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Ocean, River and World Cruises

Sail the Caribbean from Baltimore, our home port, drift through Europe town by town on a river ship, or take the trip of a lifetime around the world. We match the cruise, the line and the ship to you.

8 US departure areas7 river lines7 world cruises for 2027Baltimore sailings you can drive to
Cruise type
Ocean, river or world

Which Cruise Is Right for You?

Three very different ways to travel by ship. Here is the quick version in plain words.

OceanBig Ship FunRiverSmall Ship, Town to TownWorldAround the Globe
Ship sizeLarge ships with pools, shows and lots of places to eatSmall ships, much smaller than ocean ships, with fewer guestsMostly mid size and smaller ships from premium and luxury lines
PaceA mix of sea days and a new port most daysSlow and scenic. You dock right in town and walk off the shipLong and relaxed, with many sea days between ports
Typical lengthMost Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda trips run 3 to 14 nightsOften about a week, with longer trips availableThe 2027 voyages we checked run 109 to 180 days. Segments can be a few weeks
Where you boardUS ports like Baltimore, Florida, Texas, New Orleans and New YorkA river city like Budapest, Paris or New Orleans. Most trips outside the US need a flightUsually Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles or Southampton, England
What's includedCabin, main dining, shows and most activities. Drinks, WiFi, tips and tours often cost extraUsually your cabin, meals and some guided tours in port. Drinks and tips vary by lineVaries the most. Luxury lines often bundle flights, drinks or tours; others charge extra
Who it suitsFamilies, friend groups, first cruises and big celebrationsCouples and friends who love history, food, wine and walking a new town each dayTravelers with lots of time who want many countries in one trip, or one long leg of it

We confirm exactly what your fare includes before you book.

Ocean cruises · Quick self check

Is a Caribbean Ocean Cruise Right for You?

A cruise is a great fit if you

  • Want to see several islands and only unpack once
  • Like having meals, shows and activities on board
  • Are planning a family reunion, birthday or group trip
  • Want most of the cost paid up front
  • Live near Baltimore and would rather skip the airport

A resort may suit you better if you

  • Want to really settle into one place
  • Get seasick easily
  • Want no set schedule or all aboard times
  • Prefer small, quiet hotels over big ships
  • Not sure? Compare island destinations
Departure ports

Sail From the Port That Fits

Filter by cruise line or by where you want to go. Lines move ships every season, so we confirm the current schedule when we quote.

Cruise line
Region

Baltimore, MD

Cruise Maryland Terminal · 2001 E. McComas St.
Our home port
Cruise lines
CarnivalRoyal Caribbean
Where you can go
BahamasBermudaEastern CaribbeanSouthern CaribbeanCanada and New England
Typical trip length

Mostly 7 night Bahamas and Bermuda trips, plus longer 9 to 14 night Caribbean sailings and seasonal Canada, New England, Greenland and Panama Canal voyages.

Ports you might visit

Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Celebration Key, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bermuda, St Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Aruba, Curaçao

Our tip: Our home port. Drive in from Columbia, park at the terminal and sail. No flights, no hotel the night before.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Port Everglades
Cruise lines
CelebrityPrincessHolland AmericaRoyal CaribbeanDisneyCunard
Where you can go
Eastern CaribbeanSouthern Caribbean
Typical trip length

Many 7 to 14 night sailings, including longer Southern Caribbean trips to the ABC islands and the Windward Islands.

Ports you might visit

Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados, St Thomas, San Juan

Our tip: Home to many premium and luxury lines, including Viking, Crystal and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Great for longer, calmer trips.

Miami, FL

PortMiami
Cruise lines
CarnivalRoyal CaribbeanNorwegianMSCVirgin VoyagesCelebrity
Where you can go
BahamasWestern CaribbeanEastern Caribbean
Typical trip length

Lots of 3 and 4 night Bahamas getaways, plus 7 night Western and Eastern Caribbean trips. Over 20 cruise lines use the port.

