There's so much more to cruises than the Med and the Caribbean – these destinations prove it

Telegraph

12 hours ago

We all know why the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, Caribbean, and Canary Islands top the Cruise Lines International Association's table of places Brits love to cruise. Never mind the prospect of sun (yes, even in the fjords), there are centuries of history, fabulous scenery, world-class cities, brilliant beaches… the list goes on.
Far more intriguing are the countries languishing at the bottom of the table – the places British cruise-goers don't go. Alaska, Asia, Australasia, Africa, South America, Canada, New England, Hawaii, even close-to-home Scandinavia; between them they don't even get close to the number who flock to the Canary Islands each year.
Yet they offer everything that cruising Brits love about the places they do venture, and aren't anywhere near as expensive as you'd think. Here are nine destinations that probably aren't but really should be on the cruising hit list this year. Prices are for 2025 unless noted otherwise.
1. Seychelles
If you thought that this dreamy archipelago in the Indian Ocean was the preserve of the Royals and celebs, think again.
Greek line Variety Cruises has year-round sailings from Mahe that won't break the bank onboard Pegasos, a small ship made for hopping between the islands. Expect sea, sun, and bone-white sand, as well as close encounters with giant tortoises, exotic birds, and a chance to spot the rare black parrot only found on Praslin Island.
How to do it
A 10-night Seychelles Island Odyssey trip costs from £3,274 pp, departing on October 22, 2025. Includes flights, transfers, three nights at the Savoy Resort & Spa with breakfast, and a seven-night full-board cruise. Variety Cruises (020 8324 3117)
2. Hawaii
If you're picturing otherworldly lava fields, lush rainforests, Pearl Harbour (the idyllic setting for America's darkest hour), and lots of days at sea, you're right. Almost. Norwegian Cruise Line and Uncruise have all the fun stuff, but also US-flagged ships (respectively biggish and small), crewed by Americans that are allowed to sail within Hawaii under US maritime law.
Translation? There are none of the days at sea that other lines spend getting to the islands from the US or Canadian west coast (10 out of 16 days with Princess). There's still a long flight to contend with – you'll have to fold yourself into a plane for 20 hours or so – but at least it gets straight to the hula action.
How to do it
A seven-day Hawaii: Inter-island trip costs from £1,560pp departing on December 6, 2025. Includes accommodation, meals in main dining rooms and buffet restaurants, and most entertainment and onboard activities. (0333 241 2319)
3. Baltic
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia were faring OK in CLIA's chart of places the British like to cruise. But then Russia invaded Ukraine, and ships left the Baltic pronto.
While some vessels have since returned, for many, the Baltic without St Petersburg (off-limits for obvious reasons) is like Hans without Gretel.
That's a shame because there's so much to love about the region – be it the canals of Stockholm, Helsinki's beautiful waterfront, Tallinn's cobbled streets and conical, red-tiled roofs, or Copenhagen's easy-going vibe. What's more, they're all on our doorstep too.
How to do it
A 10-day Copenhagen to Stockholm trip with Oceania Cruises costs from £2,809pp, departing on July 10, 2026. Includes tips, speciality dining, and Wi-Fi. (0345 505 1920)
4. Galapagos Islands
Let's face facts: a cruise around the Galapagos Islands, some 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador, is never going to be cheap. But being able to get within touching distance of birds, giant tortoises, iguanas, and other wildlife that has no fear of humans is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that's worth splashing the cash on. Ships visit two islands a day, packing in lots of different wildlife as they go.
How to do it
A 10-night Quito & Galapagos Outer Loop trip onboard Celebrity Flora, Celebrity's Galapagos-based vessel, costs from £6,835pp departing on November 14, 2025. Includes two nights in Quito, return flights from Ecuador to the Galapagos, and seven nights cruising with drinks, tips, and Wi-Fi. (0344 493 2043)
5. America's Great Lakes
