The Cruiser’s Bucket List: Five Itineraries To Do Before You Die

We never take a cruise holiday for granted, after all, everybody knows cruises are the best kind of holiday there is. Despite this, there are some itineraries that stand out from the rest, sitting atop the bucket list of many an avid cruiser. These are our bucket list itineraries; where are yours?

Norwegian Fjords

With their great expanses of inky blue water, soaring snow-capped mountains and thunderous waterfalls, the Norwegian Fjords are a popular bucket list destination. Thanks to our notoriously poor British weather, it’s easy to plan holidays in sunnier climates, however you’ll struggle to beat the majestic scenery offered by a destination that is much closer to home.

Cruise lines including Fred Olsen and P&O Cruises are amongst those offering Norwegian Fjords cruises, with each itinerary promising a multitude of experiences; pastel painted harbours, sleepy fishing villages, lively towns steeped in their own raucous traditions, UNESCO World Heritage sites and gleaming glaciers carved over tens of thousands of years.

If you need a reminder of just how small we are in the grand scheme of all things Mother Nature has to offer, the Norwegian Fjords are a great place to find out.

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a modern day masterpiece of engineering, taking over 30 years to complete and cementing a place on the bucket list of many cruise enthusiasts. Connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Panama Canal passes through lush jungle, bustling waterfront communities, rural villages and magnificent coastlines.

A full transit of the iconic waterway will take around 10 hours, as you journey the 48 miles from one end to the other with just inches to spare on either side of your ship. Passing through cities including Acapulco, Balboa, Colon, Limon and Panama City, you’ll see far more than industrial waterways; you can expect to spend your days in the waters of the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America too!

Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises are amongst the cruise lines offering Panama Canal itineraries.

Transatlantic

While a transatlantic cruise can take you to several destinations, a Cunard voyage westbound to New York City sits top of our bucket list. Board the iconic Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 and set sail in absolute luxury, enjoying every single element of the renowned cruise line’s White Star Service along the way. Dine on food comparable to that served in the world’s finest five-star restaurants, be entertained by world-class RADA performers and stay in some of the most luxurious suites at sea. Finally, after seven days on board the most famous ocean liner in the world, you will be greeted by the Statue of Liberty as you arrive into New York.

Make the most of ticking a transatlantic cruise to New York off your bucket list by celebrating with a couple of extra days in the city that never sleeps, giving you chance to take a bite of the Big Apple before catching your flight home.

Mississippi River

Sailing a paddlewheeler along the Mississippi River is one of those ‘pinch me’ moments that only happen once in life, and only if we’re very lucky at that. Enjoy a slice of Southern hospitality with a Mississippi River cruise, as you venture through the likes of New Orleans, Nashville and Memphis.

Visit the birthplace of jazz, the home of rock ‘n’ roll, and the capital of country, all while treating yourself to soul food like mama used to make; Creole, Cajun, smoky BBQ and sweet cornbread are in abundance. You’ll visit vast sugar plantations and whisky factories, and drink at bars previously frequented by Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack.

If you’re looking for the American Dream, the Mississippi is as good a place as any to start.

World Cruise

When it comes to bucket lists, seeing the world often sits right at the top. And so, the chance to see the world in one foul swoop, visiting its most iconic cities and idyllic beaches as part of one holiday, is even more enticing.

A world cruise can take you to Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, beneath Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, through the heart of Venice, past San Francisco’s Golden Gate and down the Suez Canal. It can take you through the Panama Canal, along the coast of the Italian Riviera and to the frenetic streets of Tokyo. If you’ve always wanted to see the whole world but life just got in the way, a world cruise presents the perfect second chance.

What are you waiting for?