10 Alternative Cruise Types … and Destinations

Cruises are super-popular, which can be a challenge for travelers who want to blaze their own trail. Not a lot of trail-blazing goes on aboard a 6,000-passenger Caribbean cruiser, where “going off the beaten path” might simply means avoiding the midnight cheesecake buffet.

Fortunately, the cruising universe is so broad that there are niches for everyone, even the zigger in a world of zaggers. Here are some cruisers for them (and you) to consider.

Mississippi River

Let’s start close to home. The Mississippi is the Father of Waters, the place where innumerable paddlewheel steamers plied their trade throughout the 19^th century. Today, however, it is not a major destination for modern‑day cruisers.

One big reason is that the river has been dammed and flood-controlled to such an extent that it’s hard (and time-consuming) to cruise all the way from New Orleans to St. Paul. It is, however, much easier to cruise each half of the Mississippi: roughly from St. Paul to St. Louis, and from St. Louis to New Orleans.

There’s something about American river towns that you can’t see from the land but is eminently clear from the water – the way the buildings show their faces to the water, and how they keep doing it up the hills.

A Mississippi cruise is a great way to get a fresh perspective on the home country. Just note that the season is limited by water levels and air temperatures, so it’s best to book early.

Magdalena River, Colombia

When most people are asked where they could river-cruise in South America, the immediate answer would be “the Amazon.”

That’s not wrong, but there are different rivers to cruise in South America, starting with the Magdalena in Colombia. This is the river where European cruise line AmaWaterways has launched a new service taking travelers from Cartagena to Barranquilla.

In true river-cruise fashion there are plenty of excursions, but unlike European cruises that focus on churches and viniculture, the Magdalena River cruise emphasizes local highlights such as coffee traditions and indigenous culture.

It’s a different sort of river cruise, and if that sounds good, you know where to go.

Small-boat Canal Cruises

Many American travelers have spent time in Amsterdam at one end of their river cruise. Some may have traveled the country a bit and noticed that there are canals literally everywhere.

And if they’ve wondered, “Are there smaller boats that can take me down some of these pretty little canals?”, the answer is yes.

Small barges carrying 15 guests or fewer ply the Netherlands’ many canals that are too small for conventional river-cruise ships.

Routes generally run from Amsterdam south and west, often going as far as Bruges, Belgium. Travel is leisurely, very personalized, and not exactly cheap. But if you love tulips, windmills, cheese, wine with dinner, and seeing the world with maximum relaxation, there’s no better way to travel.

The Arctic Circle

Cruises have seasons, and summer is the time for cruises to the Arctic, where you can revel in the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, though not at the same time.

It’s also your chance to enjoy the uniquely beautiful towns of the extreme north for those fleeting moments when they aren’t buried in snow.

Two basic routes take you to the Arctic Circle: Routes out of Toronto or other Canadian ports through the Northwest Passage to the Canadian Arctic, and from either England or Bergen, Norway, to the tippy-top of Scandinavia.

Either route takes you to a world you could have never imagined.

Patagonia

Southern South America offers villages reminiscent of the Alps and vistas that rival New Zealand for rugged beauty.

The Patagonia region of Chile is especially renowned for its diverse attractions—from cowboys and wine to dramatic jagged rock formations and powerful winds that make tornadoes seem tame. Cruises give you a unique glimpse into this special part of the world. They often start in Buenos Aires or Santiago, Chile, giving you time in those cities.

Once they’re at sea they work their way down the coast, stopping at ports like Puerto Madryn until they get to the windswept regions of Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, and Patagonia.

There’s so much to see that’s so unusual (plus a lot of sheep!) that it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s truly a different world – and that’s what makes it so wonderful.

Portugal

Portugal is a hot destination, literally and figuratively. But what many American travelers don’t know is that it’s a prime destination for cruises.

Cruises around Portugal are very popular with Europeans, especially British travelers who use these cruises a little like we use Caribbean cruises – as a quick way to enjoy some sun and warmth during their cloudier seasons.

A variety of routes include Portugal. There are sailings from England to Lisbon, river cruises up the Douro Valley through Portugal’s wine country, cruises that include Portugal on the way to the Mediterranean, and cruises that pair up Portugal with the Canary Islands or the Azores.

 If you’ve always wanted to see Portugal, cruises provide plenty of options.

Also Read: Americans in Portugal: Your Destination Guide

South Africa

 Cruises are a great way to explore the farthest reaches of continents—the remote places that few travelers experience. In Africa, cruises can take you down and around the Cape of Good Hope as part of itineraries that can include safaris in Namibia or stops in Mozambique and Madagascar, in addition to the obligatory dockings in Cape Town.

For people who love cruises and love Africa, a cruise might be the perfect way to explore it.

China

China is a country of otherworldly beauty. And one of the best ways to experience that beauty is on a cruise down the legendary Yangtze River.

Cruises take several days and generally run west-to-east, from Chongqing to Yichang or Wuhan. Scenery runs from cityscapes to oriental temples to the fantastic Three Gorges region, where the ships are dwarfed by steep cliffs.

 For those seeking an extended journey, some itineraries continue farther downstream, offering the chance to explore Guangzhou, a fast‑paced modern city, before returning home. However you choose to cruise you’ll be amazed by what you see, because this is China.

Also Read: Mandarin Cheat Sheet: Essential Mandarin Phrases for American Travelers

Los Angeles to Hawaii

For decades the primary way mainland Americans got to Hawaii was by boat. The SS Lurline became famous as the ship that carried stars, starlets and just plain folks from L.A. to the exotic islands.

Cruise ships still make this trip, and if this sounds romantic, you should know that it’s a long cruise – 12 to 16 days, and nothing but water. Modern cruise ships have a way of making you forget that fact – and many cruisers prefer boat days – but be aware.

The plus side is that many of these cruises don’t just simply drop you in Honolulu but take you around the islands, so if your goal is to see Hawaii in style they have you covered.

There are many faster ways to get to Hawaii, but you can still take a ship from Los Angeles to Honolulu and get a feel for what past travelers experienced.

No matter what flavor of cruise you ultimately choose, it goes better with travel protection from Generali Global Assistance.

Generali Global Assistance’s plans are great for cruises, and purchasing a plan is as easy as getting a quote.

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