Best Cruises in the World: 10 Bucket List Journeys You’ll Never Forget

I used to think cruises were… not really my thing. Big ships, buffet lines, a vague memory of shuffleboard (??). And then I realized there’s a completely different side to cruising that no one really talks about – the kind where you’re drifting through the Amazon at sunrise or pulling into a tiny island you’d never be able to reach any other way. There’s no one way to cruise, and seeing places via boat allows you to see places in a way you never could otherwise.

Because that’s the real appeal here. You unpack once, settle in, and the world just… comes to you. Jungles, glaciers, ancient temples, remote islands. It’s weirdly one of the most efficient ways to see some of the most inaccessible places on Earth, and also one of the most relaxing (which feels unfair, but I’ll take it).

Below are some of the best cruises in the world, based on the actual experiences in the destinations reachable by cruise boats. The kind you plan a whole trip around.

Amazon River Cruise, Peru

The Amazon is one of those places that feels almost too wild to fully grasp until you’re actually in it. Like… you hear “largest rainforest in the world” and “insane biodiversity,” but it doesn’t really hit until you’re on a boat, surrounded by nothing but dense jungle in every direction.

This is one of the few destinations where a cruise isn’t just a nice option, it’s basically the way to do it. Roads are limited, distances are huge, and a lot of the most interesting areas are only accessible by water. So instead of hopping between lodges, you’re moving deeper into the jungle every day on the river.

Some of the smaller, luxury expedition-style private cruise ships take this to another level, with guided excursions, wildlife spotting (pink dolphins are a real thing), and access to remote tributaries you just wouldn’t reach otherwise.

It’s quiet, it’s a little surreal, and it’s one of those trips where you feel very small in the best possible way as you access some of the most remote partwsw of the world.

Nile River Cruise, Egypt

A Nile river cruise is a bucketlist excursion, whether you are into history or not… trust me, by the end, you will be. The Nile is incredibly scenic, and it’s basically a timeline of ancient Egypt laid out along the water.

You’re floating between places like Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, and instead of long bus rides through the desert, you’re waking up a few hours downstream from your last stop. The cruises run like clockwork to see all the most amazing sights in the most efficient way.

Nile River cruises function essentially like floating hotels between Awswan and Luxor. For my full guide on how to book these, check my article on Nile river cruises. It’s one of the most classic cruises in the world, but it doesn’t feel overrated. If anything, it delivers more than you expect, even if a bit full-on at times. 

Mekong River Cruise, Vietnam & Cambodia

The Mekong feels completely different from the Nile. It’s less about ancient monuments and more about everyday life happening right on the water.

You’ll pass floating villages, markets, small temples, kids waving from the riverbanks… it’s constant movement, but in a very calm, unhurried way. And because you’re traveling through both Vietnam and Cambodia, there’s this subtle shift in culture as you go that you actually notice.

This is another destination where smaller ships make a big difference. Some of the more boutique experiences – like Aqua Expeditions – focus on fewer passengers, more local interaction, and excursions that focus on local interactions that aren’t flashy but leave a mark. 

Croatia Coast Cruise (Adriatic Sea)

This is a completely different vibe  more sunshine, more swim stops, a little bit social, and a little bit chaotic (in a fun way – especially if you like to party).

Cruising along the Croatian coast is basically island hopping made easy. It’s like Croatia was made for sailing; the islands are the perfect distance apart for morning sails and afternoon adventures around different ports. One day you’re wandering through Dubrovnik’s old town, the next you’re jumping off the boat into ridiculously clear water somewhere near Hvar, and then suddenly you’re at a beach bar with no real plan for the rest of the day.

It leans younger than a lot of other cruises, especially in summer, and it’s one of the few where the journey feels just as much about the people as the places. Think: long lunches, sunset drinks, and that kind of energy, all for a week onboard.

Caribbean Cruise

Okay, this is the cruise that most people picture first, and for good reason. Cruising the Caribbean is easy, it’s warm, and there’s a huge variety of islands packed into a relatively small area. This is the most popular for the stereotypical large cruise ship, but you can cruise in a lot of different ways, on smaller ships and also private cruises too.

You can wake up gliding across the ocean, and land in a different country every day without dealing with flights, ferries, or logistics. Beaches, snorkeling, casual exploring… it’s all very low effort in the best way.

It’s also a great entry point if you’ve never done a cruise before. You get the concept, figure out what you like (and don’t), and then maybe graduate to something a little more remote next time.

This cruise destination isn’t groundbreaking, but sometimes you just want turquoise water and zero stress… and it’s perfect for that.

Mexico Cruise (Pacific Coast from California)

This one always feels a little underrated to me, probably because people don’t talk about it in the same “bucket list” way… but I grew up in Southern California, and these were super popular.

A lot of Mexico cruises leave straight from San Pedro (the port in LA), which already makes them appealing because you don’t even have to deal with a flight if you’re from here. You just show up, get on the ship, and a few hours later you’re on your way down the Pacific coast. Some of them are shorter, like long weekend trips that lean a bit more party-heavy, and others stretch out for a week or so and go further into the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Stops usually include places like Ensenada, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta… all with very different vibes. You might be doing margaritas by the water one day and wandering through a local market the next. It’s not trying to be super remote or off-grid, and that’s kind of the point – seeing Mexican hotspots from the ship.