Mention a Great Lakes cruise to Americans and they'll coo 'Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island'. Bring it up with Brits and you'll be met with blank stares – unless they are one of the lucky few to have sailed them.
Why don't more Brits visit Mackinac? Because they don't know about the spectacular scenery, museums (yes, we do mean all the history in Detroit's Henry Ford Museum and Cleveland's fun Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and of course, cute Mackinaw, where visitors are transported by horse-drawn carts. Until now, that is.
How to do it
A 10-night Chicago to Toronto trip with Victory Cruise Lines costs from $5,799pp (£4,299pp) departing on May 10, 2026. Includes a pre-cruise hotel night, transfers, drinks, tours, and Wi-Fi. ([phone])
6. Australia and New Zealand
Flights to New Zealand are long (it takes more than 24 hours to travel to Auckland) and pricey, but don't let that put you off. This luxurious romp with Silversea through New Zealand's North and South Islands (think culture, sheep, gannets, and wine) ends in Melbourne, where you can escape the British winter by lingering a little longer.
There are iconic cities to see, epic train journeys to take, and more amazing cruises to pack in. A month Down Under is simply not enough.
How to do it
A 16-day Auckland to Melbourne sailing with Silversea costs from £6,600pp departing on December 16, 2025. Includes drinks, tips, most speciality dining, selected shore excursions, and Wi-Fi. (0844 251 0837)
7. Japan
With so many of its great cities on or near the coast, Japan was made for cruising. In just 11 days, passengers can tick off blockbuster cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Kochi, Hiroshima, and Kagoshima, visit ancient temples, shrines, and castles, watch smoking volcanoes, and ride the country's famed bullet trains.
For those nervous about navigating the country's cultural and culinary differences – never mind trying to understand the lingo – there's no better way to visit than on a cruise. You'll be able to explore ashore on guided tours by day and come 'home' to more familiar surroundings.
How to do it
An 11-day Japan Explorer trip costs from £1,101pp departing on March 6, 2026. Includes complimentary dining (excluding speciality restaurants) and entertainment. (0344 338 8663)
8. New England
Whether because they think it is too far to travel (it's not) or will be like the old one (it's not), British cruisers are skipping New England in their droves. Boy, are they missing out.
And not just on eating lobster (which is such an obsession that there's even lobster ice cream in Bar Harbor), but on seeing charming towns and cities linked to the revolution that have a familiar ring. Boston, Bath, Gloucester, Portland, Plymouth, Newport… It's like you never left home.
How to do it
A 14-night Grand New England Cruise from Boston with America Cruise Lines costs from £10,332pp, departing on May 31, 2026. Includes drinks, tips, selected tours, and Wi-Fi. (0800 021 3172)
9. South Africa
If you love wildlife, you can't beat a cruise in South Africa. Not only are there penguins, giraffes, hippos, elephants, and, of course, the Big Five, but you can spot them all on a sailing safari.
Instead of wasting time flying or on road trips, your floating hotel transports you from park to park in comfort. If that's not reason enough to entice British cruise-goers to Africa, how about the added attractions of wine-tasting and Robben Island (Nelson Mandela's former prison near Cape Town)?
How to do it
A 15-night Cape Town, Durban & Port Louis cruise with Azamara costs from £2,969pp departing on December 20, 2025. Includes selected drinks and tips. (03444 934016)
10. Arabian Gulf
You'd think sun-starved Britons would flock to cruises around the Arabian Gulf in winter, given they offer guaranteed blue skies and warmth close-ish to home at a price that won't make you gulp. But no.The region is languishing near the bottom of the Cruise Lines International Association (ClIA) chart and Brits are missing out on everything from exciting 4x4 dune-bashing jeep rides in the desert to wildlife safaris, souks, mosques, go-karting and a peek behind-the-scenes at Abu Dhabi's F1 circuit.
How to do it
A seven-night Desert Days sailing with Celestyal costs from £539 per person departing on January 31, 2026 from Doha. Includes soft drinks with meals and Wi-Fi. (0808 258 4722)