10 Best & Most Unique Cruises in the World for Retirement Travel

[@RetirementTravelers]

We hope you enjoy our collection of some unique cruises around the world that we plan to take in the future. For all the details, see our companion travel guide on our website. retirementtravelers.com/ten-most-unique-cruises-in-the-world If you have heard of others, please share in the comments. Thanks. Happy journeys, John and Bev

[@Anonymous-One1]

I think you need to have a warning at the beginning of your videos saying, "Warning. Watching this video may increase your wanderlust." 😁 Thank you for sharing. These are some great ideas. A cruise that is on our bucket list is to go through the Panama Canal. Safe travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We do love wanderlust!!! 🤣 Hope you get to go. We are looking forward to trying some of these over the years. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@StreetSmartMillionaire]

Great video! Serbia is awesome and the state of Santa Catalina in Brazil has people as friendly as Colombians, great prices and we love spending three months in their winter of June, July August. Check out Campeche in Florianopolis, Blumenau, Praia Brava next to Balneario Camboriu.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the suggestions. We spent a week in Belgrade and had a wonderful time. We have much more of Brazil to explore. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

So looking forward to your video on the African cruise. It’s been on my bucket list for a while, but it’s a bit of a chunk of money so I’ve been rather cautious. Will enjoy hearing your “review.”

[@RetirementTravelers]

Coming soon! Thanks for following along with us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lindarobinson2104]

Me too!

[@oopik0059]

I did the Viking Rhine River Christmas Cruise last December. My advice, book the lower level cabin (below the water line). The sun sets around 4:30 pm each day, and because it’s December, you won’t have beautiful green scenery to bask in. It’s usually getting dark when you return from excursions and when you depart, too. We loved it though.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! We usually always get the lower (cheapest) cabins on every cruise we take. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@johnkelley1426]

For folks considering the Am Revolution cruise, consider reading, The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America--the Conflict of Civilizations: 1600-1675. I'm surprised 2 others missed your list. Both are working ferries: the Alaska Marine Highway System, and the Norway Coastal Ferry. With either one is able to plan shore stays and excursions, then catch a subsequent ferry.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your suggestions. We will check them out. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@gazzafloss]

Hey J&B, you're talking some big money on some of those cruises, but they do look fantastic. We did part of the Amazon river in 2008, from Manaus up to Tefe' on one of the many local Amazon river boats where you get to sleep in a hammock onboard for 3 nights, not expensive but basic. A incredible place to visit. We were much younger then and out for adventure. Happy travels.

[@maryequilter31]

I’m so excited to see you are going to get dive certified! My husband and I are both 70, and still dive. We’ve both been divers for more than 40 years, but still dive every year. We mostly do warm water diving in the Caribbean, as gearing up for our cold New England waters is not something we choose to do any more.😂 Snorkeling is fabulous, but getting down to 60 to 90 feet, is a whole other experience. We have never considered a cruise but these are not the standard cruisers cruise and may be worth looking into. Thank you for all you share !!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We loved our snorkeling in Raja Ampat and wanted even more. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@kelseyschnipke4341]

Other than Expedia, how do you find some of these hidden gem experiences? What’s the best way to go about booking a trip like this? As always, thank you for sharing! My husband and I are about 15 years away from retirement and are constantly dreaming up our bucket list ❤

[@RetirementTravelers]

Typically just google search. We always book directly with cruise lines, airlines, etc and always avoid third parties. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@bills2814]

Please consider a footsteps of Apostle Paul cruise in the bucket list. Keep calm and travel on.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We will look this one up! Thanks for telling us about it. John & Bev

[@teresahouston2577]

Great choices. Will check a few out. I have heard people complain about the Nile cruises. The cruises themselves and the sites you see are great. But the minute you get off the boat you’re aggressively besieged at the marketplace.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the tips! We have experienced that at a few places around the world. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@dsr8223]

I'd bet it's even worse now since so many tourists are avoiding that entire area out of safety concerns.

[@ghilly_one1720]

this is FANTASTIC! thank you so much for the research and sharing. more bucket list items for sure. 😁

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@russmeans]

To build on the Christmas Cruise, we did the Budapest to Amsterdam Grand European tour during the season. So we visited the Vienna Christmas market as well as others, 14 in all. A wonderful experience

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We can't wait. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tommckinney1489]

I researched Viking's Amazon cruise and discovered it was cancelled a couple of times this year due to low water. Viking substituted a Caribbean cruise, but I don't know if passengers were offered a refund or had to take the substitution. I also researched Viking's Christmas market cruise and concluded it was more cost effective to do it on your own. Check out Kara and Nate's video on Christmas markets: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJiWqoh7mK-qm6M

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. The cancellations are a real concern with cruises. Agree with you on the cost effective comment. That is how we typically travel, although many of our older viewers like the simplicity of cruising. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@oysterpt2018]

