This year's October Plan a Cruise Month may have now concluded, but Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reminds travelers that there continue to be alluring destinations in which to seek out year-round on an ocean or river cruise.
Just as Taco Bell asks diners to "think outside the bun," CLIA suggests cruisers also think outside the tropics. While the Caribbean will always be a prized destination, there are plenty of other ports to additionally consider. In fact, CLIA's 2016 State of the Cruise Industry report lists almost 1,000 in total, and that tally is always growing.
"From sunny beaches in Australia to bustling villages in Asia, cruise travel offers more diverse and unique destinations than ever before," said Cindy D'Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. "Traveling by cruise to beautiful and unique corners of the world has never been easier to reach and experience these amazing locales is unmatched."
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Ocean Destinations
By ocean, cruise highlights range from Princess Cruises' exotic Highlights of Japan itinerary to Ponant's expedition access of Antarctica and the South Pole. Closer to home, Panama Canal transits continue to be a more unique Caribbean option that features the mechanical marvel, which is now expanding in size for larger cruise ships to pass for the first time.
Of course, CLIA also points out remote regions like Africa and Bora Bora. Oceania Cruises' Marvels of Time sailing, for instance, takes guests from Dubai to Cape Town with calls at Mumbai and the Maldives, and Paul Gauguin Cruises explores its exclusive inlet Motu Mahana in the most relaxing way.
Or alternatively, if time is not a factor, an extended length world cruise like Crystal Cruises' Grand Continental Odysseys voyage will seek out tons of ports between Los Angeles and Monte Carlo.
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River Destinations
Still, river cruising lets passengers see a whole other set of cruise destinations inland of coastal areas, and options extend from the famous Nile River in Egypt with Avalon Waterways to the domestic Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington and Oregon with American Cruise Lines.
Europe is also a river cruise mainstay as Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection sails from the North Sea to the Black Sea, featuring the Romanian capital of Bucharest, and Tauck heads along the Seine River to the historic French likes of Versailles on its Rendezvous on the Seine itinerary.
More exotically, AmaWaterways showcases its Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong cruise, and the magic of a Christmas Markets sailing is forever enticing including CroisiEurope's variety highlighting Nuremberg, Strasbourg and Rudesheim. Gluhwein cheers!
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