Outline
- Introduction
- The 6 Most Popular Cruise Destinations in the World
- Other Amazing Cruise Destinations
- Summary
- Conclusion
Introduction
Are you planning or thinking about your first cruise adventure? Or are you a cruising veteran working on your next cruise itinerary? Here are the 6 most popular cruise destinations in the world for your consideration.
You will discover in this post the 6 most popular cruise destinations in the world. Even if you are already familiar with these destinations, the insightful presentation will definitely make you want to visit again. Read on!
The world is filled with several amazing cruise destinations. Many of which provide breathtaking access to some of the world’s best natural wonders, vibrant coastal cities, colourful harbours, and amazing sandy beaches.
The 6 Most Popular Cruise Destinations in the World
With numerous destinations across the seven Seas on the 7 continents, here are 6 of the most popular cruise destinations in the world today, in no particular order.
The 6 Most Popular Cruise Destinations in the World | |
The Caribbean | Mediterranean |
Mexico & Central America | Europe |
Southeast Asia | Pacific Islands |

1. Caribbean
The Caribbean Islands are one of the topmost destinations for cruisers around the world. The region is adorned with thousands of adorable Islands.

A region of scintillating turquoise sea water, sandy beaches and vibrant ports, the Caribbean is visited by not less than 200 cruise ships yearly.
The region is an absolutely fantastic all-year cruise destination, accommodating cruises from different types of vessels – large boats, yachts and cruise ships, and passengers (cruisers) from all around the world.
If you are a seasoned cruiser, you must have visited the Caribbean more than once.
The Caribbean is characterized by a natural recreational and relaxing vibe that will always make you want to come back.
With thousands of islands to explore in the Caribbean and several more developed islands, some of the best and most popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean are;
- The Bahamas
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Bermuda
- Jamaica
- St. Martin/St. Maarten
- Cayman Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Barbados
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Virgin Islands
- Dominica and
- The Dutch Caribbean (Curacao, Aruba & Bonaire)
For ardent cruisers, the Caribbean is usually classified into; Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
All these regions have amazing cruise ports, explorable islands and a lot of things to offer for all classes of budget.
You definitely don’t want to cruise to the Caribbean without spending time on the shore.
Relax on some beaches, dine and wine in amazing restaurants and some cruisers even spend time in a resort.
No matter your budget, interests or cruise objectives, the Caribbean is a place that should be on top of your cruise itinerary list.

2. The Mediterranean
The Mediterranean has been an important “cruise” point from pre-historic times.
A core linkage between Western Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean Region has also played a cardinal role in modern civilization.
If you are fascinated by sunshine, history, and a little bit of adventure, a Mediterranean Cruise will satisfy all your appetite and even much more.

The Mediterranean Region is normally classified into two sub-regions: The Western Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a typical Western Mediterranean cruise, you will be visiting and exploring ports and destinations in Spain, Italy, France, Monaco and Malta.
An Eastern Mediterranean cruise will take you to countries like Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and sometimes parts of Western Asia (think of Israel and Lebanon).
Many cruises or cruise itineraries to the Mediterranean can at times include exploring amazing countries bordering the Adriatic Sea which includes Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.
Cruising to the bright sunny ports, lively islands, pristine coasts/beaches and exhilarating destinations in the Mediterranean “region” does not just simply add to your cruising checklist, it essentially fills you with thrilling and lifetime experiences.
From the Iberia ports of Spain to the Helena Islands of Greece, the ten (10) most popular cruise destinations (including ports) by countries in the Mediterranean are;
No. | Cruise Destinations | Country |
1. | Barcelona | Spain |
2. | Valencia | |
3. | Seville | |
4. | Balearic Islands – Mallorca & Majorca | |
5. | Rome | Italy |
6. | Naples | |
7. | Venice | |
8. | Sardinia | |
9. | Livorno | |
10. | Athens/Piraeus | Greece |
11. | Santorini | |
12. | Mykonos | |
13. | Chania, Crete | |
14. | Olympia (Katakolon) | |
15. | Marseille | France |
16. | Avignon | |
17. | Cannes, Antibes, St. Tropez & Toulon | |
18. | Villefranche Sur Mer (Nice) | |
19. | Corsica | |
20. | Dubrovnik | Croatia |
21. | Split | |
22. | Zadar | |
23. | Kotor | Montenegro |
24. | Monte Carlo | Monaco |
25. | Valletta | Malta |
26. | Istanbul | Turkey |
27. | Kusadasi | |
28. | Limassol | Cyprus |
Cruises to the Mediterranean are usually organized as an itinerary thus making you visit and enjoy several of these amazing Mediterranean destinations in one single trip (cruise).
Also, you may decide to explore or “cruise through” a single country at a time.
For example, if you are an adventure cruiser, you may plan your cruise around some of the several amazing Greek Islands in what could be called a “Greece Cruise” or explore exotic cruise destinations of Italy (Italy Cruises), and vibrant destinations of Spain (Spain Cruises), etc.

