I have travelled to foreign lands for as long as I can remember and since embarking on my first cruise in 2007 I have seen some of the best places in the world.
I wanted to use my blog today to share with you some of my best loved destinations. I was given a guide to list my best cruise experiences, but I went a little off track when I was writing, so I will save that particular post for another day. Sometimes these things happen, I get caught up in one thing and suddenly find myself in a completely different writing space – see, I am rambling, again!
So here you have it, five of my favourite cruise destinations. This is only part 1, I will share another 5 with you soon.
Antigua
Antigua was my first glimpse of the Caribbean. We had sailed from Southampton across the Atlantic Ocean and our first Caribbean island call was Antigua. As we approached our berth, the steel band playing on the dockside got louder and louder – it really was a fantastic experience. We left the ship, explored the main port area then hopped in a taxi to Dickenson Bay Beach. I was in absolute heaven! I had waited a long time to finally touch that golden, sun kissed sand and finally that time for me had arrived. If you visit Antigua, be sure to add Dickenson Bay to your possible list if a beach day is what you are looking for.
Roatan, Honduras
Honduras was a place I had wanted to visit for a very long time and I suppose Roatan was a glimpse into it for me – it is not connected to the mainland. It rained all day, but it certainly didn’t spoil my trip. In approx. 4 hours I managed to explore nearly all of the island, and what a beautiful island it was. I also visited the Iguana Sanctuary on side of the island and another animal sanctuary on the other side. I have to say that Roatan is one of my favourite cruise destinations and although it doesn’t always get the best reputation it is a truly beautiful island and the beaches are superb!
Tallinn, Estonia
What do I say about Tallinn, other than WOW! Again, a place I had been looking forward to exploring for quite some time and I certainly was not left disappointed. As soon as you step foot into the Old Town you feel as though you have gone back in time. It is such a beautiful place and easy to see why it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I felt like I was walking through a fairytale, it was all a little make-believe. I toured the city on my own with a paper map and I have to say that is probably the best way to do it!
Cozumel, Mexico
If you like to shop and relax on a beautiful beach then Cozumel is definitely the cruise stop for you! It is pretty easy to see why it is regarded as one of the best cruise ports (if not the best) in the world! I spent my morning at a nearby Beach Resort – which was booked before I left for the cruise – and the afternoon hitting the shops, of which there are hundreds of and lots of street stalls.
Alta, Norway
Sub-zero temperatures are not to everyone’s liking but I have to say that my time in Alta was simply awesome! It may have had a lot to do with the excursions I found myself on, but it was one of the most adrenalin filled experiences of my life and I loved every single second of it. It is certainly a destination where you need to do something, especially as the snow was several feet deep in some places, but it is also one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights as it is more commonly referred. Yes, I did see them and it was magnificent!
Our Best Caribbean Cruise Deals – Treat Yourself to Some Winter Sun!
Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits: Andy Taylor, John Colby, Gunnar-Hildonen
