10 types of cruises you need to try at least once in your life

Today, the only classic ocean liner that still runs a regular route is Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, which sails weeklong voyages between London and New York. To get a feel for what the grand old liner days were like, passengers can book passage on the vessel, which makes no port calls as it crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

Other ships might do crossings a couple of times a year, too, as they reposition to different regions at the start of each season. Some do offer a handful of port stops, but a large number of sea days is generally expected.

Big-ship cruises

I get it. You might not want more than a dozen decks to climb, loud music around every turn or tons of families with small children. However, you can’t call yourself a true cruiser if you don’t try a megaship at least once. These ships offer some pretty out-there diversions like laser tag, bungee trampolines and even roller coasters on their top decks. You need to try one out to truly know if the experience is or isn’t for you; you might be surprised at your ability to avoid crowds.

Plus, with so much to do, there’s something for just about everyone in terms of food and entertainment if you find yourself traveling with a group of friends or family. My recommendation? Try a ship in Royal Caribbean’s Freedom class or Oasis class. They offer the most options, and after you board, you simply won’t believe you’re on a ship.

Cruises to nowhere

Cruises to nowhere used to give travelers who weren’t sure they’d like water-based vacations a chance to try one out with little commitment of time or money. The sailings — which would leave port, head out to sea for a day or two and then return to land — featured no port calls.

For close-to-home sailings, look for one-way Pacific Coast voyages that sail between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco with no port stops. Or, head to another country, such as the United Kingdom, to try a cruise to nowhere.

Europe riverboat voyages

Sure, ocean cruises are fantastic, but so are river sailings. Their slower pace means that you can take in the scenery as you sail from destination to destination. Because you can always see land, river cruises are a solid option for those who worry they’d be upset to be in the middle of the ocean with only water in every direction.

Additionally, the ports are generally close enough to one another that you might stop in more than one per day, allowing for more in-depth exploration of the region you’re visiting. (One of the most popular river cruise regions is the Rhine Gorge with its stunning castles.)

Food and local culture tend to be far more immersive than what you’d find during a port call on an oceangoing vessel. There are also fewer passengers on riverboats, which means a more favorable crew-to-guest ratio and, therefore, better service.

Depending on the destination, you might see polar or grizzly bears, moose, Arctic foxes, seals, walruses, musk oxen, bald eagles, whales, local birds and a slew of other wildlife. Mix in some flora, calving glaciers, icebergs and ruins from early explorers, and you’re in for a real treat.

US paddlewheeler sailings

As you glide along U.S. waterways like the Ohio and Mississippi, you’ll experience small-town hospitality, local landmarks that you might not otherwise hear about and a history lesson you’re not likely to forget any time soon.

The boats themselves are also fascinating, using paddlewheels for at least part of their propulsion. The practice evokes the early days of riverboating, and resident historians (called riverlorians) give lectures to teach about the areas the boats visit.

Back-to-back voyages

What’s better than a vacation? Two vacations, of course. It’s not uncommon for cruisers to take more than one sailing in a row on the same vessel. Most often, they book two consecutive voyages, known as a back-to-back trip.

The obvious draw here, besides bragging rights, is that a back-to-back extends your travels beyond just one cruise. Sail to the Eastern Caribbean one week and the Western the next, or turn a weeklong one-way sailing from Barcelona to Rome into a two-week round-trip visiting even more Mediterranean ports. Plus, you’ll find yourself on board with a largely new group of fellow passengers after the first sailing ends, so it’s a great way to meet twice the number of people.

World cruises

Accessible to only the wealthiest cruisers, world voyages (as you might have guessed) sail to destinations all over the globe in one long cruise. These itineraries usually stretch on for 100 days or more, hitting key ports across most of the seven continents.

It’s also common for cruise lines to offer segments to passengers wishing only to do part of the longer voyage. This does open the option up to travelers with smaller budgets.

Most cruisers — even seasoned ones — have never taken a world cruise, and it’s truly a feather in the cap of anyone who checks it off their list.

Bahamas weekenders

The voyages last a minimum of two nights, sailing from the Port of Palm Beach in Florida to Freeport in the Bahamas and back. Travelers can also choose to disembark and stay at a land-based resort for a few days before cruising home.

This is one way to test out a short sailing, but keep in mind that it’s designed to be a party atmosphere.