Cruises offer a fantastic way to see the world – not just far-flung destinations but locations closer to home, because of the extra guidance provided by onboard experts, the excursions to remote areas and the new perspectives you'll experience when combining multiple destinations. If your bucket list features a cruise or two but you're not quite sure of the destination you'd visit first, don't panic – we've rounded up 15 fantastic once-in-a-lifetime trips that fit the bill.

Click through to see our pick of 15 of the best bucket-list cruises around the world, from opera in Italy to penguins in Antarctica...

Don’t be surprised if Raja Ampat looks familiar – it was recently the focus of Wilderness, a BBC TV show in which explorer Simon Reeve visits the world’s most beautiful places. An Indonesian archipelago comprising more than 1,500 islands, it’s one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Sailings are often on smaller yacht-style vessels and will include visits to islands such as Mios Kon Island, with its colonies of endangered green turtles; and Wayag Island, dominated by Mount Pindito.

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Raja Ampat is a magnet for snorkellers and divers, and cruises are generally designed for active types, with guided hikes and visits to remote islands. Australian-owned lines including Scenic and True North start or finish their sailings in Darwin, making it easy to pair a cruise with a land-based adventure around the Northern Territory. Or try the ultra-small-scale yachts of Aqua Expeditions, with capacity for just 30 people and sailings that take in Raja Ampat for a week (from £7,092/$8,960 per person) or add the Spice Islands for a 12-day adventure (from £10,940/$13,824).

Seeing the dancing lights of the aurora borealis is top of many a travel wish list, and a cruise along the Norwegian coast is one of the best ways to experience this phenomenon. Sailing offshore, far away from the light pollution that can make for less-than-optimal viewing conditions, you'll get the chance to see this spectacle in all its glory. And since sightings can never be guaranteed thanks to weather or cloud cover, cruises of a week or even longer mean you get plenty of opportunities to see the lights from deck.

Cruise the coast of Norway from October to March, the optimal season for Northern Lights sightings, and you'll get two bucket-list experiences in one: viewing nature's greatest light show and sailing the spectacular, steep-sided fjords of the Norwegian coast. With notoriously high prices on land, it's also a great way to sample the Scandi lifestyle without the eye-watering prices. Norwegian-owned companies such as Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten offer the most departures, with Hurtigruten's 12-day Classic Roundtrip Voyage from Bergen starting from £1,699 ($2,155) per person.

A growing number of cruise lines are offering longitudinal or 'pole to pole' cruises – ones that sail around the world from north to south, rather than east to west. Many hug the coastlines of the Americas, from Greenland, Canada or the Great Lakes via the Caribbean to the southernmost reaches of South America. You'll not only get the chance to see multiple continents, but to tick off various cruising must-dos, such as transatlantic crossings, navigations of the Panama Canal or the ultimate adventure to Antarctica.

Hark back to the golden age of seafaring with an epic 60-day sailing on Viking's Longitudinal World Cruise. You'll spend an amazing two months floating from Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan to the icy extremes of Antarctica, ending in Ushuaia, Argentina. Highlights include stops in Canada's culinary capital of Toronto, a sailing along Quebec’s St Lawrence River, a navigation of the Panama Canal, a scenic trip through the Chilean fjords and a once-in-a-lifetime journey around Cape Horn. Prices start from £40,195 ($50,995), departing 1 October 2024.

One of the best ways to upgrade a cruise is to book one that features unique experiences, whether it includes behind-the-scenes access to the world's greatest museums, exclusive food and wine tastings on board and ashore, or intimate concerts in spectacular settings. Try a tall-ship sailing in the Med, an art and antiquities trip around the Aegean to see ancient Greek and Roman sites aplenty, or a wine-themed river cruise through the vineyards of Bordeaux and the Moselle.

If the thought of a leisurely cruise along the colourful Amalfi Coast sounds lovely, why not make it even better by upgrading to one that includes a performance by Italian opera legend Andrea Bocelli? Star Clippers' Amalfi and Sicily Sail is a great way to combine a cruise with a sumptuous city break – in this case three nights in Pisa. The highlight is a performance by Andrea Bocelli at the Teatro del Silenzio, an open-air arena in the Tuscan Hills. The 11-day cruise costs from £4,359 per person ($5,523) and departs on 6 July 2024.

Travelling on the water is nothing new around the islands of Hawaii – the Indigenous population of these Pacific islands is descended from settlers of the Polynesian isles, who would travel vast distances across the ocean in strong, seaworthy double-hulled canoes. These days, an island-hopping cruise is the ideal way to get a taste of the different character of each Hawaiian outpost, from Maui and Oahu to Kauai and the Island of Hawaii.

