Which region to choose?
If you have never been on a cruise, you probably associate cruises first with the Caribbean. And that’s very true, as most ships sail there and cruise prices are the most affordable. The Caribbean islands are close to each other, so there are fewer sea days on cruises. The Caribbean Sea is the best place to get acquainted with cruise vacations. Additionally, you can start short cruises from cities on the east coast of the USA to visit Bermuda or the Bahamas. The only downside is that the flight to the USA is quite long and expensive.
If you don’t want to take an expensive and long flight, you might consider the Mediterranean during the summer season. Prices here are higher, but the ports are more interesting and offer more cultural experiences. The Mediterranean cruise season generally lasts from May to October, with some companies sailing year-round.
South America and Alaska are both attractive in their own way. Flight connections are a bit complicated for Alaska, and visa requirements are worth paying attention to for South America. From South America, you can also go on an expedition to Antarctica, for example. Or visit the Galapagos Islands on a cruise ship instead.
A Panama Canal cruise is definitely an experience in itself. Newer ships are already so wide that they cannot fit through the canal, but smaller ships are definitely worth making the journey while this unique experience is still possible.
A rising star in the cruise world is Dubai (November-March) and the Middle East in general. More and more companies place their ships in Dubai and sail from there to other emirates and Oman.
Asia, Australia and New Zealand certainly offer a lot of excitement. Unfortunately, the price level on these cruises is in a completely different class than in the Caribbean.