10 Cruises That Should Be on Your Bucket List in 2016

The Arctic

No bucket list is complete until you've checked off "seeing the Aurora Borealis" somewhere along the way. In 2016, Borton Overseas is teaming up with Hurtigruten to offer an 11-day itinerary called Winter Landscapes and Coast of Norway with SnowHotel & King Crab Safari. It takes you up the entire length of Norway, starting in Oslo, traversing the narrow but stunning Raftsund strait, and ending in Kirkenes for dinner and an overnight at the memorable SnowHotel.

As you cross the Arctic Circle, stand on deck to behold the resplendent Northern Lights. The trip also includes a train ride through idyllic Gudbrandsdal Valley, a king crab safari, a dogsledding experience, plus plenty of optional excursions like attending a real Viking feast, touring the Arctic capital of Tromso, and checking in on Russia's border.

Dates: Daily departures January 1 to April 20, 2016.

Price: From $4,640 per person, including taxes, airfare from Newark, a flight from Kirkenes to Oslo, a king crab safari, a dogsledding excursion, transfers in Oslo, five hotel nights, four cruise nights, all onboard meals, and train fare from Oslo to Trondheim with porter service. Fuel surcharges are additional, as are optional shore excursions.

Contact: Borton Overseas, (800) 843-0602.

RELATED: What It's Really Like to Sleep in a Snow Hotel

(Photo: Icebergs Under Northern Lights via Shutterstock)

Around the World

Cunard's Southampton to Southampton itinerary is a 120-day around-the-world extravaganza aboard the lavish Queen Mary 2. It hits no fewer than 38 ports of call, including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Haifa, Israel; Sydney, Australia; Papeete, Tahiti; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Naples, Italy. The ship features British-style guestrooms, upscale restaurants, Broadway-style shows, live music throughout, a full-scale planetarium, ballroom events, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, a dog kennel, and an extensive library.

Sadly, the less expensive rooms are already sold out, so if you don't have 61 grand in your back pocket but are still willing to splurge to see a huge swath of the world in grand British style, you might also consider booking an inside stateroom on a similar trip on the Queen Elizabeth (from $17,989 per person) or on the Queen Victoria (from $17,999 per person).

Dates: January 10 to May 10, 2016.

Price: From $60,949 per person, including all accommodations and meals but not taxes, fees and port expenses, which add up to an extra $1,531 per person.

Contact: Cunard, (800) 728-6273.

(Photo: Large Ship Leaving Port via amophoto.net/Shutterstock.com)

Galapagos

Looking to explore the Galapagos in comfort? Ecoventura's MV Origin, launching in January, is a far cry from Charles Darwin's bare-bones HMS Beagle—it's a 20-passenger vessel with gourmet cuisine, a fitness center, a Jacuzzi, an open-bar policy, and guestrooms featuring panoramic windows. Two naturalist guides are aboard to contextualize the plentiful wildlife within view.

Choose from two weeklong itineraries. One takes a southern-central route through the islands, letting you kayak and swim with sea lions, see famous Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island, and spot rare avian species like the frigatebird and the waved albatross. The other itinerary takes a northwestern route, meaning you can kayak Darwin Bay and Tagus Cove, observe Fernandina's volcanic formations, and watch whales, dolphins, and the flightless cormorant. Both itineraries visit more than a dozen nature parks, take you snorkeling with penguins, and offer chances to get near red-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises.

Dates: Departing every Sunday, starting January 17, 2016.

Price: From $6,300 per person, including all meals and snacks, all alcoholic beverages, welcome and farewell cocktail receptions, guided shore excursions, the use of snorkel equipment and sea kayaks, and airport transfers. The rate does not include gratuities or the national park entrance fee ($100).

Contact: Ecoventura, (305) 262-6264.

RELATED: 10 Ways to Get a Great Galapagos Deal

(Photo: Bartolome Island, Galapagos via Shutterstock)

India

Uniworld's 13-day India's Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges itinerary floats from New Delhi to Kolkata, stopping at India's most stunning sites. It combines stays at Oberoi hotels with accommodations on the line's luxury river ship, the Ganges Voyager II, which launches in January and features high-ceilinged suites, a 360-degree-view observation deck, and a restaurant presenting Indian and Western cuisine.

The journey starts with a tour of Delhi before embarking for an eight-day Ganges River cruise. The trips piece de resistance, of course, is visiting the Taj Mahal not once but twice—you go inside the iconic structure midday for a tour and an education about its history, and then again the next morning at dawn to see it at its most beautiful in the light of sunrise.

Other itinerary highlights include a visit to Agra Fort; a stay in Jaipur to explore the city's bustling bazaars; a Kolkata city tour; a visit to Mother Teresa's home and tomb (you can choose to visit a nearby orphanage, too); a trishaw ride through Kalna to see more than 100 lovely Hindu temples; a walk through the artisan village of Matiari; and a visit to Hazarduari Palace, known for its thousand doors. The journey's finale is a visit to the colorful village of Mayapur, where the huge Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is set to be finished in 2016.

Dates: February 5 to 17, 2016.

Price: From $8,024 per person, including all overnight accommodations and most meals and drinks (including wine and beer). The rate does not include port charges of $175 per person.

