I’ve been on 100 cruises and found that there are 11 that are so remarkable, memorable, and enjoyable that I suggest you beg, steal, borrow or more sensibly (like me) scrimp and save to do as many of these as you can! Spoiler: 2 of the most popular are not in the best list!
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49 Comments
Do you think full transit is better?
What an interesting list of cruises. I certainly enjoyed learning what your favorites are. Seeing the panama canal clips make me so excited for my cruise on 14 March. It’ll be my second visit there and I’m sure I’ll see things that I never noticed the first time around.
I loved the lumberjack show in Alaska
Not all cruising, but I've visited a majority of your list. Still to do, Polynesia, Galapagos, and the Fjords. I have done transat, but not on QE2. Good list. For me, there's too much to see in Japan to limit myself to a cruise.
My next trip will be to Japan in 2025. Land tour. or cruise and land. Any recommendations?? Cruise lines?
I’m doing the Mekong in April! I’m very excited. I’ve visited most of the Med ports on land trips so that’s less exciting for me, but I’m doing a Northern European that starts in Stockholm. The Northern and Eastern Europe ports are so different from what I’m used to—I cannot wait.
The Drake Quake passage to Antarctica is what stops me. I’d need to be sedated for two days to not be sea sick.
Just occurred to me Gary. You've not done a world cruise, (nor I) which I would suggest would be in the top 11.
Such a great video to get the cruising bug! My 2 faves were HI & AK, beautiful shorelines.
We've done over 700 nights in 10 years on multiple cruise lines and I heartily concur with your list.
Perhaps not for the faint of heart or health, but my wife and I 'cruised' the Mekong, Saigon to Phnom Penh, some years back (2009) in a long-tailed open river boat, about a dozen passengers, spending the nights in riverside hotels. The amenities were limited (a WC) but the narrow channels we explored for 3 days would never be passageable by a cruise boat. Nor would a cruise ship be able to make port at the tiny docks we visited. But I guess it wasn't really a cruise, was it.
Well I feel pretty good. We have been to 3 on your list. We got married on an Alaskan cruise and went back on our 25th anniversary. We did Hawaii and the French Polynesian islands when I retired and we did the river cruise. We went from Amsterdam to Budapest. Loved it and we were fascinated by the locks. We are planning the Panama Canal and I wondered if you recommended going all the way through? We thought that might be better than turning around. I also have Norway and Iceland on my list for the near future.
Hi, the doctor here. My wife needs a wheelchair to travel. Which cruises cater best for a wheelchair confined traveller?
Great list! Thank you for the video!
Gary, Having watched your other videos, I knew the Panama Canal was going to be near the top of your list. In fact, your enthusiasm convinced me that I should go. So, when my brother offered to take me on a cruise for an upcoming big birthday, I selected the Panama Canal from the options he presented. I am looking forward to doing the full transit on the new Oceania Vista later this year. 😊
But first I am finally going to cruise on the Saga Spirit of Adventure, which I first learned about from you more than three years ago. Four years ago?
I did Antarctica with Quark Expeditions – by far the BEST trip I've every done
0:02 nice list as my husband and I are doing Norway, Iceland and Scottland this summer on Holand. Been watching some of your great posts for tips and a great help. On your top10 a Danube trip wouldbe great but as a gay man yourself surprised you didn’t mention the horid political situation in Hungary and that nobody should be supporting such a place. I mean we could be deported or arrested just for holding hands!!
For those who decide to do a Danube cruise I dearly recommend going all the way to the Romanian Danube Delta through the incredible Iron Gates scenery. Getting to where the Danube flows into the Black Sea is truly an amazing experience! 😊
Thanks for mentioning our beautiful Sydney harbour 🙂
Surely Antarctica or Galapagos are the best. Need to do Antarctica on a small boat. Have not been to Galapagos yet but. Ps only do cruises if I cannot get ther any other way. Stay on land in Europe so much better.
My top places aren’t necessarily places best seen via a Cruise- my top place must be the Galápagos Islands we spent a month there also the Vanuatu Islands and the Solomon Islands. Some places are more suitable to visit as a ‘drop in’ location others you need to immerse yourself and go further inland and also stay multiple days.
We loved our two TA QM2 cruises- so much so we’re joining it in Singapore and going to Sydney in a few days. 🎉
My home port of Sydney absolutely has the best sailaway in the world. The gorgeous harbour, the twin icons of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Magnificent. But yes, the itineraries sailing out of Australia are underwhelming. You get the South Pacific, but IMO the Caribbean is better. You can do Australian ports but honestly seeing them by land is better. And you can do New Zealand (in fact we did one in January!) but again New Zealand is best experienced on land.
Many of the cruises on Gary's list are definitely on my to do list. My in-laws did Antarctica right as the pandemic hit, and they said it was incredible. We've sailed Alaska twice and loved it. Norway/Iceland are on the list to do in the next few years. I would also love to do the Galapogas Islands.
The Northwest Passage is my number one especially on a larger cruise ship because of the extensive onboard facilities and entertainment during a month long cruise as opposed to a small expedition ship. The Crystal Serenity was the last cruise ship to fully transit all the way from Alaska to Greenland! I only recommend the full transit of the Panama Canal. Best to experience Bora Bora with a holiday at one of the lovely resorts!
