5 unmissable bucket list cruises to do at least once in your life

Bucket list cruises stay with you forever – the kind of voyages that make you gasp, cry, or take a thousand photos before you’ve even sipped your morning cappuccino.

Whether you’re tracking whales in Glacier Bay, jiving down Bourbon Street or spotting penguins in the Antarctic wonderland, these cruise itineraries deliver extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that go way beyond the usual pool-deck escape.

From Southeast Asia to South America and the icy edge of the planet, here are five awesome bucket list cruises to do at least once in your life – ideal for planning now, with epic bucket list cruise deals available for 2025 and 2026 sailings thanks to cruising specialists Galaxy Cruises.

Canada & Alaska

Rails to Glaciers: Canada & Alaska by Train and Sea
13 days | From £4,099pp | Includes flights, Rocky Mountaineer, hotel stays and cruise

This one ticks off two top bucket list cruise destinations in one go. Begin in Banff with a two-night stay in the snow-dusted Canadian Rockies before boarding the famous Rocky Mountaineer train – a glass-domed, slow-travel experience that winds through jaw-dropping wilderness and puts a commute to shame forever.

Then it’s on to Vancouver for a seven-night bucket list cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard Holland America Line ship Koningsdam, stopping at fauna-filled, cor-look-at-that-view Juneau, Skagway and Glacier Bay. Don’t miss the lumberjack show in Ketchikan: yes, it’s a bit silly, yes, there’s plenty of flannel-clad muscle, but no, you won’t regret it.

Where is the most beautiful place to go on a cruise? Glacier Bay is right up there. This remote Alaskan national park is only accessible by ship and rewards travellers with towering ice cliffs, turquoise fjords and unforgettable wildlife encounters.

Asia & Australia

Kangaroos to Komodos: Asia–Australia Explorer
26 days | From £3,499pp | Includes flights, hotel stays and 19-night cruise

Looking for long-haul bucket list cruises 2025 or 2026? This epic sailing from Singapore to Sydney hits the sweet spot between exotic adventure and easy-going luxury. Start in Singapore for street food and skyline selfies, then cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line to Bali (bit of Eat, Pray, Love anyone?), Surabaya, Western Australia, Adelaide and Melbourne – with a stop at Kangaroo Island for good measure.

End with a two-night stay in Sydney and a thousand new memories. With NCL’s More at Sea upgrade package covering drinks, dining, Wi-Fi and excursions, it’s a stress-free way to see two continents in one go – and you only need to unpack once. Globetrotting has never been so easy!

Deep South & Caribbean

Rhythms & Reefs: Music Cities and Caribbean Vibes
13 days | From £1,899pp | Includes flights, hotel stays, Amtrak and 7-night cruise

Ever dreamed of walking in Elvis’s footsteps or sipping fruity rum concoctions on a postcard-worthy Caribbean beach? This bucket list cruise brings together iconic cities, island escapes and then some.

Start with a two-night stay in Memphis – Graceland tour included – then hop aboard the Amtrak “City of New Orleans” train to Louisiana for jazz, jambalaya and then a few nights in the Big Easy. From New Orleans, board NCL’s Norwegian Escape for a week’s Caribbean jolly and head south to Cozumel, Roatán, Harvest Caye and Costa Maya. It’s a music, culture and sunshine triple hit – you may never want to go home.

Where should I go on my first cruise? If you want a bit of everything – history, food, sunshine and sea days – this Deep South and Caribbean combo is the perfect introduction.

Antarctica

The Great White Continent: Antarctica & the Falklands
19 days | From £3,699pp | Includes flights, Buenos Aires stay and cruise

If Antarctica isn’t already one of your bucket list ideas for cruises, it should be. Celebrity Cruises’ Equinox offers an immersive Antarctica experience with 14 nights at sea and scenic cruising through Schollart Channel, Paradise Harbour, Gerlache Strait and Elephant Island.

You’ll also call at the Falkland Islands and Montevideo before ending back in Buenos Aires. With Celebrity’s All-Included drinks and Wi-Fi, it’s a bucket list trip that doesn’t skimp on style. Bottoms up!

What is the number one cruise to go on? If we’re talking once-in-a-lifetime, few things beat sailing to Antarctica. Remote, hauntingly beautiful and rich in wildlife (hello penguins!), it’s the definition of a dream voyage.

Japan

Blossoms & Bullet Trains: Japan cruise with Mt Fuji and Tokyo stay
20 days | From £3,499pp | Includes flights, hotel stays, Mt Fuji tour and 14-night cruise

Ready to tick Japan off your list? This can’t-fit-it-all-on-a-postcard itinerary with Holland America Line is packed like a sushi roll with big hitters and cultural immersion. It begins with a three-night Tokyo stay, complete with a full-day Mt Fuji and Hakone tour – including a ride on the iconic bullet train. Then you’ll board Westerdam for a 14-night sailing to Osaka, Hiroshima, Aomori and more, even calling at Busan in South Korea.

Sail during cherry blossom season in spring 2027 and enjoy an explosion of pink across parks and hillsides – truly one of the best times to visit. Optional upgrade: add the “Have It All” package for £70pp per day and enjoy drinks, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursions.

This Japan cruise is a dream combo of temples, tech and timeless traditions – and an unforgettable way to see the Land of the Rising Sun.

Is a bucket list cruise worth it?

Bucket list cruises 2025 and bucket list cruises 2026 are selling fast as more travellers plan big, meaningful adventures. Whether you’re after luxury rail, wildlife meets, cultural immersion or multi-country exploration, these cruises offer standout stories and photo albums crammed with ”Wasn’t that the best day?” moments. Consider the bragging rights!

So, think beyond the usual sailaways and deckchair-snagging and ask yourself – what’s your dream voyage? For most, it starts with one of these. Where will you go first?