By Jarren Matthews, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.
A golf outing is a popular and logical addition to a cruise vacation, but have you ever considered a cruise vacation built around golf? For a group of golf enthusiasts, a well-planned cruise could turn into the golfing adventure of a lifetime. For example, I recently had a group of 24 take a Caribbean cruise specifically for golf. They all came back from their trip raving with positive reviews not only for the golfing destinations but also the cruise itself. While the Caribbeanhas its share of beautiful courses, it’s not the only destination well-suited for golf. Read on for some of the most popular golf destinations available to cruisers.
The first great golf destination would be Bermuda. A lot of tropical cruise itineraries make it difficult to get a round of golf in because you are only in port for eight hours. This makes it difficult to disembark the cruise, find a taxi or shuttle, get to the course, tee off, get your full round in and then get back to the ship before the ship leaves port. The Bermuda itineraries typically give you the overnight stay that allows plenty of time to get to the golf course and get your full 18 holes completed. In addition to the generous time in port, you get to test your skills on some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. And you will find out if the sand traps in Bermuda have pink sand as well.
A somewhat surprising destination for golf is Alaska. If you are cruising to the Last Frontier and add a land tour package onto your cruise, you may be able to hit the links at midnight. In the summer time, Alaska has sun shining all day long and well into the night. There are several golf courses in and around Fairbanks, Alaska that give you the opportunity to tee off at noon AND midnight. This is the perfect activity for the insomniac golf-lover and gives you bragging rights when you return to your country club.
There are also several ways to incorporate golf into a cruise to Europe. A Baltic itinerary, for example, gives you the chance to visit Scotland, the birthplace of golf. The camaraderie that comes with golfing with friends in some of the most historic courses in the world creates a recipe for a fantastic trip. As a cruise expert, I have worked with everything from family vacations to larger groups, and the golf cruise vacation packages are some of the best. Think about it – what could be better than a relaxing cruise to help you forget about a bad day of putting?!?
Jarren Matthews
Senior Cruise Consultant
The Cruise Web, Inc.
1-800-377-9383 ext. 349
Jarrenm@cruiseweb.com
Cruising Around a Round