Correct me if I’m wrong: you are a conscious traveller who feels bliss when your shoulders get sore from the straps of your backpack and would never consider jumping on a cruise and spending 7 (or more) days suffering sea-sickness on an environmentally unfriendly ship full of empty nesters.

Truth be told, these days your backpack is more likely to end your travels heavy with the weight of overcrowded sights and tourist traps wherever you go.

Going on a cruise is a totally different game that takes away most of the usual hurdles, and there are a ton of different cruise options to choose from to breathtaking destinations such as Indonesia or South America.

Cruises for young travellers are not limited to mindless party boats and port days marked by hangovers. Although, hey, spending a brief time in each port gives you enough leeway to do at least one or two regretful deeds (without malice of course).

Here is a pick of cool adventure cruises that can change your life (and I don’t mean they’ll make you broke).
Ready? let’s board.

If you’re looking for luggage for your cruise, see our guide to the best suitcases for 7 and 10 day cruises.

The ‘Darwinian’ Galapagos Islands

This unique volcanic archipelago West from the Ecuadorian coast is a haven of natural beauty. To the extent that there are only 116 visitor sites, and a licensed guide makes sure that you leave the islands as you found them by not allowing you to stay more than 4 hours in each place. Nothing gets ‘off-er’ the beaten path.

The most affordable option to hit the islands by sea is to embark on the 16-passenger boat Yolita (G Adventures) in Quito and sail the Galapagos for 8 days.

Price: approximately £2000

Norway and its fjords

Whose breath couldn’t be taken by the Norwegian glacier-carved fjords, never-setting sun in the Summer and the chance of Northern lights in the Winter?

For many, Norway is off the travel list because of the cost of moving around the country (McDonald’s meals cost £11). Ironically, cruising can be a good way of avoiding these costs, because you are already moving and you get food, plus you’ll sail by the fjords so you don’t need to pay a guide to take you there.

With Hurtigruten, you can sail for 6 nights and you’ll see most of the Norwegian coast including the Lofoten islands

Price: from £565

Alaska and the bears

A haven for hiking, nature, glaciers and kayaking, Alaska feels like a separate World. For example, 17 of the US 20 highest mountain peaks are located in Alaska.

If you haven’t, you should watch the documentary Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog to see what I mean. But worry not, the chances of being gorged by a giant bear diminish when you travel by sea.

You can sail aboard the Norwegian Pearl for 7 nights departing from Seattle.

Price: from £1370

South East Asia

Here is the mecca for backpackers who often wait in harbours for hours for the next ferry to some distant island in the hope of finding peace. By exploring the region by sea you can avoid the queues and the crowds, enjoy massages and Moai Tai lessons. And indulge in a bit of party too.

There is a deal aboard the Norwegian Jewel that departs from Sidney and ends in Hong Kong sailing South East Asia for 29 nights. It includes:

• Bali, Indonesia
• Ko Samui, Thailand
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Price:  from £2,590 per person (probably cheaper than staying in London or San Francisco for a month!)

Fall in love in the Greek Isles

Is there a square metre of coolness left in the Mediterranean?

Yes! the Med is vast and Greece has 6000 islands you can lose yourself in. It might be pure coincidence, but many of my friends have found love in the Greek isles, and no, they didn’t watch ‘Mamma Mia’ first.

The MSC Musica takes you to the islands from Venice for 7 nights

Price: from £999

Bonus: Top 5 casual cruise lines

If you are used to informal holidays, you might enter into a state of shock when the cruise lines ask you to wear a dinner jacket onboard. Here are 4 cruise lines that don’t require formal dress codes.

• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
• Royal Caribbean
• Carnival cruises
• MSC Cruises

Conclusion

Cruising is associated with retired people at best and entitled blaring children at worst.

It doesn’t need to be like that. There are as many cruise options as there are tastes. Plus, you can have the adventure of your life travelling on a thing that is already taking you to cool spots without you worrying about late buses, being ripped off, being taken to the wrong spots or simply falling in the ubiquitous tourist traps of today.

Are you ready for a cool cruise in 2018?

Author’s Bio

My name is Peru Buesa and I’m a Spanish blogger and content creator with a love for travel and learning different cultures.