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There’s something magical about arriving at an island by sea. As the coastline comes into view and the landscape unfolds, there’s an instant sense of freedom, escape, and endless possibility.
Waking up somewhere new each day can feel like the ultimate adventure, and if this sounds tempting, you might like to consider a voyage with Oceania Cruises®. Sailing to more than 600 ports across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond, Oceania Cruises’ small ships can reach hidden harbours and boutique ports that larger vessels can’t. Each itinerary has been designed to balance discovery and leisure, with longer time in port, and immersive excursions that bring each destination to life.
So, which islands should you visit? Sailing to over 100 countries, on voyages that range from seven days to more than 200, the world really is your oyster. But while every destination has something special to offer, certain islands stand out above the rest.
From the remote archipelagos of French Polynesia to sun-drenched Mediterranean gems, here are eight stunning island destinations to visit on a cruise.
1. Sicily, Italy
Shaped by countless cultures, conquests, and cuisines over the centuries, Sicily feels more like a country than an island. This truly is the crossroads of Mediterranean civilisation, and from towering Mount Etna to ancient Greek temples and Norman cathedrals, every destination tells a story. Beaches, villages, and archaeological sites are never far apart, offering the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
Explore the bustling markets of Palermo, stroll through Syracuse’s baroque streets, and marvel at the dramatic cliffs of Taormina. Sicily is a paradise for food lovers, too; both onboard and onshore, you can sample crispy arancini, fresh pasta, and rich cannoli, and sip local wines grown in volcanic soil. And to delve deeper into Sicilian cuisine, a wealth of cultural excursions await, from vineyard tours and wine tastings to guided food walks.
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Oceania Cruises Tokyo to Vancouver*
Tokyo - Hitachinaka - Miyako - Aomori - Hakodate (Hokkaido) - Anchorage (Whittier) - Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - Ketchikan - Vancouver
USA, Canada & Japan | 18 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$800 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 24 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Athens to Trieste*
Athens (Piraeus) - Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Mykonos - Santorini - Argostoli (Cephalonia) - Igoumenitsa - Dubrovnik - Zadar - Trieste
Mykonos, Santorini, Italy & 3 more | 9 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$400 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 20 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises London to Amsterdam*
London (Southampton) - Paris (Le Havre) - Bruges (Zeebrugge) - Edinburgh (Newhaven) - Invergordon - Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) - Lerwick (Shetland Islands) - Bergen - Amsterdam
France, Netherlands, Norway & 2 more | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 14 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
2. French Polynesia
Few places in the world are more synonymous with paradise than French Polynesia. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural practices, and turquoise lagoons, this remote corner of the world has a rhythm of its own – and it rarely features watches or routines. Comprising 118 islands scattered across an expanse of ocean larger than Western Europe, this remarkable region feels almost tailor-made for cruising.
Whether you’re drawn to Tahiti or Bora Bora, a cruise allows you to discover some of the world’s most unspoiled landscapes. Spend your days snorkelling over vibrant coral reefs, exploring lush rainforests and cascading falls, and visiting traditional villages. The unique blend of Polynesian and French culture is reflected in the food, language, and lifestyle, offering an enriching experience that goes far beyond a typical beach holiday.
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Oceania Cruises Seattle to Seattle*
Seattle - Ketchikan - Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - Sitka - Victoria
USA & Canada | 7 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 14 Jul 2026
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Seattle to Seattle*
Seattle - Ketchikan - Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - Sitka - Victoria
USA & Canada | 7 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 21 Jul 2026
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Lisbon to Rome*
Lisbon - Portimao - Seville (Cadiz) - Malaga - Barcelona - Cannes - Cinque Terre (La Spezia) - Rome (Civitavecchia)
Spain, France, Portugal & 1 more | 8 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 03 Mar 2027
Includes taxes and fees
3. Iceland
Not everyone is drawn to sun-drenched beaches or tropical islands, and if you prefer wilder, more dramatic landscapes, Iceland is an excellent choice. The Land of Fire and Ice is known for its otherworldly beauty, and because much of its striking scenery lies along the coast, it’s ideally suited to cruising. Sail past jagged cliffs, soaring fjords, and isolated fishing villages, while looking out for whales and puffins from the deck.
Iceland cruises take you to the edge of the Arctic, into a land of glimmering glaciers, milky-blue lagoons, and steaming volcanoes. Adventure is never far away, whether you’re discovering roaring waterfalls, black-sand beaches, or lunar-like lava fields. The comfort of a cruise offers the perfect counterbalance to the cold, stark terrain; after a long day exploring, you can return to the warmth and luxury of your ship.