It’s easy, it’s social, and doesn’t require a ton of planning but still feels like a proper getaway. 

Galápagos Islands Cruise, Ecuador

The Galápagos is one of the most incredible and bucketlist-worthy destinations for a very good reason. They are known for being more pricey as they are more remote, but to see some of the most biodiverse places on the planet, it’s worth saving up for a bit. 

Animals just exist around you without much fear. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and birds you’ve probably only seen in textbooks. It’s not a zoo situation at all… it’s more like you’re the one out of place, visiting their habitats for a moment.

Cruising is the best way to explore the islands because access is tightly controlled, and most itineraries are designed to minimize environmental impact while still letting you see a lot.

It’s very much an expedition-style experience. You’re not there to relax by a pool (well… not primarily). You’re there to see something you won’t see anywhere else.

Norwegian Fjords Cruise

Cruising the Norwegian fjords is a completely different vibe from the typical “cruise” people picture. You’re not here for beaches or hot weather or large cocktails – you’re here because this is one of the only ways to properly see some of the wildest landscapes in the world.

The fjords are massive. Like… properly massive. We’re talking cliffs that shoot up over 1,000 meters straight out of the water (which is hard to even picture), waterfalls dropping down the sides, tiny villages that look like they shouldn’t physically fit where they are. You don’t really get the scale of it from photos… it only hits when you’re on the water, looking up and feeling very, very small.

And that’s the thing, roads can only take you so far in Norway, especially through these lanscapes. A lot of the best views are from inside the fjords themselves, which is why cruising through them makes the most sense. You’re literally moving through the landscape instead of looking at it from a viewpoint with 200 other people (but you can still do hikes from cruises, too).

It’s also not a “do nothing” kind of cruise. Most itineraries mix in stops where you can get off, hike, take trains into the mountains, or just wander around these quiet little towns that feel very far removed from anywhere else. Many cruises also head up to Svalbard, which is a whole other adventure!

Also worth knowing – this is the opposite of a tropical situation. Even in summer, it’s cool, sometimes rainy, and you will be wearing layers most of the time. But that honestly adds to the experience.

Antarctica Expedition Cruise

Antarctica is one of those trips people talk about doing “one day”… but when you actually look into the logistics, it’s a lot more doable than you’d expect. Still more intense than your average holiday, but not nearly as out of reach as it sounds.

Getting there is a big part of the experience. Most cruises leave from Ushuaia, down at the very bottom of South America, and from there you cross the Drake Passage. It can be rough, or totally calm… you won’t know until you’re in it.

Once you’re there, the whole trip revolves around getting off the ship as much as possible. Most days include zodiac outings or landings on the continent, depending on weather and conditions. You’ll be walking around, seeing penguins up close, spotting seals on the ice, whales in the distance if you’re lucky – no infrastructure, no towns, nothing built up for tourism.

There isn’t really another practical way to experience Antarctica unless you’re spending a huge amount on a fly-in or camping expedition. Cruises are how most people do it, and there are ways to make them more affordable too; I’ve heard of people getting last-minute deals just by waiting in Ushuaia and grabbing unsold cabins for a discounted rate.

The landscapes are genuinely incredible. Ice in every direction, sharp blues in the glaciers, huge icebergs that look completely different depending on the light. It’s very stark, very minimal, and nothing about it feels familiar.

It’s not a relaxing, sit-back kind of trip. You’re layering up, dealing with cold, getting in and out of small boats, but that’s the trade-off for being somewhere this remote.

Indonesian Archipelago Cruise (Raja Ampat / Komodo/Bali)

Indonesia is massive, and a lot of the places people actually want to see, like Raja Ampat, Komodo, all those smaller islands, are not easy to get to, but have some of the best diving in the world. You’re dealing with multiple flights, boats, and timing everything properly… or you just get on a boat once and let it handle the route for you.

That’s why cruising, or even private cruising here makes a lot of sense. Instead of trying to piece it together yourself, you’re moving between islands overnight and waking up somewhere completely different. One day you’re snorkeling over coral reefs, the next you’re hiking to viewpoints or seeing Komodo dragons, then you’re at a beach with no one else around.

It’s also one of the few places where “remote” still actually means remote. A lot of these areas aren’t built up, and that’s very obvious once you’re out there.

There are some higher-end expedition-style cruises in this region that make it a lot more comfortable than you’d expect for somewhere this spread out.

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There’s no single “best” cruise in the world, obviously. It really depends what you’re into – history, wildlife, beaches, something a little more off-grid, or adding all of the above to your lifetime bucketlist and ticking them off one-by-one (like me). 

But the flexibility is the appeal of cruising. You can go from ancient temples to polar ice to tropical islands, all without constantly repacking your life into a suitcase every two days (which, is a luxury I will take advantage of whenever possible).

What matters isn’t filling your eyes, but rather letting one moment fill you. Rushing fades into background noise once stillness takes hold on the water.

Which amazing cruise in the world will you try first?