Cruises
Which sea to sail and when, what really separates the cruise lines, and what's in the fare before the bill balloons. Then — where.
By sea & region
Where to sail
MediterraneanApril–OctoberThe most accessible itinerary for European travellers — sailings leave from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Venice, Piraeus and Marseille, and some from Haifa in season. A typical week calls at 4–6 port cities, a different one each day.CaribbeanYear-round (peak November–April)The classic cruise: depart Florida or San Juan, warm weather all year, beach days and cruise-line private islands. A 7-night sailing is the standard; 3–4-night tasters exist too.AlaskaMay–SeptemberGlaciers calving into the sea, whales, bears on the shoreline. Depart Seattle or Vancouver. The Inside Passage route is the right first choice — calm water, non-stop scenery.Northern Europe & the BalticMay–SeptemberThe Baltic capitals in one sailing — Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and more. A full day in each city, daylight until late in summer.Norwegian FjordsMay–SeptemberThe ship threads between kilometre-high cliffs into Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. Short sailings (7 nights) from Southampton or Copenhagen.Greek IslesMay–OctoberSantorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete — usually ex-Piraeus (Athens), sometimes ex-Venice. 3–4-night sailings work here because the hops are short.BahamasYear-roundA short sailing (2–4 nights) from Florida — Nassau plus a day on the cruise line's private island. The cheapest way to start.BermudaApril–OctoberThe ship docks 2–3 nights at the same Bermuda port — not a port-a-day, but a base for the pink beaches. Ex-New York and the US East Coast.Mexican RivieraOctober–AprilCabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta — ex-Los Angeles or San Diego, a winter route.HawaiiYear-roundThe only way to island-hop without flying between them. The ex-Honolulu sailing (Pride of America) visits 4 islands in a week.Panama CanalOctober–AprilA full transit = 15–16 nights between the US east and west coasts. A partial transit enters the canal and turns back in 10–11 nights.Canada & New EnglandSeptember–October (fall foliage)The autumn route: Boston, Portland, Halifax, Québec — red foliage, lobster, lighthouses. Ex-New York, Boston or Québec.TransatlanticApril–May, October–November6–8 straight sea days between Europe and America. Usually a cheap repositioning sailing when a line moves a ship between seasons; Cunard runs the classic Southampton–New York crossing.British IslesMay–SeptemberA loop of England, Scotland and Ireland — Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, sometimes Guernsey. Ex-Southampton.IcelandJune–AugustA circumnavigation, or combined with Greenland and Norway — Reykjavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður. A very short season.AntarcticaNovember–MarchAn expedition sailing, not a resort cruise — small ship, Zodiacs, continental landings. From Ushuaia (Argentina) across the Drake Passage, or fly over it.GalápagosYear-roundA small ship (16–100 guests) between the islands with a licensed national-park guide. From Baltra or San Cristóbal, flying in via Quito/Guayaquil.South AmericaNovember–MarchA continental loop, or the Cape Horn route between Buenos Aires and Santiago — Rio, Montevideo, Patagonia, the Chilean fjords.AsiaOctober–AprilJapan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore — ex-Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo. The winter season is the right one (less rain and typhoons).JapanMarch–NovemberA loop of Japan — Tokyo, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hokkaidō, sometimes South Korea. Peaks at cherry blossom (late March–April) and autumn colour (October–November).Australia & New ZealandOctober–AprilAustralia's east coast plus New Zealand's fjordland sounds. Ex-Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland — the southern-hemisphere summer.Arabian Gulf & DubaiNovember–MarchShort sailings between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain — ex-Dubai, a winter route, usually 7 nights.World CruiseDeparts January, runs 3–4 months70–130 nights, a full lap of the planet. You can also book a 2–4-week segment of the route. Departs January, ends April–May.TranspacificApril–May, September–OctoberA long repositioning sailing between America and Asia/Australia via Hawaii — many sea days, a low per-night price.
River cruises
River, not ocean
A small ship, docking in each city centre, no sea days and no seasickness. A completely different experience.
