When your cruise sails to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s
an automatic must-see. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) has designated more than 1,000 sites around the world
that are considered irreplaceable due to their outstanding cultural or natural
importance.
Here are just a few of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites you
can visit on a cruise:
The Amazon
The Amazon River and its massive drainage basin in and
around northern Brazil is one of the most biodiverse areas on earth. It teems
with wildlife like electric fish, giant otters, black caimans and freshwater
dolphins, and colorful flora. Some cruises of the Caribbean include the eastern
portion of the Amazon, but you can also find cruises that focus solely on the famous
river.
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay National Park, a highlight of many cruises of
Alaska’s Inside Passage, protects sensitive marine ecosystems and ancestral
homelands of the Tlingit people. About 80% of visitors arrive via cruise ship –
the best way to watch tidewater glaciers calve new icebergs into the bay.
Acropolis of Athens
This ancient citadel above the capital of Greece is
populated with historically important buildings. The Parthenon is the best known
but there are remains of other structures of classical Doric and Ionic design.
Many cruise ships visit Athens on itineraries that include the Greek Isles or
ports along the Adriatic coast.
Great Barrier Reef
The world’s largest living organism stretches more than 1,400
miles just off the coast of Queensland, Australia. In addition to beautiful
corals, the reef supports many species of fish, sea snakes, marine turtles,
sponges, dugongs, dolphins, whales and sea birds. Look for a cruise itinerary
that stops at the Whitsunday Islands. From there, you can take glass-bottom
boat, snorkeling or diving tours of the reef.
Komodo National Park
Up to 10 feet long and weighing up to 300 pounds, the
world’s largest lizard – the impressive Komodo dragon – dominates the ecosystem
of Komodo National Park, which includes three of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda
Islands. The rugged and beautiful islands are also home to water buffalo, unusual
birds and adorable civets. You can visit the park on a variety of Indonesian cruises,
some departing from Australian ports.
There are so many more UNESCO World Heritage sites you can
cruise to – talk about the possibilities with Anita, your professional travel
advisor.