Ports you might visit

Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bimini, Cozumel, Roatán, Costa Maya, St Thomas

Our tip: The biggest choice of ships and short trips. Virgin Voyages sails from here and is adults only.

Port Canaveral, FL

Near Orlando
Cruise lines
Royal CaribbeanCarnivalDisneyNorwegianMSCPrincessCelebrity
Where you can go
BahamasWestern CaribbeanEastern Caribbean
Typical trip length

Short 3 and 4 night Bahamas trips and week long Caribbean sailings, on some of the newest and largest ships.

Ports you might visit

Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Disney private islands, Cozumel, St Thomas

Our tip: Easy to pair with a few days at the Orlando theme parks before or after your cruise.

Tampa, FL

Port Tampa Bay
Cruise lines
CarnivalRoyal CaribbeanCelebrityNorwegianMargaritaville at Sea
Where you can go
Western CaribbeanBahamas
Typical trip length

Mostly 4 to 7 night trips, with some longer winter sailings.

Ports you might visit

Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Roatán, Belize, Costa Maya, Progreso, Falmouth, Key West, Nassau

Our tip: A calmer, smaller port with a strong mix of Western Caribbean and Central America ports.

Galveston, TX

Port of Galveston
Cruise lines
CarnivalRoyal CaribbeanDisneyNorwegianPrincessMSC
Where you can go
Western Caribbean
Typical trip length

Mostly 4, 5 and 7 night Western Caribbean trips.

Ports you might visit

Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, Progreso

Our tip: The only cruise home port in Texas. A good fit if your group is spread across the South.

New Orleans, LA

Port of New Orleans
Cruise lines
CarnivalNorwegianRoyal Caribbean
Where you can go
Western Caribbean
Typical trip length

Mostly 4 to 7 night Western Caribbean trips.

Ports you might visit

Cozumel, Progreso, Costa Maya, Belize, Roatán, Harvest Caye, Grand Cayman, Falmouth

Our tip: Come a day or two early for the French Quarter. It is like two trips in one.

New York and Cape Liberty, NJ

Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne)
Cruise lines
Royal CaribbeanCelebrityNorwegianCarnivalPrincessCunard
Where you can go
BermudaBahamasEastern CaribbeanSouthern CaribbeanCanada and New England
Typical trip length

Bermuda trips of about 5 to 7 nights, 7 to 12 night Bahamas and Caribbean sailings, and fall Canada and New England trips.

Ports you might visit

Bermuda, Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, St Thomas, San Juan, Boston, Halifax

Our tip: Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sail from Cape Liberty, Norwegian and Carnival from Manhattan, Princess and Cunard from Brooklyn. Caribbean trips spend about two days at sea each way.
Itinerary styles

Where Each Route Actually Goes

The same islands show up again and again. Here is how the main Caribbean routes break down.

Bahamas

Short and Sweet

Often 3 to 5 nights from Florida, or 7 nights from Baltimore and New York. Nassau plus cruise line private islands such as Perfect Day at CocoCay, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.

Western Caribbean

Mexico and Central America

Cozumel, Costa Maya, Progreso, Roatán, Belize, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Common from Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans and Miami.

Eastern Caribbean

Island Hopping

St Thomas, San Juan, St Maarten, Grand Turk and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. Sails from Florida, Baltimore and New York.

Southern Caribbean

Farther and Longer

Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St Kitts, St Lucia and Barbados. Usually 8 to 14 nights, often from Fort Lauderdale or Baltimore.

Bermuda

Easy From the Northeast

About 7 nights from Baltimore and 5 to 7 nights from New York, with two or three days docked in Bermuda. A spring and summer favorite.

Canada and New England

Fall Color at Sea

Seasonal trips from Baltimore and New York, with stops like Boston and Halifax. Not Caribbean, but a great group trip close to home.

Ocean cruise lines

Which Line Fits Your Crew?

Every line has its own personality. Here is our quick take, with the US ports above where each one sails.

Royal Caribbean

Big ships with water slides, surf simulators and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Great for families and groups.

Sails from: Baltimore, MD, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Miami, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Tampa, FL, Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
Carnival

Fun, casual and budget friendly. A favorite for first cruises and big friend groups.

