Summer is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to take the family on a cruise vacation! Cruises are an ideal vacation choice because everything is laid out for you; there is an itinerary in place to visit the best vacation spots, meals right on the ship, and with so many activities right at your fingertips, all you have to do is choose what you’d like to do. If you want the kids to learn a little something while on vacation, a cruise is a perfect way to introduce them to different foods, cultures, and customs. So if you’re ready to cruise this year, take a look at this list of the best cruise options for this summer––and beyond!
- The Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean cruises have exploded in popularity in the last several years, and for good reason! Cruising the Mediterranean is a fantastic way to see many different European countries in a relatively short period of time. Some of the best 2022 Mediterranean cruises feature trips to France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and even Turkey! No matter what country or country you choose, you will surely get delicious food, lots of history, and breathtaking views!
Mediterranean cruises are sometimes split into eastern and western regions. If you embark on a western Mediterranean cruise, you’ll visit places such as Barcelona, Spain, Provence, France, and Rome, Italy. For an eastern cruise, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Athens, Greece, and Istanbul, Turkey is popular ports of call. If you’re feeling super ambitious or an experienced cruiser, you can even take an extended trip that encompasses the entire Mediterranean Sea!
- The Caribbean
When you think of a cruise, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the Caribbean. There are so many places to explore! Cruise routes around the Caribbean are typically broken up into the eastern and western Caribbean, with each side housing different islands and attractions.
The eastern Caribbean––featuring islands such as St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Maarten––boasts world-class shopping, and award-winning beaches and is a perfect choice for a longer cruise. Because these stops are farther away from the United States than those in the west, a voyage lasting a week or more will ensure you can experience everything each spot has to offer.
The western Caribbean is great if you want to take a shorter cruise because the ports of call are much closer to the United States mainland. The Bahamas, Jamaica, The Cayman Islands, and even destinations in Mexico like Cozumel and Cancun are all options for a western Caribbean cruise. If you’re seeking water sports and other adventurous activities or you need to take a shorter cruise, the west is a great place to start. Whether you pick the east or the west, you really can’t go wrong!
- Alaska
Alaska probably isn’t the first place to come to mind when someone says “cruise,” but it is one of the most gorgeous destinations out there! Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway are common ports of call; each features Alaska’s unique history, hiking excursions, shopping, restaurants, and much more.
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Alaskan cruises is the incredible glaciers. The cruise ship will get as close as safely possible to these gorgeous natural creations, but if you want to get even more up close and personal, there are shore excursions that’ll take you right up to a glacier. Other possible Alaskan adventures include kayaking, fishing, and hiking, so if your family loves adventure, Alaska is the perfect cruise destination.
With so many different options for cruise destinations, it can be hard to choose! There are so many incredible voyages out there, but these are tried and true trips that will absolutely delight your family. Cruises offer so much variety that everyone in your family is bound to find something they love. Whether you like to learn about history, explore ruins, go on thrilling adventures, shop the day away or chill on a beach with a good book, a cruise is the ultimate vacation choice!