3. Mexico & Central America
Mexico is officially classified as a North American country. However, the country shares much in common with other Latin American nations than its Northern neighbours hence I choose to discuss cruise destinations in Mexico alongside those in Central America in this post.

Mexico
Mexico is the most visited country in Latin America. And, many of these visits and tourist stopovers in Mexico are through cruises. There are also dedicated cruises within/around Mexico.
Mexico as a country is characterized by a unique natural ambience that makes the country an entirely different kind of tourist destination set between the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the dazzling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Beaches, culture and luxury are some of the few words to describe experiences from a typical Mexican cruise.
Spanning both coastal sides of Mexico, the most popular cruise destinations in the country are [Source];
- Cozumel
- Costa Maya
- Ensenada
- Cabo San Lucas
- Progreso
- Puerto Vallarta
- Mazatlan
- Huatulco
- San Jose del Cabo, and
- Campeche
Cozumel is by far the largest and most popular cruise destination in Mexico.
Other notable cruise destinations in the country include Acapulco, Puerto Chiapas, Playa del Carmen, Loreto and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.
[External Link: Voyage au Mexico – The 16 Best Cruise Destinations in Mexico]

Central America
The region known as Central America is the stripe of land that connects North America to South America.
There are officially seven (7) countries in Central America.

Central America might probably not be one of the most popular regions in the world especially for people from Europe, Asia and Africa but to cruise lovers, the region is definitely one of the best cruising destinations in the Western Hemisphere.
Aside from sailing to a port and exploring the best of the shore, Central America is characterized by delightful sights such as lush forests and exotic faunas amidst a robust culture.
The Panama Canal is indisputably the most popular cruise attraction in Central America.
Other amazing cruise destinations in the region include [Source]:
No. | Cruise Destinations | Country |
1. | Puerto Quetzal | Guatemala |
2. | Puerto Limon | Costa Rica |
3. | Puntarenas | |
4. | Puerto Quepos | |
5. | Golfito | |
6. | Belize City | Belize |
7. | Roatan | Honduras |
8. | Banana Coast (Trujillo) | |
9. | Colon | Panama |
10 | Panama Canal | |
11. | Fuerte Amador (Panama City) | |
12. | San Juan Del Sur | Nicaragua |
There are also several other ports of call in Central America that are not as popular as the ones listed above.
Several of these unmentioned ports of call are used mainly for the import and export of especially agricultural produce.
[External Link: Luxury Cruises to Central America – Celebrity Cruises]

4. Europe
Europe is one of the rare regions in the world where you will be met by beautiful scenery, natural wonders, amazing architecture, historical sites and colourful towns and cities on a single cruise.

Europe, aside from being a terrific cruise destination also produces a significantly high number of cruisers annually.
In 2021, 25% of cruise passengers for the year are from Europe [Source].
To properly present the most popular cruise destinations in Europe, I will classify European cruises into three (3) major categories:
- Northern Europe Cruise – British Isle, Scandinavia & the Baltic Sea
- Western Europe Cruise, and
- European River Cruises
Europe generally is renowned as one of the most scenic cruise destinations in the world. A region of breathtaking landscapes, lush and relaxing shores, great food, perfect wines and fairy-tale villages/towns.

