Cool-Cation Cruising Is Surging—5 Itineraries That Beat The Heat

Forbes

2 days ago

Geiranger Fjord, Norway getty
With 2025 shaping up to be one of the hottest years on record, more travelers are skipping sweltering cities and tropical heatwaves in favor of cooler, more comfortable destinations. That shift—dubbed the 'cool-cation' trend—is especially strong at sea, where cruise lines are seeing a surge in demand for itineraries that trade pool decks for fresh air and long sleeves.
Juliet Archer, managing director of Cruising Holidays, reports a 30% year-over-year surge in demand for cold-climate sailings, saying clients are seeking 'authentic expeditions to the farthest corners of the north.'
Below, five cool-cation cruises that deliver on chill without sacrificing summer vacation thrills.
Bacharach am Rhein. Small town on the Upper Middle Rhine River (Mittelrhein). Beautiful aerial panoramic Postcard view with a church. Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany. UNESCO. getty
Cool air, storybook scenery and walk-off access to old towns make an AmaWaterways cruise on the Rhine a natural cool-cation. Shoulder and holiday seasons add candlelit squares and steaming mugs of glühwein (mulled wine) to the mix.
Amsterdam sets the tone with canal cruises and gabled townhouses before the ship glides into castle country. In Cologne, the spires of the cathedral rise over riverside beer halls. Scenic sailing through the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley brings turreted fortresses and vine-terraced slopes right to your balcony. Rüdesheim charms with cobbled lanes and half-timbered wine taverns. From Ludwigshafen, day-trip to Heidelberg's romantic hilltop castle. Strasbourg layers French patisserie with Alsatian, fairy-tale streets and timbered facades. Basel bookends the journey with easy hop-offs to Alpine towns, like Lucerne. What to know
Most moorings are steps from old-town centers, so you spend your days outdoors exploring, not stuck in transfers. Summer is cool and comfortable, but late-November and December departures sync with Christmas markets.
Book now Viking Cruises — Into the Midnight Sun (Bergen to London/Greenwich)
Eidfjord, Norway - May 21, 2018: Travel documentary of everyday life and place. The cruise ship Viking Sun visiting the village on a sunny and calm day. Mountain peaks in the background. getty
This high-latitude arc on a Viking ocean ship strings together fjords, fishing hamlets, and wild islands. Cooler temps and long days (during June and July sailings the sun never sets) mean you're outside more, actually seeing the coastline instead of hiding from heat. Itinerary highlights
Sail out of Bergen past pastel Bryggen warehouses, then up to Geirangerfjord where waterfalls stitch silver threads down emerald cliffs. Lofoten brings red-roofed rorbuer cabins, sea eagles and jagged peaks that look hand-drawn. In Tromsø, stroll between the Arctic Cathedral and harborside cafes. North Cape is pure edge-of-the-world drama—wind, cliffs, endless horizon. Crossing to Scotland, Lerwick adds Shetland ponies and stone crofts, Kirkwall delivers Norse-meets-Scottish history and Skara Brae-era vibes, and Edinburgh's skyline crowns it with castle views before the elegant glide up the Thames to Greenwich. What to know
Layer for sun, mist and brisk winds—often in the same day. Early summer departures give you glowing evenings that linger past midnight, while days surrounding the summer solstice literally look like noon even at 2 a.m.
Book now Windstar Cruises — Around Iceland (Reykjavik roundtrip)
The Godafoss (Icelandic: waterfall of the gods) is a famous waterfall in Iceland. The breathtaking landscape of Godafoss waterfall attracts tourist to visit the Northeastern Region of Iceland. getty
Iceland is cool-cation catnip: glacier air, black-sand beaches, steamy geothermal pools and waterfalls that thunder so loudly you feel them in your chest. Plus, Windstar's small-ship size gets you close to everything. Itinerary highlights
Circle the island from Reykjavik with a puffin-rich call at Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar, where lava fields meet sea cliffs. Seyðisfjörður hides a rainbow-street village backed by blue-veined waterfalls. Akureyri is your gateway to Goðafoss waterfall and lunar-like lava formations. Ísafjörður feels like the edge of the map—fjord-rimmed, quiet, absurdly beautiful. In Grundarfjörður, Mount Kirkjufell rises like a perfect cone with ribboning falls at its feet. Expect whales finning through calm bays, seabirds wheeling overhead, and hot-spring soaks after wind-kissed hikes. What to know
It's winter coat and rain jacket weather even in July. Pack a shell, hat, and gloves, then enjoy those long, glowing evenings on deck.
Book now Princess Cruises — Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay
Alaska, USA - May 15, 2025 : Tourists on a cruise ship admire glaciers at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Comprised of 3.3 million acres of mountains, glaciers, forests and waterways, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a UNESCO world heritage site. getty
Few cruise lines have more access to Glacier Bay than Princess, and September trades peak crowds for crisp air and darker nights. Wildlife is busy, trails are quieter and the big ice feels even more alive in cool weather. Itinerary highlights
Sail between Whittier and Vancouver with headline days in Glacier Bay and scenic sailing in Hubbard Glacier. Park rangers narrate as blue ice calves with rifle-crack echoes and house-sized chunks plunge into the water. In Juneau, pair a harbor walk with views of Mendenhall Glacier or ride the tram for alpine trails. Skagway's Gold Rush facades lead to the White Pass & Yukon Route, climbing past waterfalls and trestle bridges. Ketchikan adds totem heritage, creek-side boardwalks and salmon runs right through town. What to know
Bring rain gear and a beanie. Northern lights are never guaranteed, but late-season darkness improves your odds—add a land segment farther north if the aurora is a must.
Book now Azamara Cruises — Japan Intensive (Kobe to Tokyo)
Mount fuji at Lake kawaguchiko with cherry blossom in Yamanashi near Tokyo, Japan. getty
March and April are sweater-cool and cherry blossom-bright. Azamara's overnights and late stays mean unhurried exploration, local dinners off the ship, and nighttime activities in town. Itinerary highlights
Embark in Kobe for easy access to Kyoto's temple-lined lanes, tea houses and the Philosopher's Path flanked by blooming trees. Hiroshima balances solemn reflection at the Peace Park with spring gardens along the river. Nagasaki layers hillside viewpoints with port-side promenades. North along the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa's Kenrokuen Garden is a sakura showpiece, while Niigata's riverside walks and sake culture add flavor. Aomori and Hakodate deliver lantern-museum stops, morning markets, and views over glittering bays. Tokyo wraps it with parks like Ueno and Chidorigafuchi—petal-strewn moats and evening glow. What to know
Bloom timing shifts by latitude and weather, so keep checking the trees daily as you move about the country. Overnights in Kobe and Tokyo give you wiggle room to chase peak blossoms if dates slip a few days.
Book now