5 Breathtaking Bucket List Cruises

Travelers are expected to go big when they finally leave home again. For cruisers, this can mean an itinerary to a very faraway place or an extended experience in an exciting destination. Let’s explore some of the new and most unique cruises around the world so you know who and where to recommend for cruise clients who are looking for what’s next.

1. An Ancient Experience on The Nile River

The Nile river is thought to be the longest river in the world (depending on who you ask; some people think the Amazon River is), and it is full of historic significance, which is why having the chance to cruise along it belongs on this bucket list of cruise experiences.

Spanning more than 4,000 miles and flowing through 11 African countries, the Nile is called the Father of African Rivers. Its banks were inhabited by people who were among the first of civilization to use a plow and establish agricultural practices. In 2013, it was designated as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

One of the best ways to see the Nile is on a river cruise. In September 2020, AmaWaterways announced a new river cruise experience in Egypt, the 11-night Secrets of Egypt & The Nile itinerary, scheduled to first set sail in September 2021 on the new AmaDahlia, AmaWaterways’ 25th river cruise ship. Cruisers first spend three pre-cruise nights in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, visiting the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx and more ancient Memphis sites. Next, they fly to Luxor to embark on the ship for seven days on the river, visiting landmarks older than anything we know in the U.S., like the ancient tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens; temples with restored and preserved hieroglyphs; and the Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious complexes in the world.

2. America from Head to Toe on The Mississippi River

Though the Mississippi River is not nearly as long as the Nile, it is one of the world’s major river systems in terms of size, habitat diversity and biological productivity. A cruise down this river is not only a relaxing way to see the U.S., but also a lesson on U.S. history more enticing than a round of Oregon Trail.

At 2,350 miles long, it’s the second-longest river in North America, flowing through 10 U.S. states. It’s considered a cultural treasure for the U.S. and a key part of the country’s commerce, as half of the corn and soybeans in the U.S. are barged on the river (in the part known as the Little Mississippi).

The river is not all work and no play, and cruisers can voyage the entire river from tip to tail with American Queen Voyages’ 16-day Minneapolis to New Orleans itinerary. Cruisers will embark on the American Countess, a paddlewheeler with an expansive panoramic view and four decks. The adventure winds down the river, stopping in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, with many opportunities for shore excursions to see the best of the cities on the river. Ending in New Orleans, cruisers can choose to spend extra time in the Big Easy.

3. A Polar Expedition In & Around Greenland

At 836,000 square miles (that’s three times the size of Texas), Greenland is the world’s largest island, and one of the most exhilarating ways to explore it is by boat.

More than four-fifths of Greenland is covered in an ice sheet; an ice sheet that is second in size to Antarctica’s. The Ilulissat Icefjord on the island’s west coast is known as the “iceberg capital of the world,” as it’s home to thousands of icebergs that can be seen year-round. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it’s legally protected by UNESCO to preserve its cultural, historical and scientific significance.

Ponant has a brand-new way for adventure lovers to experience Greenland: a 13-day Polar Odyssey between northeast Greenland and Spitsbergen. Aboard the first hybrid electric polar exploration ship, Le Commandant Charcot, cruisers will explore the island at the end of spring, when extreme conditions still remain and ice is abundant. They’ll visit the Northeast Greenland Park, the largest national park in the world and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Fjords, icebergs, glaciers, polar bears, musk oxen and walruses all await cruisers lucky enough to embark on this itinerary, which ends near Ny-Alesund, the international research base and former mining city, which was once the departure point for many expeditions to the north pole.

4. Master the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is considered one of the top tourism destinations in the world and while exploring it via train or even car are excellent options, choosing to cruise the region opens many more opportunities and experiences for travelers.

The region includes the Mediterranean Sea and seven Member States: France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. Its climate of hot, dry summers and humid, cool winters allows biodiversity to flourish on land and in the sea. In fact, it’s estimated that 8% to 9% of all the world’s marine creatures call the Mediterranean Sea home.

History buffs (or anyone, really) can call the Mediterranean Sea home too, on Viking Ocean Cruises’ new 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures itinerary that flows from Venice, Italy, to Istanbul. Cruisers will visit five countries: Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey, and explore ancient sites like Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games; the Acropolis of Athens; Ephesus, Turkey, one of the best-preserved cities of antiquity in the world; and ancient Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruisers will also have plenty of time to soak in the Mediterranean lifestyle with visits to the canals of Venice; the medieval streets of Old Town in Dubrovnik, Croatia; and the rich culture of Istanbul.

5. Expeditions in Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, least populated, highest, iciest and southernmost continent. And it’s definitely worth a once-in-a-lifetime visit, either via airplane or ship.

The continent of Antarctica is almost completely covered by an ice sheet and at 5.5 million square miles, that’s a lot of ice. Despite that, there are animals that live there like emperor penguins, Antarctic petrels (a species of bird), South Polar skuas (also a species of bird), fur seals and leopard seals. The waters off Antarctica see many species of whales like humpback, blue, sperm and orca.

The harsh environment of Antarctica does not welcome just any old cruise ship; only an expedition-style ship will do. Enter the Seabourn Venture, an ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition ship. Seabourn’s newest ship is scheduled for an all-new lineup of 2022-2023 Extraordinary Expedition itineraries in Antarctica and the Amazon. The nine Antarctica voyages range from 10 to 21 days and offer cruisers truly unique excursions on The Great White Continent. Excursions like an adventure on the ship’s two custom-built submarines that take cruisers below sea level to explore what lies beneath. Two of the Extraordinary Expedition itineraries will head to South Georgia, one of the most remote and least-visited places on earth, and the Falkland Islands, located about 400 miles off the coast of Argentina.

Originally appeared in the fall 2021 issue of The Compass Magazine.