21 Best Cruises in the World - 1

Lounging on pillows stuffed with Egyptian cotton on the top deck of Nour El Nil’s Meroë, you’ll feel like a modern-day pharaoh as you journey past date palms, ibis, and the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo.

Tauck’s 130-passenger M.S. Joy is smaller than most of the vessels on this waltz-inspiring river, making it easier to execute the line’s famous level of detail. Everything is covered on these trips, including the euros (or Hungarian forints or Czech korunas, as the case may be) needed to use the bathroom in port. Tauck also arranges exclusive access, such as dinner at the private Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and tours of the Hungarian State Opera House, both in Budapest, and an intimate look at Engelszell Abbey, Austria’s only Trappist monastery.

Aqua Expeditions’ Aria Amazon sails through the Peruvian rain forest, with visits to indigenous villages and a chance to fish for piranha. Onboard, menus celebrate local fare with ceviche, river fish, and hearts of palm salad.

The Zambezi Queen sails the Chobe River, which borders Botswana and Namibia, year-round. You’ll see a menagerie of animals along the banks of Chobe National Park, home to the highest density of elephants in Africa.

Like all of French Country Waterways’ canal cruises, the 12-passenger Nenuphar stops for sojourns at markets, cafés, and bakeries as it leisurely sails a northern Burgundy route past small French villages and Burgundy’s acclaimed vineyards. The two-deck luxury barge has bicycles available for when you want to head off down a tree-shaded rural lane. One itinerary highlight: the visit to the Forges de Buffon, where guests are invited into the owner’s home (circa 1768) for a glass of wine, stories of local legends, and a stroll in the vegetable garden.

Lounging on pillows stuffed with Egyptian cotton on the top deck of Nour El Nil’s Meroë, you’ll feel like a modern-day pharaoh as you journey past date palms, ibis, and the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo.

As the 436-passenger iconic paddle-wheeler American Queen sails up the river, take in the view from the rocking chairs before heading to a meal of proper southern fare (biscuits, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, beignets).

The orchid adorned 68-passenger Scenic Spirit launched last year with every cabin a one-bedroom balcony suite. On land, tour the monastery in the old Cambodian capital of Oudong and receive a monk’s blessing.

The 36-passenger Avalon Myanmar is the only ship that sails to Myanmar’s northern border all year. Take part in sing-alongs with Burmese schoolkids, visit the home of a fisherman, and give alms to monks.

Half cruise ship, half freighter, the Aranui 5 spotlights its friendly local crew on its 14-day voyage to this remote South Pacific archipelago. They share family stories while leading trips to ancient tiki sites and tropical gardens.

The National Geographic Endeavour II carries not just wet suits, kayaks, and Zodiacs but also a glass-bottom boat. Admire the blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and frigate bird colonies, then go for a snorkel.

Since most of the crew of Island Windjammer’s 26-passenger Vela are from the islands, you’ll get super local suggestions for bars and shops. One St. Lucia favorite: the Fish Friday street party in Rodney Bay.

The Cunard Line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2—built with a special hull for greater speed—immerses you in British culture. As you “cross the pond,” hit the Golden Lion Pub for trivia night, pints, and fish-and-chips.

The 62-passenger Crystal Esprit, the first yacht from this famed luxury line, spends winters at these Indian Ocean islands. Release baby turtles into the surf and admire the giant coco-de-mer palms.

The National Geographic Explorer carries underwater video equipment that lets you see what’s going on below the surface. Kayak between icebergs and keep your camera handy for gentoo penguin sightings.

The Paul Gauguin was built with a shallow draft for navigating Polynesian lagoons. The line invites local singers and dancers to perform and offers spa treatments that use monoi oil, made from local tiare flowers.

After a day touring Tallinn or seeing a private performance at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, you can head to the Viking Sky’s onboard Scandinavian-style spa for a steamy sauna followed by a visit to the snow room.

Hurtigruten launched to deliver mail to the northern fjords, and today the line continues that tradition. Onboard its M.S. Finnmarken, eat locally caught salmon and watch for the northern lights from the sauna window.

Voyages to Antiquity’s Aegean Odyssey specializes in ancient Greece, taking in Olympia and the ruins of Pylos in Messinia. Daily lectures by professors, historians, and former ambassadors deepen your knowledge.

Get away from the throngs of Alaska cruisers on Un-Cruise Adventures’ Safari Quest. Kayak in Endicott Arm, watch calving glaciers, and bushwhack through the wilderness on Chichagof and Baranof Islands.

The three-masted Le Ponant visits a variety of small western Mediterranean ports and locations along the Corsican coast. Onboard, toast new friends with flutes of Veuve Clicquot paired with Ladurée macarons.

The 40-passenger Arabella summers in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Excursions take you to lighthouses, blueberry bush-lined trails, and the Whaling Museum. The highlight: a beachfront clam and “lob-stah” bake.