Most Hawaii sailings start or end on the West Coast, usually in San Francisco, Seattle or even Vancouver in British Columbia, so intrepid island adventures are bookended by a few relaxing days at sea. The exception for those who want to pack their island adventures into a week is Norwegian Cruise Line, whose ship Pride of America is based in Hawaii year-round, with seven-day sailings from £1,066 ($1,346) per person. That’s enough time to go surfing on the wave-fringed beaches of Oahu, visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial or glimpse an active volcano, Kilauea, on the Island of Hawaii.

All too many Nile cruises err on the sedate side, and while we're all for admiring Egypt's pyramids from the pool deck, many cruise lines offer active excursions around this unique region or Egyptologist-guided tours that offer an in-depth view of the area's ancient sites. Opt for one packed with excursions such as guided hikes (ideally early morning ones to avoid the hottest time of the day) and tours of landmarks such as the Temple of Luxor and Valley of the Kings.

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Many sailings add time in Cairo at the beginning or end of the cruise, so you can explore the pyramids of Giza and visit the Grand Egyptian Museum to get you ready for your adventures in antiquity, or soak up the sights of this buzzing capital, from mosques and museums in the Citadel of Salah al-Din to the gorgeous glassware of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Sail in five-star style with the likes of AmaWaterways, Viking, Sanctuary Retreats or Uniworld, which has a 12-day Splendours of Egypt and the Nile voyage, including two days in Cairo, from £5,199 ($6,596), departing January-May or September-December.

Ever dreamt of exploring the Seychelles? A cruise is one of the best ways to do it, flitting from one island to another without having to worry about pricey seaplane transfers or chartering private boats. Typical stops on Seychelles cruises include the island of La Digue, where excursions provide the inside track on beautiful French architecture; and Praslin Island, with its pristine reef (the reason it’s a brilliant diving and snorkelling spot). Curieuse, meanwhile, is famous for its friendly giant tortoises and the world's only coco-de-mer forest.

Cruises around the Seychelles run the full gamut, from bigger ships stopping off en route from East Africa to the Arabian Gulf to tiny, budget-friendly yachts that can be booked by the cabin. Emerald Cruises offers sailings on yacht-style sister ships Azzurra and Sakara, which each hold a maximum of 100 people and have entire decks dedicated to wellness. The eight-day Tropical Charms of the Seychelles trip sets off from largest island Mahe for seabird spotting on Cousin Island, sugar-soft beaches on Praslin and a journey along the wildlife-filled Sainte Anne Channel, starting from £4,319 per person ($5,479).

Costa Rica and the Panama Canal are among the most memorable experiences in Central America, and they're easy to combine on a cruise. Book an itinerary that covers both and you’ll navigate one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering before taking a walk on the wild side in one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. Try to find a cruise that includes excursions to Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio National Park – one of the best places to see sloths, squirrel monkeys and rainbow-bright toucans.

There's a thrill in watching sizeable cruise ships squeeze their way along the confines of the Panama Canal thanks to the skill of the captain and pilot at the bridge. But for a smaller-scale option, Windstar Cruises' sailing ships embody all the glamour of old-school seafaring on a week-long Costa Rica and Panama Canal sailing, from £1,898 ($2,399) per person. Board in Colon, Panama, and disembark in Costa Rican port city Puntarenas, and in between, there's an onboard naturalist offering wildlife tips, Zodiacs to access remote beaches where ships can't dock, and even a chance to try ziplining through Costa Rica's Quepos jungle.

Sailings along the mighty Mississippi, otherwise known as the Great Muddy, are a great way to explore America's historic towns and beautiful riverside cities – places such as New Orleans, Memphis and St Louis. It's also a chance to get to know hidden gems that you might not visit otherwise, such as the small-town vibes of Tunica; Vicksburg, the setting for a key turning point in the Civil War; and Natchez, famous for its antebellum homes.

The most charming small towns in America's Midwest

There are some great day trips that give you a hint of life along the Mississippi, but for a deep dive into all things America, a longer sailing will let you sit back and soak up the scenery. American Cruise Lines has a whopping 16-day Great Heartland Cruise that is a roll call of American greatness, starting from £8,268 ($10,490) per person. Start in St Paul, Minnesota, before heading to New Orleans via Tunica, Vicksburg and Natchez, all aboard a traditional paddlewheel riverboat with space for just 150 guests. Huckleberry Finn, eat your heart out. 

A Galapagos cruise is one of the best ways to see this diverse, UNESCO-listed archipelago – one that is almost impossible to explore any other way. They're great ways to delve into the region too as cruise ships here can't carry more than 100 people, most food will be sourced locally in Ecuador, and many will have onboard guides certified by the Galapagos National Park. Key stop-offs include the sea lion-filled shores of San Cristobal Island and Santa Cruz island, home to the Charles Darwin research station.

In the Galapagos Islands, the best things really do come in small packages, and many lines have specially designed ships that only sail in this region. Look for custom-built vessels from Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten, G Adventures and Metropolitan Touring, or explore these isles in style with luxury line Silversea. Silver Origin takes its name from Darwin's ground-breaking theory, with a seven-day Galapagos Voyage from £7,000 ($8,881), packed with blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and giant tortoises peeking out amid the lava-formed landscapes. 

