(photo by rsgranne)

1. Tortola, the British Virgin Islands

Tortola is the largest of all the British Virgin Islands and is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. The island has a lot of charm and character as well as fabulous West Indian restaurants and white-sandy beaches. Scuba divers are drawn to Tortola’s excellent diving sites and marine parks with Smuggler’s Cove being among the most popular. Many divers come here to see the shipwreck of the Rhone, which met its fate back in 1867.

2. Cape Horn to Cape of Good Hope

This adventurous cruise takes you from South America’s Cape Horn all the way to the Cape of Good Hope, which lies on Africa’s southern tip. The scenery along the way is fascinating. One of the most amazing sights is seeing colonies of king penguins when you sail past Antarctica.

3. Rovinj, Croatia

The Venetians ruled this gorgeous Adriatic island for centuries and it’s easy to see that the Italian influences are still quite visible. For example, bell tower on the island is a replica of the bell tower in Venice’s St. Mark’s Church. Rovinj is now a pretty fishing port and is well worth exploring.

4. Picton, New Zealand

The port of Picton lies on the South Island of New Zealand in Queen Charlotte Sound. The area is filled with close to 700 miles of rugged coastline that’s quite pleasing to the eye. Along with all of the natural beauty you’ll be able to taste some excellent local wines in the area’s vineyards. There’s also a good chance you’ll get to witness some lovable dolphins swimming by in the nearby waters.

5. Maputo, Mozambique

Maputo is the capital city of the eastern African nation of Mozambique. It’s quite an exotic center with a cultural combination of Bantu, Portuguese, Arab, Chinese, and Indian influences. The food is out of this world as are the beaches and scenery. You’ll also find some wonderful traditional arts and crafts when exploring the city’s vibrant markets.

6. Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe

Pointe a Pitre lies in the Caribbean and is known as Guadeloupe’s biggest city. The city and island offer the best of the old world combined with the best of the modern world. It’s a very charming place that has been influenced throughout the years by African and French cultures. There’s plenty to see and do and the weather’s usually beautiful all year long.

7. Gozo, Malta

Many travellers have heard of Malta, but not of Gozo, which is the second largest Maltese Island. It’s tucked away in the warm Mediterranean waters between Africa and Sicily. There’s plenty to explore on this historic island, such as its splendid sandy beaches, prehistoric temples, and amazing citadel.

8. Skagen, Denmark

This charming Danish resort town has a rich history, especially with writers and artists who come here for inspiration. In the 1800s it was a well known destination because of its beautiful North Sea landscape. It’s a very charming and picturesque spot that’s still as scenic, intriguing, and inspirational as ever.

9. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The port of Victoria sits on the Pacific Ocean in western Canada. It offers a relatively mild climate and has numerous parks and colorful gardens on display, such as Butchart Gardens. If you head to the Strait of Juan de Fuca you’ll have a good chance at spotting some of the area’s amazing local whales.

10. L’Anse-aux-Meadows National Historic Site, Newfoundland, Canada

This UNESCO World Heritage site sits on the east coast of Canada in the ruggedly beautiful province of Newfoundland. It has a rich Viking history and is considered to be one of the earliest New World settlements. It’s also well known for its archaeological findings.

Here are 10 of the biggest in the world and all of them were constructed after 2000. Many of them also have sister ships that are just as big.

(photo by steamboatsorg)

1. Royal Caribbean-Oasis of the Seas

This ship weighs 225,282 tons, is 1,187 feet long and has an official capacity of 5,400 people. Oasis of the Seas is so big that’s it can’t sail through the Panama Canal. Not only is it too long for the waterway, but it’s also too tall and wide. There’s plenty to do on board with rock climbing walls, Broadway shows, and zip lines. It carries a crew of about 2,400 members.

2. Cunard-RMS Queen Mary 2

This ship weighs 151,400 tons, is 1,132 feet long and has an official capacity of 2,620 people. The Queen Mary 2 is longer than 40 double-decker buses that are lined bumper to bumper. You could place a football field on each end of the ship and still have room to lay Big Ben down on the deck. When it was christened back in 2004 it was the largest ship in the world. There are only 1,310 staterooms on board, meaning there’s plenty of room for guests.

3. Disney Dream

This ship weighs 130,000 tons, is 1,115 feet long and has an official capacity of 2,500 people. The Disney Dream cruise ship is a miniature version of Disneyland, at sea. It comes with a 3-D movie cinema, visits from famous Walt Disney characters, and a 765-foot long water coaster known as Aqua Duck.

