One of the best ways to cruise into the sunset is aboard a New Zealand cruise to Akaroa Harbor. This is the only place on Earth to see Hector Dolphins. These dolphins are the smallest and rarest in the world. Mature females measure only 4-feet-7-inches and weigh 105 pounds. Ironically, adult males are dwarfed by their counterparts since their average weight is 100 pounds and length measures 4 feet-3-inches. Newborn Hectors average a length of 2-feet-4-inches and weigh a whopping 17 pounds.
Included on the list of New Zealand cruises is a nature cruise along the Milford Sound. One highlight is touring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. Estimated to be 12,000 years old, wending your way through a series of limestone pathways affords the opportunity to see a majestic underground waterfall and a fireworks display produced by countless glowworms.
For scuba diving aficionados, a visit to Nameless Island in the Galapagos Islands is a must. This world's most unusual island chain was visited by Charles Darwin during his evolution theory studies. Unusual creatures to be on the look out for include the vampire finch, large tortoises and native iguanas.
A cruise through Antarctica's Drake Passage affords the opportunity to ply the waters separating Antarctica from the southern tip of South America. During your voyage, you may experience sightings of the Black-brown albatross and polar bears. Most cruise itineraries include views of icebergs in Pleneau Bay and penguins diving into the frigid waters of Neho Harbor.
On a cruise through the brackish water of the Baltic Sea is a fantastic experience. The sea is believed to have resulted from Ice Age glacier melting. Military buffs will enjoy a visit to the Kiel Canal area, home to a training base for German sailors and submarine personnel.
Cruising off into the sunset through the fjords of Norway provides a unique experience since the sun never sets until midnight in the summer. Among some 1,190 fjords, there is always the chance to view the Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights. One place not to miss is the Geirangerfjord where one can see farms mysteriously anchored to the side of the mountain.
A cruise to Alaska affords the opportunity to see America's national bird, the American Bald Eagle, in one of its favorite haunts. The largest tidewater glacier in North America is found in Yakutat Bay. Hubbard Glacier is 76 miles long, six and a half miles wide and boasts an estimated 40-foot-tall face.
Embark from San Diego, for a breathtaking sunset cruise to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. One of the main attractions in this area is the La Bufadora Blowhole, the world's second-largest marine geyser. The geyser's 100-foot spray is generated by the phenomenal interaction between air and water within a sea cave.
During a South Pacific cruise, don't miss the chance to dive for pearls at Bora Bora or to experience the Polynesian lifestyle at Atutaki. Literary enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the forgotten islands of Marquesas whose description Herman Melville included in one of his novels.
Photo by bmward_2000 on flickr
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