I’ve Been following you for a while, was even on the transatlantic crossing from Barcelona at the same time you crossed, but I can’t help but ask you how any of these cruises will impact your budget travelling .. you already posted a few videos about the cost of your travels and as I look at these in this video, we are talking about a much much higher cost? How do you reconcile this with your original plans? Some of these can cost as much as $1,000/day or more. We are a long way away from $200/day. This is obviously a big change from a few years ago. Are you planning to partner with these cruises, making them free or much cheaper? Thanks. PS: the 23 day northern passage is alone $100,000? Wasn’t that your annual budget? I’m confused about your viewer profile at this point?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We have stated that our goal is to be bargain travelers, not budget travelers. For us, this is very much a bucket list for the long term. We stated in our video about our budget that we try to include a luxury experience each year. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHzSeGmYhbtsj7Msi=xD-l6QtRHMpvOzKl Our plan is to include a luxury train or a luxury cruise each year and we will make up for it by traveling to low cost countries. It's a balancing act for every full-time traveler, and we are no different. We said in this video that we aim for the mid-range which is $84,000 a year ($230 a day). Our expectation going forward is to spend a bit more time back in the states, which will enable us to afford one of these every year or so. Obviously, some of these are very expensive, so some are out of reach at the moment; however, we have many viewers that are looking for inspiration and knowledge who take only a few trips a year. Our channel and blog are geared toward them because most people have no desire to sell their home and travel fulltime and many people are curious about what is available even if it is out of reach. Thanks for the question! John & Bev

[@oysterpt2018]

@@RetirementTravelers thanks so much for your answer, as we are trying to get a grasp on what it costs and what is realistic in different forms of travelling .. this helps a lot

[@RetirewithJulia]

Wow, these ALL look incredible, and I knew about none of them! Thanks so much for the great video and great information!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks! We’re glad it was informative! BUT, YOUNG LADY, your video this week was incredible and so perfect for people trying to figure out a retirement plan. We’re glad you’re helping us! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJzVp5h6erN6hqcsi=Z6EHp0uLOPWzAC1Y John & Bev

[@HavePension-WillTravel]

Absolutely agree with your Aranui suggestion. I've been on three of their cruises - Aranui 3 to the Marquesas, Aranui 5 also to the Marquesas and Aranui 5 to Pitcairn. Obviously I like the Aranui! The Marquesas are fascinating and beautiful; Pitcairn is out of this world. The passenger/freighter ship is such a different way of cruising. Also, I would love to do the Kimberley area but finishing it with the Indian Pacific I loved that train trip. Another possibility from Darwin is the Ghan (even more expensive than the IP but apparently wonderful). Regarding river cruises, Pandaw have quite a few in South East Asia and now South Asia (India). Small ships, we liked the ones with 30 or so passengers. Every man and his dog now cruises the Mekong in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos but back in the day Pandaw also cruised to Borneo and various rivers in Myanmar. I'm glad that I was on those cruises but I'm sad about the awful situation in Myanmar. I don't know what has happened to the many guides and crew member we met there. Pandaw now have small ship expeditions to several rivers in India. Recently travelled along the Brahmaputra. Again fascinating but way different to the rivers in Vietnam. Looking forward to your video on Africa.😀

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We can't wait to go on one of these. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@maurieshakespeare5835]

Very pleased to see you have the Kimberley on your list. It’s truly unique and totally memorable. I’d aim to spend 5 days pre cruise in Darwin to tour both Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the tips. We can't wait to try that one and see that part of the world. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@slloo7692]

Very nice but most of them look very expensive.

[@RetirementTravelers]

They are, that's why it will take many years to complete this list. We hope to inspire people to try some new ones. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@valeriepatrickcorris3679]

Thanks for another great video. These cruises all sound amazing and most of them I didn’t know about. I think my favourite is the South Pacific one that also delivers cargo, so definitely adding that to the bucket list. We’ve booked Raja Ampat (not a cruise) for 2026, 8 weeks in Australia in 2025 and possibly also a month in Namibia in 2025. Really looking forward to your next video. Safe travels.

[@RetirementTravelers]

You’re going to love all of those travels! We can’t wait to go back to Namibia! It’s very beautiful! John & Bev

[@tressakortlever5032]

I couldn’t find the link for the Raja 😢 cruise or even the name of the boat or cruise company. Please provide the link or name of the cruise company that does this tour. Thank you!