4. Royal Caribbean-Freedom of the Seas

This ship weighs 160,000 tons, is 1,112 feet long and has an official capacity of 3, 634 people. Miss Congeniality is sometimes compared to a floating water park. There are several swimming pools and hot tubs as well as a surf simulator. You’ll also find sculpture fountains, waterfalls and a children’s water park called the H2O Zone. There’s even an ice skating rink on board.

5. MSC-Splendida

This ship weighs 137, 936 tons, is 1,1094 feet long and has an official capacity of 3,274 people. The Splendida offers close to five million square feet of space on board. It’s bigger than Minnesota’s Mall of America and if it was stood on its end is taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower.

6. Norwegian-Epic

This ship weighs 155,873 tons, is 1,081 feet long and has an official capacity of 4,100 people. The Epic was christened in July of 2010 and it had to take five lifeboats down just to fit into New York Harbor. There are 20 different options for dining on board including 24-hour pizza delivery to your cabin. The ship also features a bar made out of ice.

7. Celebrity-Eclipse

This ship weighs 122,000 tons, is 1,033 feet long and has an official capacity of 2,850 people. If you lined up four 747 jets they still wouldn’t be as long as the Eclipse. The ship comes with 19 decks and the top one comes with a grass lawn where travellers can play games such as croquet and bocce.

8. Royal Caribbean-Voyager of the Seas

This ship weighs 138,000 tons, is 1,020 feet long and has an official capacity of 3,114 people. The Voyager of the Seas was basically the first modern supersized cruise ship to be built. It comes with a television studio, concert theatre, and in-line skating track. It also has a miniature nine-hole golf course.

9. Carnival-Dream

This ship weighs 130,000 tons, is 1,004 feet long and has an official capacity of 3,646 people. The Dream is compared to a floating amusement park due to all the fun and games it offers. It also comes with a 12 by-22-foot LED-screen movie theatre.

10. Princess-Diamond

This ship weighs 116,000 tons, is 964 feet long and has an official capacity of 2,670 people. The diamond is less than 1,000 feet long, but it’s still two times bigger than Buckingham Place with almost double the Palace’s rooms. You could fit the Taj Mahal in it five times. The ship offers a host of restaurants, daily afternoon tea, martini bars and over 700 cabins that come with balconies.

1. Hamilton Island, Australia

(photo by andy_tyler)

Hamilton Island is situated in the famous Great Barrier Reef, which is the country’s most popular sailing spot. It’s warm all year round because of the area’s tropical climate. The average temperature for the year is just over 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The Bahamas

(photo by jules flickr)

The Bahamian islands are one of the world’s most popular and best destinations for sailing. They’re ideal for expert sailors as well as beginners. Exumas and the Abacos are two of the most popular yachting locations due to the crystal clear waters and rich history.

3. The Greek Islands

(photo by ed_baseheart)

There are approximately 6,000 Greek islands, with many of them being deserted and uninhabited. They’re among the most beautiful in the world and you could spend a lifetime there exploring all of their beauty.

4. The French Riviera, France

(photo by coleinMSP)

This popular area is known as one of the world’s playgrounds for the rich and famous. However, you don’t have to be either rich or famous to enjoy these waters. Thousands of sailors from all over the world head to the French Riviera every year.

You can anchor your boat between the historic and picturesque cities of Monaco and Nice in the Bay of Villefranche, and soak in the breathtaking scenery.

5. The British Virgin Islands

(photo by choicecamps)

The British Virgin Islands are generally considered to be the Caribbean’s sailing capital. There are more than 60 islands that are just begging to be explored and they’re all equally as impressive. Of course, the Caribbean also has a long, rich history when it comes to sailing.

6. Thailand

(photo by sendling_74)

Some of the most gorgeous islands on the planet are located in Thailand. They’re quite exotic and are filled with pristine beaches, sparkling blue and green waters and some spectacular scenery. They’re ideal to explore just about any time of the year due to the fine weather.

7. Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden

(photo by driedfigs)

There are about 24,000 islets and islands in this group that joins Sweden’s historic capital city of Stockholm with the Baltic Sea. It’s a superb spot to explore and practice your sailing skills while taking in the excellent scenery that surrounds you.

8. Mahe, Seychelles Islands

(photo by idee_per_viaggiare)

This wonderful little island sits in the north-eastern region of the Seychelles Islands group. The main port is located here and it’s the perfect spot to begin a sailing adventure.

The chain of islands is perfect sail from one to another. One of the highlights is sailing to Aldabra, where you’ll find the largest raised coral atoll on the globe. It’s also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

9. Bay of Islands Maritime Park, New Zealand

(photo by emanistan)

This exceptional maritime park is made up of 144 islands, untouched coastline, natural harbours, and secluded bays. They offer some fantastic scenery and are a pleasure to explore at any time of the year.

