Alternative Cruise Destinations for Adventurous Travellers

Think of a holiday on a cruise ship and you’re likely to picture a huge boat, warm and sunny destinations, on-board entertainment and perhaps a plethora of retirees. But what if you’re looking for something far more adventurous than an all-inclusive trip on what is essentially a floating hotel?

There’s much more to cruising holidays than the stereotypes would suggest, especially if you’re looking for a more adventurous experience. Plenty of cruises now take guests to destinations that are a world away from bustling tourist towns and modern beach resorts, offering an alternative to these kinds of holidays that you might find much more enjoyable.

In this article, we share four recommendations for the best alternative cruise destinations for adventurous travellers.

Norway

Norway is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. One of the best ways to explore the fjords, mountains, glaciers and waterfalls is on a cruise, taking you around the country’s waterways and surrounding you with incredible scenery every step of the way.

If you’re cruising in Norway then you can choose from sailing between the most popular towns and cities on a cultural tour, or heading to the stunning fjords on the west coast and experiencing the astounding peace and tranquillity of the landscapes. It’s this which attracts the majority of travellers to a cruise in Norway, offering the chance to enjoy scenery that you only find in a handful of countries around the world.

For travellers who want to dial up the adventure even more, some Norway cruises take you further north to the Arctic, where you have a chance of witnessing the incredible northern lights. Don’t expect the typical warm and sunny cruise weather, wherever your cruise takes you, but be prepared instead for the raw wonder of the natural world.

The Amazon

If you’re looking for river cruise inspiration, it doesn’t get more impressive than the Amazon River. Winding through the largest rainforest on the planet, these cruises present the opportunity to spot all kinds of impressive wildlife, learn about the generations of people who have lived close to the river, and experience a destination that is far from the typical cruise tourist trail.

When it comes to finding the best Amazon river cruises in Peru, spend your time on a smaller vessel, which will allow you to get closer to the river’s wildlife. Ecuador is another Amazon cruise destination for smaller ship trips, whilst Brazil is a great choice if you’d like to be part of a larger tour group and get more opportunities to connect with people and cultures on your trip.

If you decide to cruise the Amazon, make sure that you book your trip during the dry season between June and November, where rain showers are still likely but there are a lot fewer mosquitos and you’ll be able to trek through the jungle as part of your itinerary. These kinds of cruises are a great option for adventurous travellers who also want to learn more about sustainability and the environment, as there are a lot of initiatives taking place in the Amazon that guests can help support.

The Galapagos

Another cruise destination that is great for travellers who are interested in conservation is the Galapagos archipelago. The entire collection of islands has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of how unique the range of wildlife and plant life can be found here, making it an incredibly precious part of the world that takes sustainable tourism very seriously.

Cruising the Galapagos is the best option for exploring as many of the islands as possible and getting the chance to learn about their history and biodiversity as you travel. Accommodation on the islands is quite sparse, so staying on your vessel allows you to travel further and also feel closer to the archipelago by always being surrounded by the natural landscape.

Treks, visits to cultural attractions, trips to wildlife sanctuaries and days on the beach are popular items on the itinerary of cruises in the Galapagos. The archipelago is quite remote, so you’ll need to get to Ecuador and then fly to one of the islands’ two main airports, but it’s this lack of too many visitors that has contributed to making the Galapagos such an incredible place to visit.

Antarctica

Our final suggestion for an alternative cruise destination is a continent that we’re pretty certain you won’t have visited before. Located right at the southern pole of the earth, Antarctica is somewhere that is best reached by boat and provides a truly unforgettable holiday experience if you’re willing to make the trip.

Between the ‘summer’ season of November and April, the snow and ice in Antarctica melt and fracture enough to allow boats to explore the continent and surrounding area, providing the perfect setting for a frozen cruise. There is a range of Antarctic circle tours that give guests the chance to witness the frozen landscape and its iconic wildlife, as well as the chance to try activities like snowshoeing, sea kayaking and even snorkelling if you’re feeling brave!

On an Antarctic cruise, you’ll live and travel on your vessel during your trip, with options that range from large and luxurious ships to smaller and sturdier vessels where you’ll be sharing mealtimes with scientists and researchers who are exploring the area with you. The journey to the Antarctic can be rough, but you’ll be rewarded with absolutely stunning scenery and a holiday experience that you can’t find anywhere else, so we think it’s definitely worth the trip.

Travelling by boat is a brilliant way to see parts of the world that would otherwise be much harder to access, which is one of the key appeals of these kinds of alternative cruises. It’s also a mode of transport that can make you feel like an intrepid adventurer from the past which, when paired with exciting and ‘undiscovered’ destinations, makes for an incredibly exciting travel experience.