Sails from: Baltimore, MD, Miami, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Tampa, FL, Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
Norwegian

Freestyle cruising with no set dinner times. Good for groups that like to do their own thing.

Sails from: Miami, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Tampa, FL, Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
Celebrity

Modern premium ships with a calmer feel and excellent food.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Miami, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Tampa, FL, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
MSC

European style ships with strong family value.

Sails from: Miami, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Galveston, TX
Princess

Classic, relaxed cruising that suits couples and multi generation families.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Galveston, TX, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
Disney

Characters, shows and kids clubs. The family pick if your crew loves Disney.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Port Canaveral, FL, Galveston, TX
Holland America

Smaller, quieter ships and longer itineraries. Great for older travelers.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Virgin Voyages

Adults only ships with lots of included dining. A fun pick for couples and girls trips.

Sails from: Miami, FL
Margaritaville at Sea

Short, laid back trips with a beach bar mood.

Sails from: Tampa, FL
Cunard

Elegant, traditional ocean liners, including Queen Mary 2.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, FL, New York and Cape Liberty, NJ
Know before you go

Ocean Cruise Tips From Our Team

Passports

On a closed loop cruise that leaves from and returns to the same US port, US citizens can sail with a birth certificate and government photo ID, per US Customs and Border Protection. We still strongly suggest a passport book in case you have to fly home from a foreign port.

Passport cards

A US passport card works for sea and land travel to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, but not for international flights. If your plan includes flying, bring the passport book.

Hurricane season

The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30, busiest mid August to mid October (NOAA). Cruise lines may change ports to avoid storms. Travel insurance is a smart add. See our month by month guide.

Book early for groups

Connecting cabins, suites and holiday sailings go first. For family reunions and big birthdays we hold a group of cabins and handle the deposits.

Budget the extras

Daily gratuities, drinks, WiFi, specialty dining and excursions add up. We help you see the real total before you book.

Arrive a day early

If you fly to your port, land the day before. A delayed flight should not cost you the cruise. Sailing from Baltimore skips this step.

River cruises

River Cruises, Town by Town

A river cruise is a small ship hotel that moves while you sleep or watch the scenery, then ties up right in the middle of town.

Small ships

Far fewer guests than an ocean ship, so it feels calm and personal. Land is always in sight and the water is smooth.

Dock in town

River ships tie up close to the center of town, so you can walk off the ship and straight into the old town or the market.

Much is included

Fares usually cover your cabin, meals and some guided tours in port. Drinks, tips and extras vary by line, and we spell them out in your quote.

Region

Danube

Germany, Austria, Hungary and beyond

Castles, vineyards and grand river capitals like Vienna and Budapest.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald Cruises

Rhine

Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands

Hilltop castles and vineyards on the way from the Swiss Alps to Holland.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald Cruises

Main and Moselle

Germany, Luxembourg and France

Quieter wine country, medieval towns and small villages.

Lines that sail it
AmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald CruisesViking

Seine

France

Paris and the Normandy countryside, all the way toward the English Channel.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworld

Rhône and Saône

France

Lyon, Provence and the Burgundy and Beaujolais wine regions.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald Cruises

Douro

Portugal

Terraced vineyards in Portugal's port wine valley.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald Cruises

Nile

Egypt

Temples, tombs and the story of ancient Egypt from the water.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworld

Mekong

Vietnam and Cambodia

Floating markets, temples and village life along Southeast Asia's great river.

Lines that sail it
VikingAmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysUniworldScenicEmerald Cruises

Mississippi

United States

New Orleans, Memphis and the river towns of the South and Midwest.

Lines that sail it
American Cruise LinesViking

Columbia and Snake

Oregon, Washington and Idaho

The Lewis and Clark route through the Pacific Northwest, from Portland inland.

Lines that sail it
American Cruise Lines

Hudson and Potomac

New York and the DC area

Close to home: the Hudson Valley from New York City, and the Potomac past Mount Vernon and Washington, DC.