Danube River CruiseApril–October + Christmas markets in DecemberA small river ship (100–190 guests) between Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Passau — you dock in each city centre, no sea days. A completely different experience from an ocean cruise.Rhine River CruiseApril–October + DecemberAmsterdam–Basel through the Upper Middle Rhine — a castle on every hill, Cologne, Strasbourg, vineyards. 7 nights.Nile River CruiseOctober–AprilLuxor–Aswan, 3–7 nights — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel. Almost always combined with a few nights in Cairo.Mekong River CruiseAugust–MarchBetween Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Siem Reap (Cambodia) — floating markets, fishing villages, and a land transfer to Angkor Wat. 7–8 nights.
By cruise line
Who runs the ship
The same sea, a completely different experience by line — from Carnival's 'Fun Ship' to a 450-guest all-inclusive yacht.
Royal CaribbeanmainstreamThe biggest ships afloat — waterslides, a rock wall, a surf simulator, onboard neighbourhoods. Best for families who want the ship to be the attraction.MSC CruisesmainstreamAn Italian line, very strong in the Mediterranean (including Haifa departures in season). Among the gentlest prices in the business, a European feel, and the 'Yacht Club' ship-within-a-ship for a supplement.CarnivalmainstreamThe 'Fun Ship' line — the cheapest and least formal of the big lines, short sailings from Florida and Texas, a young American crowd.Norwegian (NCL)mainstreamInvented 'Freestyle' cruising — no fixed dinner seating, no dress code, lots of restaurants. The 'Free at Sea' package rolls drinks/wifi/excursions into the fare.Princesspremium mainstreamThe strongest line in Alaska (with land lodges too), a slightly older crowd, and 'MedallionClass' — a wearable that opens your door and brings a drink to wherever you are.CelebritypremiumModern premium — clean design, strong food, fewer children. The Edge-class ships have the 'Magic Carpet' platform that rides up the hull.Holland AmericapremiumClassic and quiet — mid-size ships, an older crowd, live music, strong in Alaska and on longer voyages. Less noise, more old-world.Disney Cruise Linepremium familyThe most family-focused brand — Disney characters, film-based Broadway shows, huge kids' clubs, no casino. You pay a brand premium. Almost always ex-USA.CostamainstreamAn Italian line, inexpensive, a mixed European crowd, strong in the Mediterranean and the Emirates. A loud, lively feel.Cunardluxury classicThe last line building true ocean liners — Queen Mary 2 crosses the Atlantic from Southampton to New York. Formal nights, afternoon tea, a British crowd.Virgin Voyagespremium adultAdults only (18+), boutique design, tips and wifi and restaurants included in the fare, no buffet. An alternative to the 'traditional cruise'.Oceaniaupper premium'The finest cuisine at sea' — mid-size ships, an older affluent crowd, long port-rich itineraries. Less entertainment, more destination.Regent Seven SeasluxuryGenuinely all-inclusive — shore excursions, drinks, flights, a pre-cruise hotel night. All-suite. Among the most expensive in the business.SilversealuxuryLuxury on small ships plus a strong expedition arm (Antarctica, Galápagos, the Kimberley). A butler for every suite.SeabournluxuryA boutique yacht for 450–600 guests, all-inclusive, a fold-out marina for swimming off the ship. Expeditions at the luxury end.Viking Oceanupper premium adultAdults only (18+), Scandinavian design, one included shore excursion in every port, no casino and no children. The 'thinking person's cruise'.Viking Riverpremium riverThe world leader in river cruising — a uniform fleet of identical 'longships' on the Danube, Rhine, Douro, Nile and Mekong. One included tour per stop. 18+.AMAWaterwayspremium riverRiver cruising with an active bent — bikes onboard, fast and slow walking-tour groups in every port. Strong Douro and Mekong routes.Uniworldluxury riverRiver cruising at the luxury end — ships styled like boutique hotels, all-inclusive (every tour and drink included).Avalon Waterwayspremium riverRiver cruising with 'Panorama Suites' — the bed faces a wall-to-wall window that opens. A wide choice of tours in every port.HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)expeditionPolar expeditions — Antarctica, the Arctic, the Norwegian coast, Greenland. Hybrid-powered ships, a field-scientist team, Zodiac landings.Explora JourneysluxuryMSC Group's new luxury brand — brand-new ships, all-suite with balconies, an unhurried feel, longer itineraries.Atlas Ocean Voyagesexpedition luxurySmall expedition yachts (~200 guests), all-inclusive including airfare, Antarctica and the Mediterranean.CrystalluxuryClassic luxury, relaunched after a pause — a high crew-to-guest ratio, long itineraries, a loyal following.Windstarsmall shipSmall motor-sail yachts (150–350 guests) that reach ports the big ships can't — the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Costa Rica.