Northern Europe Cruise
The cruise region of Northern Europe encompasses the British Isle (sometimes classified as part of Western Europe), Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea sub-region. Western Russia can also be included in the list of Northern European cruise destinations.
Northern Europe as a cruise destination is apparently popular for its unmatched landscapes, wildlife and exhilarating natural relief features.
From the fjords of Norway to the lava fields, hot springs (geysers) and waterfalls of Iceland, castles and historical ruins of Great Britain and the beautiful cities such as Copenhagen and Stockholm that majestically sit along the shore of Northern Europe, cruising through Northern Europe will give you real-life experiences and “wows” that seems from the pages of an adventure novel.
Sailing gracefully across the English Channel or through the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Norwegian Sea, some of the most popular cruise destinations in Northern Europe include the following;
No. | Cruise Destination | Country | Region |
1. | Bergen | Norway | Scandinavia |
2. | Stavanger | ||
3. | Olden | ||
4. | TromsØ | ||
5. | Ålesund | ||
6. | Stockholm | Sweden | |
7. | Reykjavik | Iceland | |
8. | Copenhagen | Denmark | |
9. | Helsinki | Finland | |
10. | London | England, UK | British Isle |
11. | Southampton | ||
12. | Shetland Islands | United Kingdom (UK) | |
13. | Glasgow | Scotland, UK | |
14. | Edinburgh | ||
15. | Belfast | Northern Ireland, UK | |
16. | Tallinn | Estonia | Baltic |
Northern Europe provides some of the best cruising experiences you can ever have on a European Cruise especially if you are a nature and art lover.
[External Link: Northern Europe Cruises – Holland America Line]

Western Europe Cruise
There is some level of interconnectivity when classifying cruising regions in Europe. For the sake of simplicity, in this post, I distinguish between Northern Europe and Western Europe Cruises.

While a Northern European Cruise will give you thrilling experiences to destinations in Scandinavia, on the British Isle and in the Baltic, in a Western European Cruise, you will be visiting and revelling in destinations in Portugal (including Azores and Madeira), Spain (including the Canary Islands), France (most especially Normandy), Belgium and the Netherlands.
From the warm weather of the Iberia country of Portugal to the cooler weather and “flowers colony” of the Netherlands, a Western European Cruise will give you a great prospect to explore, experience and savour the Western Shore of mainland Europe from a unique perspective – through the seas!
Beaches, foods, fun and pleasantness are a few words to depict a Western European Cruise.
A Western European Cruise can take you to one or more of the following popular cruise destinations in a memorable itinerary through the region.
- Le Havre – France. Le Havre is the largest city in Normandy and the second-largest seaport in France.
- Amsterdam and Rotterdam – the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in the Netherlands and Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe.
- Lisbon, Azores and Madeira Islands – Portugal.
- Zeebrugge – Belgium.
- Warnemunde (Rostok) – Germany. And
- Spain (the Canary Islands)
[External Link: Western Europe Cruises – Seascanner]

River Cruises in Europe
If you would love to cruise through big cities, take a bite at some of the best European cuisines and sip some authentic European wine, a river cruise is probably the best way to go.

Several European cities are built on and around one or more rivers.
You can explore these cities, their beauty, history, vigour and the best entertainment they have to offer through a river cruise.
Some of the most popular rivers that provide year-round access to amazing cruising experiences in Europe are;
- Danube River: Upper Danube (Austria, Germany, Slovakia & Hungary) and Lower Danube (Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria & Romania)
- Thames River (England)
- Seine River (France)
- Rhine River (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and France)
- Bordeaux River (France). Explore the world-known wine region of Bordeaux through a river cruise.
- Rhone and Saone Rivers (Lyon, France)
- Douro River (Portugal)
- Elbe River (Germany & the Czech Republic)
- Po River (Northern Italy – Turin), and
- Moselle/Mosel River (France, Luxembourg, and Germany)
Though the rivers Elbe and Po might not be suitable for cruising throughout the year, the majority of the big rivers in Europe listed above are enjoyable cruise channels for most parts of the year.
Three things you surely don’t want to miss on a European River Cruise are; the food, the wine and the shore tour/excursion. These are the primary characteristics of a River Cruise in/through Europe.
[External Link: 9 best river cruises in Europe]

5. Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is a region of green and lush tropical rainforests, modern cities, beaches, mountains and unique culinary flavours.