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Oceania Cruises Reykjavik to London*
Reykjavik - Isafjordur - Akureyri - Seydisfjordur - Runavik - Lerwick (Shetland Islands) - Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) - Edinburgh (Newhaven) - London (Southampton)
Iceland, FAROE ISLANDS & United Kingdom | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 01 Aug 2028
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises London to Reykjavik*
London (Southampton) - Invergordon - Lerwick (Shetland Islands) - Vik - Alesund - Seydisfjordur - Akureyri - Isafjordur - Reykjavik
Norway, Iceland & United Kingdom | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 31 Jul 2028
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises New York to Reykjavik*
New York - Sydney - Corner Brook - Nuuk - Paamiut (Frederikshab) - Grundarfjordur - Reykjavik
USA, Canada, Iceland & 1 more | 14 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$800 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 18 Jul 2028
Includes taxes and fees
4. The Greek Islands
The Greek islands are known worldwide for their fascinating history and spectacular scenery. Sun-bleached ruins shimmer beneath the blazing sun, cobalt seas unfold beneath sapphire skies, and whitewashed villages tumble down to blissful beaches. Diverse and dazzling, these islands are perfect for cruising, allowing you to experience an incredible array of landscapes, cultures, and histories in a single journey.
A highlight of many Greek cruises is Santorini. With its distinctive cubic villages clinging to precipitous cliffs and vast caldera adrift in the Aegean, few destinations are as instantly impressive. But that’s just the beginning. Visit Rhodes’ medieval old town, Athens’ iconic Acropolis, and even venture into Turkey for another perspective on the ancient Greco-Roman world. The mouthwatering cuisine is just another bonus.
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Oceania Cruises Athens to Venice*
Athens (Piraeus) - Rhodes - Bodrum - Chania (Crete) - Katakolon - Corfu - Kotor - Dubrovnik - Venice
Rhodes, Corfu, Italy & 4 more | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 25 Oct 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Monte Carlo to Istanbul*
Monte Carlo - Messina (Sicily) - Valletta - Dubrovnik - Kotor - Corfu - Katakolon - Santorini - Mykonos - Izmir and 2 more
Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos & 7 more | 14 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 17 Jul 2026
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Dubrovnik to Istanbul*
Dubrovnik - Kotor - Igoumenitsa - Katakolon - Santorini - Mykonos - Athens (Piraeus) - Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Bozcaada (Troy) - Istanbul
Santorini, Mykonos, Greece & 3 more | 10 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 17 Aug 2026
Includes taxes and fees
5. Bermuda
Over 600 miles away from the US mainland, Bermuda’s remote Atlantic location makes it wonderful for a cruise. This island’s special blend of British heritage and relaxed island charm gives it a unique character; it’s a place where afternoon teas, colonial architecture, and games of cricket coexist alongside powdery pink-sand beaches, colourful coral reefs, vast underground caves, and sparkling azure waters.
Hundreds of shipwrecks lie scattered across the seabed, making Bermuda a magnet for divers. But there’s plenty to enjoy on dry land as well. Explore UNESCO-listed St. George’s, with its vibrantly-coloured buildings and historic harbour; sip a classic Dark ‘n’ Stormy in its place of birth; browse Hamilton’s chic shops and waterfront cafés; and swim in secluded coves before watching the sun sink into the Atlantic.
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Oceania Cruises Montreal to Miami*
Montreal - Quebec City - Saguenay - Halifax - St. George - Miami
USA, Canada & Bermuda | 12 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 15 Oct 2028
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Barcelona to Miami*
Barcelona - Alicante - Granada (Motril) - Seville (Cadiz) - Funchal (Madeira) - Royal Naval Dockyard - Miami
Spain, Portugal, USA & 1 more | 14 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 18 Nov 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Miami to Rome*
Miami - Royal Naval Dockyard - Ponta Delgada (Azores) - Seville (Cadiz) - Malaga - Cannes - Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno) - Rome (Civitavecchia)
Spain, France, Portugal & 3 more | 16 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$800 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 25 Mar 2028
Includes taxes and fees
6. The Shetland Islands, Scotland
While some of the world’s most idyllic islands lie half a world away, others are scattered right off our own shores. If you’d like to stay closer to home, why not consider a cruise to the Shetland Islands? Tucked between Scotland and Norway, these isolated, rugged islands are wonderfully wild, and discovering them by sea offers a sense of remoteness and drama unmatched by other land travel.
Cruising this archipelago on a small ship also allows you to access places that feel truly untouched – from quiet ports to soaring cliffs teeming with nesting puffins. On land, you can immerse yourself in Shetland’s fascinating Viking heritage, explore the colourful capital of Lerwick, hike along bracing coastal paths, and discover the islands’ unique culture – from iconic Fair Isle knitwear to traditional fiddle music.
