes it a great choice for a cruise and stay destination as you can take in all that is on offer before or after your cruse and add a cruise of the Middle East, to Asia or even through the Suez Canal to Europe.
