Cruising Destinations for 2023

We scoured various sources to discover some of the most captivating cruises, featuring itineraries that go beyond typical Caribbean, European, and Alaskan routes, delving deeper into places where nature, history, and culture shine.

Whether you’re seeking new cruising opportunities or are just starting out, these exceptional sailings are sure to spark your next adventure. These routes will take you to locations that are challenging to fully appreciate if you only fly in and explore on land—they're destinations where traveling by sea offers unique perspectives and access to sights you might miss otherwise.

Here are our top recommendations for the finest cruise itineraries of 2023.

Explore Iceland, Norway, and the Arctic

With their breathtaking glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, and fjords, Iceland and Norway have increasingly captured the hearts of travelers. A new itinerary from Viking offers guests the best of both worlds, merging these stunning countries with an added bonus of the Arctic—specifically Svalbard, known for its abundant polar bear population.

The 14-night voyages, running between Bergen, Norway, and Reykjavík, Iceland, take ample time along Norway’s west coast and Inside Passage, visiting key ports like Tromsø, the northernmost city, and Honningsvåg, rich in Sami culture and vibrant birdlife.

Sailing to the Svalbard Archipelago, located midway between Norway and the North Pole, passengers will spend the night in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost city, which hosts more polar bears than inhabitants. After crossing the Norwegian Sea, the cruise arrives at the lush shores of Iceland in the quaint village of Ísafjörður, settled by a Viking named Helgi in the 9th century. The journey concludes in Reykjavík, where extending your stay for a night or more to explore the vibrant Icelandic capital is highly recommended.

The nearly identical 930-passenger Viking Neptune and the newly launched Viking Saturn are operating this route, with six sailings scheduled from May to August 2023. Prices start at $6,999 per person.

Cruise to witness Canada’s spirit bears

Embark on the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture for a rare opportunity to spot the elusive “spirit bears”—white or cream-colored Kermode bears native to the Great Bear Rainforest in northern British Columbia. They hold sacred significance for First Nations Indigenous communities.

These cruises, which traverse between Ketchikan, Alaska, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, highlight wildlife and culture through expedition activities such as Zodiac landings, kayaking, and bushwhacking (hiking off-trail) in more secluded regions. In Prince Rupert, delve into First Nations history at the Museum of British Columbia, designed in the style of a coastal longhouse. Lindblad Expeditions aims to have a cultural interpreter on board to share insights into the stories and traditions of First Nations communities during the sailings.

The three Lindblad Expeditions “Voyage to the Great Bear Rainforest” cruises are set to launch in September 2023, with prices starting at $5,560 per person.

Circumnavigate Sicily

Fans of the hit HBO series The White Lotus are flocking to hotels and villas in Sicily this year. However, there's an alternative way to explore this beloved Italian island: aboard the luxury 184-passenger vessel Le Bougainville on a circumnavigation cruise of Sicily, offered by Ponant in partnership with Smithsonian Journeys.

The cruise on May 4 was announced prior to the unexpected surge in tourism and emphasizes history and culture, sailing round trip from Valletta, Malta. It features onboard lectures covering history and archaeology, as well as visits to sites like the UNESCO-listed Valley of Temples, a stunning example of Greek architecture.

While not the main focus, you might catch glimpses of locations from the TV show while exploring Taormina’s medieval hilltop center with its Greco-Roman theater, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Near the coast in Taormina, consider visiting the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons property, housed in a converted 14th-century convent, where Season 2 of The White Lotus was filmed. In Palermo, be sure to stop by the Theatro Massimo, the opera house featured in the HBO series.

You’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy Sicily’s stunning blue seas, rugged coastline, and numerous sandy beaches showcased in the series. Prices for the seven-night cruise start at $6,360 per person.

Other cruise lines visiting Sicily this summer include Windstar Cruises, Star Clippers, Variety Cruises, and Sea Cloud Cruises.

Explore the remote West African islands

This fall, Norwegian expedition line Hurtigruten will introduce a new series of cruises starting from Senegal, venturing into the secluded Atlantic archipelagos of Cape Verde and the Bissagos Islands (also known as Bijagós).

While navigating the islands, travelers will encounter a variety of landscapes, including pristine beaches, saltwater lagoons, mangrove swamps, Sahara sand dunes, and rocky cliffs inhabited by endemic bird species. A highlight is the Madeiran storm petrel, called jaba-jaba in Cape Verde, alongside the fascinating saltwater hippos that populate the area.

