Your 2018 travel resolutions

With the New Year just beginning it is the perfect time to book your next cruise holiday, with a few resolutions in mind!

A seasoned Caribbean cruiser? Why not steer away from the tempting ports of the Caribbean and try the South Pacific archipelago instead? Why not brave a new cuisine in its hometown or even sail with an entirely new cruise line?

Read on and be inspired by these 2018 travel resolutions.

Try a new cruise line

Sample the world of ocean cruising like never before and set sail with Scenic Eclipse, the World’s First Discovery Yacht. With 30 years’ experience in the river cruising industry, Scenic has ventured into ocean cruising, branding the standard of its first ship as ‘luxury without exception’. Scenic Eclipse cruises will feature all-inclusive boarding, ten dining experiences and expertly selected, exclusive shore excursions.

Alternatively, as the market for adventure cruising grows, expedition cruises are becoming more popular. Silversea’s recently refurbished Silver Cloud provides the most spacious and comfortable ice class vessel with large suites, five dining options and 80% of suites including a veranda – perfect for whale watching or spotting a penguin colony.

Try a new destination

For adventure and wildlife, Antarctica’s striking remoteness and vast mountain ranges are an up-and-coming destination for all nature-lovers. Though the region is a white wilderness, it is rich in life and activity. Spot some of the world’s most renowned species, from migrating whales to emperor penguins and soaring albatross, or follow in the footsteps of explorers and trek through the ice to climb Antarctic peaks.

Or, for a toastier spot of wildlife watching, you could head to the shores of the Galapagos. The islands are home to a cornucopia of tropical flora and fauna, with some of these defined in Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. The remote islands are perfect for exploring and engaging with the wildlife; experiencing an ecosystem like no other.

Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World

Tick off one of the many bucket-list landmarks and sail to one of the Wonders of the World. The 15^th Century Inca site, Machu Picchu, is a picturesque mountain range situated in Peru and can be visited on most South American cruise itineraries. This spectacular location was forgotten until the 20^th Century, leaving an air of mesmerising mystery that is all the better enjoyed when the sun rises behind the characteristic peaks.

Away from mountain reaches to the deep underwater world, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef welcomes 1.5 million visitors per year to a World Heritage site that stretches across the 2,000km coastline. Dive under the surface and discover this wonderfully rich ecosystem – with the world’s greatest concentration of coral and 1,500 species of tropical fish.

Step out of your comfort zone

If a typical cruise involved sun, sea and sand – why not sail to snowy shores and visit the Polar Regions or Alaska? Step out of your cruise comfort zone and discover new destinations for enriching experiences and unforgettable memories.

Head to the South Pacific for a taste of paradise on each island, including Tahiti, Fiji and Vanuatu. Here, like the Caribbean, there are multiple islands each offering its own microcosm for you to explore and enrich your cruise experiences.

You could even book your place on a themed a cruise and indulge in one of your hobbies or interests. Crystal Cruises has a selection of themed sailings, from round-trip golf cruises and jazz performance sailings to the lavish style of big band and ballroom dances.

Sample unusual cuisine

Choose a foodie cruise and visit Tokyo, which has accrued more Michelin stars than both Paris and New York combined. The city has more than 225 restaurants holding at least one Michelin star. Whilst here, sample one of the most popular types of sushi, nigiri-zushi, or visit a specialised tempura restaurant for a taste of authentic and unusual cuisine.

For something a little closer to home and perhaps more familiar, take the plunge and sample some of Europe’s delights including frog’s legs in France, currywurst in Germany and pierogi in Poland.

As you pull together your list of New Year resolutions, include promises to travel to unexpected and unforgettable places, sample new and unusual foods and even tick off bucket-list landmark.

Have you visited any of these places on a luxury cruise? Let us know in the comment box below.