7 cruising locations you never thought to visit
Go off the beaten track and discover an unexpected cruise port.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Want to add a safari to your cruise? Then stop at Port Elizabeth, a town on the coast of South Africa halfway between Cape Town and Durban. The Samwari and Lalibela game reserves are close to the port and easily accessible in a day trip. You can see the big five (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo) as well as incredible birdlife.
Muscat, Oman
The hidden gem of the Middle East, Oman has only been open to tourists since the 1970s. The capital, the stunning white city of Muscat, is nestled in a harbour of the Gulf of Oman and home to the glorious Grand Mosque. Ships dock in the old part of town with its well-preserved traditional architecture, winding lanes and bustling souks.
Albania
Albania is one of the few regions in Europe that remains relatively undiscovered, so you won’t be greeted with the megaships and huge crowds you find across much of the continent. It’s an incredible beautiful country, dotted with rugged mountains, ancient towns and surprisingly good wine regions, all flanked by beaches that are as good as anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Jeju Island, South Korea
Known as the Island of the Gods, Jeju is a hugely popular holiday destination for Koreans, Chinese and Japanese, though most Australians have never heard of it. Kilometres of eerie lava tubes run beneath the island and South Korea’s highest mountain rises above it. The beaches are excellent and you can visit the honeymoon favourite Loveland, an amusing sex-themed adult amusement park.
Sub-Antarctic Islands
This World Heritage-listed collection of islands sits to the south of New Zealand and are home to an incredible range of rare wildlife and plants. Visitor numbers are restricted to preserve the natural environment, so cruise visitors are among the only people who can visit this remarkable destination.
Papua New Guinea
It’s our closest neighbour, but PNG attracts only a tiny number of visitors. Tourism infrastructure is limited to a cruise is the best way to go. You can explore untouched wilderness areas, visit remote villages where life is lived much as it was thousands of years ago and snorkel or dive on some of the best reefs in the world.
Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Jacques Cousteau once called this region ‘the aquarium of the world’ and the waters are teeming with whales, sharks, dolphins, rays and thousands of species of fish. There are no ports here, so small ships will make stops along the shore for zodiac excursions, whale watching, snorkelling and more.
Image credit: World Travel Guides via YouTube