My Travel Bucket List 2017 Edition

Most of my suggestions can be easily accessed before, after, or during a cruise.

1. Visit Alaska

Alaska is my number one port of call I would choose if I were offered a cruise to anywhere in the world tomorrow.

The scenery and abundant wildlife are the main allures. I would like to visit some of the lesser visited ports along the Alaskan coastline. A pre- or post- cruise train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer or the Alaska Railroad would be the icing on the cake.

2. Sail transatlantic on an ocean liner

Having sampled life aboard Queen Mary 2, I have fallen in love. I really enjoyed her sleek exterior, classy interiors, attentive service, excellent food, and the overall ambience. A mini cruise gave me a glimpse and now I seek the real thing - a transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York. The journey is a perfect excuse to relax and unwind while enjoying the benefits of this modern cruise liner.

3. Visit Norway

I briefly toured the Norwegian Fjords with Hurtigruten in winter 2015 but did not spend long enough there to appreciate this beautiful part of the world.

I would like to see the flagship fjords but would also like to head up to the Arctic circle again. Snowmobiling is on my bucket list, as is spotting polar bears in Svalbard.

4. Visit Iceland

I must love cold weather ports! I would like to visit Iceland to explore its rugged landscapes, culture, and history.

Reykjavik appears to be the most frequented Icelandic cruise port with Akureyri coming in a close second.

5. Visit Antarctica

I have visited the Arctic Circle, so it only makes sense to visit the Antarctic Circle! Again, I would be visiting for the scenery and wildlife opportunities.

6. Visit Canada and New England

I briefly toured Montréal and Québec City in 2015, but I would like to see more of Canada, perhaps on a Canada and New England cruise itinerary.

I would like to visit Vancouver and Calgary as well as the lesser populated areas of Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories

In New England, I would like to explore the food scene of Maine and Vermont.

7. Visit Singapore

Taking inspiration from a food television programme may seem odd, but Singapore was not on my radar until I watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain's The Layover. The food scene in Singapore is reason alone to visit.

8. Visit Dubai

The playground of the rich and famous, Dubai seems to know how to do things BIG. With a wealth of tourist attractions, great weather, and top hotels, it seems to have it all.

9. Visit a private island

I would like to visit a private island. Royal Caribbean has Labadee and CocoCay. Norwegian Cruise Line has Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye. Holland America has Half Moon Cay. Disney Cruise Line has Castaway Cay. Princess has Princess Cays. Lastly, MSC Cruises has a stretch of Sir Bani Yas Island in the Emirates, and will soon have Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.

I would like to experience the atmosphere and investigate whether these cruise line owned islands offer something special or whether they are simply tourist traps.

10. Sail on an ice breaker

Back to the cool theme again, I would like to sail on an icebreaker as it courses through thick sheets of sea ice. Several cruise expedition holidays take place aboard icebreakers. The Russian icebreaker 50 Years of Victory hosts such expeditions. Finish Icebreaker Sampo offers day tours in the Gulf of Bothnia.

Destinations visited

I have been fortunate enough to visit some amazing places across the world by cruise ship or by ferry. I am pretty sure I would not have managed to visit even just half of these amazing destinations had I have opted for land-based holidays instead. Here's a list of the ports of call I have visited.

What about you? Have you been to any of the places above and have some top tips? Do you think I should have somewhere else on my bucket list? Please leave a comment below with your thoughts.

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