Awesome cruise booking recommendations and cruise destinations in the Pacific Ocean by CruiseBooking: After sailing for a day, you’ll dock in La Spezia, a Tuscan port city located near Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre, a picturesque collection of five seaside fishing villages. Art lovers might decide to head to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, and the home of David’s Michelangelo and masterpieces by Da Vinci, Botticelli, and more inside the Uffizi Gallery. If you and your partner are foodies, take a trip to the village of Lari, where you’ll visit an artisanal pasta producer and enjoy a four-course farm-to-table Tuscan lunch at a vineyard and farmhouse. If you’re into architecture, you can’t go wrong with a day-long excursion around the historical centers of Lucca and Pisa, where you can explore expansive piazzas and have fun taking a couple’s shot in front of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Find more details on cruise bookings.
With world-class museums, shops and dining, Paris is enchanting year-round. After enjoying a few days in the City of Light, set sail for a weeklong cruise on the Seine River with views of the Eiffel Tower as you cast away. Stop in picturesque Giverny and admire Impressionist artist Claude Monet’s house and gardens in full bloom. Afterward, visit the Normandy beaches where Allied soldiers landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Avalon Waterways offers eight-day cruises for this itinerary on several dates, all of which offer stunning river views, historical ports and endless French wine and cheese. Viking Cruises offers a similar itinerary as well.
Chris Owen, a travel writer who specializes in cruising, has seen a variety of iconic ports of call come into focus from the balcony of a cruise ship stateroom. One of his top recommendations for the cruise of a lifetime is Alaska, especially for multigenerational groups. He says it’s worthwhile for every American to visit this special place in the northern territory. While Holland America Line and Princess Cruises dominate the market, other large lines offer itineraries to Alaska as well, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises. What’s more, deals on Alaska cruises are available throughout the sailing season, which spans from May to September.
If you are planning a summer holiday in Europe, then it doesn’t get much better than a sailing trip around the continent’s pristine coastlines. There are plenty of destinations here that offer unspoiled beaches, quiet islands, sparkling blue waters and the prettiest port towns that you could imagine. So pack your sailing gear, pick a destination, and get out there! Sailing around Greece is the kind of holiday that everyone fantasises about – so why not make it a reality? Whichever destination you choose from the list above will be sure to provide an exciting and completely unforgettable experience. As one of the countries with the longest Mediterranean coastlines and countless sailing spots and hidden gems, Italy is one of the top sailing destinations in the Mediterranean. This beautiful European country is home to some of the most popular Mediterranean destinations such as Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Sardinia.
Honeymooners and couples can relax in Ibiza’s crystal-clear waters, enjoy unforgettable sunsets, explore its natural beauty spots, taste local renowned cuisine and have fun in an evening out at one of the famous nightclubs and bars. During the day, try one of the diverse leisure activities: visit a hippie market, book a day boat tour to famous Formentera, go on-board and try a diving experience, join a tour and discover the island by Vespa bike, visit a farm-house and learn how to produce traditional herb liquor and artisan soap … Situated next door to Saladeta, just a 20-minute drive out of San Antoni, is Cala Salda, one of the most visited beaches in this part of Ibiza. It’s more rocky than sandy, but the waters are so beautiful that no one is put off by this: indeed, Salada gives you a feeling of being in some remote tropical paradise rather than just a few kilometres from one of Ibiza’s largest towns. Its superb location, the tranquility of the bathing and the clarity of underwater vision for snorkellers mean this should be on the itinerary of every beach junkie visiting Ibiza. Why the Mediterranean? The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Africa, and it is almost entirely surrounded by the land of the Mediterranean Basin. The Mediterranean is known as one of the world’s finest travel destinations, that invites you to set on an unforgettable journey and sail the coastlines of some of the twenty-one Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s most popular summer destinations and hot spots for sailing due to its pleasant climate, turquoise sea, ancient ruins, famous Mediterranean food, and stunning architecture.
The sailing season in Sicily begins in April and ends in October. Sicily has a typically Mediterranean climate, the summers are hot and dry and the winters are mild and wet. The average temperature in coastal areas is around 26 °C in summer and 10 °C in winter. In temperatures inland are slightly cooler. Due to the Scirocco, a hot desert wind, Southern Sicily can reach over 40 °C during the summer months and there is almost no rain at this time. From June onwards the water temperatures are between 25 and 28 °C, and the waters around the island belong to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
This is a much more touristy option but the Balearics still make a beautiful European sailing destination, and you can avoid the crowds if you know-how. The cluster of Spanish islands include Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera; all major holiday spots known for their sun-drenched beaches and sparkling blue waters. Also include a few stops to the pretty, unspoilt towns of Deia in Mallorca and the secluded Ibizan bay of Cala Llentrisca.
Mondello is an overgrown fishing village flipped into a 19th-century Liberty resort for Palermo’s elite. Imagine Nice, served with a frutti di mare side. A wide arc of beach is backed by more foodie treats. Like mobile carts selling lemon granitas and arancina (fried rice balls). Alicudi is the Sicilian island that Instagram forgot. Irregular ferries and passing yachts call ciaoto the island’s 100 inhabitants. Islanders share a pastoral diet of wild figs and prickly pears served alongside a sustainable daily catch. That’s good news, because this tiny island has no shops, no ATM and no problems. Find more details at cruisebooking.com.
Spain’s northern coastline is well-known for its verdant landscapes, fine cuisine, modern cities and picturesque villages along its vast, golden beaches. It’s also packed with art and architecture, making it a great cruise destination for lovers of culture. From the Biscay town of Getxo, with its UNESCO-listed Vizcaya Bridge, to the Basque capital Bilbao, with its world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, there are gems to discover at every port. You’ll start in Getxo before heading to Bilbao and on to the magnificent city of La Coruña in Galicia, where you can wander between the medieval old town and the more modern districts to see the architectural contrasts.
Know what you want: Experienced cruisers have a bit of an advantage when it comes to booking a cruise online since they’re likely already familiar with cruise lines, ships, cabins, onboard features, etc., so making selections could be as simple as clicking a button. But if you’re new to cruising or you’re looking to try a new cruise line, destination or cabin type, you’ll want to make sure to do plenty of research before fiddling with an online booking site, or you could wind up confused and overwhelmed by a process that should simplify the travel booking experience.