Top 10 cruise destinations around the world

Aegean Sandwiched between Turkey and Greece, the Aegean Sea is Mediterranean cruising at its best. Count on Crusader castles, Greek ruins, whitewashed villages, chic holiday islands like Mykonos and Santorini, and mountains that plunge into sparkling sea. It’s a sail through thousands of years of history, with scenery to match. Recommended: the Aegean Odyssey with Istanbul City Stay via cruises.com.au.

Alaska Ignore its unappealing name: the Inside Passage between the rugged Alaskan coast and islands is awesome, with glaciers tumbling into the sea, waterfalls and wildlife such as whales, eagles and bears. Alaska also has fascinating native heritage and history in destinations like Sitka, Ketchikan and gold-rush era Skagway. Recommended: Seward (Anchorage), AK to Vancouver, Canada via cruises.com.au.

Antarctica This remote destination is the ultimate in cruising – starting with the daunting crossing of Drake Passage. The reward is a pristine continent of snow-capped mountains, glaciers and drifting icebergs inhabited by whales, seals and astounding colonies of penguins. The Falkland and South Georgia islands are dense in seabirds. Recommended: The Ultimate Antarctic Adventure by cruises.com.au.

Baltic The almost-landlocked Baltic provides a pale, northern counterpart to the Mediterranean, scattered with pine-clad islands. Port cities such as Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn and Riga have easy accessibility, design flair, medieval old towns and newfound bustle. The highlight, St Petersburg, is a baroque masterpiece afloat on canals. Recommended: Best of the Baltics via cruises.com.au.

Caribbean Highly cruised (though not by Australians), this destination provides Mexico’s Mayan ruins coupled with the laidback lifestyle of innumerable lush islands with an enticing variety of cultures and cuisines: St Martin, Bermuda, Trinidad, Martinique. Newly opening, Cuba is becoming part of the heady mix, too. Recommended: 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise via cruises.com.au.

Hawaii Some of the world’s most beautiful islands provide scenes of emerald mountains, lava-spewing volcanoes and waterfalls twirling off cliffs into the ocean. Then there are the Kona coffee plantations, surf beaches, outstanding golf courses, Waikiki sunsets and friendly locals. Enough to get anyone’s hula hips swaying. *Recommended: [Royal Caribbean International

Radiance of the Seas](http://www.cruises.com.au/fusion/detailcruise3.pl?sessionkey=D470829B-0664i4221-BED3-804C04DF8303&chosencruise=201_20.0&depselected=&cid=807337&depair=CO) via cruises.com.au.*

Kimberley Turquoise water contrasts with orange gorges along northwest Australia’s rugged coast, a destination for adventurous cruisers looking for raw nature, barramundi fishing, rock art, and remote pioneer-era settlements and cattle stations. Broome, often the departure point, has fabled sunsets and beaches and a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel. Recommended: Kimberley Complete via cruises.com.au.

New Zealand Auckland and Wellington have magnificent harbours. Queen Charlotte, Doubtful and Milford Sounds have gorgeous scenery. Towns such as Dunedin and Akaroa have historic charm and great shore excursions. What’s not to like about New Zealand? The adventurous can head on expedition ships to the country’s wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands. Recommended: Kiwi Adventure via cruises.com.au.

Norway The fabled fjords are a cruise must. Tidy farming villages are dwarfed by soaring cliffs, glaciers calve off mighty ice cubes into a cocktail-blue sea, gannets and puffins squawk. The lucky see the northern lights. Norway’s coastal towns – pretty Bergen, Art Deco-era Ålesund, elegant Trondheim – are a treat. Recommended: Norwegian Fjords via cruises.com.au.

Papua New Guinea Cruising to PNG is booming, and for good reason. It offers encounters with rich and diverse tribal cultures showcased in spectacular festivals, village visits and community dances. Expedition vessels also land in remote destinations such as the Louisiade Archipelago and Trobriand Islands, noted for snorkelling and diving. Recommended: New Guinea Islands Unearthed via cruises.com.au.