The best cruises to book for 2025
Whether you're looking to sail near or far, these are the best cruises to consider for the year ahead
So many places, so little time - and the best cruises for 2025 are ideal for seeing as much of the world as you can.
One of our favourite things about a cruise is that you can visit multiple bucket-list destinations in one holiday and discover new treasures along the way. The best cruises let you explore places that are difficult to reach on foot, like some of Scotland’s most remote islands and Norway's Arctic villages.
They also open up spectacular views you wouldn’t get on land, such as fairytale castles dotted along the Danube or the rolling vineyards flanking the Douro Valley.
Choosing a cruise means seeking new adventures, perhaps travelling to a continent you’ve never set foot in before or trying new activities like hiking, wildlife spotting or cooking. There are other ways to expand your horizons on a cruise too, such as seeing some local entertainment or making new friends on board.
As it’s become ever-more important to us to take a stress-free holiday, we've rounded up the very best cruise packages that won’t disappoint, with everything from the best river cruises to amazing cruises for couples and excellent cruises around the UK.
It doesn't matter when you're looking to sail either, as these cruises take in all the seasons. Fancy a wintery adventure? We've got an epic Norwegian expedition cruise for that. Feel like a spring cruise to escape the summer crowds? We've got the perfect cruise through Bordeaux, complete with plenty of wine tastings.
However and whenever you want to travel, there's a trip for you, and the best cruises in 2025 take you to the most incredible destinations. You can travel with celebrities on star-studded holidays, visit lesser-known towns and villages to get a real taste of a location and sail to amazing wildlife destinations.
These are the best cruises for 2025 from some of our favourite companies, including Uniworld and Hurtigruten...
Venetian Lagoon - Best cruises
Venice is a city famous for its water, and a cruise around the Venetian Lagoon reveals more of this romantic and fascinating destination than a hotel city break ever could.
On a Venetian cruise, you can visit the islands of Venice's northern lagoon, including Mazzorbo, Torcello and Burano during a sailing on the luxurious SS La Venezia. Burano is known for its traditional lacemaking and its vividly colourful fisherman cottages lining the lagoon.
The opportunity to visit Burano isn’t the only reason to pick a cruise in the Venetian Lagoon. Good Housekeeping's Venice cruise includes some exclusive sightseeing opportunities, including a peaceful lighting ceremony in St Mark's Basilica before it opens to the public and a tour of Torcello's basilica with an art historian.
Salzburg - Best cruises
One of the most impressive cities on the banks of the mighty Danube, Salzburg is loved for its well-preserved Baroque architecture, its historic coffeehouses and its many musical connections. Any fan of the Sound of Music will know that this city is one of the film's key locations, with several memorable scenes taking place in and around the pretty sights of Salzburg.
Lovers of the classic film can visit recognisable locations like Mirabell Gardens, where Maria and the Von Trapp children danced while singing 'Do, Re, Mi!' and the gazebo where 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' was shot.
On a very special six-day Danube cruise with Good Housekeeping, you'll spend a day in Salzburg, where you'll enjoy a special Sound of Music-themed sightseeing tour.
That's not the only treat in store for you on this cruise. Look forward to a cabaret performance of Julie Madly Deeply on board your ship. This acclaimed West End show is a cheeky, affectionate tribute to the musical legend Dame Julie Andrews.
Northern France - Best cruises
If you want to set sail directly from the UK, avoiding the hassle of airports and flying, there are plenty of no-fly cruises available. One of our favourites is a six-day voyage over the August bank holiday that'll take you to one of France's most enchanting regions, with stop on the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, beautiful Alderney.
The Channel Islands are a real haven for all sorts of flora and fauna, and you might spot seabirds such as gannets and puffins, and pods of dolphins are often spotted frolicking in the warm waters. In Northern France you can look forward to sailing along the Seine, visiting important historical sites like St. Malo, the final resting place of the seafarer Jacques Cartier and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Rouen, famously captured on canvas by Claude Monet.
You'll sail on the small ship Balmoral, where you'll find plenty to keep you entertained as you sail, seven bars and lounges, two swimming pools and wide open decks for admiring the passing views.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam - Best cruises
Another fabulous cruise destination which can be reached sailing directly from the UK is the Netherlands. From Newcastle, ships can set sail through the North Sea to enter the Noordzeekanaal which links Amsterdam with the coast. Along the banks of this key waterway you'll be able to see fascinating World War II fortifications, huge power plants, serene beaches and vast nature reserves.