I was a little surprised that a Suez Canal cruise, a Nile River cruise with archeological excursions, or a round-Australia cruise that stops by the Great Barrier Reef weren't in your top 11–or that you didn't extend it to 15 to include more. Of course, I've only been on 3 of your top 11 (and they are the best cruises I've ever done), so I trust you have your reasons…Wasn't surprised at all to see Antarctica at the top of this list, and it's at the top of my list for ones I'd love to do.
Ah ha I knew most of them. I have a very similar bucket list.
Brilliant video.
Great list Gary! The Panama Canal is definitely on my list, my uncle actually worked on the original as an engineer. This last year I was lucky to do Alaska & the Fiords of Norway, both amazing!! Leaving soon for a Viking, Venice to Athens, a bucket list for me! Keep cruising, love all you content!!
I must suggest that you consider a cruise into and up the Amazon River. One of the best I have ever done !
I agree with your list and am working my way through my own bucket list. I just got back from a full transit of the old Panama Canal and it was amazing, I am going to Alaska later this year, have done the Mediterranean, a Rhine River, booked on a Nile River, planning on Suez Canal and Vietnam with Singapore in the next 2 years.
Svalbard is better than Alaska, everything Alaska has Svalbard also has it ! And more!
Many people call it a bucket list but to me that sounds a bit less positive because of the expression kick the bucket, so I’m calling it my Dream list 🐬🛳🐠🌞 I’m going to save up because I especially like some of the jury suggestions like Alaska and possibly Antarctica and the Panama Canal for sure!
The Panama Canal was so remarkable I got so emotional and cried.
Thank you, wonderful post.
An Antarctic cruise certainly changed my life – I met my partner there! I think the other’s listed are spot on, although I still have Japan on my to get there list
Tks Gary, 2016 Alaska (have to go again) 2017 Barcelona/Venice, 2018 Norway loved HAL Prisendam before it left fleet! HAL montreal/boston2023, I have Panama full transit Oceania early Feb 2024& iceland July 2024! I have to get a late 2023 selection. And get on your Group cruise
People need to be informed that the laws of the flag of the ship apply and not American Laws because the ship is not flagged under either the USA or European Countries. Informed consent? If something happens to you then a country like the Bahamas will investigate. Best of Luck with that?
I'm going to be ticking off some of those on your list this year! I'm doing the transatlantic with Cunard, the Norwegian Fjords with P&O, and the Panama Canal with Princess. Alaska is amazing, I've been several times, and will be doing a land/cruise tour this year as well. So many of the others are on my bucket list as well. The Galapagos would be high on my list as well.
Gary have you done any small yacht cruising in the Adriatic? I'm talking about ships with no more than 100 passengers and sometimes a lot less. I'm finding reviews of these difficult to find.
Could you advise on the best place to book a cruise in uk for a first timer?
Going on the sites is a bit overwhelming tbh and so many options to choose from then no idea if we need ro pay gratuity and food drinks etc
Thanks
Taken 3 of your top 11 (Galapagos, Alaska, and Antartica) and will be taking an Iceland cruise this summer, and hopefully most of the others in the next 5 years.
Definately agree with you about the Danube. However, you didn't mention the hands down best Danube cruise on Tauck
Not a cruiser, but you reminded me how much I love Vienna and Austria. Thailand, it's people and culture, also float my boat.
What is the best cruise line for a panama canal cruise and what is the best time of year to do one? Or if there is a video explaining everything about a pandemic and I’ll cruise. Please let me know which one it is and how to watch it. Thank you in advance.
What cruise line is best for antartica coming from Florida
Great video. Think I'll add the Mekong River onto my existing list of four. The QM2 was already on it.
P.S. My only trip to South Georgia was an on RAF C-130. It had an astro-dome, so that was great for taking in the views as we patrolled around at low-level.
I know it's a personal preference but for some reason i don't do cold weather cruises ! I suppose it has to do with our miserable weather for most of the year so I look forward to a bit of sun warming up my bones .
I think the Golden Gate in San Francisco gives Sydney a run for its money. This video is what separates your channel from many others. You cruise on the basis of the itinerary not the ship. Panama Canal has the bonus of magnificent wildlife off southern Mexico in the Pacific: turtles; mahi; sea snakes; dolphins; whales.
While I understand the fascination of visiting highly fragile destinations the impact of large numbers of cruisers visiting the Galapagos and Antartica add to the degradation of these destinations. I agree the Panama Canal is extraordinary. For those viewers who do not want to wait for one of the major cruise lines to make the passage there is a wonderful day trip through the canal available from Panana City. It offers a 1/2 way cruise weekly and a full canal passage monthly for about $200 US. Both provide bus transportation back to Panama City so you begin and end in the same location. A major attraction for me was the small ship which gets you right down inside the locks rather than being 15 decks above the action. A great alternative, especially if you are headed to other destinations in So. America by air and the usual change of planes layover in Panama City airport. Take a layover and transit the canal.
Nile
Not to be nosy but you must be a millionaire to go on all these different cruises. I've done two river cruises by Viking in Europe and plan on the Danube later this year but have to watch how nuch I spend so I still have money to live on. Nice video.