Destination Guides

Quality cruise booking recommendations and cruise destinations in the North Seas by cruisebooking.com

Quality cruise destinations in the Indian Ocean today: On a Southern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, you’ll spend two relaxing days at sea before arriving in Oranjestad, Aruba. Spend a day swimming in the refreshing ocean at Aruba’s Eagle Beach and enjoying a good book on its long stretch of white sand. End the day by boarding a wooden catamaran and sailing off to Aruba’s western coast, where you and your partner can sip on hand-crafted cocktails while admiring the pink, violet, and golden colors of the sunset. From there, you’ll sail to Willemstad, Curacao, a charming port city with pastel-colored coastal buildings and beautiful beaches. Board an open-air bus and tour the Dutch island’s wildlife, salt flats, and stop and take a photo posing with a pack of bright pink flamingos. Find additional details at booking cruises.

This region’s annual springtime spectacle takes place from mid-March to mid-May, with the tulips usually at their peak in mid-April. That’s the best time to hop on a river cruise and travel the canals of Amsterdam and Bruges to see these beautiful European cities and quintessential windmills in the scenic countryside. Cruisers can soak in endless displays of the colorful famed flower of the Netherlands, particularly at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Sail with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection for its 10-day, all-inclusive Tulip and Windmill Cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp, Belgium. Or, opt for a luxury Crystal Cruises river boat for a weeklong Blooming Tulip voyage, roundtrip from Amsterdam.

Explore this wondrous part of the world on a cruise of your choosing. From Ho Chi Minh City and the 1,000-year-old capital of Hanoi in Vietnam to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, a cruise through Southeast Asia affords the opportunity to experience the region’s culture, sights and cuisine in a single trip. Several river cruise lines offer itineraries to these legendary destinations along the Mekong River, including Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways. You’ll also find Southeast Asia sailings to destinations like Singapore and Bangkok with larger cruise lines like Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line.

Croatia is a firm favourite European destination for anyone looking for a sailing holiday. This country consists of many picture-perfect islands, historic towns, and wonderful local culture. Croatia is full of natural beauty and is an easily accessible country for sailing around. Some of the top cruising destinations for a holiday in Croatia include Dubrovnik, Split, Kornati, Zadar, and Hvar. There are also smaller islands, like Vis and Korcula that offer incredible experiences. The warm weather, stunning views, outstanding Mediterranean cuisine, and warm hospitality make Italy an excellent yacht charter cruise destination, so you are going to love it, whether you prefer cabin charters or private cruises. Here a few ideas on sailing trips in Italy: Explore south Sardinia’s dreamy beaches and sail past the colorful villages of the rocky Amalfi Coast. Nestled at the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is Europe’s holiday hotspot.

And remember, before or after staying in Ibiza, take the chance and spare some days for a visit to Spain’s mainland cities. Ibiza offers several daily flight connections with Madrid and Barcelona, just 40min away from the latest. Bachelors and singles will enjoy big city life, with good nightlife, shopping, restaurants and fun experiences. Couples and honeymooners may like to extend the trip and immerse in Spanish culture and heritage. Start with Barcelona and continue afterwards to the south, where charming Andalusian cities are waiting with incredible monuments and cosy old towns. Madrid can be the departure city, easily connected from Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga by fast train. Families may prefer to extend the stay in the fantastic beach resorts and end with a short visit to main capitals before heading back home. Cala Xuclá is one of the smallest and most secluded beaches on Ibiza. You won’t find flashy beach bars, washrooms or watersports in this tiny cove, which backs onto a dense and aromatic pine forest instead of a busy promenade. Fishermen still store their boats in little enclaves carved into the pink and red rocks that surround the beach, providing a rustic contrast to the fancy vessels seen moored off Ibiza’s more mainstream beaches. The underwater landscapes at Xuclá are just as rugged as its countryside, making it excellent for snorkelling. Whether you have been to heavenly destinations such as Greek Islands, the French Riviera, and Amalfi Coast before or not, these beautiful sailing spots in the Mediterranean will call you to come back over and over again. So, why not indulge in the opportunity to discover hidden natural gems, new local dishes, traditions, and people each time you visit the Mediterranean? Here are a few useful sailing yacht cruise tips to help you plan your unforgettable summer holiday in Europe’s fanciest location.

The Aeolian Islands are also commonly known as the Lipari Islands. They lie Northwest off the coast of Sicily and are of volcanic origin. Their geographical nature is extraordinary and sailing between the island visitors can take in the amazing rock formations, see black sand beaches and live volcanoes. Marina di Portorosa is ideally positioned for exploring the Aeolian Islands, and is easily accessible from both Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and Messina.

Croatia is a travel destination that is definitely having a ‘moment.’ Hailed as everything from the ‘new Greece’ to the ‘new Riviera’, this part of Europe offers beautiful beaches and a traditional way of life. There are no fewer than 1185 islands along the crystalline Adriatic coast, and one of the best ways to explore them is by boat. Head off from the historic cities of Split and Dubrovnik and make sure you include the upmarket island of Hvar, timeless Vis island and the more remote islands of Kornati or Elafiti. Expect traditional fishing villages, beautiful sun-soaked beaches and a plethora of attractive hidden coves.

From April to October, Sicily enjoys one long Mediterranean summer, which means low rainfall, northwesterly breezes, and temperatures hitting 30C (86F) in July and August. It rarely gets hotter at sea. Winds pick up in mid-summer to a regular 10 knots and frequently tail off each evening. Novice sailors should avoid the far windier Straits of Messina between Sicily and mainland Italy. Especially as there’s so much to see in northern Sicily and the Aeolian islands. Sicily has two equally busy airports. Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino is a 30-minute cab ride to Palermo’s marinas via the ritzy seaside resort of Mondello. Aeroporto di Catania–Fontanarossa sits under the shadow of Mount Etna in eastern Sicily, serving the northeastern marinas closest to the Aeolian islands. Read more details on https://www.cruisebooking.com/.

One of our favourite things about a cruise is that you can visit multiple bucket-list destinations in one holiday and discover new treasures on your way. The best cruises let you explore places which are difficult to reach on foot, like some of Scotland’s most remote islands and Greece’s hidden coves. They also open up spectacular views you wouldn’t get on land, such as picturesque fairytale castles dotted along the Garonne, Dordogne, and Gironde Rivers or the whitewashed seaside towns of the Greek Cyclades. Choosing a cruise means seeking new adventures, perhaps travelling to a continent you’ve never set foot in before or trying new activities like hiking, wildlife spotting or cooking. There are also other ways to expand your horizons on a cruise, such as seeing some local entertainment or making new friends on board.

Ready to book your next — or first — cruise and not sure whether booking online would be too big of an undertaking? You’re not alone. Though the vast majority of travellers book their trips through online booking services and even via their phones, cruise travel is a different animal altogether. It can be a lot trickier to choose a ship, cabin type and dinner seating arrangements than it is to simply click a button and book a hotel room. But armed with the right information, booking a cruise online could be an ideal option for many travellers.