Best time to cruise
You can cruise year‑round, but some routes are better at different times of the year. Plan your trip here!
Destinations JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Alaska ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Asia ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Australia ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
The Caribbean ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
European rivers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Hawaii ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Mediterranean ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Mexico ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Norwegian
fjords ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Scandinavia
& the Baltic ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
South America ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
South Pacific &
New Zealand ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Pull up on a Caribbean islandSail the seas from your deck chair!A cruise ship’s luxurious roomFeeling
adventurous?
Consider these out-
of-the-way places
you can easily
reach by ship:
n The Galápagos
Islands Roughly
900km off the
coast of Ecuador in
South America, this
chain of islands has
been captivating
explorers and
outdoor adventure-
seekers for centuries.
The volcanic islands
are popular for
wildlife spotting and
marine activities.
n Costa Rica
A quarter of this
Central American
country is devoted
to national parks
and protected lands.
Experience the
rainforest on a hike or
zip-line, then head to
the clear blue waters
for water activities.
n Antarctica Yes
you can set foot
on the world’s last
remaining frontier!
You’ll be gobsmacked
by the spectacular
coastal scenery and
marine life sightings.from art and cooking classes,
social groups, dancing and
trivia comps. Depending on
the ship, you may get wave
and surf rides, rock‑climbing
walls, ice‑skating rinks and,
on the super‑liners, even
rides and water slides that
will rival theme parks!2
RIVER CRUISING
Luxury river cruising is
well‑known in Europe, but
now it’s on the rise in China,
Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia
and Laos. The Americas also
offer plenty of destinations
and routes. Meander along
the mighty Mississippi, Ohio
and Cumberland rivers and
you’ll visit famous cities
such as Nashville, Memphis,
St. Louis and New Orleans.
The river cruisers tend to be
a lot smaller than ocean liners- typically carrying between
100 and 200 guests. A more
intimate experience, it’ll also
be quick and easy to board
and disembark at each stop.
3
SMALL AND
LUXURY CRUISING
Want to live like a king for a
whole holiday? Don’t like the
idea of being on a ship with
thousands of people? Hop on a
small ship luxury cruise and lap
it up: fine dining, five‑star suites
and even a butler service! These
ships vary in size, but typically
passenger numbers range from
just a few dozen up to 300.
The small ship experience
affords greater levels of service,
comfort and privacy. It also
means you’ll stop at smaller,
less‑trafficked ports where big
boats just can’t go so there’s
unique day trips aplenty.4
ADVENTURE CRUISING
This is the type of cruise for
people who ‘don’t do cruising’.
Think hiking into the rainforest to
see the orangutans of Borneo,
snorkelling with whale sharks on
the Ningaloo Reef and kayaking
by an iceberg. This type of
cruising is all about the destination
and what you can do there.
Small and luxury cruising and
adventure experiences often
go together. Because luxury
small ship cruises often stop at
remote locations and smaller
ports, they give you access
to natural highlights like the
bays of Alaska, coastal Africa,
Norwegian fjords and Antarctica.
It’s a holiday opportunity to
get out there and explore.▲BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, FEBRUARY 2017 bhg.com.au 173