Gritty sand between my toes, beguiling azure waters and curious sea life; the holy trifecta of what is my idea of cruising heaven.
It’s safe to assume that many cruisers and land lubbers associate cruising with island escapes.
Yes, I know that cruising itineraries are NOT all about tropical island ports, but a good proportion are, particularly for Australian cruising that pretty much consists of stops along the Queensland coast and the South Pacific.
As a water baby and a water sign (Cancerian if you believe in that silly stuff), I love everything about cruising to islands.
I’ve been so fortunate to visit islands in the South Pacific, Greece, Queensland, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Fiji and French Polynesia.
And while the allure of plunging head first as soon as humanly possible to become one with the ocean as soon as I’m at these paradises is strong, what I love most about Island destinations is the variety of activities to do.
It’s not just about drinking coconuts and getting sun-drunk – although I always get a coconut!
HONEY’S ISLAND HIT LIST
Australia
Starting close to home, Moreton Island – just an hour from Brisbane – is the perfect blend of Aussie beach culture, wonderous nature and thrill-seeking activities.
I’ve been there about a dozen times and have done everything from segway tours, snorkelling shipwrecks, helicopter tours, sandboarding the dunes, quad biking and just lazing on the beach.
Best hits: Pristine water, good food options and cool music.
Best tips: Arrival is via tender and the strong current can be challenging. Be prepared for a bumpy ride.
French Polynesia
In the early 2000s, I recall everyone frothing over Bora Bora. It was the place to honeymoon and while as a new bride I opted for Fiji, I always thought of Bora Bora as the ultimate Nirvana.
That is until I went to Mo’orea. Located only a stone’s throw from the capital Tahiti, this place gets a solid 10.
It was perfect from the minute I stepped off the tender and enjoyed the first stop of my cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line aboard the Spirit (one of my fav ships).
I swam with stingrays, had ear-gasms from the glorious harmonies of the local tour guides, became besotted by the colour and clarity of the water, feasted on island delicacies and fell madly, deeply in love with the island and the people.
Best hits: Marine life is curious and gentle, and you’ll swim among reef sharks, turtles, stingrays and tropical fish.
Best tips: Book a tour either on board or with a local tour guide to make the most of your day. This is not a place to DIY.
The Philippines
Of all my island adventures, The Philippines takes the gong as the most surprising.
Again, while the legends of the wonders of Boracay are many (and it is beautiful), the place to visit is Palawan.
Called ‘the last frontier’, this paradise is a blend of exquisite natural wonders and crystal clear water.
Once again onboard Norwegian Spirit, I booked a shore tour that included a cruise into the UNESCO Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon surrounded by monumental limestone cliffs and then afternoon frolicking on Banul Beach.
Beat hits: The sheer natural wonder of Kayangan Lake is a must!
Best tip: Take small notes of local currency to buy the fresh food on the beach.
Greece
Everyone knows about Mykonos, Santorini and Patmos, but have you heard of Kefalonia, which is only really accessible via small ship.
I ventured to this island on a day trip while onboard Emerald Cruises super yacht, Azzurra.
Only 110m long, this luxury vessel docked right off the town of Fiskardo. The town is quaint, colourful and there’s amazing local cuisine, but the highlight for me was exploring the place on foot.
From the magical pine cone forest, ancient Roman ruins dating back to the second century BC, the Venetian lighthouse and the spectacular rock platforms where you are greeted with the stunning vista of the Ionian Sea, Kefalonia ranks as one of my most favourite Greek Islands.
Best hits: The magnificent scenery and NO crowds.
Best tip: Wear comfortable walking shoes and eat a gyro (or two). No coconuts here!
Honourable mention
So, I have to include Santorini and I’ll keep it brief, but when you visit Oia, take the cable car up, battle the crowds and take the must-have-pic of the blue-domed churches…then rent a car for the day and drive to Thera.
Drive up the windy road to the ancient ruins of this incredible and ancient ninth century BC Spartan site. The view of the Aegean is breathtaking and no crowds!
Best hits: The view
Best tip: You’ll spend an hour hiking up so wear walking shoes and take water.
South Pacific
If you’ve ever imagined what it’s like to walk on talcum powder, then all you have to do is visit the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.
I’m waiting for this slice of heaven to re-open to cruise ships (it has been closed since the pandemic) to once again experience this treasure.
The island, as you can probably deduce, is surrounded by the tall Cook pine (Araucaria columnaris) that form a picturesque silhouette against the sky.
The beaches are pristine and abundant with sea life – a snorkellers haven. Captain Cook named the island on his second voyage in the 1770s while the local Melanesian culture dates back more than 2,000 years.
Best hits: The sand and the beaches.
Best tips: Try to learn a few words in French and make sure you take some small notes for delicious street food…and coconuts (can you notice a pattern here with my obsession with coconuts?).
While I’ve visited so many more islands than the ones I’ve mentioned here, there are still so many more on my bucket list.
Number one destination is the Caribbean – any and ALL islands if possible, followed by Croatia, the Maldives and the Cook Islands. Cruise lines, if you specialise in these destination, hit me up!
And, of course, anywhere I can get a fresh coconut.