Contact: Uniworld, (818) 382-7820.

(Photo: Taj Mahal via Shutterstock)

Seychelles

If you're the type whose winter isn't complete without having escaped to a warm-weather paradise, Crystal Cruises' Round-trip Victoria on Crystal Esprit itinerary is your ultimate getaway. Falling over Valentine's Day and breaking in the company's brand-new, 62-suite luxury yacht, it's an island-hopping spree that weaves though the Seychelles archipelago—picture white beaches, green mountains, and impossibly clear water.

On the boat, there's butler service, guestrooms and amenities worthy of fancy hotels, and all you can eat and drink. Off the boat, you explore UNESCO-protected wildlife reserves, spectacular coral reefs, and habitats that simply don't exist anywhere else. Among the rare species you'll encounter: the coco de mer palm tree (it produces the world's biggest seed), native tortoises, the Seychelles warbler, and the giant hump-head parrotfish.

Your fare includes a birding trek on Cousin Island, a glass-bottom boat ride in St. Anne Marine National Park, the chance to help reforest Curieuse Island, and a two-night land program in Dubai. Optional excursions (additional to the cruise's price) are plentiful and include a helicopter tour, a nighttime dive, and a day of golf at Praslin's Constance Lemuria Resort. The Crystal Esprit stocks a fleet of free-to-use watercraft to let passengers make the most of the calm, warm waters—you'll have access to snorkel and scuba gear, four eight-passenger Zodiacs, jet skis, water skis, wakeboards, kayaks—even a two-person submarine.

Dates: February 12 to 21, 2016.

Price: From $4,960, including all meals, snacks, and beverages (including alcohol); butler service (including unpacking and packing); twice-daily housekeeping with bedtime turndown; 24-hour room service; all onboard gratuities; the use of in-suite iPads; clothes pressing and shoe shining; lectures by regional geographic experts; nightly entertainment; use of an onboard gym and access to fitness classes; a swimming pool and Jacuzzi; and the use of all sports and water equipment.

Contact: Crystal Cruises, (888) 553-0169.

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(Photo: La Digue Island via Shutterstock)

Europe

Call it the grown-up version of the post-college European tour. Uncommon Journeys and Holland America have teamed up to offer the 2016 European Holiday, a 57-day itinerary that pushes off from Florida and hits coastal hotspots in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Monaco, and France.

As Kevin Tam, the president of Uncommon Journeys, points out, this grand one-time voyage "gives travelers the chance to explore the Old World's most exquisite places in safety, style, and convenience, all for less than the cost of a round-trip business-class plane ticket to Europe." The luxurious ms Prinsendam offers generously sized staterooms (yeah, they've got walk-in closets), acres of open deck, and a wonderful spa. You'll spend your two months seeing a large swath of Europe's edge, including the Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles, Stromboli's largest volcano, the Bay of Naples, Pompeii, Seville, and Kotor Bay, with port stops in Monte Carlo, the Azores, Santorini, and many more.

Dates: March 10 to May 5, 2016.

Price: From $7,995 per person, including a pre-departure hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale, with breakfast and transfer to the ship; a daylong tour of the French Riviera; onboard and shoreside cocktail parties and events; and the services of a tour manager. Port taxes of $665 per person are not included.

Contact: Uncommon Journeys, (800) 323-5893.

(Photo: White Washed Building in Greek Island via Shutterstock)

South America

G Adventures' South America Cruise—Ushuaia to Cartagena is a 38-day trip that skips up the ever-changing geography of South America's west coast.

Starting in the world's southernmost city and finishing in warm Caribbean waters, this small-ship adventure aboard the G Expedition starts with views of Chilean fjords and glaciers, then heads to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley—a three-day land excursion, including guided tours, lets travelers get their fill of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Also in Peru, there's a Cusco city tour and a visit to the ruins of Ollantaytambo. The grand finale, of course, is a passage through the Panama Canal, with the San Blas Islands and their white-sand beaches and turquoise waters on the other side.

Other highlights along the way include visiting the Embera tribe in Panama's Darien Jungle; an excursion into Chile's spectacular Torres del Paine National Parke; zodiac excursions led by an expert team; and onboard lectures and educational programs. Modes of transit on this journey, in addition to ship and zodiac, include plane, private bus, motorized canoe, train, and foot.

Dates: March 21 to April 27, 2016.

Price: From $9,349 per person, including 33 nights aboard the G Expedition, all meals, arrival and departure transfers, all scheduled shore excursions, internal flights, and transport to and from included activities. Passengers must be at least 10 years old.

Contact: G Adventures, (888) 800-4100.

RELATED: Patagonia and Torres del Paine: Hiking at the Edge of the World

(Photo: Machu Picchu with Fog via Shutterstock)

Africa

AmaWaterways' Discover Africa itinerary bookends a four-night safari cruise with a three-night stay in Cape Town and a two-night visit to Victoria Falls, with fine dining offered throughout.

