Cruising Can Be So Cool
Warm-weather cruising is terrific, especially in the depths of winter, when a to the sunny Mediterranean, Caribbean or South Pacific brings welcome warmth. But, during a hot summer, it’s also nice to to a destination where the days are long and pleasantly cool.
Alaska’s summer high temperatures are in the 60s and 70s, great for outdoor activities and sightseeing. After a day of salmon fishing, panning for gold, kayaking or zip-lining, snuggle up in a deck chair to watch the scenery of forests, mountain peaks and glaciers. The Alaska season runs from mid-May to mid-September, which is also when the northern sky stays light well past 10 p.m.
Cruise ships call on Reykjavik, Iceland, from late spring through September, taking advantage of the long daylight hours and pleasant temperatures in the 50s. Cruise ship visitors love to tour the city’s quirky and often colorful architecture; take boat tours to islands inhabited by cute Puffin birds; and shop for the hand-knitted Icelandic wool sweaters that keep the locals warm. For a therapeutic experience, visit the Blue Lagoon, a pool of mineral-rich, geothermally heated water set in a rugged landscape of lava rock.
Tromso, Norway, is north of the Arctic Circle, but summer brings temperatures in the 50s. For much of July, there’s daylight nearly 24 hours a day. Tromso is home to the world’s northernmost university, which contributes to its lively character. The city center has a notable collection of historic wooden homes and a Gothic Revival-style cathedral. A more modern church, the Arctic Cathedral, has a sleek design of concrete, steel and glass. Take the cable car up Mt. Storsteinen for a panoramic view of mountains, water and islands.
If you don’t want to wait until next summer to take a refreshingly cool , consider sailing the Chilean Fjords this winter. From October through March – the South American summer – daytime temperatures average in the 60s. Cruise ships sail along Chile’s southern coast for views of stunning fjords, ice fields and glaciers. Puerto Montt, gateway to the Lakes District, was settled by German immigrants and is like a piece of Bavaria in southern Chile. If you can tear yourself away from the pretty waterfront, enjoy the beautiful scenery while hiking, rafting, fishing or horseback riding.
To discover more destinations for cool-weather cruising, talk with your True Vacation Travel personal expert.