[@RetirementTravelers]

If you look in the video description below the video there is a link to the article. Click on it and you will see all the cruises and links to each one. John & Bev

[@carvern1]

Your Viking Great Lakes recommendation is not a river cruise; it is on one of Viking’s Expedition ships, the same ones that go to Antarctica. We were on Octantis in January of this year.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the feedback. We changed that information on the blog. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lanadima]

I also suggest to add Antarctica cruise to this collection, one of the if not the most unique cruises. Make sure to take expedition cruise with no more than 100 passengers, because only 100 people per day are allowed on Antarctica shore. Expensive, but worth all the money

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. It is on our list. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@TNTTravelsWW]

Thank you John and Bev!! This is great information. We just got back from South America, where we took a Patagonia expedition cruise on the Australis and a clipper cruise into the Amazon. We are definitely going to check into the Australia cruise you mention. We’ll be there in April 2025.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sounds great! Thanks for the suggestion. Let us know if you take the Australian cruise. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@JohnJones-fk6ti]

Just found your channel, great information just what I like,many thanks 🙏

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@CAPTex92]

Wow! What an amazing list, thanks for putting it together. I will save this video & hope to one day start checking these off my bucket list as well :)

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Hope you get do some of these. Thanks for following along. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SuperLawww]

There’s a cruise in China on the Yangtze river from Shanghai to Chongqing take about 11 days.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@rebeccaw9656]

These all look amazing! I look forward to seeing you reviewing some of these (preferably all😂) in the future.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We hope so, but it will take several years!!! Thanks for watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@donnasowles9528]

Hi John and Bev. I did the Aranui 2 in 1992. The 5 ship has a lot more amenities. Had a great time, single and had deck space.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like a great experience. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@alkruzins1168]

Great summary Love that u included Great Lakes and NW passage

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We look forward to taking those cruises one of these days. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tommckinney1489]

Thanks for the video. My wife and I have considered some of the cruises you mentioned. Most cruises are sold through travel agents. Can you share the one you use? thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you found it helpful. We never use travel agents if possible. We book direct with cruise companies, airlines, etc Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

I’ve had my eye on Nour el Nil for a number of years. Hoping to charter one of their boats for a small group tour within the next couple of years. Would be an amazing experience!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We have been wanting to do this for a long time, it just hasn't fit into our schedule yet. We think it would be amazing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@coachab100]

If you go to Perth, stay in Freemantle, a beach town very close to Perth. I took my only cruise to Antarctica……majestic place

[@RetirementTravelers]

John has been to Freemantle as few times during his work career and loved it. What a wonderful place. Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mkmariak]

All of these sound amazing!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed them. It is fun to dream and we hope to include at least 1 of these each year for the next decade. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tigertailtime7679]

Sounds like you might enjoy America’s Great Loop which includes the American Revolution area, the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay. It is wonderful to do that trip on your own boat and take as much time as you want (within the warm season anyway). It is an amazing time!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We would love to do the Great Loop, we just aren't ready to actually buy a boat. 🤣 Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tigertailtime7679]

It’s possible to buy an older, cheaper boat and sell it after. That’s what we did. Loved the trip, and the adventurous people we met were wonderful!

[@anuragjain7751]

you guys are rock stars..... thanks for the list

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad it was helpful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@anabellabella2266]

thanks for the info guys! As always a great video🌻🌻🌻

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching! Glad you are enjoying our channel. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@cmsmith3010]

Have to say, I’m surprised you want to do so many cruises! And they all sound amazing!! Unfortunately I get seasick on all but the biggest ships, so I will enjoy your videos about them in the safety of a comfortable chair on solid ground. (Yes I know there are various ways to prevent seasickness, but most don’t work for me.) Blessings on your continued travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear that you get seasick! We have a long bucket list that will take us many, many years to do. Many of these are expensive, and we can't afford to do them back-to-back. We are excited about this list, but we have to pace ourselves!!! 🤣 John & Bev

[@mellocello187]

Cruises can get a bad rap, but I find from people who have never taken one! Truth is, a cruise is what you make of it. If you go through every buffet food line, it’s a very different experience from eating right, being active, doing the best shore excursions.

[@sf3413]

Wonderful ideas! I've been thinking too small about cruises!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and hope these are helpful in your planning. We like to think "cruise with a purpose" Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@MyLifesJourneyVlog]

Great channel. Watching from Philippines

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Love the Philippines 🇵🇭 John and Bev

[@lhrivnak]

Bev, love your longer hair!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

That’s so funny! Actually, I ask John all the time if he likes it long or short and he insists, much to my chagrin, that he likes it both ways. I tell him I know, but he never says. So, we were with some friends recently, and I asked my girlfriend’s husband. He said long, and I laughed and turned to John and said, “See how easy that was?” It was all I wanted to hear, an opinion! Thanks for your reinforcement! It was very sweet!❤️ Bev

[@gyrokyro]

Great video! These all sound fantastic! Thx for sharing 😮

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. We look forward to working these into our travels over the coming years. Thanks for following along. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lindarobinson2104]

Love the channel

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thank you so much! We appreciate hearing that! Thanks for watching! John and Bev

[@cappie8345]

Great video. I added a few of these to our bucket list.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and please do! We hope you get to try some of them. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sqgallacher]

Excellent list thank you

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@theresewheeler1498]

Thank uou for sharing

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are so welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/