4 Cruise Destinations That People Overlook

There are a lot of really amazing cruise destinations that people regularly overlook in their quest to hit all the traditional "hot spots," missing out on exploring Easter Island, discovering amazing ports along the Red Sea, sailing along the Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia or checking out the beautiful glaciers of Greenland.

Trip #1 - Greenland

A lot of people don't realize that Greenland, which drums up visions of months-long darkness, is actually the largest island on the planet. However, this island actually receives more hours of summer than many southern destinations, but it's just not as hot. Located just outside the Arctic Circle, there are really some amazing ice formations, deep fjords and of course, the beautiful glory of the Northern Lights to behold. Unusual animal life such as blue, pilot, humpback and narwhal whales can be seen in this unique area where the Arctic and Atlantic oceans meet, giving travelers the opportunity to see many unique animals. While the Northern Lights can be seen here year-round, they are much more spectacular and dynamic during the months of fall.

Trip #2 - Vietnam

A lot of people don't even consider Vietnam, but could enjoy a trip on an Indochine-style junk boat or Pandaw boat up the Mekong River to Cambodia. You can visit such beautiful and historical sights such as the Thein Hau pagoda located in Ho Chi Minh City or the Reunification Palace, as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels located just up the Saigon River or the floating markets within the delta of Mekong. You can even see a silk weaving village for yourself in the village of Chong Koh in the capital of Phnom Penh in Cambodia, then visit the temple towers of Angkor Wat, which are an amazing and beautiful example of the famed Khmer architecture. There are many incredible cruise destinations available throughout Halong Bay. Trip #3 - Easter Island

Believe it or not, Easter Island is one of the most famous - yet least frequented - sites of archaeological history on the planet. This very remotely-located volcanic landmass is the home to the mysterious moai statues, is a mere 63-square miles in size and is located in the Pacific. The stone statues were erected on platforms that were called ahu, encircling the perimeter of the island, spaced approximately a half mile apart from one another. Only a few of the originally estimated 250 or more monoliths currently survive, continuing to stand guard on the island coast. Unfortunately, even the most expert archaeologists know very little as to the purpose of these statues or why there are so many structures abandoned along the island's ancient roads. Easter Island is included as a port for several different cruise lines. Trip #4 - Suakin

While most cruise lines are unable to access the ports along the shores of the famous Red Sea, a small port called Suakin, which is located on the southern shores, give travelers a look at an area that was once a busy trading port. You can see many ruins of buildings that were created from blocks of coral inside the walls of Suakin, showing the architectural ingenuity of the civilization that once thrived here. When visitors leave their ships they are met by local dancers dressed in colorful, cultural robes and veils. If you would like to include a trip into the medieval town located on Suakin Island you need to do so in advance due to limited excursions in this area.