Top 10 Most Scenic Cruise Locations in the World
Cruisers tend to have their favourite type of destinations to visit, with some loving sun soaked islands to spend the day at the beach, some loving cities full of history and culture and some loving places with incredible natural beauty.
In this list we take a look at what we consider to be amongst the most scenic places to enjoy a cruise holiday but just what is classed as scenic can be different from one person to the next.
For some cruisers it will be the thought of sailing past mountains and waterfalls that comes to mind when you think about scenic destinations, for some it will sailing past rainforests whilst for others it will be sailing past island chains or even metropolises full of skyscrapers.
For us, the natural beauty of a destination is certainly what comes instantly to mind but there can be no denying the beauty of some man-made sights, and for us, that variety is just what makes cruising so great.
Our Top 10 Most Scenic Cruise Locations in the World
Inside Passage (Alaska)
The Alaskan inside passage will leave you in awe and you sail past huge mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and seemingly never-ending rainforest leaving you to be left inspired by the incredible vastness all around you.
The whole area offers the opportunity to see lots of wildlife, from whales to eagles easily spotted from onboard your cruise ship.
On a cruise to Alaska, you will find yourself constantly looking out from your ship and losing track of time as you become mesmerised by its natural beauty.
Norwegian Fjords
A Norwegian fjords cruise is one of the most popular in the world and that is for good reason.
The whole of the west coast of Norway is simply stunning but that gets ratchet up a level when you enter one of the country’s fjords.
Some stretch for well over 100 miles and allow you to sail for hours within metres of mountains, waterfalls and glaciers.
Galapagos Islands
The remoteness of the Galapagos Islands makes these volcanic islands breath-taking, despite not having the same level of natural beauty of many of the destinations featured on this list.
What makes them standout and feature so highly on this list is the incredible wildlife that visitors to the Galapagos Islands can see and even get up close to.
The seas are full of life and once on land, you can see many species that just cannot be experienced anywhere else on world.
Antarctica
Antarctica is one of those destinations that most will never get to experience at first hand and that is part of the charm of visiting there for many.
Just been on the continent is a feat in itself, but the rewards are well worth it and the otherworldly southern continent leaves you in awe in every direction you look.
Met by a wall of white, visitors cannot tell if they are looking a few metres or 100’s of kilometre and mountains seemingly appear out of nowhere.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a land full of contrasts, from its mountainous centre to the cities on its coasts and whilst most of the country is known for its natural beauty, it is the magnificent Milford Sound that stands out on a cruise holiday.
The Sound, known in the local Māori language as Piopiotahi, sits in the Fiordland National Park offers all you would expect from a fjord but with a vastness that is hard to comprehend without been there in person.
Greek Islands
The islands of Greece make for a great place to cruise as the weather is warm, the skies are clear and the distances between them is short to give you more time exploring.
The region is well known for its history and culture but what often gets overlooked are the Greek Isles natural beauty which is especially true as you arrive at Santorini with its bright white buildings sitting atop a huge cliff.
Cape Town
The southern coast of Africa is well known for its rugged coastline, but nowhere can that be better seen that your arrival into the port of Cape Town in South Africa.
The cities 7 hills create a unique landscape, but it is the vastness and uniqueness of Table Mountain lives long in your memory.
Prins Christians Sund (Prince Christian Sound)
The Prince Christian Sound in Greenland may not be an actual fjord but it does have all you would expect from one including been sided by steep mountains and featuring numerous waterfalls and glaciers.
As you enter the sound, the seemingly narrow entry into the channel will grab your attention, as will the numerous icebergs that you head straight towards.
As you spend the 7 hours or so sailing through the Sound, you will never fail to be impressed by its size, vastness and rugged beauty.
Panama Canal
No matter if you do the full length of the canal or just a partial transit, there is lots to see and enjoy on a cruise of the Panama Canal.
The man-made locks, bridges and the canal itself have their own type of beauty and are fascinating to see in person but it is the stunning natural beauty of the rainforests, lakes and mountains that you sail past that makes this such a scenic cruise to enjoy.
Patagonia
Patagonia, in the south of South America, is just a beautiful place to experience.
Full of history and culture, all of the ports you will visit in this part of the world are fascinating but it is as you sail through its fjords that will leave you breathless.
