Hidden Travel Gems You Can Only Reach by Cruise
- Replies 0
Note from the Editor: This article was written for the SDC by the travel experts at CruiseAway*. With years of experience working alongside the world’s leading cruise lines, the CruiseAway’s experts know when the best deals drop, what sells fast, and how to spot true value.
There’s something magical about finding a place that feels undiscovered — a tucked-away corner of the world where the crowds haven’t arrived, and the scenery feels like your own secret. While planes and road trips open doors to many amazing destinations, cruising offers access to places that few travellers ever see*. Many ports, fjords, and islands are reachable only by sea, giving cruise guests a front-row seat to some of the world’s most breathtaking hidden treasures.
Greece’s Lesser-Known Isles*
While Santorini and Mykonos steal the spotlight, Greece is sprinkled with enchanting islands where time moves a little slower. Cruises often call at Patmos*, known for its serene beaches and sacred sites, or Symi*, where pastel houses climb up from the harbour like a painting come to life.
Many of these islands have limited ferry access, so arriving by ship feels like unlocking a hidden chapter of the Greek Isles — one filled with quiet charm, turquoise coves, and authentic village life.
Untamed Alaska*
Alaska’s wilderness is vast, raw, and largely unreachable by road — which is exactly why cruising offers such a unique perspective. Ships venture to Icy Strait Point*, a heritage cannery town rich in Tlingit culture, and glide past secluded glaciers and wildlife sanctuaries you can’t reach by car.
Imagine waking to the sight of humpback whales breaching beside your balcony or spotting brown bears on the shoreline — it’s a front-row experience of nature at its purest.
The Caribbean’s Private Paradises*
Beyond the Caribbean’s bustling ports lie secret islands* reserved exclusively for cruise guests. Cruise lines often lease or own private cays*, where white-sand beaches and crystal waters await without the usual crowds.
Whether it’s Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas* or CocoCay in the Caribbean*, these retreats combine untouched beauty with five-star comfort* — an indulgent escape that’s only accessible by cruise.
Italy’s Hidden Harbours*
Italy’s iconic coastlines are best admired from the sea. While cities like Rome and Venice draw the crowds, a cruise reveals hidden harbours such as Portofino*, a pastel-perfect gem on the Ligurian coast, and Amalfi*, where colourful houses spill down sun-drenched cliffs.
Sailing into these ports is like stepping into a cinematic moment — a timeless way to experience Italy’s coast as explorers once did.
Papua New Guinea’s Untouched Shores*
Papua New Guinea remains one of the world’s most authentic travel frontiers, and a cruise is one of the few ways to experience it. Expedition-style ships call at remote villages and islands* where local traditions, dances, and artwork thrive.
From volcano-fringed coastlines to coral-rich lagoons*, each stop feels like a genuine encounter with cultures and landscapes rarely seen by outsiders.
Hidden Treasures of the South Pacific*
The South Pacific evokes dreams of paradise — but there are still islands that remain blissfully under the radar. Cruise travellers can step ashore on Mystery Island in Vanuatu*, an uninhabited oasis of golden beaches and coral gardens, or the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia*, known as ‘the closest island to paradise’.
With few or no air connections, these idyllic destinations are best — and sometimes only — reached by sea.
Why Cruising Uncovers the Unreachable
What makes cruising so special is its ability to link places that are remote, hard to reach, or simply too small for commercial travel routes*. Your ship becomes both your transport and your sanctuary, carrying you effortlessly from one hidden wonder to the next. Instead of long transfers or multiple flights, you simply wake each morning to a new horizon — a new world waiting to be explored.
Final Thoughts
Hidden travel gems have a rare kind of magic — they make you feel like a true explorer discovering the world anew. A cruise lets you uncover these remarkable places in comfort, combining the thrill of adventure with the ease of luxury travel.
From Norway’s secret fjords* to Papua New Guinea’s untouched islands*, these journeys remind us that some of the most beautiful destinations can only be reached when you set sail.
*Please note, members, this is a sponsored article. All content of ours that has an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission to write an article or post a deal. We simply do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!