10. The Aegean Coast, Turkey

(photo by greecetrip2007)

The Aegean Coast just off of Turkey offers spotless waters, exceptional views and a great climate. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular sailing destinations out there. You can just relax and enjoy the sun and sea while taking in all of the sights.

One of these is French Polynesia, as it is home to some of the most spectacular scenery you’ll find anywhere on the planet. If you’re looking for majestic peaks, lush valleys, and azure waters, this is the place to be.

The location lies halfway between Australia and California, and many cruises in this region of the South Pacific Ocean take in 4 archipelagos. These include the ever popular Tahiti and the Society Islands. Most cruises depart from Tahiti’s capital of Papeete.

They also visit the beautiful Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea, as well as the Gambier, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands.

Many visitors are attracted to the carefree Tahitian and French Polynesian lifestyle. Along with that, you’ll find some excellent unspoiled terrain and white sandy beaches.

The location and climate offer plenty of activities, such as taking a glass-bottom boat to explore one of the many lagoons as well as hiking the mountains to take in the breathtaking views.

You can also take advantage of the lovely water by scuba diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, parasailing, and windsurfing off of the coast of numerous islands.

You’ll find that cruises to French Polynesia and Tahiti can be sailed all year long and most of them last between 7 and 14 days.

You’ll have no problem finding departures from Papeete, and you should also be able to find cruise ships leaving from cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Sydney, and Fort Lauderdale.

If you need to stay overnight before departing you’ll find that most cruise lines also offer hotel packages.

There are actually quite a few islands that make up Great Britain and you can take a cruise to several of these.

Some of the most interesting are the Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight. Taking a cruise will give you the chance to explore some of the nation’s fantastic history, culture, and countryside.

You’ll still be able to visit the most famous and popular sites such as London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Irish city of Dublin.

These historic cities offer some of the worlds’ most spectacular castles, museums, cathedrals, and architecture. You’ll find some of the most interesting historical artifacts and works of art in these centers.

When you dock in Invergordon you’ll be able to discover the lovely town of Inverness and of course check out Loch Ness to see if the monster’s still hanging around there. Other areas you can reach by ship include the Channel Islands and the Shetland Islands.

There are several different cruises to choose from, depending on your interests and what you want to see and do. Most cruises around the British Isles sail between April and October and are usually between five to 14 days long. However, you should also be able to find a few longer ones.

If you’d like to start out in England, then London is the most popular place to leave from. If you’re in another part of Europe you can find cruises to the British Isles from cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam in Holland, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

There are many ports in Britain to choose from, including Belfast, Falmouth, Isle of Skye, Liverpool, Dover, Harwich, Southampton, Londonderry, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newport, Oban, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Stornoway, Tobermory, and Torquay.

The archipelago is made up of seven volcanic islands which used to be called the Fortunate Islands by the ancient Romans.

The islands are filled with black sandy beaches and rugged terrain, making for a fantastic and varied landscape. You’ll find a fascinating assortment of wildlife there.

This includes an interesting variety of African and European birds, geckos, lizards, Algerian hedgehogs, Canarian shrews, and a wonderful assortment of marine life.

The Canary Islands have long been regarded as a tropical paradise by European travellers and it’s become a popular cruise destination over the years because of that. The excellent weather and sunny beaches also attract thousands of visitors each year.

There are some captivating natural sites on the islands, including several national parks and biosphere reserves. There are more over 40 museums that are home to some of the world’s most interesting archaeological artifacts. They also feature an assortment of modern and aboriginal art pieces.

There are some exciting activities to try out such as heading to Arrecife and then taking a camel ride up to Fire Mountain. You’ll also see some lunar-like landscapes and you can enjoy the city life in vibrant places like Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Other popular locations are the Santa Cruz de Tenerife beaches and a 200-year-old garden in Puerto de la Cruz. Another interesting site is Loro Parque as it’s home to the biggest collection of parrots in the world.

You can take a cruise to the Canary Islands all year round and most of them are about 10 to 14 days long. Some of them are combined with Western Mediterranean cities, such as Barcelona and Rome and even London.

This will enable you to get a firsthand view of its picturesque towns and charming fishing villages. You’ll also be able to make your way north of the winter wonderland known as the Arctic Circle. Here you’ll be able to witness some tremendous glaciers and amazing wildlife.

There are several cruises available in Norway, but most of them focus mainly on the wonderful fjords and coastal villages in the west. You can also find cruises that take in the Arctic and stop at the Svalbard Archipelago and Spitsbergen.