Set sail through the North Sea to Amsterdam on Good Housekeeping's five-night May bank holiday cruise. You'll spend two days in vibrant Amsterdam, with time to enjoy its world-renowned museums, including Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank's House. You'll then set sail for Rotterdam, to see its futuristic architecture, built after large parts of the city were destroyed following World War II.
You'll be sailing on the elegant Borealis, with plenty to keep you busy as you travel between cities. Facilities on board include wide, open decks, a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, and a range of excellent bars and restaurants.
Alaska - Best cruises
Alaska's Inside Passage is a network of unbelievably scenic waterways meandering through the fjords and vast forests of the USA's largest state. These waters are home to humpback whales and orcas, often seen on cruises past stunning fjords, glaciers and lakes.
The heavenly snow-capped mountains of the Inside Passage are also a haven for wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, bears, foxes and caribou wandering the mountainsides.
Good Housekeeping has a once-in-a-lifetime cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage available as part of our Canadian and Alaskan adventure. After travelling through Canada's Banff and Yoho National Parks and enjoying a ride on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train, you'll set sail on an epic seven-night cruise through Alaska.
Keep your eyes peeled for incredible wildlife, learn about the indigenous Alaskan communities of Ketchikan, dine on freshly caught fish in Juneau, discover the sites of the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush on the Chilkoot Trail, and hike some of the region's stunning mountains in Haines.
Bordeaux - Best cruises
The quintessentially French region of Bordeaux is ideal for a relaxing river cruise, with two of the country's major rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, running through it. Along these rivers' banks you'll find historic vineyards which have been producing some of the world's most renowned wines for centuries.
There's also plenty of history to discover here, reflected in grand buildings like the UNESCO-listed citadel in Blaye, with its magnificent historic fortress, and the 17th-century Fort Médoc.
Join Good Housekeeping for a wine-themed river cruise through Bordeaux, where you'll sample some of the region’s finest wines with visits to elegant and renowned wine estates. You'll visit traditional wineries and charming châteaux in Cussac Fort Médoc, Cadillac, and Saint-Émilion while learning all about this romantic region's history and wine culture.
You can also look forward to a scenic drive along the storied Médoc wine route. On board the wonderful S.S. Bon Voyage you can spend free time relaxing in the infinity pool, on the sun deck, or at the luxurious Serenity River Spa.
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Vietnam and Cambodia - Best cruises
A cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia is a fantastic way to discover the rich cultures, fascinating histories, and delicious cuisines of these two Southeast Asian gems. The countries are connected by the mighty Mekong River, which is a destination in its own right, providing a home for diverse ecosystems and fishing communities on the delta and with ancient archaeological wonders along its banks.
Good Housekeeping is offering a 17-day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, which includes seven nights cruising the Mekong on board the Mekong Jewel - an ornately decorated luxury ship.
You'll visit Ho Chi Minh City, where skyscrapers tower over ancient temples, Phnom Penh, Cambodia's thriving capital, and Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, where you can visit excellent museums and historic sites before indulging in some delicious Vietnamese street food.
There are excursions to the sprawling temple complex of Angkor Wat, the remnants of the last capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom, and to local villages and markets on sampans - traditional wooden boats.
Norway - Best cruises
Another wonderful European cruise destination for seeing the Northern Lights is Norway. It's one of Europe's best destinations for aurora spotting, especially if you head north above the Arctic Circle, where sightings of the lights are an almost daily occurrence at certain times of year.
From the Arctic capital of Tromsø, you can sail on to the remote and mysterious Lofoten Islands and visit North Cape, Europe's most northerly point, passing ancient Viking villages and herds of reindeer on the way.
On Good Housekeeping's Northern Lights cruise of Norway, you'll enjoy all the highlights of Norway's spectacular coastline: from exploring the UNESCO-listed port of Bergen, the city of Tromsø and the ancient Viking trading post of Trondheim. You'll be sailing with an expert expedition team who'll give you the best chance of catching a unique light display.
Scotland - Best cruises
As much as we love an adventure in far-flung corners of the earth, you don't actually have to sail too far to find heavenly shores, dramatic landscapes, and jaw-dropping wildlife. We have some pretty spectacular destinations right here in the UK, particularly in the remote parts of Scotland. Join Good Housekeeping's cruise of the Scottish Isles and you'll see all of this for yourself, from pristine beaches to touring mountains dotted with fascinating archaeological sites that tell tales of the people who lived here centuries ago.
Your schedule will be full of scenic adventures. You'll visit the basalt columns of Fingal's Cave, the bonnet-shaped Bac Mòr island, the Small Isles archipelago and the Holy Isle of Iona, considered the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. Enjoy all of this from the comfort of your ship, Bolette, which has excellent facilities including two swimming pools, lounge bars and a theatre.
