“If I say cruise, you say…?”

To most people a cruise is synonym to the Caribbean or Hawaii. It’s the destination for 9 out of 10 first timers. And even more experienced ‘cruisers’ tend to stick to the destinations they know. There is a very good reason for that and it takes only a small experiment to find out why most people don’t even consider any other destinations.
Let’s do a Mickey Mouse experiment. In a couple of seconds I’m going to ask you to close your eyes. Now, play along and don’t cheat (I’m keeping an eye on you!). When you’ve closed your eyes, I wish you relax and think of a cruise. Ready? Do it now. Close your eyes and think ‘cruise’. I’ll wait…

Welcome back.

My hypothesis is you had a vision that had at least some (if not all) of the followings:
* palm trees
* white sandy beaches
* the sun
* girls doing the hula
* cocktails
* islands

Am I right? Of course I’m right. I’m the Captain, remember.

It’s simple. If we think of a cruise, we think of the Caribbean, Hawaii or any other exotic island. There's a very good reason for that. These islands were created for one reason and one reason only: to give a luxurious cruise liner a destination.

Let’s do another experiment. A little harder this time. Pretend – for arguments sake – that the Caribbean is closed for a couple of months and Hawaii is closed for uh, let’s say uh, maintenance. Hard to believe, I know. But who cares. We are creative people. You can do it! Still with me? Cool. Let’s go on.

Remember: both Hawaii and the Caribbean are gone. No more white sandy beaches, no more girls doing the hula, no more steel drums. Now close your eyes and think ‘cruise’. What comes to mind?

………?

My guess is you were totally blank. Nothing came up. Right? That’s because our brains haven’t got a glue what a cruise would look like if there where no cocktails or palm trees. Well, let’s educate your brain a little. Any place that enthralls your eye and excites your spirits can be a target destination for a cruise.

Let's take a closer look at Greece and Turkey. The ocean east of Greece and west of Turkey is a textbook cruise destination. There are a zillion islands to visit, the weather is tropical and very dependable. It’s an eye-opener that will feed your brain with colorful pictures and memories for a lifetime.

Another ideal spot for a cruise is the coast of North Africa. From the pyramids of Egypt in the east to the dessert and beach resorts of Morocco in the west. Another great and upcoming destination is Central America. Did you know Costa Rica is a great ‘green’ cruise destination? The thick, lush rainforests attract the nature lover more than any other spot for cruises. And there are many more alternative destinations, but we will close with the most different off them all: Antarctica. Yes, Antarctica!

Antarctica has its own unique aura of enjoyment. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind. Given its climate, you need to prepare a bit differently for this cruise. Mentally, that is. But if you have the flexibility of mind to do so and are open for a completely different experience, Antarctica is definitely a destination to consider. Your first cruise may take you to the Caribbean. Your second to Hawaii. Make tour third something special!

Captain Jack Storms is a retired cruise ship captain. He runs a website called CaptainJacksCruise.info where he provides information on cruise destinations, preparations for a perfect cruise and much more.