A rail-and-sail journey is a fantastic way to gain very different perspectives on some of the world's most beautiful places. One of the most popular destinations for this type of trip is Alaska, which is easily paired with a train journey through the peaks and plains of Canada. Typically, a cruise will visit places such as Tracy Arm fjord (the location of the twin Sawyer Glaciers), along with Endicott Arm, the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park, with options to add train journeys on Canada's Rocky Mountaineer or the more affordable VIA Rail.

Combining Alaska with the Rocky Mountaineer is a bestselling rail-and-sail trip for good reason, pairing two of the most scenic journeys through this region. To delve into Alaska's Native American heritage along the way, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a seven-night sailing: Traditions of the Tlingit, from Vancouver to Seward in Alaska, with the option to ride the Rocky Mountaineer before you embark. Once on board, you'll navigate the Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Skagway and the Hubbard Glacier. Priced from £7,009pp ($8,892) per person. 

Exploring the Mediterranean from the water is a great way to sample islands and cities that aren't easily combined on a land-based jaunt, and a growing number of cruise lines are offering longer cruises which take in a wider range of destinations. Classic itineraries might call at Barcelona, Cannes, Naples or Rome, but look out for journeys that also take in the likes of Corsica or Sardinia, African cities such as Tangiers and the islands of the Croatian coast.

The array of Mediterranean itineraries is mind-boggling, with options of almost any length, price and style of ship, and everything from history-themed journeys in the Greek isles to foodie sailings on the Spanish coast. For a voyage that ticks every box, Holland America Line's 42-day Ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic Passage cruise costs from £7,719 ($9,793) per person. It starts in sunny Fort Lauderdale with a five-day transatlantic crossing, including a glimpse of land in the Azores, followed by Casablanca in Morocco, Catania in Italy, Alexandria in Egypt, Maltese capital Valletta and Gibraltar.

Growing numbers of cruise fanatics are heading down under, and one of the most popular spots is the Kimberley coastline, famous for its jagged rock formations and rust-red cliffs. Cruises generally go from Darwin to Broome or vice versa, and cover the stunning landscapes and marine reserves that put this region on the map, whether it’s the King George River with its towering twin waterfalls, or Ashmore Reef, one of Australia’s most remote marine national parks.

This remote region is best explored by sea to appreciate its rugged coastline, while enjoying trips ashore to learn about ancient Aboriginal rock art and see Australia's endemic species in the wild. Choose from luxury on Silversea, French cruise line Ponant (which serves up Zodiac thrills by day and Champagne or fine French cheese by night), or Aussie-owned Scenic, True North and Coral Expeditions. Seabourn is also basing newest ship Seabourn Pursuit here in 2024 and 2025, with 10-day trips that explore rock art in Vansittart Bay and the wildlife-rich Lacepede Islands, from £6,460 ($8,196) per person.

The ultimate cruise adventure is one that doesn't just take in one country, one region or even one continent – but rather, the world. These epic voyages can be anything from a couple of months up to four months or more, covering vast distances and offering a taste of life in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. They almost always start in January, before ships have to move for the peak summer season, and usually spend plenty of time exploring Australia or New Zealand to make the most of the southern hemisphere summer.

A bucket-list cruise deserves a bucket-list ship, which is where the brand-new ship Queen Anne from Cunard – the true connoisseurs of world cruising – comes in. This will be the mode of transport for an epic 107-night maiden world voyage from Southampton to New York, via the Panama Canal to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam and Oman then back to the UK. Prices are from £12,499 ($15,857) departing 15 January 2025, or there's the option to do the first half, a 49-day Southampton to Sydney sailing, from £5,089 ($6,456) per person. 

Antarctica cruises provide an unparalleled insight into one of the world's wildest, most remote regions. Ships are generally much smaller than standard cruise ships, carrying a couple of hundred passengers and almost always equipped with Zodiacs, the smaller boats that can take you ashore on the White Continent or get you closer to marine life. Itineraries are always weather-dependent but popular stop-offs include Wilhelmina Bay, one of the best places to see humpback whales; and Paradise Bay, famous for its sculpture-like glaciers.

Follow in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton with an Antarctic voyage to spot Adelie and gentoo penguins, enormous elephant seals and an array of seabirds. As our appetite for adventure has increased, so too has the number of expedition ships, with well-known players like Seabourn, Viking and Silversea bringing out new polar-class vessels, plus dedicated companies such as Quark and AE Expeditions. Polar voyages don't come cheap – a 14-day Antarctic Peninsula In Depth trip with Swan Hellenic has a price tag of £9,511 ($12,066) per person, which is fairly typical – but the onboard experts and out-of-this-world experience are worth every penny.

Now discover 99 of the world's most amazing bucket-list experiences