Cruising has become one of the most popular ways to travel, and nowadays you have hundreds of cruise lines, itineraries, and types of voyage that suit almost any type of traveler.

Likewise, there are many destinations worldwide, waiting to be explored from the water.

Most travelers are familiar with the common cruises like the Caribbean, Pacific, and European rivers, however, these only scratch the surface.

If you’re after a cruise destination which is a bit different to the rest, the following are some of the more exciting cruises you can take – the hidden gems of the cruise industry. 

These Are the Top 6 Hidden Gems Of Cruising

Galapagos Islands

Sitting off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos is home to an abundance of wildlife who inspired “The Origin of the Species” by Charles Darwin, where he explained his now famous Theory of Evolution.

Marine Iguanas, Great Frigatebirds, Blue-footed boobies and of course, the massive Galapagos tortoise, are just some of the stars found here in what is arguably nature’s greatest showcase.

This is an archipeligo with 21 fascinating, wildlife rich islands, and its true stars (marine life like sea turtles and sea lions) swim below the surface of the dazzling waters. So naturtally, a cruise is the best way to explore.

While many of the islands are easily accessible via public transport, some are incredibly remote, meaning a private charter cruise is the better option.

Antarctica

There are very few places in this world that can overwhelm your senses like Antarctica; a frozen frontier that is one of the most strikingly beautiful places on planet Earth.

And it’s an incredibly journey in itself just to get there!

Sailed 3,631 nautical miles from Ushuaia, Argentina, across the notorious Drake Passage, you’ll head south towards the Antarctic with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting; penguins, whales, and seals are just some of the incredible marine life who share these waters.

Picking an adventure cruise which includes shore excusrions means you’ll have the chance to hike, kayak, swimming, slide down glacial mountain tops, visit a research base or two, and even camp one night on the ice if you’re lucky.

Luxury ships come complete with libraries, hot tubs, and outdoor BBQ’s, and the rooms onboard have been substantially updated since the sailings of historic explorers such as Shackleton, Mawson, and Drake!

Nile River

Exploring the Nile River via a cruise is a one-of-a-kind experience, stretching through Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda, before finding itself at the beginning of the great Lake Victoria.

It’s a unique opportunity to dive deeper into history, with significant sites like the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, and Meroë Royal City in Sudan along its banks. And there’ll be plenty of opportunities for adventure as well as artefacts! 

It’s true, that artefact lovers have sites like the Karnack Temple Complex, built over 2,000 years ago, and those looking for the perfect Instaworthy shot have the pyramids of Giza.

Though there’s also the Beni Hasan archaeological site on the eastern bank of the Nile, in middle Egypt, with 39 tombs, and Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda where you can spot plenty of African wildlife.

Corsica

The beautiful French island of Corsica is the home to some of the most picture perfect beaches in the Meditteranean, and with 1,000km of coastline, and 200 beaches, there’s plenty of sand to share!

Though it’s not just the beaches which draw cruisers here, it’s also the landscapes; red cliffs which drop straight into the sea, stone villages which cling to mountains, and beautiful expansive gorgeous which overflow with chestnut trees.

Scuba diving is popular here, though it’s also the homeland of Napoleon, so has a lot of tradition and histor to share.

Enjoy warm days in cities like Porto Vecchio, Calvi, Bonifacio, and St. Florent.

The Cayman Islands

Cruising to the Cayman Islands means the chance to explore some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This is a British Overseas Territory in the Western Caribbean, and you have three islands to cruise between; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

This is a destination which has perfected its on shore entertainment, before returning to your ship each evening. Not only do they have beaches, but also offer great golfing, watersports, shopping, art, farm to table food experiences, and spas.

The reefs here are second to none, and there are more than 365 diving sites across the islands to choose from. Night-time kayaking is an activity you shouldn’t miss to truly experience the magic of the islands.

Vancouver

You probably didn’t expect Vancouver on this list, but this is a fantastic destination to cruise from. 

Cruise ship passengers disembark from downtown, so you can enjoy the city before boarding, and the terminal is right in the center of the waterfront, which is just minutes from attractions like Stanley Park.

Cruises out of Vancouver include transpacific cruises (ie Vancouver – Honolulu – Tahiti – NZ & Australia), Alaska, Hawaii, and the North Pacific Passage, which jumps across Alaska before heading to Japan.

So, now that you’re armed with plenty of inspiraiton, where are we cruising?!