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Best cruises for active travelers
SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN (THE “ABC” ISLANDS)
Where: The Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
Why: For diving and snorkeling, this is the first choice in the Caribbean for many.
Who: Of the lines calling at the ABCs, Princess' shore excursions have the most complete listing of active pursuits. Choices include scuba, snorkeling, horseback rides, mountain biking, four-wheel-drive and ATV exploration, hiking, and kayaking. Some of these Southern itineraries include Princess's "New Waves" onboard scuba instruction and certification.
THE GREEK ISLES
Where: In the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. The classic one-week itinerary runs one-way between Athens and Istanbul.
Why: There is no better cruising area on earth for the traveler inspired by scrambling through ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins, strolling their ancient paved roads, climbing up hillsides or down the terraced marble bleachers of amphitheaters.
Who: Though a number of lines sail this itinerary, we give the nod to SeaDream Yacht Club, whose SeaDream I (not to mention easyCruise I) will sail to genuinely off-the-track islands, such as Hydra, Volos, Skiathos, Mytilene -- and a few better known isles, like Santorini and Mykonos. The ships have a fabulous watersports program, including a platform with jet skis, banana boats, sailing skiffs and kayaks.
ALASKA
Where: Go west to Seattle and hang a right.
Why: Alaska was once synonymous with the mature and sedentary who were content to stay toasty while sipping tea and watching the panoply of Alaska's unspoiled wilderness through the windows of observation lounges or sightseeing vehicles. No longer! This is a rugged land with options at every stop for today's more active Alaska visitor; these range from stalking salmon with a rod and reel or bear with a camera, to climbing up, rappelling down, driving a dogsled over or riding a Zodiac right up to the face of, glaciers.
Who: To get the most active Alaska experience we recommend a naturalist-led, small-ship expedition cruise, such as those offered by Cruise West. But, if you still want to enjoy the trappings of the conventional ships, we lean toward Royal Caribbean, whose younger demographic will give you more opportunities for active excursions and more kindred souls to enjoy them with.
HAWAII
Where: In the mid-Pacific Ocean at about the same latitude as Cabo San Lucas.
Why: Surrounded by clear seas with flourishing coral reefs and towering surf, the Hawaiian Islands brim with the rugged dynamism: volcanoes, mountains, rushing rivers, chasms and canyons. Options for the active are almost unlimited: exploration on foot, by kayak, underwater, even bicycling down a volcano.
Who: Only NCL, via its Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii sails the Hawaiian Islands in American-flagged ships, which means they don't have to call at a foreign port mid-cruise, allowing them more time in port, including some overnight calls. A typical one-week itinerary offers more than 150 shore excursions, many keyed to the active lifestyle.
WESTERN CARIBBEAN
Where: Traditionally the islands of Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, though sometimes including port calls in Honduras, Belize and the Yucatan mainland.
Why: The Cayman Islands and the Yucatan offer some of the best coral reefs and greatest underwater visibility of any major dive site on earth. The Yucatan mainland offers jungle trails, access to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, dolphin encounters and the eco-tourism theme parks at Xcaret and Xel-Ha.
Who: We pick Carnival. Not only do they offer the most extensive variety of cruise durations, but they also sail there from the largest number of departure ports -- and, with active shore excursions not offered by too many other cruise lines (see our comments on "cenotes," above), they best suit the active traveler.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN (OTHER THAN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS)
Where: The islands north of Martinique. Our emphasis is on the British Virgins, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Anguilla, Antigua, and St. Barth's.
Why: In the B.V.I. you'll find a number of pristine beaches that perennially make "Best Beaches in the Caribbean" lists (check out ours). Add to that world-class diving and snorkeling, including the wreck of the RMS Rhone, one of the best such sites in the world. For those who crave the thrill of yachting, the B.V.I., Antigua and St. Maarten both offer beaucoup sailing opportunities, including St. Maarten's best-loved shore excursion, the America's Cup Regatta.
Who: We give the nod to SeaDream Yacht Club. Starting with a small size, and fold-down sports platforms with a collection of water toys, Sea Dream gets the nod for those whose fun-concept has an elevated "splash factor." They are one of the only lines that carry jet skis.
Steve Faber is a longtime contributor to Cruise Critic. Faber's work has appeared in a myriad of outlets, including "Cruise Travel," "The Miami Herald" and in "The Total Traveler Guide to Worldwide Cruising."
Cruise Critic, which launched in 1995, is a comprehensive cruise vacation planning guide providing objective cruise ship reviews, cruise line profiles, destination content on 125+ worldwide ports, cruise bargains, tips, industry news, and cruise message boards.
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