Staterooms are stocked with every imaginable amenity and full of feel-good features like luscious linens, floor-to-ceiling windows, and private balconies that allow passengers to soak up all the stars, moonlight, and salt air the high seas can muster. Unique alternative restaurants offer mouthwatering menus chock full of culinary creations; spas feature swoon-worthy treatments and state-of-the-art exercise equipment, and onboard activities range from captivating lecturers and polished performances to wine tastings and cooking demonstrations.
Today’s luxury oceanliners are delightfully decadent, so much so that it’s easy to lose sight of the world beyond your private balcony, the airy promenade deck, or the chandelier-bedecked dining room. But keep your eye on the prize. Getting there is half the fun, but the rewards are many for those who save room in their store of cruising enthusiasm for the places to which these floating resorts sail. Luxury locales go above and beyond the call of the Caribbean and the magic of the Mediterranean. From idyllic islands floating serenely in the South Pacific to the pinky toe of South America and just about every other nook and cranny of the globe, luxury cruises offer unique itineraries brimming with out-of-the-ordinary ports of call. Size is also on the side of many luxury liners. Smaller than the average cruise ship, these vessels can often navigate the narrow waterways and compact harbors that remain out of reach for the mega-ships.
Idyll-ing in the South Pacific
Mastered the art of the well-timed mahalo and perfected the lilt of a Caribbean patois? Maybe it’s time to heed the siren call of the South Pacific and book passage on one of the many luxury cruises heading to this remote region. Island pleasures and treasures abound in the South Seas. Swim or snorkel in a protected lagoon, eyes peeled for a kaleidoscopic mix of fish; shop for black pearl jewelry, or browse in traditional markets inhaling vanilla-spiced breezes and the sweet essence of tropical fruit. South Pacific cruises call at Tahiti, Fiji, Bora Bora, and a dozen or so other dreamy dots on the map--like Ua Huka, where wild horses outnumber people, and Hiva Oa, the Marquesas Island famous for the lush landscapes that inspired adopted son and painter Paul Gauguin.
Down-Under Delights and Kiwi Charms
From multicultural cosmopolitan cities with must-see monuments and museums to marine marvels and ancient rainforests, Australia’s attractions are as diverse as its topography. Cruises to the Land Down Under invite passengers to explore the Great Barrier Reef in all its Technicolor glory as sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, and fish of every stripe engage in a slithery choreography among the coral. Whether you choose to snorkel on the surface, submerge in scuba gear, or take in the action via a glass-bottom boat, ports with access to this wonder--Cairns, Hardy Reef, and the private resort of Hayman Island--rarely disappoint. Back on shore, Australia’s cities beckon visitors with awe-inspiring attractions of their own, such as Sydney’s stunning Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Melbourne Zoo, and all manner of adventure activities, from crocodile hunts to four-wheel-drive safaris.
Many of the luxury lines that call in Australia also stop in New Zealand for a cruise double feature. Scenic splendor permeates the “Land of the Long White Cloud” and ranges from magnificent snow-capped peaks to golden swaths of sand and misty fjords. The city of Auckland boasts not one, but two, harbors, both of which bob with a bounty of sailboats. Stroll along the River Avon in tidy, English-influenced Christchurch, see yellow-eyed penguins in Dunedin’s nature reserves, and catch your breath before gliding along Milford Sound, where forested mountains seem to tumble straight into the sea.
A Bountiful Blend of Cultures in Asia
Skyscraping shopping malls bursting at the seams with the latest electronic gadgets. Street markets crammed to capacity with noodles, curries, dumplings, and people, people, and more people. Hushed temples and princely palaces. Rice paddies, bamboo groves, and glorious beaches. No place embodies the exotic quite like Asia, whose mix of cultures and blend of ancient and modern provide visitors with a feast for the senses. Cruises to this diverse region might include sightseeing to your heart’s content in Saigon, Singapore, or Shanghai, or sampling sake, soaking in hot springs, or watching cherry-blossom flurries in Japan. Other sights to behold include the Great Wall of China; Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, where views are best enjoyed via ferry or funicular; Thailand’s magnificent temple complexes; and Vietnam’s Halong Bay, home to no fewer than 2,000 palm-crowned islands.
City-Centric Treasures and Natural Wonders in South America
Images of South America loom large on many a traveler’s wish list and cruising is one of the best ways to taste all the riches of this incredible continent. The big cities--Rio, Buenos Aires, Lima--offer vibrant street celebrations, world-renowned beaches, colonial architecture, fascinating museums, and tango tunes. After exploring the urban attractions, many South America cruises head back to nature. Chile’s spectacular Patagonia region is blessed with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks that slope toward fjords graciously dotted with glittering glaciers, winging seabirds, and flocks of waddling penguins. Ships call at tiny outposts at the bottom of the world, many of which are short on the usual tourist trappings, but long on unspoiled beauty and tranquility. The lure of the languid Amazon also makes its mark on many a South American cruise itinerary. The famous jungle creeps ever closer to the golden beaches of Brazil’s Alter do Chao and cruise passengers are welcomed to the Amazonian settlement of Boca de Valeria by a clutch of canoeing villagers who paddle out to meet the ship.•
