While the idea of seeing the world from the deck of a cruise ship has plenty of detractors, more people than ever are booking cruise vacations. A record 24 million people around the world this year are expected to take a cruise vacation, and cruise ship operators are continually expanding the types of experiences they offer to travelers.
Slideshow: The 15 Best Cruise Ship Destinations in the World
Whether you’re looking to tour the cities of Europe or the plains of Africa, there are cruise offerings that cater to you. This year, cruise operators are reporting more interest in river cruises, new offerings in Asia and a continued demand for luxury amenities.
To highlight some of the options available, CruiseCritic.com has just issued its first-ever Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, naming the top cruise destinations across the globe based on consumer rankings on its site.
Overall, St. Petersburg, Russia, was named the top cruise destination, thanks to the city’s art, history and architecture. As a category, river cruise port cities scored the best, with Paris the top destination for river cruises.
Disney-owned Castaway Cay ranked the highest among private islands and among all Caribbean categories, thanks to its clean beaches and the range of activities for visitors of all ages. Other high-ranking destinations in the Caribbean included St. Maarten and Cozumel. San Francisco ranked the highest in the United States and Canada.
The best time to book a cruise may depend on your destination, but in general you’ll get the best deals about two months out.
Click here for the top-rated cruise destinations around the world.
