One of the best things about cruising is getting to discover new destinations. Here are our top ten cruise destinations to visit in 2020…
2020 is a new year, new start and a new chance to visit more amazing destinations all around the world. And if you’re looking for the best places to go, look no further for CLIA UK & Ireland have revealed their top ten must-visit cruise destinations for this year. This follows from recent UK consumer research which found almost two-thirds of UK cruisers will return to a destination they first visited on a cruise holiday.
Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “It’s fantastic to see that many travellers see cruise as a great way to explore new destinations. A cruise offers the opportunity for guests to experience places they may have never previously heard of, and in future return as part of a land-based holiday.
Find out which destinations you need to head to here…
Canadian Rockies, Canada
The Canadian Rockies are home to vast forests and opaque lakes of emerald green with the backdrop of towering mountains topped with snow. Visitors can kayak on stunning lakes, walk the 300-metre Athabasca Glacier, travel on the Icefield’s Parkway, and stop off at the beautiful Glacier Bay National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1992.
Brand new for 2020, Riviera Travel is offering guests a tour of the Canadian Rockies, combined with a full-board Alaskan cruise on Holland America Line’s MS Nieuw Amsterdam sailing roundtrip from Vancouver. Prices for a 16-day Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise starts from £3,799pp.
Singapore
As the gateway to Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, Singapore is a popular homeport for numerous cruise lines. A truly modern metropolis, the city state is unlike anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Visitors can try Michelin star cuisine for just $2 at the Hawker stalls, sip on Singapore Slings whilst taking in a bird’s eye view of the city at Marina Bay Sands hotel, and marvel at the stunning grove of man-made trees at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
Explore Southeast Asia with Royal Caribbean on the 7-night ‘Best of Malaysia & Thailand’ cruise onboard Quantum of the Seas, sailing roundtrip from Singapore. Departing 4 February 2021. Prices start from £554pp.
Kimberley, Western Australia
As one of the last remaining wildernesses on earth, an expedition cruise along the Kimberley coast in Western Australia is simply breathtaking. The region is a made up of a panorama of rugged mountains, spectacular gorges and majestic waterfalls. Cruise visitors can head out on zodiac boats to experience natural phenomena such as the Montgomery Reef, which has been compared to watching a plug be pulled the ocean as the reef appears to rise.
APT’s ‘the Grand Kimberley Coast Cruise’ offers a unique and different experience every day and guests have the chance to visit Adele Island, which is famous for being surrounded by reef sharks and stingrays. A 15-day expedition cruise starts from £7,495pp (flight inclusive) departing 30 May 2020.
Porto, Portugal
The gateway to the Douro, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and the home of the famous tipple, Port. With late-season sunshine, stunning scenery and opportunities to sample the local produce, Portugal’s Douro Valley is one of Europe’s most popular river-cruise regions. The scenery along the Douro Valley is ravishingly beautiful, with sinuous vine terraces following the contours of steep hills.
Sail ‘Into the Heart of Portugal’ with Scenic on a 10-night voyage sailing from Porto to the sleepy Spanish port town Vega de Terron. Part of a partnership with National Geographic, this cruise is escorted by photographer Krista Rossow. Prices start from £4,720pp departing 22 September 2020.
Svalbard, Norway
The Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time. It is one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas known for its remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes.
Cruise the Svalbard with Tauck on the ‘Earth Journeys with BBC Earth’ voyage. The 10-night trip from Oslo to Kongsbreen departs July 2020. Guests will cruise with special guest lecturer BBC Earth wildlife filmmaker, Peter Bassett. Prices start from £7,860pp.
Panama Canal, Panama
The Panama Canal’s enhanced locks are attracting more and more people to sail through this engineering masterpiece. There really is no better vantage point than the top deck of a ship from which to see this latter-day wonder of the world. There’s also a wealth of local shore excursions that take in the striking surrounding areas, such as jungles, rainforests and volcanoes, as well as the Costa Rican sloth sanctuary where visitors can see the rescue, rehabilitation and release of these amazing creatures.
Princess Cruises have a range of ships and itineraries which guests can take advantage of during 2020, such as the 1-night ‘Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean’ cruise on Island Princess. Prices starts from £1,029pp sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Departs 17 March 2020.
Castro, Chile
Castro is a city on the Chiloé Island in Chile’s Lake District where buildings are largely built of abundant local woods, and many houses elaborately shingled in intricate designs or look as if they are balancing on stilts. The forest and sea are the population’s main source of livelihood and the basis of their everyday lives. Visitors can stroll the Tepual pathway through a forest of tepu at the Cucao Chiloe National Park or enjoy a horseback ride around the Chiloé Island.
Seabourn offers a 21-Day Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia (Santiago to Buenos Aires) on Seabourn Quest. Departing 29 November 2020. Ocean view suites start from £11,500 per person. Veranda Suites are available from £13,000 per person. Guests can visit Chilean lakes, volcanos, fjords and glaciers in Patagonia, followed by six unforgettable days exploring Antarctica by land and sea.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Tsukiji Market is the largest open-air fish market in the world, where vendors slice fresh sushi on the spot. At night, visitors can watch the city explode with energy in the Ginza District.
Explore Japan on Norwegian Cruise Line’s 14-day ‘Immersive Japan from Tokyo’ from £2,866pp (including flights). Ports include Sapporo, Nagasaki, Kyoto, Mount Fuji and Tokyo, sailing on Norwegian Spirit.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, on a peninsula beneath the imposing Table Mountain. Slowly rotating cable cars climb to the mountain’s flat top, from which there are sweeping views of the city, the busy harbour and boats heading for Robben Island, the notorious prison that once held Nelson Mandela, which is now a living museum.
Spend three nights in Cape Town before embarking on a four-night Chobe River safari cruise with AmaWaterways. The 9-night ‘Discover Africa’ itinerary concludes with two nights at the Victoria Falls. Departs 13 November 2020, prices start from £7,671pp.
Bozcaada, Turkey
Last but not least in our list of top ten cruise destinations to visit in 2020 is Bozcaada in Turkey. Delight in this breezy Aegean gem, a beach-blessed island also known for producing some of Turkey’s most delicious wines. Visitors will notice the brilliant fusion of cultures with clusters of whitewashed buildings from which the occasional minaret will burst forth. A stop at the port allows travellers to browse unique and intricate souvenirs crafted by local artisans. Beside the sheltered harbor, discover the town’s imposing 15th-century castle, which is among the best preserved in the country. The destination is mentioned in both the Iliad and the Aeneid and travellers can look out to sea and picture Achilles’ arrival to the very spot, during the legendary Trojan War.
Oceania Cruises offer a 10-day Mediterranean Fusion (Istanbul to Barcelona) onboard Sirena. Prices from £3,119 per person (B2 Veranda Stateroom) for departure on 8 April 2021. Ports of call include Istanbul, Bozcaada (Troy), Ephesus (Kusadasi), Heraklion (Crete), Rome, Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
Let us know your favourite from our list of top ten cruise destinations to visit in 2020…
