Top 10 Emerging Cruise Destinations to Explore in 2024
For the purposes of this list, we are including those destinations that attracting more cruise lines than ever by investing in new facilities, that have seen a huge increase in popularity or ones that we feel are wrongly overlooked.
Several of the destinations on this list have been destinations where only small ships, such as expeditions ships, have visited in the past but that have now opened to mainstream lines and therefore making them more accessible to regular cruisers.
So, if you are wanting to try a new destination in 2024, are looking for inspiration for your next cruise no matter when it is or of you are simply curious as to what is on offer to cruisers, this is the list for you.
Our Top 10 Emerging Cruise Destinations to Explore in 2024
Middle East
For some time now the Middle East has become a popular holiday destination for those wanting to enjoy the history and culture of the region, the ultra-modern cities or for those wanting to take advantage of its incredible worldwide links thanks to several major airlines been based there.
It also offers year around sun, little rain and plenty of great attractions, resorts and more but what has happened more recently is the region developing as a top cruise destination.
Not only do multiple lines now offer itineraries cruising around the region but there are also many ships homeporting in the region at incredible ports such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Aqaba near the ancient city of Petra.
Australia
Australia has long been an established country in terms of cruising, but it is also somewhere where many of us haven’t been able to visit for the past few years.
Australia is now open again and re-emerging as a top destination to visit so if a trip ‘down under’ has been on your bucket list for some time, why not take the plunge and head there in 2024.
New Zealand
New Zealand is another country that is a place people dream of going to but haven’t been able to recently but once again it is a country that is open for visitors.
You can start your cruise in either Sydney or Auckland and then sail around the 2 main islands that make up the country which lets you explore all that is on offer including great cities, beautiful scenery and of course the incredible New Zealand fjords.
Red Sea
If you were to ask 100 people about the Red Sea and cruising in it, I am sure that the majority would talk about the Suez Canal and sailing between Europe and Asia, but there is so much more to the Red Sea region, including many ports of call for cruisers.
It has long been a popular destination for those looking for a cheap sun and sand getaway with Sharm El Sheikh leading the way.
For those looking to cruise in the region, ports such as Aqaba in Jordan that offers access to the ancient city of Petra, Salahah and Muscat in Oman as well as the aforementioned Sharm El Sheikh all welcoming a range of cruise lines.
Southern Africa
If you have sailed around the Mediterranean, you may have called into a North African country or if you have sailed to the Canaries, you may have called into Morocco but African countries further south than that have often gone overlooked.
That is quite a shame as there is just so much on offer including vibrant local cultures, incredible wildlife, great scenery and bustling cities but what makes the region a great place to visit in 2024 is the growing number of itineraries sailing there and the variety of ships based there.
Cape Town in South Africa is the leading turnaround port in the region and in our opinion, one of the best ports of call in the world thanks to its scenery, access to safaris and world class attractions but there are also several other ports where you can start or end your journey.
These include the island resorts of Port Louis (Mauritius) and Mahe (Seychelles) whilst Madagascar, Mozambique, Reunion, Comoros and Kenya amongst other countries that are on itineraries sailing around Southern Africa.
Türkiye/Turkey
If you have sailed around the Greek Isles or in the Eastern Mediterranean, there is a chance that you have visited either Istanbul or Ephesus in Türkiye as it has long been a popular country to visit for ships sailing in the region.
What makes the country a great fit for this list is its leading tourist city of Istanbul, which is of course known for been split across Europe and Asia but from a cruising point of view, is its investment in a massive new terminal facility that makes it a makes it somewhere great to visit in 2024.
Not only do many ships now visit there as a port of call, many now also offer overnight stays to really make the most of your time there.
India
India is now starting to enjoy a boom in the cruise industry with not only a growing number of itineraries offered from the biggest cruise lines in the world but there are now also a number of home-grown lines.
For those wanting to visit the country, there are plenty of itineraries calling in there including sailing the spice route, between Southeast Asia and the Middle East and those on Indian Ocean sailings.
There are also a number of itineraries that start or end in the country’s leading cruise port of Mumbai, which allows you to add on a hotel stay and spend time in the country.
Islands of Scotland
British Isles cruises are growing in popularity, with not only ships based in the UK sailing around British shores but many ships now sail around the British Isles from Europe.
As well as visiting the great destinations on the mainland, itineraries are now visiting more and more smaller Islands including those off the coast of Scotland.
The likes of the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands and the Isle of Lewis can all be easily visited and with more and more cruisers wanting to visit quieter, out of the way places away from crowds, the Scottish Islands make for a great option in 2024.
Galapagos Islands
With so many people looking to head to dream destinations in 2024 after seeing what it is like to not be able to head out on holiday, there is one place that constantly features on the top of many bucket list and that is visiting the incredible Galapagos Islands.
Famed for its unique flora and native wildlife, the islands are one of the cruise destinations in the world that can proclaim to be unlike anywhere else in the world and that is what makes it somewhere people want to visit.
After been shut off from the world, the islands are open once more and with the likes of Celebrity cruises making it easier than ever to visit, why not make a Galapagos Islands cruise your getaway in 2024?
Cornwall
Cornwall has long been a popular holiday destination for Brits looking to enjoy the incredible scenery of the county on a staycation.
For those wanting to enjoy a traditional British holiday on a cruise can now take advantage of the port of Falmouth’s investment in its cruise berth and anchorage.