If you travel from Kirkenes to Stavanger, some of the country’s most popular attractions will await you. The town of Tromso, which sits quite a way north above the Arctic Circle has several interesting museums to visit. There’s also an environmental center called Polaria, where visitors can learn about Arctic ecology and wildlife.

The city of Trondheim is well known as a technological and educational center and features a wide variety of shops, and historical attractions, such as the Nidarosdomen Cathedral. It also has a bustling nightlife. The town of Bergen offers a look into the Norwegian way of life and has a busy fish market and historic wharf.

The cruise season in Norway takes place between March and December and the length of cruises generally vary between five and 14 days. They’re a great way to see the natural beauty of the land as well as its historic attractions. Most Norwegian cruises originate in the coastal towns of Bergen and Kirkenes, which is above the Arctic Circle, and you can reach these destinations by air.

One of the highlights is the Columbia River Gorge as it cuts a path into the Cascade Range which is up to 4,000 feet in depth and 80 miles long. You will also be able to cruise through the locks of the Bonneville Dam. This famous site has been pumping out hydroelectric power ever since the 1930s. You’ll be able to view numerous waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, which are 620 feet in height.

It’s possible to take a covered jet boat through Hells Canyon where you’ll be able to get a close-up look at some wonderful animals such as bighorn sheep, elk, and mountain goats here. When you reach Pendleton, Oregon, you may want to visit the underground tunnels that were dug from 1870 to 1930 and were often used for illicit types of businesses.

If you’d like to understand Native American cultures you can stop at the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. There are also several sites that are associated with the famous explorers, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis. These include the Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

A cruise trip is more accessible that any of us might think or imagine. Most travelers focus only on the price and accommodation, which in many cases might be much more important.

Considering that during a period of time of 7-12 days cruise ship travels and stops in more ports, cities and resorts that one could possibly cover by car, you would say that this adventure is totally worth it.

Apart from this, traveling on the sea has a perfume of its own because having the ocean waters under your feet is quite a unique experience.

When going on a cruise you should know that the departure date is crucial not only as planning is concerned, you must absolutely be at the designated place and time at the departure date because exactly like the plane, the ship will not wait for you.

When setting the departure time from home, consider delays, rush hours, accidents and try to be on time. The most popular cruising packages come in the shape of fly & cruise and you have to first catch the plane and only after that, the boat.

In case you plan to go to the embarking port by car make sure you arrive in the city designated for departure a day early.

Keep in mind that every ship has its own hour and most of them operate on CET – Central European Time. Make sure that you are there at the right time by making the calculus. If you embark from a foreign country take the time difference under consideration.

Once arrived on board you will be given a card very similar to the one from the bank. Take good care of it, because it is your ticket to the bar and restaurant. Normally all the guests of the cruise receive one, so if you have children with you make sure you hold on to theirs for they might lose it.

Every evening you will receive the evening program in your room. From it you can learn about the next day and night entertainment and the next day menu, which is normally served in the central restaurant.

Most cruises have included “dining on the shore” evenings which you can take advantage of 2-3 times during your cruise trip.

At first, plan more your future trip and research about the company you have been choosing. There are few things that are important, when it comes to cruising. One of these things is the lifestyle vibe of your cruise ship. In case you seek more sophistication in your vacation, you should choose only luxury cruise ships.

Read more ship reviews to find out what’s on board. For instance, if you want to avoid the crowds, you should pick only mini cruise ships, because the biggest passenger lines are crowded and you will not find the privacy you want. Another thing, which is important, is the amenities you find on board.

Royal Caribbean is the company known for providing perfect recreational options. If you choose to travel with this company, you will find water parks, boxing rings, golf course, ice skating rinks and all other kind of sport activities.

Surf parks are also part of Royal Caribbean`s offer, so this is one of the reasons why this company is so preferable when you are cruising with your children.

Extras like Grown Grill seafood restaurant, movies under the stars and the Sanctuary adults-only sundeck can be found only on the board of the biggest ships. Companies like Holland America are considered as family friendly cruise ships, because of their atmosphere on board.

If you are planning to have a family cruise, then you will surely need to research more about the children cares on board. Some cruise ships offer perfect conditions for big families. Of course, if you are honeymooners, you should choose some small cruise ships, where the guests are limited and selected.

The Celebrity is a company exactly like this, but it also offers luxury cruises for celebrities. Their newest ship is breathtaking and it is suitable for singles, newlyweds and young people.

The atmosphere resembles a boutique hotel. There are four different restaurants, including Italian and Chinese. The bars are also impressive, as well as the spa-center, which is on two levels.

In case you are going to travel seeking an adventure, choose the company of Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearl, for they offer water adventures for their customers, including swimming with dolphins, water skiing, etc.