The region is characterized by amazing cultures and pleasant people and irrespective of where you come from, a Southeast Asia cruise or itinerary will leave you with a perfectly balanced perspective to the cruising lifestyle or life in general.
The Indian Ocean and the South China Sea are the two major maritime access to Southeast Asia.
There are other seas such as the Java Sea and the Celebes Sea which you might cruise through if you will be sailing deeper into a country like Indonesia.
Many Cruise Lines have different cruise packages for a Southeast Asia itinerary.
Most of these cruising packages will usually include a visit to, and exploration of one or more countries and cities (cruise destinations) in the region among which the ones listed below are the most popular.
No. | Popular Cruise Destination | Country |
1. | Marina Bay | Singapore |
2. | Bangkok | Thailand |
3. | Phuket | |
4. | Pattaya | |
5. | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam |
6. | Hanoi | |
7. | Halong Bay | |
8. | Hue | |
9. | Hoi An | |
10. | Da Nang | |
11. | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia |
12. | Angkor Wat | Cambodia |
13. | Bali | Indonesia |
Some of the amazing cruise ports in Southeast Asia, some of which you might dock at and experience during your itinerary and cruise to the region include [Source];
- Cai Lan Port (Vietnam)
- Chan May Port (Vietnam)
- Cau Da Port (Vietnam)
- Phu My Port (Vietnam)
- Sihanoukville Port (Cambodia)
- Laem Chabang Port (Thailand)
- Phuket Port (Thailand)
- Koh Samui Port (Thailand)
- Thilawa Port (Myanmar), and
- Marina Bay Cruise Center (Singapore)
[External Link: Luxury Cruises to Southeast Asia – Celebrity Cruises]

6. Pacific Islands
The Pacific Region is a very vast destination with exotic islands, interesting cultures and amazing people.
I simplify the most popular Pacific Cruise destinations into three (3):
- Australia
- New Zealand, and
- South Pacific Islands

Australia
When talking about cruises to bustling coastal cities in the Pacific, there is nowhere else to look to other than Australia.
Australia is the largest and most developed country in the Pacific.
Therefore, on your cruise to Australia, expect everything and much more that you will experience in any major western coastal city.
The best cruise destinations in Australia are [Source]:
- Sydney – the largest city in Australia. Famous for its Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach and its Botanical Gardens.
- Melbourne – a bustling city and the cultural capital of Australia.
- Brisbane – the capital of Australia’s Sunshine State of Queensland.
- Airlie Beach – a picturesque island on the Whitsunday archipelago. Known for amazing beaches and outdoor adventures.
- Cairns & Port Douglas – incredible cruise destination with world-class beach resorts, rainforests and access to the Great Barrier Reef.
- Moreton Island – explore the great landscape and experience some authentic Australian culture.
- Hobart – home to some of the most exclusive Australian Wildlife.
- Adelaide – a vibrant city of museums and galleries.
- Yorkeys Knob – a laidback city with beautiful beaches and lots of adventures for cruisers.
- Kangaroo Island – a great Australian cruise destination for food lovers.
Aside from the bustle of Australian coastal cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, five (5) of the things you should not miss on an Australian cruise or Itinerary are;
- The food – you should try out some local Aussie delicacies
- The wine (Australia have some of the best wines in the world)
- The beaches (many Australian beaches are world-class)
- The wildlife (you shouldn’t visit, cruise to or through Australia without seeing a kangaroo, cuddling a koala or experiencing a wombat), and
- The Great Barrier Reef (If you have the time, you should definitely explore the mesmerizing floras and faunas of the world’s largest reef system. This is one of the best snorkelling spots in the world.
[External Link: Australia’s 5 Best Cruise Destinations – PRO Cruises]

New Zealand
New Zealand (Aotearoa) is a popular and significant cruise destination in the Pacific.
By population, this bright country is the second largest in the region after Australia.
Auckland on the North Island is the primary cruise port of New Zealand and the most prominent cruise destination in the country.
Over 90% of cruise Itineraries to and through the Pacific make a stop in Auckland.
Some of the most popular cruise destinations in New Zealand are;
- Auckland
- Tauranga
- Napier
- Wellington
- Akaroa (Christchurch)
- Bay of Islands
- Fjordland National Park
- Dunedin, and
- Picton
[External Link: The Best Cruise Ports in New Zealand]