India - Best cruises
The Ganges is India's most sacred river, meandering 2,500km through the country from its starting point high in the Himalayas. Flowing through sprawling cities, tiny villages, and spectacular nature, a cruise down the Ganges is a fantastic way to see some of India's best attractions. On a Ganges cruise, you can visit highlights like the Rajbari temple complex in Kalna, the artisan village of Matiari, and the neoclassical Hazarduari Palace in Murshidabad.
Good Housekeeping has a once-in-a-lifetime tour of India, which includes a seven-night cruise down the Ganges. After exploring India's Golden Triangle – including an unforgettable trip to witness both sunrise and sunset over the Taj Mahal – you'll board the luxurious Ganges Voyager II, a spectacular ship adorned with hand-painted murals.
Antarctica - Best cruises
Choosing the best Antarctic cruise can seem like a daunting task. It’s an investment of your time and money and likely something you may only do once and remember in exquisite detail. It’s a remote and thrilling part of the world to explore, where 12 million penguins live in the coldest, highest, and driest place on earth.
To get the best out of this bucketlist experience, you need to go with experts who will take care of everything. Hurtigruten expedition cruises have explored Antarctic waters for over 20 years, and their premium ships have been designed so guests can explore the region comfortably.
Good Housekeeping’s Antarctic cruise on MS Fridtjof Nansen has one of the lowest possible CO2 footprints of all expedition ships in Antarctica, thanks to a special hybrid engine on this future-ready vessel.
You’ll depart from Ushuaia, a city nicknamed ‘End of the World’ and head through the icy waters of the Drake Passage, home to the incredible marine life you may have only seen on screen, where the white wonderland envelopes you on an adventure like no other.
Douro River - Best cruises
Anyone wanting to explore the Douro wine region should choose a cruise along the Douro River. This scenic waterway is central to the Portuguese wine trade and is flanked by rolling hills and vineyards, with storybook villages rising from the banks.
The Alto Douro, the name of this wine-producing valley region, holds UNESCO status and is one of the oldest and most renowned wine-making regions in the world.
Good Housekeeping offers an exclusive cruise along the Douro, where you can truly soak in the beauty of this golden valley as you travel.
Whereas some cruises like their passengers to dress in their finest gowns for dinner, A-ROSA ALVA has no such rules. Instead, an eight-day cruise invites its guests to relax on a wine-themed voyage where you'll visit multiple wine estates. Depending on the time of year, you might even get the chance to take part in a traditional grape harvest, including crushing the grapes underfoot in traditional granite troughs.
Croatia - Best cruises
If you're looking for a sunny Mediterranean cruise you'd do well to consider Croatia and its stylish seaside towns and dozens of sun-kissed islands and islets off the glittering Dalmatian Coast.
With their astounding natural scenery, stylish coastal towns and off-the-beaten-path beaches, Croatia’s islands are wonderful to explore by small ship where you can dock in hard-to-reach corners only accessible by boat.
There mainland has no shortage of attractions either, with bustling cities to be explored too, like Dubrovnik, with its labyrinth of limestone streets and alleyways, palaces, churches, monasteries and picturesque piazzas, and Split, which has a long and varied history and excellent museums.
On Good Housekeeping's Croatian cruise you'll dock in Hvar, Dubrovnik and Split as well as one of Croatia's most beautiful beaches at Zlatni Rat - the Golden Horn - whose distinctive shape has made it an icon of Croatian tourism. You'll also visit the island of Mljet and discover the Mljet National Park with its serene saltwater lakes and verdant pine forests.
Danube River - Best cruises
The enchanting Danube is a wonderful river for a culture-packed European cruise. It winds through seven European countries and boasts opulent cities on its banks, as well as picturesque towns and villages and dramatic unspoilt rural scenery, including the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley.
Good Housekeeping is offering a week-long Danube cruise, where you'll discover the highlights of the capitals and towns on its banks. This culture-packed eight-day sailing will take you from Budapest to Passau via Vienna and through the gloriously scenic Wachau Valley. What's more, you'll be travelling on board Uniworld's ultra-luxury Super Ship Maria Theresa, where you'll enjoy fine dining, exquisite service and the company of friendly, knowledgeable guides.
More cruise ideas:
- The best cruises for couples
Douro Valley: a guide to the spectacular region
12 of the best cruises for couples
Why Uniworld is world's best river cruise line
A river cruising guide for first-timers
