Give the Best Mother’s Day Gift—a Cruise Vacation

This Mother’s Day, give your mom—or the mother figure in your life—the gift of travel with a cruise vacation.

Whether it’s discovering new cultures, taking a thrilling ride down the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, or across the ship on the zip line; dedicating an entire trip to relaxing and recharging, like unwinding by the plunge pool at the Suite Sun Deck on Wonder of the Seas; or trying an array of flavors—from authentic Italian at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar to fresh New England-inspired dishes at Hooked Seafood—moms can do it all on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Here are the top cruise itineraries that will make for the perfect Mother’s Day gift:

The Caribbean & Mexico

A cruise to the Caribbean can mean relaxing and recharging on white sand beaches with turquoise waters that stretch as far as the eye can see. However, there are adventures in store, too.

Labadee—Royal Caribbean’s private destination on the northern coast of Haiti—for example, is home to the world’s longest overwater zip line, the 2,600-foot Dragon’s Breath and Fire Flight Line. And there’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, our private island in The Bahamas that boasts the first overwater cabanas—which have luxe amenities like a dedicated cabana attendant—13 waterslides, including the tallest one in North America; and Up, Up & Away, the helium balloon that goes as high as 450 feet.

For history lovers, there’s San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once a Spanish colony, it retains a European vibe with cobblestone streets and hundreds of restored buildings, even forts, from the 16th and 17th centuries.

If a world of flavors is what Mom is after, look no further than Ensenada, Mexico, the birthplace of the fish taco and the country’s seafood capital, as well as the gateway to Baja California’s wine country.

Get there: Whether you choose a four-night short getaway or a 12-night itinerary, cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico depart from places like Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida; Bayonne, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Galveston, Texas; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Discover the Royal Caribbean cruises headed to the Caribbean and Mexico here.

 

 

Europe

Among the most popular cruises in Europe are those to the Mediterranean and northern Europe.

Moms who love historic sites and monuments will be in awe of the Mediterranean, which was once a center of Western civilization and full of incredible landmarks like the Acropolis in Athens—the birthplace of democracy—the Colosseum in Rome and Fort Lovrijenac, a medieval castle in Dubrovnik, Croatia (which you might recognize from “Game of Thrones”). Plus, there are idyllic hotspots, such as Santorini, Greece; Provence, France; the Amalfi Coast, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain.

Northern Europe beckons with rugged beauty—from the winter’s northern lights in Sweden to the midnight sun that rises high above Denmark in the summer. There’s also the colorful, 17th-century Nyhavn harbor in Copenhagen, Denmark; the famous fjords of Bergen, Norway; and Iceland’s Insta-worthy Blue Lagoon.

Get there: Depending on where you want to go in Europe and for how long—cruises vary from two nights to 16—ships set sail from places like Southampton, England; Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

From the Aegean to the Baltic, the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, immerse Mom in all that Europe has to offer by booking a cruise here.

 

Alaska

Adventurous moms will love a cruise to Alaska. The 49th state is a vast and rugged place that beckons with stunning glaciers, frozen rivers, colorful fishing towns, dog sledding and plenty of wildlife, from humpback whales near Juneau to caribou, bears and moose in Denali National Park.

The Last Frontier is an enormous state that has 10.9 million acres of wild forests, and it’s bursting with breathtaking natural sights, like Dawes Glacier, Hubbard Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier. And keep in mind that everything you do is in the shadow of Denali, North America’s tallest mountain.

With so much to see and do, you can spend extra time in Alaska before or after your cruise if you go for a Cruisetour. These packages add on guided, land-based adventures, so you can explore more of Alaska’s interior, from glacial valleys to mountain peaks. You’ll also learn more about the state’s history, from seeing a Tlingit Native dance performance and the village of Hoonah, the largest Tlingit community in southeast Alaska, to visiting a former gold-mining boomtown.

Pro tip: Check out the North Star atop Quantum and Ovation, an all-glass observation capsule that offers stunning, panoramic views of the glaciers, forests and mountains from 300 feet above the ocean.

Get there: Jump on a seven- or eight-night cruise to Alaska from cities like Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada; and Seward, Alaska.

Take Mom on a walk on the wild side and see which cruise to Alaska is right for you here.

 

Australia & New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand have the perfect combination of thrilling adventures and stunning natural beauty‚ from beaches to deserts, to mountains, as well as unique wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, rare penguins and local sea turtles.

On the beach front, there are thousands of miles of incredible shores and one-of-a-kind experiences to be had, such as snorkeling around Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system; seeing thousands of glow worms light up the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand; and touring New Zealand’s Tauranga, where the preserved set of The Shire draws fans of “Lord of the Rings” movies.

With cruises that visit Melbourne, Australia; Port Arthur, Tasmania; Dunedin and Picton, New Zealand; and more, you’ll be transported to sunny beaches and mountainsides alike.

Get there: From a two-night weekend getaway to 18 nights, cruises to Australia and New Zealand sail from destinations like Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, Australia.

Whether Mom wants adventure or relaxation, book a cruise Down Under here.

 

Ready to gift a cruise and win Best Mother’s Day Gift of the Year? Head here to check out the Royal Caribbean cruises to choose from.