This year, cruise lines are heading to a host of unexpected locations, from Papua New Guinea to the Polar circles, Bloomberg writes.
From Penguins to Pyramids
Since 2016, there has been a jump in the number of cruises to Cuba, and this year luxury lines join the mix, Bloomberg writes. Cruises will sail to the city of Cienfuegos, Isla de la Juventud and Havana, which will celebrate its 500th anniversary this year, according to the publication. Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia, will also open up to cruise ships this year, with a 120-passenger ship by Coral Expeditions sailing through the remote west Pacific, according to the publication.
Luxury cruises are returning to Egypt this year after a decline in tourism since 2011, offering travelers the chance to see Cairo, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and many other landmark sites, Bloomberg writes. Another destination that is picking up after a recent slump is Turkey, where passengers can experience the Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, among other historical wonders, according to the publication.
For those looking to get away from it all, 2019 sees luxury ships heading to Greenland, where passengers can watch whales, the Northern Lights or footage from an underwater drone, Bloomberg writes. Similarly, travelers can sail to Antarctica to see icebergs, glaciers, whales, seals, and penguins or explore further afield on submarines and helicopters, according to the publication. There will also be a jump in the number of ships heading to Alaska, as well as a new breed of smaller craft cruising the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands, from the 100-passenger Celebrity Flora to 16- to 20-passenger yachts, all new for 2019, Bloomberg writes.