Lines that sail it
American Cruise Lines

Farther afield

South America, Africa and India

The Amazon and the Galápagos (Avalon), Colombia's Magdalena and Africa's Chobe (AmaWaterways), and India's Ganges (Uniworld).

Lines that sail it
Avalon WaterwaysAmaWaterwaysUniworld
Christmas market season

Late November and December is a favorite time on the Rhine, Danube, Main and Moselle, with holiday markets in the towns along the way. Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Emerald all run Christmas market cruises. Ask us early for the widest choice of dates.

River Lines We Can Book

Viking

Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Seine, Rhône, Garonne and Douro in Europe, plus the Nile, the Mekong and the Mississippi.

Official site
AmaWaterways

Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Douro, plus the Mekong, the Nile, Africa's Chobe and Colombia's Magdalena.

Official site
Avalon Waterways

Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne and Douro, plus the Nile, the Mekong, the Amazon and the Galápagos.

Official site
Uniworld

Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Douro, plus the Nile, the Mekong and India's Ganges.

Official site
Scenic

Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône and Douro in Europe, plus the Mekong in Southeast Asia.

Official site
Emerald Cruises

Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône and Douro in Europe, plus the Mekong in Southeast Asia.

Official site
American Cruise Lines

US rivers only: the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Arkansas, Hudson and Potomac.

Official site
World cruises

World Cruises, All the Way Around

A world cruise circles the globe in one long voyage. The 2027 world cruises we checked run about three and a half to six months, and most leave in early January.

The full voyage

Months at sea and in port, with overnight stays in big cities along the way. Many sail right from Florida, so no long flight to start.

Or book a segment

Don't have six months? Most lines sell shorter legs of the same voyage, like Florida to Sydney or Sydney to Singapore.

Plan early

World cruises open for booking a year or more ahead. We help you plan flights, visas and timing around it.

Leaves from

Holland America

Grand World Voyage · Volendam
129 days
Departs

January 5, 2027

Route

Round trip from Fort Lauderdale

Book part of it: Yes. Segments include 35 days Fort Lauderdale to Sydney and 18 days Sydney to Singapore.

Princess

2027 World Cruise Grand Circle Pacific · Coral Princess
129 days
Departs

January 6, 2027

Route

Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles

Book part of it: Shorter options leave Los Angeles on January 21, 2027: 114 days round trip, or 110 days to Vancouver.

Oceania

Around the World in 180 Days · Vista
180 days
Departs

January 6, 2027

Route

Miami to Southampton, England (ends July 5, 2027)

Book part of it: Yes. One shorter option sails Miami to Doha, January 6 to May 13, 2027.

Silversea

The Three Oceans World Cruise · Silver Dawn
149 days
Departs

January 8, 2027

Route

Los Angeles to Copenhagen (ends June 7, 2027)

Book part of it: Yes. The voyage is split into 10 routes, such as Los Angeles to Tahiti, January 8 to 30, 2027.

Cunard

Full World Voyage · Queen Victoria
109 nights
Departs

January 10, 2027

Route

Round trip from Southampton, England, with a call in New York on January 18

Book part of it: Shorter sectors are sold too. Ask us which legs are open.

Regent Seven Seas

World of Splendor · Seven Seas Splendor
140 nights
Departs

January 11, 2027

Route

Miami to New York

Book part of it: A shorter 126 night version sails Miami to Rome.

Viking

Viking World Cruise · Viking Vesta
142 days
Departs

December 28, 2027

Route

Fort Lauderdale to London (ends May 18, 2028)

Book part of it: Viking also sells longer and shorter world voyages, from 125 to 170 days.

Dates and lengths checked on each line's site on Nov 2, 2026. We left out prices because they change often; ask us for current fares. Royal Caribbean ran an Ultimate World Cruise in 2023 and 2024 but had no world cruise listed when we checked.

Ready to sail?

Let's Find Your Ship

Ocean, river or world: tell us your dates, your crew and your budget. We will compare lines and send you real options.

Prefer to talk? Call 888-282-4610

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