Trending destinations – cruising grounds for 2022 & beyond.

Croatia sets the bar for island hopping opportunities, with more than 1,200 islands to discover. Superbly set up for cruising by nature itself, the scenery is genuinely spectacular, while the wide variety of historic sites ashore provide plenty of shore-based distraction.

When to go…

The conditions are favourable from early May right through to the end of October. The peak summer months of July and August are the hottest and also the busiest, but even at peak times there are still plenty of islands where the waterborne can escape the crowds and enjoy a secluded anchorage.

Just about every island has a film set-worthy medieval town with beautiful, cream coloured stone churches, cobblestone streets and perfect town squares. The age-old cities of Dubrovnik, Korčula and Split go one step further with their red-roofed buildings and stunning architecture located within ancient stone walls – the best-preserved Roman walls in the Mediterranean.

Alongside the traditional tavernas there are also a handful of hip beach clubs just a tender ride away. By day they have a chilled-out vibe, but don’t be fooled – by night these waterside settings play host to international guest DJs and feature some of the best parties in the Adriatic.

Dense pinewoods conceal cobalt blue lakes, waterfalls and canyons with walking trails ashore – indeed Croatia’s national parks are some of its finest natural attractions. Cruise up the Krka River and explore the Krka National Park, or swim and cycle around the lakes that dot the Mljet National Park.

Whether exploring the islands on the western coast of Norway, or heading inland to discover the majestic fjords, the Norwegian coastline offers scenery on an epic scale, together with a wonderful feeling of peace and tranquillity. As you glide through the indigo waters hugging the rugged, mountainous landscape, discover dramatic vistas like nowhere on earth.

When to go

June to August is the best time to cruise through the Norwegian fjords. It almost never gets dark in June, while August sees air and sea temperatures at their warmest. However, those wishing to see the Northern Lights should venture to the Baltic during the winter season, ideally in October or February as the weather in December and January can be unreliable.

The dramatic fjords of southwest Norway are what draw most charterers to explore these majestic cruising grounds. Cruise through the deep blue fjord waters of Sognefjord, past sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls, or take a detour into the striking UNESCO World Heritage site at Geirangerfjord.

There really is no better way to witness the Northern Lights than from the decks of a superyacht. Catch a glimpse of this phenomenal light display from October through to March. If you are planning to visit in the summer months rest assured, the land of the midnight sun still makes for a dramatic and awe-inspiring backdrop whatever the season.

Wooing visitors with their natural beauty, history, culture and Scandi gastronomic scene, seaside cities such as Bergen and Stavanger offer plenty of attractions ashore. Quaint cobblestone streets are lined with clapboard buildings housing restaurants, interesting boutiques, and lively bars.

Sailing downwind from the cosmopolitan island of Tahiti to mountainous Bora Bora is easy owing to the ever-present east and southeast trade winds. Fast and exhilarating downwind sailing is complemented by calm anchorages, as the geology of the islands means deep-water lagoons, and a guaranteed peaceful anchorage every night.

When to go…

The trade winds in French Polynesia are most predictable in May to September, while between June and August the weather is at its balmiest.

The Society Islands are home to some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. Beneath the surface lie psychedelic-coloured reefs, with rippling rainbows of fish including parrotfish, emperor angelfish, striped snapper and even the occasional black tip reef shark to add some spice to your dive.

Step ashore to discover the islands’ numerous pearl farms. Watch the pearl masters as they cultivate pearls, removing them from oysters and then replacing the seed ready for the next harvest.

The reefs around the lagoons here are clustered with desert islands, known as motus, that are perfect for a beach barbecue. Your chef could even prepare a feast of fresh fish accompanied with breadfruit and taro root, slowly baked in an ahimoa – a traditional Polynesian cooking pit dug into the sand.

For those looking for a sense of adventure while still feeling cocooned in the luxury of a superyacht, the narrow straits which lie between the mainland USA and the islands of southeast Alaska are ideal. Carved out by glaciers during the last ice age, the Inside Passage is characterized by hundreds of islands and islets, fjords and coves, all providing plenty of opportunity for adventurous activities both in the water and on land.