Most of the itinerary takes travelers to destinations accessible only by sea. In Cape Verde, rich in Portuguese colonial heritage, stops include Santiago, Fogo, Santo Antão, and Boa Vista. In the Bissagos Islands, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, guests will immerse themselves in the culture of the Bijagós people, who primarily rely on subsistence farming and fishing, along with a traditional spiritual belief system. The cruise also makes a stop in Banjul, the smallest capital city in Africa, located in Gambia.

The 13-night cruises are round trips from Dakar and will be available from November 2023 to January 2024 on the 180-passenger MS Spitsbergen. Fares begin at $5,974 per person.

A return to Japan

Japanese officials have announced that international cruise ships will be permitted to return to Japan starting March 2023, marking the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. This year, major cruise lines such as Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises, luxury brands like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea, as well as smaller operators Windstar and Azamara, will be sailing in Japanese waters.

French cruise line Ponant is offering one of the most intriguing itineraries in Japan, boasting to be the first expedition company to chart a course through the subtropical islands of southern Japan, particularly the Okinawa archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands. The eight-night journey aboard the 264-passenger Le Soleal will include naturalist-led Zodiac excursions, snorkeling, diving opportunities, and relaxation on pristine beaches on islands such as Ishigaki and Kume. Excursions will explore traditional villages on these islands.

The Ponant cruise will sail from Keelung, Taiwan, to Okinawa, departing on March 24. Fares start at $6,000 per person.

Observe birds in the Baltics

Last year, the Baltics faced challenges for cruise lines due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, necessitating the removal of what was once a highlight of the itinerary—visits to St. Petersburg, Russia. Cruise lines adapted by incorporating lesser-known ports in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia, while also extending their itineraries to include Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

In 2023, Silversea introduces its inaugural expedition voyages in the Baltic Sea, with a focus on avian life among other attractions. The line features two 12-night sailings between Hamburg and Helsinki, aboard the 274-passenger Silver Wind, stopping at 15 ports across Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, and Finland.

The itinerary includes significant historical sites, such as traversing the Kiel Canal in Germany (linking the Baltic and North seas) and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rauma, renowned for its medieval architecture in western Finland. Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy activities like Zodiac rides, kayaking, and hiking, exploring locations like the uninhabited Swedish island of Gotska Sandon, with its pristine white beaches, sand dunes, and forests that host birds like parrot crossbills and the rare golden oriole.

The cruise will also cover the entire Kavarken Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site shared by Sweden and Finland, recognized for its unique post-glacial geology, as well as the Valsörarna islands, a sanctuary for birdlife that is home to species like black guillemots and Arctic terns. In Finland’s Oulu region, travelers can join a nighttime adventure to seek out seven different owl species.

The voyages set sail from Hamburg on May 23 and from Helsinki on June 4, with prices starting at $6,850 per person.

Discover the Persian Gulf

From November 2023 to February 2024, the 312-passenger Star Legend will be stationed in the Middle East, offering 10-night voyages between Muscat, Oman, and Dubai while exploring the Persian Gulf.

The cruises will stop at ports in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, offering excursions such as admiring masterpieces at the Louvre Abu Dhabi and experiencing the world’s longest zipline, Jais Flight, in Ras Al Khaimah. The ship will stay overnight in both Abu Dhabi and Doha, Qatar, providing ample time for independent exploration of these vibrant cities.

Near Khasab, Oman, one excursion option allows guests to board a traditional two-masted dhow to navigate the stunning fjords of Musandam, known as the “Norway of the Middle East.” In Manama, Bahrain, travelers can explore the Qal’at al-Bahrain, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 6th century.

Prices begin at $3,499 per person, with the inaugural voyage departing on November 23.

Experience the wilderness of Greenland

Quark Expeditions’ new Greenland itinerary emphasizes exploring the remote southern regions of the island through land, sea, and air. The line’s cutting-edge polar vessel, the 199-passenger Ultramarine, will act as a floating base camp for adventurers. A highlight of this eight-night polar journey is the ship's twin-engine helicopters, which depart from the deck to transport guests and expedition gear to hard-to-reach sites (helicopter flights are included in the cruise price).

These round-trip cruises depart from Reykjavík in Iceland, beginning with a charter flight to the small town of Narsarsuaq, Greenland, which has a population of fewer than 200 residents. From there, travelers will delve into the wilderness of the Greenland ice sheet.

Guests can swim or kayak in glacial lakes, bike and hike through pristine landscapes, and get up close to glaciers and icebergs using Zodiac boats. An optional overnight camping experience in the wild is also available for a fee. Before returning to Reykjavík, passengers will have the opportunity to visit a small Greenlandic community and explore the 10th-century ruins associated with Viking Erik the Red, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The eight-night expeditions set sail on July 14 and July 21, with prices starting at $9,140 per person.