Questions like, “When is the best time to take a tropical or arctic cruise vacation?” or “Which is the best ocean to cruise through in October?” have various answers – depending on what you are hoping to get out of the trip.
Here are a few ideas for those in need of a trip across the pond, with nothing but open water on the horizon.
Cruises to Winter Wonders
At the very tip-top of Europe, there are glimmering snow-capped mountains, threads of violet, blue and green Northern Lights as well as deep blue fjords just waiting to be discovered by your clients in search of an authentic arctic cruise experience. The crisp, chilling season of winter gives travelers access to some really special things, like experiencing Norway’s panoramic views of the Arctic Circle and snowmobile safaris in the Arctic wilderness. Plus, the Gulf Stream surprisingly keeps temperatures comfortable during all times of the year.
For example, Royal Caribbean’s arctic cruise around Norway offers endless onshore winter wonders for your clients to experience. After cruising through the fascinating Arctic Archipelago, they’ll head to the Northern Lights capital, Tromso. That panoramic view we mentioned before can be seen after a cable car ride up to Storsteinen Mountain. The arctic town of Tromso, aka the gateway to the Arctic Region, is a less than a two-hour flight away from Oslo and is ideal for your nature-loving clients The famous Arctic Cathedral, heated sidewalks, bearded seals, reindeer and dogsledding fill this northern city with life and authentic culture. At the cathedral, Northern Lights concerts are held. Learning about the shrinking sea ice and cold-water fish at the Polaria Museum give more insight into the local culture. And chances are, if you’ve ever met anyone from Norway, you’ve heard about their cross-country skiing stories. Why not have your clients try for themselves, in the cross-country capital of the world?
Alaska’s rugged beauty, wild salmon and urban landscapes are what make it an unparalleled destination to cruise to. Azamara Club Cruises offer cruises with authentic Alaskan shore excursions unmatched to anywhere else in the world. Cruise through Southeast Alaska’s narrow island passages and expect to encounter humpback whales, harbor seals and Alaskan brown bears onshore. If your clients are looking for photos to last a lifetime, it’s easy to find a photography tour led by a local photographer who knows all of the angles and best locations for Instagram. Bald eagles, unspoiled wilderness and snow-capped peaks in the Chilkat Valley are just waiting to be captured!
Cruises to Sunny Spots
Looking forward in the industry, suppliers are thinking more about Asia than ever before. Cruising to Asia during the months through November and March is recommended, so your clients can steer clear of the hot, rainy and humid months. Although, it does depend which direction and country you’re sending your clients to. The best time to travel to Thailand is during April to September, however April (through September) showers should absolutely be expected. If your clients are looking for sunny spots to cruise to that aren’t as far away as Asia, Hawaii’s most popular time for cruising is during the dry months in between April and October!
Asian cruises combine fun-in-the-sun excursions with discovering history, culture and some of the world’s most impressive cities highlighting their mesmerizing temples and shrines. With plans of the Quantum ultra-ship from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises covering the entire continent of Asia, many 2019 cruises are planning to head in and out of ports in Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand.
Bangkok is one of the world’s most exciting cities, and is home to the country’s largest cruise port, Laem Chabang, though it’s located two hours from the city center. Other top Bangkok cruise lines and itineraries that embark or dock at this port are from Ovation, Seabourn’s yacht-like ship, with a 32-day Holiday Arabia and Asia itinerary; Sapphire Princess, a grand-class ship from Princess Cruises, offers a 10-night Southeast Asia cruise; and Celebrity Millennium, a mid-size ship from Celebrity Cruises, with a 14-night Southeast Asia cruise. There’s a half-day tour that can take your clients into a traditional Thai landscaped village. Folk dancers, warriors on elephants, orchid farms and shopping are on display and waiting for visitors arriving to the villages of Pattaya and Nong Nooch. There’s no wonder why there’s no better way to arrive into Bangkok than by ship, to really take it all in.
Aloha, Hawaii! Sail from Vancouver, Bora Bora or all around Hawaii via the Norwegian Jewel or Pride of America ships from Norwegian Cruise Line. Multiple days in port are allowed so your clients can truly experience what Oahu, Kauai, Maui and what the Big Island have to offer, where excursions like driving down the famous Hana Highway and luau extravaganzas are waiting to be experienced. For those history buffs, they can celebrate the valor and courage of the World War II servicemen at the Pearl Harbor and USS Missouri battleship tour in Honolulu.