In Cape Town, you'll visit the famous Cape of Good Hope, the hordes of penguins at Boulder Beach, and local vineyards for some high-end wine-tasting. Once in Botswana, you board the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen and start down the Chobe River, in full view of hippos and elephants in their natural habitat. The next day is reserved for a traditional safari in Chobe National Park. From your open-top 4x4 vehicle, you'll encounter lions, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, cape buffalos, hyenas, and cheetahs, if you're lucky.

Locals host you for dinner, song, and dance in a typical African village. Before long, you're headed to legendary Victoria Falls for a guided tour that'll leave you knowing all about the world's tallest and perhaps most spectacular waterfall. Your trip closes (unless you've opted for the $1,495 two-night Johannesburg extension) with a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River for even more game viewing.

Dates: Various departure dates from April to November 2016.

Price: From $8,499, including three nights at the Cape Grace Hotel, four nights aboard the Zambezi Queen, two nights at Victoria Falls Hotel, a full-day Cape of Good Hope tour, a safari in Chobe National Park, all onboard meals (including wine and beer), a guided tour of Victoria Falls National Park, and a Zambezi River sundowner cruise.

Contact: AmaWaterways, (800) 626-0126.

(Photo: Victoria Falls via Shutterstock)

Alaska

Book AdventureSmith's Yachter's Alaskan Frontier cruise to ply the waters of the Inside Passage aboard a 22-guest craft, the Safari Quest. The eight-day journey sails round-trip from Juneau aboard a boutique yacht boasting a two-to-one guest-to-crew ratio and unforgettable excursions: A skiff gets you as close as anyone can get to Dawes Glacier, a guided hike lets you explore Tongass National Forest, and kayaks and stand-up paddleboards float you into stunning coves.

Wildlife abounds, and you're all but guaranteed to see humpbacks, seals, otters, eagles, and bears. You'll also behold the icebergs of Endicott Arm, the waterfalls and fjords of Baranof Island, and archipelago ecosystems ranging from tide pools to rainforests to granite peaks. Onboard, there's a full bar (your fare includes all you can drink), a hot tub, a library, and a salon where you can watch footage streamed from an underwater camera. Each stateroom has a Tempur-Pedic bed, a flatscreen TV, and a bathroom with a heated tile floor.

Can't bear the idea of being in Alaska but missing Denali? Pre- or post-cruise, add a weeklong land tour ($3,395 per person) of the spectacular national park.

Dates: Departures throughout June, July, and August 2016.

Price: From $7,195 per person, including onboard meals; a massage; airport transfers; baggage handling; port fees and taxes; the use of sea kayaks, paddleboards, and a high-speed skiff; and Alaska Geographic membership. Passengers must be at least 14 years old.

Contact: AdventureSmith, (877) 620-2875.

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(Photo: Sawyer Glacier, Alaska via Shutterstock)

Antarctica

Never been to Antarctica? It's time. Wilderness Travel is offering the chance to follow in Ernest Shackleton's path on the centennial of his famous expedition to the white continent. The one-time, 20-day itinerary, called Legendary Explorers, starts with an overnight in Ushuaia, Argentina, the world's southernmost town, then crosses the Antarctic Convergence for a three-night stay on South Georgia Island, where millions of penguins breed, and where you'll toast Shackleton at his simple gravesite.

Highlights to follow include sailing the Scotia Sea's polar waters, traversing the Beagle Channel, visiting the active British Antarctic Survey station, and touring the rustic West Falklands, where you might step into a local homestead or have a pint at a pub. Along for the journey (in addition to an ornithologist, a marine biologist, a historian, and a geologist) are several of today's greatest living naturalists: climber Conrad Anker, conservationist Carl Safina, climate scientist Tim Jarvis, and nature photographer Frans Lanting, all of whom give onboard talks and join shore excursions.

Your vessel is the 114-passenger Hebridean Sky, whose guestrooms are all outward-facing suites, meaning you can see Antarctica's dramatic scenery right from bed. The ship has an elegant restaurant, two lounges, Wi-Fi, a library, and, up top, an observation deck for panoramic views of majestic glaciers and icebergs, scenic bays and channels, and all the wildlife you can imagine—hordes of penguins, breaching humpbacks and orcas, colonies of sea lions, and seabirds of all stripes.

Dates: November 29 to December 18, 2016.

Price: From $14,995 per person, including a hotel night in Ushuaia; 18 nights on the Hebridean Sky; all onboard meals (they're prepared by European chefs); lectures by the onboard naturalists; all scheduled shore excursions; onboard gratuities, port taxes and fees; a waterproof jacket; the services of an onboard doctor and clinic; and transfers to and from the ship. The rate does not include an optional photography workshop given by Frans Lanting ($2,000 per person), or an optional kayak excursion ($650 per person).

Contact: Wilderness Travel, (800) 368-2794.

More from SmarterTravel:

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• The Worst Decisions You Can Make on a Cruise

Editor's Note: Want more cruise news, tips, and advice? Visit our sister site, CruiseCritic.com. Cruise Critic is a member of the TripAdvisor Media Group, which also operates SmarterTravel.

Avital Andrews also covers travel for the Los Angeles Times, Sierra, Outside, and the Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter @avitalb.

(Photo: Penguins with Cruise Ship in Background via Shutterstock)