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Oceania Cruises London to London*
London (Southampton) - Dundee - Invergordon - Stornoway (Hebrides) - Killybegs - Belfast - Glasgow (Greenock) - Dublin (Dún Laoghaire) - Waterford - Fowey
Ireland & United Kingdom | 11 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 31 Aug 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises London to Paris*
London (Southampton) - Bruges (Zeebrugge) - Rotterdam - Amsterdam (Ijmuiden) - Newcastle - Edinburgh (Newhaven) - Hamburg (Bremerhaven) - Hamburg - Paris (Le Havre)
France, Germany, Netherlands & 2 more | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 11 Sep 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Copenhagen to Reykjavik*
Copenhagen - Gothenburg - Oslo - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Eidfjord - Måløy - Tórshavn (Faroe Islands) - Djupivogur - Seydisfjordur and 3 more
Norway, Sweden, Denmark & 1 more | 13 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 26 Jul 2027
Includes taxes and fees
7. The Azores, Portugal
Cast adrift in the mid-Atlantic, some 950 miles from the Portuguese mainland, the Azores feel like one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Their remoteness makes them ideal for cruising, and as you approach this volcanic archipelago, you’ll gain a rare perspective on its striking landscape. Home to crater lakes, rugged cliffs, verdant valleys, and flower-filled hills, each one of these nine islands has its own distinct character.
Nature lovers can explore the islands’ diverse scenery: soak in natural hot springs, trek up volcanic peaks, or swim in pristine lagoons. Be sure to look out for whales and dolphins, too! The lively capital, São Miguel’s Ponta Delgada, is a joy to explore; known for its European charm, cafes, and cobbled streets, it’s the best place to discover Azorean culture and sample the islands’ delicious cuisine.
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Oceania Cruises Miami to Barcelona*
Miami - Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Seville (Cadiz) - Almeria - Valencia - Barcelona
Spain & USA | 14 days
Exceptional Savings - up to 50% off select sailings, gourmet speciality dining, unlimited WiFi and more.
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 18 Mar 2028
Includes taxes and fees
8. The Caribbean
The Caribbean is one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations – and it’s easy to see why. With more than one hundred inhabited islands scattered across turquoise seas, each with its own character and culture, choosing where to go can feel like a challenge. However, taking a cruise can solve that conundrum; you can visit multiple islands in one trip, immersing yourself in the region’s vibrant culture, rich history, and spectacular natural beauty.
You might like to explore Caribbean classics like Jamaica, Barbados, or St Lucia…or discover lesser-known coastlines. Whether you’re dreaming of exploring hidden coves, hiking through rainforests, sampling bold Caribbean flavours, or unwinding on sun-soaked beaches, islands like St Vincent, Bonaire, Guadeloupe, and Dominica offer just as much allure as the headline destinations. And with such a wide range of itineraries available, you’re sure to find a Caribbean cruise that’s perfectly suited to you.
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Oceania Cruises Tokyo to Vancouver*
Tokyo - Hitachinaka - Miyako - Aomori - Hakodate (Hokkaido) - Anchorage (Whittier) - Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - Ketchikan - Vancouver
USA, Canada & Japan | 18 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$800 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 24 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises Athens to Trieste*
Athens (Piraeus) - Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Mykonos - Santorini - Argostoli (Cephalonia) - Igoumenitsa - Dubrovnik - Zadar - Trieste
Mykonos, Santorini, Italy & 3 more | 9 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$400 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 20 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
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Oceania Cruises London to Amsterdam*
London (Southampton) - Paris (Le Havre) - Bruges (Zeebrugge) - Edinburgh (Newhaven) - Invergordon - Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) - Lerwick (Shetland Islands) - Bergen - Amsterdam
France, Netherlands, Norway & 2 more | 10 days
Complimentary Wine & Beer or US$600 Shore Excursion Credit
The finest cuisine at sea®. Award-winning itineraries. Small ship luxury™.
Departs: 14 Apr 2029
Includes taxes and fees
Final thoughts…
No matter where your travel dreams take you, a cruise offers a unique way to experience the world’s most idyllic islands. From the sun-soaked beaches of the Caribbean to the rugged cliffs of Iceland, each destination offers its own mix of beauty, history, and culture.
Cruising allows you to wake up in a new destination every day, giving you the chance to enjoy landscapes and experiences you could never fit into a single land-based trip. You’ll travel in style, without stress, and never have to worry about packing or unpacking. But on a voyage with Oceania Cruises, there are even more perks.
As the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused luxury line, journeys with Oceania Cruises aren’t just memorable and magical – they’re genuinely enriching. These voyages are designed for discerning travellers: those who want to travel deeper as well as further; to understand new cultures rather than merely admire them; and to savour local cuisines and immerse themselves in authentic experiences.
So whether you’re exploring volcanic craters in the Azores or strolling the pastel streets of Bermuda, every moment of an Oceania Cruises journey is curated for adventure, relaxation, comfort, and discovery. And with so many islands to choose from, each one with its own charm, there’s never been a better time to set sail.