Bucket-List Cruises Everyone Should Take In Their Lifetime

You get to choose between seas, rivers, and oceans with horizons expanding every way you look. No wonder more and more people look for this kind of adventure. The cruise industry is on an upward trend.

One single westbound trip across most continents is over 119 days. MSC Magnifica will sail west across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean islands of Saint Lucia and Granada before it visits Venezuela, Aruba and Colombia and transiting the Panama Canal. After an exploration of Central America, the ship will head to the U.S. with stops including San Francisco and the Hawaiian islands. French Polynesia follows with stops in Tahiti and Bora Bora. After exploring Fiji, the ship will reach New Zealand and the iconic port of Sydney in Australia. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka follow before two days in the magical Maldives. The passage through the Suez Canal brings passengers to Oman, UAE and Jordan before returning to the Mediterranean Sea. Click here for additional information about the itinerary.

Explore the Rhine River by luxury river cruises, then hop on bikes and cycle throughout Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Guests on a Trek Travel River Cruise can enjoy an all-inclusive experience that features spectacular on board amenities as well as personal butler service, laundry concierge, unlimited beverages and in-suite mini bar, sun deck with vitality pool, 24-hour room service, deluxe cruise accommodation in Diamond Deck staterooms featuring balcony suites, plus the use of a Trek Domaine 5.9 carbon road bike or Trek FX Hybrid, daily route support, certified Trek Travel bicycling guides, and additional shore excursions provided by Scenic and Trek Travel in every port.

Everyone needs to embark on a Disney Cruise at least once in their lifetime. The Disney Magic is ideal for families with kids ages 4 to 11. The Oceaneer Club offers themed play areas for the kids, some of which include the Laugh Floor from Monsters Inc. and Andy's Room from Toy Story. Enjoy splashing around with the kids in Donald's Pool, experience the thrill of the Walt Disney Theater at night – watch movies and shows as a family. The Disney Dream makes for the ultimate family friendly getaway. This ship offers so much family entertainment you will never get bored. There is a shipboard water coaster, a river rapids ride, musicals to keep you entertained, and firework displays at night. Be prepared to encounter your favorite Disney characters...they love to join the party!

Explore beautiful locations spread across four islands on Carnival's Hawaiian Cruise. Admire waterfalls, breathtaking beaches, volcanoes, and otherworldly landscapes. Whether you want to go to Maui, Honolulu, Kauai, Kona, or Hilo, Carnival Cruises has got you covered. Bonus: A Hawaiian cruise vacation can be much cheaper than a Hawaii resort vacation; for one price your transportation, accommodations, dining, and entertainment are included.

Popular among couples looking for a romantic getaway, cruises to Greece give you the opportunity to explore the ancient world. Windstar Cruises will take you on a single voyage covering everything from the blue domes of Santorini to the Acropolis of Athens. Eat delicious seafood, admire jaw-dropping mountains, explore the Palace of the Grand Masters in Rhodes, and visit the National Archaeological Museum.

Explore the most famous river in the U.S. and see why it's one of the world's major river systems in size, habitat diversity and biological productivity, according to NPS. American Cruise Lines will take you on a luxurious history and culture trip through Mississippi and Ohio aboard two paddlewheeler river boats. USA River Cruises also offer different trips. There are plenty of variations, including going from Memphis to Nashville on a ship.

Danube, Europe's second-longest river, is among the most famous in the world for cruising. Depending on how long your trip is, you can get a chance to spend time in Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Croatia, Germany, Serbia, and Moldova – each with its own unique history, architecture and cuisine. AmaWaterways and Viking River Cruises offer variety of packages to suit your time and budget. Book your summer vacation now to save money. 

The Galapagos Islands are a place of rare beauty and astonishing wildlife. It's not a primetime cruise destination and a large ship won't go there due to strict visitation regulations. Go on a long historic tour to explore some of the Earth's richest wildlife that has captivated adventure travelers for centuries. Thrilling adventures include swimming with the sharks. Plaza Sur is among the best snorkeling destinations in the world. On-land ventures are also a possibility – hike along lava trails and relax on their pristine beaches. Adventure Travel offers a large variety of Galapagos Cruises. 

Cruising Alaska, one of the most "outdoorsy" state in the U.S., is more popular than ever before. You can still find a great deal if you're flexible, especially in the summer. See the icy fjords that tower over the Pacific Ocean. A 7-day cruise aboard the Grand Princess of Princess Cruises makes stops in Glacier Bay, Skagway and Juneau, among others. The reasons to visit the Last Frontier are endless – unique wildlife everywhere, migrating salmon, mighty mountains, and national parks.

Explore this remarkable place while you still can. Cruising the White Continent in comfort and safety is the ultimate way to explore the natural beauty of the last untouched and the coldest, driest, highest, and windiest continent in the world. This certainly is an once-in-a-lifetime check on a cruiser's bucket list. Passengers have plenty of options in terms of how they will cross the Drake Passage – in a small expedition ship or on a larger vessel. You can explore on kayak, snowshoeing, mountaineering, camping, and on Zodiac excursions.

Australia has it all – spectacular scenery, flamboyant culture and laid-back allure. You can experience it all in one trip. Travel on a ship and relax in a comfortable cabin while you're on your way to golden sandy beaches and rugged wilderness to see kangaroos and koalas. Australia offers a wide range of wonders that will surely satisfy any adventure seeker. Also, most of the country's big cities are along coastlines anyway, so you'll get to explore them as well while on a cruise.

The Yangtze River in China is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. Cruises include enjoying time in famous cities such as Shanghai, Yangzhou and Nanjing. Tourists like the Three Gorges area and the Dam the most. You will witness about 80 miles of stunning scenery. The ancient pagodas along the banks are worth the trip as well. Some cruises include tours of Shanghai, Beijing, the Great Wall of China, and Lhasa in Tibet.

Who wouldn't want to explore one of the most famous and exotic rivers in the world? It's also the largest river by discharge of water – 7.381 million cubic feet per second. The cruise options are endless. You can embark on a quest to see remote regions, rich rainforests, jungle treks and wildlife. You can find trips lasting from three nights to two weeks. Anakonda Amazon Cruises sail year-round. Other options include Abercrombie & Kent Amazon Adventure, International Expeditions, or Rainforest Cruises.