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6 Trending Bucket-List Cruise Experiences for 2025
Written by Chris Stead
The biggest and best cruise itineraries for 2025 and 2026 have been announced, but which ones need to drop anchor on your bucket list?
The tide is rising and cruising holidays are only becoming more and more popular. Ships as big as cities and vessels as small as homes are crisscrossing the waterways of our amazing planet, each offering something unique for passengers to experience.
But what’s trending? Where are the bucket-list cruise destinations that’ll have your sea legs trembling with excitement? Find out what cruises need to be added to your travel plans.
An expedition cruise
Cruises aren’t just about hot tubs and pina coladas anymore. There’s been a growing interest in expedition cruises that seek adventure, education and even wellness in the far corners of Earth; where scientists and professors fill the days of intrepid travellers with once-in-a-lifetime excursions and insightful experiences.
The trending destination in this space is Antarctica. Visitors to the Frozen Continent rose 40% between the 2019 and 2022 seasons and more than 70 ships a year have added the destination to their voyage itineraries to meet the growing demand. Ships tend to depart from South America, with November to March the optimal season for cruises to Antarctica.
Bucket-list moments: Seeing real icebergs, getting close to seals, whales and penguins, and setting foot on Antarctica.
A small-ship cruise
There are plenty of perks to sailing on giant cruise vessels, however one limitation is these mega-ships may be too big to reach some of the world’s more hard-to-reach locations. As such, small-ship cruising is on the up, with passenger numbers expected to double by 2030.
With guest capacities from the 10s to the low 100s, these luxury, personal experiences can be found all over the world, visiting ports bigger ships can only dream about. French Polynesia is a hot spot for great small-ship cruising, as is Indonesia. Further from home, travellers are being attracted to the Northern Lights and the fjords of Norway.
Bucket-list moments: Cruising into an isolated tropical bay surrounded by jungle, and diving into pristine waters with your snorkel gear.
A short and sharp cruise
Cruises have mostly attracted older clientele in past years, but the industry is reporting a consistent trend: younger passengers are now looking to the seas for their holidays too. Nearly one-third of Australian cruisers are under 30 years, with the average age now 48.4. These younger cruisers are seeking out shorter voyages, with increased demand for itineraries that last four or five days. Plus, young sailors are wanting not just more port days, but also longer times spent in port.
It means stopover cruises are the next big thing, with many Australians turning long-haul flights into an opportunity to tick off a few bucket-list destinations. Think jumping off a plane in a Singapore, Bangkok or Dubai for a quick cruise, before continuing on your journey. This has opened up destinations such as the Persian Gulf and South-East Asia for many Australians, who like the ease of cruising, but don’t necessarily want to spend weeks at sea.
Bucket-list moments: Exploring the mosques, bazaars and rich culture of the Arabian Peninsula.
A river cruise
For thousands of years, rivers were main highways, and this ancient infrastructure still exists today. Cruises are popping up all around the world allowing you to visit ancient cultures from the deck of a luxury vessel. River ships are long, squat and spend plenty of time docked to land.
There are a number of destinations gaining interest, with experts anticipating 12% growth over the new four years. Mekong cruises link Vietnam, Laos and Thailand to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Cruising the Nile River is becoming a popular way to discover Egypt. On the Rhine you’ll find cruises through the heart of Europe. While the adventurous have been looking to the Amazon and a glimpse of the tribes in its famed jungle.
Bucket-list moments: Watching famous temples like Luxor and Abu Simbel come into view as you cruise down the Nile.
A wildlife cruise
Growing passion for biodiversity has led to an increase in wildlife tourism, with the sector anticipating 72% growth by 2032. The Galapagos Islands is becoming more popular for wildlife cruises, renowned for not just its diverse array of animals, but the way they interact with humans. Think sea lions, penguins, dolphins, albatross, iguanas and, of course, the giant tortoise.
For a more tropical setting, there are new cruise itineraries opening up in East Africa. Destinations like Madagascar, Seychelles and Tanzania are emerging, promising biodiversity experiences on land and in the water.
Bucket-list moment: Exploring the rugged volcanic rock of the Galapagos, taking photos of endangered species.
A mega-ship cruise
Sometimes, the ship itself can be all the destination you need. The world biggest cruise ships are immense wonders, up to 365m long and 73m high. They can be home to waterworks, go-kart tracks, ice-skating rings, ziplines, outdoor theatres, malls and even tree-lined parks! Between staff and guests, more than 10,000 humans can call them home with some cruise lines hosting over seven million guests a year.
Experiencing one of these mega ships for yourself is to marvel at a modern wonder. These giant ships are usually family friendly and are most commonly found in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
Bucket-list moment: Sliding down a multi-storey slippery dip on the world’s biggest ships.
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Feature image: Explora 1, Explora Journeys