When to go…

The best time of year to cruise through the Inside Passage is the Summer, when the days are long and the temperatures mild.

Summertime brings with it pods of humpback whales in great numbers. Cruise through the intricate waterways of the Icy Strait (pilot essential) and see them broaching and blowing as they prepare to descend deep beneath the surface. 

Explore some of North America’s greatest wilderness areas abound with wildlife. From bald eagles, wolves and deer to the world’s highest concentration of bears (thanks to a glut of salmon streams), exciting encounters abound ashore. Even from the yacht you might be lucky enough to catch the occasional glimpse of black or brown bear foraging to fatten themselves up for their winter slumbers.

Alaska is like one massive activity centre. From kayaking through the glacial ecosystem of the Glacier Bay National Park to hiking the lakes, cycling the trails, trekking through rainforest, and swimming in the Baranof Warm Springs, there are no shortage of outdoor activities to keep all ages entertained.

Referred to as the ‘rich coast’, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast offers a dizzying suite of attractions for the waterborne. This conservation-friendly country was at the forefront of the eco-preservation movement, and as a result yields a Noah’s Ark’s worth of animals – turtles off Caribbean beaches, sloths in the canopy of rainforests – indeed over half a million species live here, including spectacular marine life. During a superyacht charter you could encounter pods of humpback whales from the decks of your yacht, while snorkelling and diving will lead to adventures with all manner of underwater wildlife.

When to go…

The best time to cruise the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is during the dry season that runs between December and April; the Caribbean coast is wet and humid all year long, though rainfall can be more sporadic and short during the dry season.

From kite surfing, wakeboarding and scuba diving in the deep blue waters of the Pacific, to ziplining, mountain biking, horse-riding, and hiking in the jungle-clad interior, Costa Rica is a natural playground for adventurers.

Join marine biologists in their efforts to track hammerhead sharks or take a submersible dive and collect vital data on Costa Rica’s rich marine life. Trek inland with an expert guide and track the country’s last remaining jaguars, or hike into one of the country’s wildlife refuges and help support these vital causes.

The Maldives archipelago is a scuba diver’s dream. Whether you head north or south, the diving just about everywhere is fantastic.  From the Baa Atoll UNESCO biosphere reserve to the far-flung isolated reefs, divers will be spoiled for choice, with 26 atolls and thousands of dive sites to choose from. Non-divers can snorkel with clownfish, while scuba experts can dive deep for selfies on shipwrecks or night dives with whale sharks. Those preferring to stay above the waterline will also be spoilt for choice, with plenty of five-star island resorts providing a dream team combination of superb spas and top restaurants. Flit from resort to resort aboard your yacht, en-route exploring uninhabited islands, remote dive sites, and verdant fishing grounds that are inaccessible to all but the waterborne.

When to go…

The best time to cruise in the Maldives is between December and April, when the climate is drier and the underwater visibility for diving and snorkelling is at its best.

Jump in to explore an underwater world teeming with stingrays and nurse sharks in the Baa Atoll or discover some really unique wreck dives around the Haa Daalu Atoll. For divers looking for an alternative experience, try a fluorescent night dive – diving with a blue-light torch and a lens filter in your dive mask, fish and coral glow with their own fluorescence as they transform high-energy light into low-energy light.

Around one in ten of the 1,200 coral islands in the Maldives are inhabited by luxury resorts, and aboard a superyacht you can easily access their award-winning spas. Step ashore to the Cheval Blanc Randehli and enjoy an afternoon of pampering, or for the best Ayurvedic treatments in the Indian Ocean, head to the spa at the Six Senses Laamu resort. Wherever you choose to cruise, almost all of the exclusive island retreats offer indigenously inspired spa treatments for waterborne visitors.

Fishing has been the lifeblood of the Maldivian people since time immemorial. The turquoise waters here teem with every type of fish, from dogtooth tuna and wahoo to red snapper and sailfish, many of which mill just beneath the surface and are easy to catch. Try it for yourself straight from your yacht and enjoy the catch-of-the-day barbecued on your own deserted island – picnicking Robinson Crusoe style.