Five Hot New Cruise Destinations

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Fancy cruising somewhere new, exotic or a bit different? As the world of cruising expands, new ports of call and regions are appearing more frequently on itineraries across the globe. Here are five of the hottest to consider.

 

Cuba

This fascinating island nation is increasingly open to travel, including cruising. Starting from December 2015, MSC Cruises’ MSC Opera will call Havana home for four months through to April. The Cuban capital is a highlight of the seven-night round-trip cruise, with two days and nights in port to explore its attractions, including the old town’s cobbled streets, retro cars and crumbling houses. It also visits Jamaica’s Montego Bay, Georgetown in Grand Cayman and the Mexican island of Cozumel.

 

Need to know: MSC Opera departs Havana on April 5, 2016.

 

Portugal’s Douro River

It was once a forgotten corner of Europe, but the Douro is quickly becoming a new river cruising hotspot. It’s a place of dramatic scenery and destinations, from the historic UNESCO city of Porto to the grapevine covered slopes of Upper Douro. From April 2016, you can explore aboard Scenic’s new 48-stateroom Scenic Azure on a 10-night round-trip cruise, featuring overnight stays in Porto, Entre-os-Rios, Regua and Pinhao, and visits to Vega de Terron, Salamanca and Pinhao.

 

India’s Lower Ganges

The Ganges River is revered as a sacred, life-giving force, and for visitors it’s another new and exotic river cruising hotspot. Uniworld is launching the 56-guest Ganges Voyager II in January 2016 to cruise the Lower Ganges. The 12-night tour includes three days in New Delhi, a seven-night cruise and two overnight stays in Kolkata, with stops at Agra, to visit the iconic Taj Mahal, and Jaipur, the famous ‘Pink City’ and the capital of Rajasthan state.

 

Need to know: Ganges Voyager II departs New Delhi on March 11, 2016.

 

Papua New Guinea

As rich in culture and history as it is blessed with stunning landscapes, the archipelago of Papua New Guinea has to be seen to be believed. P&O ventures here as part of its Explorer program. Its ‘New Guinea Islands Unearthed’ itinerary is an 11-night round-trip cruise from Sydney, with six days at sea and a call at Brisbane, and ports of call to explore in PNG including Alotau, Kiriwina Island, Doini Island and scenic cruising of the famous Kawanasausau Strait and Milne Bay.

 

Need to know: Pacific Jewel departs Sydney on June 14, 2016.

 

Norwegian Fjords

If you’re looking for a cruise with a real difference, you can explore Norway’s dramatic fjords, together with popular ports of call in Russia, the Baltics and Scandinavia, on a 16-night cruise on Norwegian Star. On this round trip from cosmopolitan Copenhagen, highlights include an overnight stay in St Petersburg, stops at Helsinki and Stockholm, and in Norway, a cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geirangerfjord.

 

Need to know: Norwegian Star departs Copenhagen on May 8, 2016.

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