There’s something magical about finding a place that feels undiscovered — a tucked-away corner of the world where the crowds haven’t arrived, and the scenery feels like your own secret. While planes and road trips open doors to many amazing destinations, cruising offers access to places that few travellers ever see*. Many ports, fjords, and islands are reachable only by sea, giving cruise guests a front-row seat to some of the world’s most breathtaking hidden treasures.
A world of whitewashed charm and endless blue. Unlock Greece’s most magical islands by cruise. Image credit: CruiseAway*
Greece’s Lesser-Known Isles*
While Santorini and Mykonos steal the spotlight, Greece is sprinkled with enchanting islands where time moves a little slower. Cruises often call at Patmos*, known for its serene beaches and sacred sites, or Symi*, where pastel houses climb up from the harbour like a painting come to life.
Many of these islands have limited ferry access, so arriving by ship feels like unlocking a hidden chapter of the Greek Isles — one filled with quiet charm, turquoise coves, and authentic village life.
Untamed Alaska*
Alaska’s wilderness is vast, raw, and largely unreachable by road — which is exactly why cruising offers such a unique perspective. Ships venture to Icy Strait Point*, a heritage cannery town rich in Tlingit culture, and glide past secluded glaciers and wildlife sanctuaries you can’t reach by car.
Imagine waking to the sight of humpback whales breaching beside your balcony or spotting brown bears on the shoreline — it’s a front-row experience of nature at its purest.
The Caribbean’s Private Paradises*
Beyond the Caribbean’s bustling ports lie secret islands* reserved exclusively for cruise guests. Cruise lines often lease or own private cays*, where white-sand beaches and crystal waters await without the usual crowds.
Whether it’s Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas* or CocoCay in the Caribbean*, these retreats combine untouched beauty with five-star comfort* — an indulgent escape that’s only accessible by cruise.
Italy’s Hidden Harbours*
Italy’s iconic coastlines are best admired from the sea. While cities like Rome and Venice draw the crowds, a cruise reveals hidden harbours such as Portofino*, a pastel-perfect gem on the Ligurian coast, and Amalfi*, where colourful houses spill down sun-drenched cliffs.
Sailing into these ports is like stepping into a cinematic moment — a timeless way to experience Italy’s coast as explorers once did.
Papua New Guinea’s Untouched Shores*
Papua New Guinea remains one of the world’s most authentic travel frontiers, and a cruise is one of the few ways to experience it. Expedition-style ships call at remote villages and islands* where local traditions, dances, and artwork thrive.
From volcano-fringed coastlines to coral-rich lagoons*, each stop feels like a genuine encounter with cultures and landscapes rarely seen by outsiders.
Hidden Treasures of the South Pacific*
The South Pacific evokes dreams of paradise — but there are still islands that remain blissfully under the radar. Cruise travellers can step ashore on Mystery Island in Vanuatu*, an uninhabited oasis of golden beaches and coral gardens, or the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia*, known as ‘the closest island to paradise’.
With few or no air connections, these idyllic destinations are best — and sometimes only — reached by sea.
Explore authentic villages, secret coves, and untouched cultures only by cruise. Image credit: CruiseAway*
Why Cruising Uncovers the Unreachable
What makes cruising so special is its ability to link places that are remote, hard to reach, or simply too small for commercial travel routes*. Your ship becomes both your transport and your sanctuary, carrying you effortlessly from one hidden wonder to the next. Instead of long transfers or multiple flights, you simply wake each morning to a new horizon — a new world waiting to be explored.
Final Thoughts
Hidden travel gems have a rare kind of magic — they make you feel like a true explorer discovering the world anew. A cruise lets you uncover these remarkable places in comfort, combining the thrill of adventure with the ease of luxury travel.
From Norway’s secret fjords* to Papua New Guinea’s untouched islands*, these journeys remind us that some of the most beautiful destinations can only be reached when you set sail.
*Please note, members, this is a sponsored article. All content of ours that has an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission to write an article or post a deal. We simply do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!
Attachments
Last edited:
