Published On: Sat, Aug 9th, 2025
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‘I’m a cruise expert – these are the best 10 in the world’ | Cruise | Travel

With so much on offer, it can be hard to decide where to travel to when booking a cruise. But one expert has revealed the top locations to visit on your next voyage

Gary Bembridge from Tips for Travellers, who has been on 68 cruises, shared his 10 “best cruises in the world for your bucket list”. He said they are the ones that he “truly believe(s) everyone should do at least once in their life”. Cruise operators visit all corners of the globe, from Polynesia to the Arctic Circle. The biggest cruise companies, in terms of market share and passenger volume, are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. Carnival is the largest, with over 100 ships on nine lines, Royal Caribbean Group is second with over 40 ships, and Norwegian is third with around 30 ships. Other independent operators include Virgin, MSC, Disney, Saga, and Viking. Here are Gary’s top 10 locations to visit on a cruise.

The Caribbean

The most popular cruising location, the Caribbean is “absolutely magnificent,” with destinations “phenomenally well” equipped to handle cruises. Locations tend to be split between the east (Bahamas, Caymans, Dominican Republic), the west (Jamaica, Mexico), and the south (Saint Kitts, Antigua, Barbados).

(Image: Getty)

The Mediterranean

As the second-biggest destination, the Mediterranean gives a “great overview of Europe” and the chance to see “different cultures, historical sites, and stunning beaches”. Locations include Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Athens, the Greek islands, and Dubrovnik.

(Image: Getty)