By departure port
Where the ship leaves from
The port you sail from decides whether you fly and when. Direct Haifa departures run in season.
HaifaBarcelonaRome (Civitavecchia)VeniceAthens (Piraeus)NaplesGenoaMarseilleIstanbulLisbonSouthamptonCopenhagenAmsterdamReykjavíkBergenStockholmMiamiFort LauderdalePort CanaveralGalvestonNew York CityCape Liberty (Bayonne)BostonBaltimoreNew OrleansSan JuanLos AngelesSan DiegoSan FranciscoSeattleVancouverSewardHonoluluQuébec CityMontréalDubaiAbu DhabiSingaporeHong KongTokyoYokohamaSydneyAucklandBuenos AiresUshuaiaPalma de MallorcaValenciaTriesteSavonaBariDubrovnikCagliariMessinaPalermoMonte CarloNiceVallettaKielHamburgWarnemündeLe HavreDoverRotterdamBridgetown (Barbados)Pointe-à-PitreFort-de-FranceColónTampaJacksonvilleCharlestonRio de JaneiroValparaísoLima (Callao)AnchorageWhittierMilwaukeeTorontoShanghaiBangkok (Laem Chabang)Bali (Benoa)Fremantle (Perth)BrisbaneMelbournePapeete (Tahiti)OsakaKobeCape TownDurbanPort Louis
Before you book
The guides
Cruise gratuities — how much, to whom, and how to change themAlmost every cruise line charges an automatic 'daily gratuity' per guest, children included, added to your onboard account each day. It is not opt-in by default — you have to remove it manually if you want to. Amounts are current for 2026 and are revised once a year.Cruise cancellation policies — by cruise lineThe cancellation policy is set by the cruise line, not the booking agent, and is almost always based on 'days before sailing'. The closer to departure, the larger the penalty, up to total loss. The deposit usually becomes non-refundable from a certain point. Amounts vary; check the exact terms of your booking.Cruise drink packages — when they pay off and when they don'tThe drinks package is the biggest controllable expense on a cruise. It sounds expensive but sometimes saves money and sometimes doesn't — it depends on how much you actually drink, not how much you picture drinking on day one.Cruise cabins — inside, oceanview, balcony or suiteThe price gap between an inside cabin and a suite can be triple on the same sailing. The question isn't 'which is best' but 'how much time will you spend in the cabin' — and that depends on the itinerary.What's included in a cruise fare — and what isn'tThe price you see for a cruise covers the basics: the cabin, most meals, most entertainment, and the transport between ports. But the final bill is almost always 30–60% higher than the advertised fare, because of a set of extras worth knowing about in advance.From the airport to the cruise port — how to get there in each cityThe common mistake: assuming the cruise port is next to the airport. It almost never is. In several cities the distance is an hour or more, and the line sells an organised transfer that costs double a taxi. Here's how it works at the common departure ports.Your first cruise — what nobody tells you in advanceA first cruise is an unusually easy holiday — you unpack once, the food and entertainment are all around you, and each morning is a new city. But a few things surprise first-timers specifically, and they're worth knowing before you board.Shore excursions — through the line, an independent operator, or on your ownAt every port you choose: the cruise line's organised tour (most expensive, safest), an independent operator booked online (cheaper, usually fine), or planning it yourself (cheapest, most flexible). The price gap can be triple for the same tour.Seasickness on a cruise — which cabin, which route, and what helpsModern cruise ships are large and stable, and most people feel no motion at all. But if you're prone to it, the choice of cabin and itinerary matters far more than any pill.Cruising solo — the single supplement, studio cabins, and which lines suit itA cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel alone — there's company at meals and on tours, without the awkwardness of a table for one or an empty hotel room. The one problem is the price: most lines charge a 'single supplement'.
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About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.