South Pacific Islands
The South Pacific is a popular cruise destination among cruisers who love quiet and nature-rich pristine island experiences far from the bustle and hustle of everyday world affairs.
These islands are rich in culture and traditions and home to some of the most heartwarming people on Earth.
South Pacific Islands are some of the best destinations to experience authentic unadulterated Island life in the Pacific.
From swimming, snorkelling, learning a local island craft, picking up some souvenir, experiencing firsthand traditional Polynesian culture, or just relaxing on the beach, the South Pacific have an uncommon natural ability to accommodate, entertain and revitalize its guests.
Some of the most amazing and popular cruise destinations in the South Pacific span across countries and territories such as;
- New Caledonia – (Mare, Noumea, and Isle of Pines)
- Fiji – (Suva, Lautoka, Nadi, Denarau Island, Yasawa Islands and Mamanuca Islands)
- Vanuatu – (Efate, Tanna and Espiritu Santo)
- French Polynesia – (Bora Bora, Tahiti, Society Islands and the Marquesas)
- Cook Islands – (Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Atiu)
- Samoa – Apia, and
- Solomon Islands – Honiara.
[External Link: Best South Pacific Cruise Destinations]

Other Great Cruise Destinations around the World
The list of amazing cruise destinations is vast and extends beyond the six presented above.
Therefore, to bridge this gap, I listed below some of the other popular cruise destinations in the world that are also worth exploring (in no particular order).
- North America – US Mainland, Canada and Alaska
- South America – Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Brazil
- North Africa – Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria
- Southern Africa – Namibia, South Africa and Madagascar
- East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles
- Middle-East – the Persian Gulf Countries (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman & Bahrain)
- South Asia – India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and
- East Asia – China, Japan & Korea

Summary
In this post, I presented the 6 most popular cruise destinations in the world.
These 6 destinations are;
- The Caribbean
- The Mediterranean
- Mexico and Central America
- Europe
- Southeast Asia, and
- Pacific Islands
The Caribbean is home to several beautiful islands (cruise destinations) such as; the Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
A typical Mediterranean Cruise usually leads to leisurely exploring countries in the Western or Eastern Mediterranean including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Croatia.
Mexico as the most visited country in Latin America abounds with interesting cruise destinations spanning both its Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Some of these Mexican cruise paradises are Cozumel, Costa Maya, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.
Panama Canal is the most popular cruise destination in Central America. However, Central America has other equally exciting cruise ports and destinations such as Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala), Puerto Quepos (Costa Rica), and Roatan (Honduras).
With cruise destinations in Europe grouped into Northern Europe and Western European cruise regions, Scandinavia, the British Isle and the Baltic region are the dominant cruise destinations in Northern Europe.
And cruising in Western Europe can span countries such as Portugal, France, Netherlands and Belgium.
Three of the countries with the most popular cruise destinations in Southeast Asia are Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Others are Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia.
The most popular cruise destinations in the Pacific region encompass countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Island nations (and territories) which include New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and French Polynesia.

Conclusion
Cruising is currently gathering what I will call a “modern momentum” as many more people are taking to the seas for pleasurable voyages, excursions and expeditions to different exhilarating parts of the world.
If you are new to cruising or still contemplating about your first cruise, there is a cruise perfect for you out there and in this post, I discussed six (6) of the most popular cruise destinations in the world.
From the Yucatan-Caribbean coasts of Mexico to the breathtaking Fjords of Norway, cruising through Paris on the Seine River, exploring the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean Islands, thrilling voyages into the Greek Islands, taking in the sights of the “outworldly” bays of Vietnam, dining on the bustling city harbour of Australia and experiencing the culture-rich South Pacific Islands, this post serves as a destination guide to all classes of cruisers – “dreamers”, newbies or veterans!
Choosing a cruise destination could be dependent on personal choice (for dedicated cruises) or going along with an already established cruise package/plan usually by a Cruise Line. The latter is the most common approach to cruising.
The cruise destinations presented in this post extend from North and Central America to the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Most cruises include onshore revelling and brief shore excursions.
Therefore, cruising provides not just the thrill of sea travel but also an immersion into the beauty and appreciation of the features and core characteristics of different destinations hence cultures.
If you love travelling, then cruising should be on your “bucket list”.
I will wrap this post up by saying:
“Sailing across the seas and oceans through mountains and forests and to destinations farfetched is an adventure that you should experience at least once in a lifetime.”
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