A fun way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions is with an excursion at sea.
For many tourists, a ship is the ideal location to commemorate a significant event. Even though COVID-19 has put a major halt to cruise travel (see our most recent coverage of the coronavirus here), The 10 Best Cruises for Every Occasion it’s never too early to begin organizing your next trip. From an island-hopping honeymoon in the South Pacific to a kid-friendly birthday cruise (complete with Mickey Mouse cake) in the Bahamas, we’ve compiled ten unique cruise ideas to ring in some of life’s sweeter moments.
A Father’s Day cruise that will never be forgotten
Take Dad on a 12-night “Isles Overture” cruise with Oceania Cruises for an amazing European journey. It makes stops in pubs and golf-friendly ports around the UK on its way from London to Dublin. Fathers can try their luck in the Monte Carlo-style casino, work on their form at the ship’s nine-hole putting green, enjoy a chunk of meat at the Tuscan steakhouse, or share a drink or three in Martini’s lounge on board the 684-passenger Sirena. A “musical pub tour” in Liverpool, falconry lessons in Edinburgh, whisky tastings at Scotland’s famous Glenmorangie distillery in Ross-shire, and Scotland’s renowned Saint Andrew’s Golf Club await you on shore. Starts at $3,899 per person on June 13, 2022.
A luxurious cruise for Mother’s Day
On board the 750-guest Seven Seas Splendor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ newest vessel, celebrate Mother’s Day 2022. The 15-night “Voyage of Bacchus” cruises from Monte Carlo to London, stopping in the vibrant, international ports of Barcelona, Casablanca, and Lisbon in addition to wine-focused destinations in Provence, Porto, and Bordeaux. Notable shore excursions include a chef-led tour of Casablanca’s food markets and wine-making and cava sampling outside of Barcelona. Once on board, Mom can enjoy the ship’s best-rated spa, swim in its infinity pool, or enroll in a Culinary Arts Kitchen cooking class. From $15,199 per person, including airfare and excursions, it departs on May 6, 2022.
The best cruise for retirement
Retirement, when you have enough leisure to enjoy life to the fullest. With its new Viking Expeditions arm, called “the thinking person’s expedition,” Viking provides the perfect excuse to celebrate in 2022. The Scandinavian-inspired Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris can accommodate up to 378 passengers each. Along with entertaining adventure toys like twin submarines, kayaks, and zodiacs, each ship has a functional laboratory for resident scientists.
Consider Viking Polaris’ 43-night From the Arctic to Antarctica voyage for a truly epic experience. It starts in Tromsø, Norway’s northernmost Arctic town, and stops at several ports in the United Kingdom before sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Antarctica. From $33,995 per person, including excursions, it departs on September 21, 2022.
A graduation trip that’s full with parties
New graduates hoping to celebrate at sea will be able to do so when Virgin Voyages, the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson, makes its formal debut in 2021. With its distinctly hip flagship, the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady (the first of the business’s four planned vessels), the forward-thinking cruise line appeals to younger adults. An onboard tattoo parlor, vinyl store, yoga-focused sundeck, over 20 dining options (including one that serves drag-show brunch), and cabins with a “Rockstar” theme are among the attractions for the twentysomething demographic.
Enroll in the five-night Dominican Daze itinerary, which sails round-trip from Miami, to make a graduation celebration truly memorable. The pristine beaches of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Virgin’s exclusive beach club in the Bahamas are among the stops. Year-round sailings are available; prices start at $825 per person.
A distinctly adult birthday cruise
The luxury cruise line makes its first into expedition cruising with the launch of the 200-guest Crystal Endeavor. Highlights of the ship include butler-served cabins, five dining options (including one from Nobu), and excellent service. Birthday celebrants can anticipate considerate surprises like bespoke dining menus, Champagne delivery, and specially planned shore excursions.
Having a summer birthday celebration? To blow out your candles amidst fjords, waterfalls, and geothermal springs, reserve the 10-night Icelandic voyage, which departs Reykjavík and sails round-trip. No matter your age, active port excursions like helicopter tours of glaciers and white-water rafting will keep you feeling youthful at heart. It starts at $14,999 per person and departs on July 28 or August 7, 2022.
A birthday cruise with a focus on children
Disney simply attracts children, both on land and at water. On any of its four ships, which are bursting with age-appropriate kid-friendly programming, water parks and pools, Disney character meet-and-greets, and themed deck parties with fireworks overhead, you can make big memories on little birthdays. The cruise line adds extras like celebratory buttons and dinners (imagine singing waitstaff and special desserts) to give a little extra sparkle to the birthday celebration. Specialty cakes and stateroom décor with a birthday theme are even more luxurious options.
Book a short three- or four-night Bahamas cruise on the 4,000-guest Disney Dream to test the waters with youthful sailors. The ship makes stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island) after leaving Port Canaveral, which is close to Orlando’s Disney theme parks. A few sailings Year-round sailings start at $1,500 per person.
A unique anniversary cruise
Helping customers celebrate significant wedding anniversaries is a lucrative business for Princess Cruises, the original line portrayed in The Love Boat. Take advantage of an anniversary package that includes Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, spa treatments, and framed souvenir photographs when you go on one of its romantic Caribbean cruises. Bonus: An important addition would be a vow renewal ceremony led by the captain.
Lock in a stateroom on the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess, the line’s newest ship, which will soon begin a Southern Caribbean Medley. A French café, a jazz club, a spa, and a “Marriage Match Game Show” are all suitable for couples. There are made-for-two activities, such as bubbly-accompanied snorkeling, in Princess Cays, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, and Curaçao throughout the cruise’s stops after it leaves Fort Lauderdale. Starting at $798 per person, select sailings will run from November 2021 to March 2022.
An unforgettable honeymoon cruise
Paul Gauguin Cruises, a popular honeymoon cruise operator, is known for its romance. It should come as no surprise that the 332-passenger M/S Paul Gauguin cruises the idyllic South Pacific and offers newlyweds exceptional complimentary amenities like Champagne and a distinctive Polynesian blessing ritual.
Choose from two 12- or 13-night itineraries that combine trips to popular honeymoon spots like Bora Bora and Moorea with lesser-known islands in the Fiji, Tonga, Cook, and Society Islands. These itineraries run between Fiji and Tahiti. Snorkeling in blue lagoons and waterfall baths in isolated national parks are romantic shore excursions. Starting at $8,145 per person, including flights from Los Angeles, it departs on May 22 and June 5, 2021.
A family reunion cruise with something for everyone
Get your clan together on a cruise ship that is suitable for all generations to reduce the logistical nightmare that is planning a family reunion. The new “Wild Escape Alaska” trips offered by Lindblad Expeditions, in collaboration with National Geographic, run between Juneau and Ketchikan in 2021. Two 62-passenger ships (National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion) host the five-night expeditions. Both boats provide a variety of activities that appeal to all ages while being small enough to keep the family together. (Consider hiking in Tongass National Forest, kayaking close to glaciers, and observing whales in fjord channels.)
Bonus: Among other benefits, family reunion groups who reserve eight or more accommodations get 5% discount and a $150 shipboard credit. Some 2021 and 2022 summer sailings start at $4,570 per person.
A heartfelt memorial cruise
For some true-blue cruisers, having their ashes dispersed at sea is their final request. A charter can be a suitable option for a small celebration honoring your loved one and uniting family and friends to celebrate a life well lived. Beautiful at-sea monuments have been delivered by small-ship operators Pacific Catalyst II, which operates in Alaska, Baja California, and the Pacific Northwest in collaboration with Adventure Smith Explorations.
Take, for instance, chartering the Westward to the Sea of Cortez in Baja. The focus of a normal 8-night journey between Loreto and La Paz, Mexico, is the surrounding wilderness scenery. Up to eight guests can break bread over meals brought in from nearby farmers and fisherman in the old yacht’s wood-paneled salon with a fireplace. The memorial events are completely personalized; previous visitors have chosen to spread ashes during a whale encounter and at twilight in a serene cove. From December to March, charters and planned sailing dates are offered, with prices starting at $5,750 per person, including excursions. Charter a full boat for $42,840.
By
