Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas, is a popular cruise stop, but many seasoned travelers suggest skipping it. The port is often overcrowded, with multiple cruise ships docking at once, creating a chaotic and tourist-packed atmosphere. Visitors frequently encounter aggressive street vendors, overpriced souvenir shops, and even common scams. While the Bahamas are known for stunning beaches, Nassau’s most accessible ones are often crowded and underwhelming. Instead, opt for a cruise that stops at private islands like CocoCay or Castaway Cay, where you’ll find pristine beaches, fewer crowds, and a more relaxing experience.
The Faroe Islands
Even to seasoned travellers the seas around the Faroe Islands can feel inhospitable thanks to the challenging infrastructure. The weather is also unpredictable and can turn rough at a moment’s notice - you don’t want a white-knuckle first voyage, right?
Antarctica
Cruises to Antarctica are very popular, but unless you have a fair few journeys under your belt, you’ll want to avoid this expensive destination as your maiden voyage. Obviously it’s incredibly cold, but the seas can be really rough too.
South Pacific
The fact that islands are remote says it all really - there’s long stretches of isolation on these cruises and, depending on the trip organization, very little to do. Since the infrastructure is somewhat lacking in remote places, seek friendlier seas for your first trip.
The Mediterranean
There’s nothing like a break in a warm climate, right? Well, avoid the Mediterranean unless you like things stifling! At the height of summer things can get too hot and the crowds flocking to popular tourist destinations make navigation a nightmare for the uninitiated.
The Amazon River
Cruising the Amazon River sounds like a dream destination, but it’s more uncomfortable than you’d think. The mosquitos and humid climate can introduce you to an unwelcoming environment and there’s few stops to reconnect you to the wider world.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean sounds like the perfect cruise destination, but make sure you don’t visit during hurricane season! Even barring the obvious danger the sudden onset of windstorms can lead to frustrating last-minute cancellations and an unpleasant first time experience.
Alaska
If the cold doesn’t put you off an Alaskan cruise, the choppy waters might just make you too seasick to enjoy it. However, one of the biggest hurdles to your pleasure might be how few daylight hours Alaska gets to enjoy.
Transatlantic Cruises
Consider developing your sea legs before a Transatlantic cruise, or the rough seas might see you spending most of your time seasick in your cabin. That aside, these journeys involve long stretches at sea with little time on land, which could bore cruise novices.
Iceland
The winter environment of Iceland seen from the safety of a cruise ship sounds romantic, but the reality is less so. The primary concern is that very environment, which isn’t just freezing but brings snow and ice hazards which could even impact port visitation.
Greenland
Remote Greenland brings its own set of challenges to those unaccustomed to travel. The seas are rough and it’s so isolated there’s little to do except enjoy the weather - which is often scuppered by Greenland’s unpredictable and oftentimes inhospitable climate.
New Zealand
Lord of the Rings made this island a popular tourist destination, but first time travellers should not simply cruise into New Zealand. The winter climate is colder than you’d think, plus the long journey will feel like a challenging quest into unknown realms to the unaccustomed.
The Baltic Sea
If you want to cruise the Baltic seas in winter, you’re probably expecting freezing cold but you’d be surprised how much ice can affect the journey - particularly when it comes to docking in ports, which can be inaccessible in extreme cases.
Cuba
The political situation in Cuba is the real challenge here. It affects everything from travel logistics to accessing amenities should you be able to dock here - and that’s a big if - making maiden voyagers feel frustrated or on edge. You might find the country’s infrastructure lacking in some places, too - it experienced a nationwide four-day blackout in 2024 for just this reason.
Papua New Guinea
If it’s safety and security you’re seeking on your cruise, look elsewhere because remote Papua New Guinea can be scary for visitors. That’s because the local gangs have been known to target and kidnap tourists and other violent crimes are rife.
Micronesia
The amazing scenery of Micronesia makes it an alluring destination for cruises, but it comes with a caveat: it’s very remote. The result is long travel times that can make cruisers feel isolated and challenging logistics at the limited ports.
The Maldives
The Maldives are many peoples’ perfect holiday destination, but cruises there can be challenging for first-time travellers if they hit the monsoon season. The seas are rough and the rainstorms extreme, so expect heavy environmental resistance to your enjoyment.
Vietnam
Beautiful Vietnam is not an ideal choice for cruise novices, particularly if the trip occurs during typhoon season when the weather becomes dangerous and unpredictable. The extreme climate can also alter travel plans or cancel them entirely.
Galapagos Islands
As with many island cruises, the Galapagos Islands aren’t in the most accessible of places, so the isolated nature can make for long and challenging trips. There’s also the expensive price tag to consider; few cruise ships go here, so the ones that do charge a lot.
Bora Bora
There’s no doubting the popularity of Bora Bora, but you’d do well to avoid it in cyclone season! The weather can be very unpredictable and travelling plans might change or be cancelled entirely, ruining your first cruise experience.
French Polynesia
While experienced cruisers may find a suitable challenge in the isolated islands of French Polynesia, novices will find those same obstacles frustrating. There’s few amenities on the long journey and the weather is volatile at best.
Corsica
Not only will maiden voyagers find the infrastructure challenges in Corsica too much to contend with, when you do make port the city streets are narrow and traversal difficult if you’re unaccustomed to travel in the region.
Madagascar
Unless you’re familiar with travel, Madagascar is tough to enjoy on the first visit. You’ll travel a long time to get there, only to find the unstable political atmosphere. In addition, the lack of modern amenities - which may be charming for veteran cruisers - could prove alienating.
South Georgia Island
Due to its isolated location and a challenging journey, you’ll find very few chances to explore the shore, making South Georgia Island feel more like an excursion to inhospitable lands than a pleasant cruise trip. Leave this one for the veteran travellers.
Seychelles
Despite having incredible scenery, the Seychelles is best visited for a vacation rather than a cruise destination if you’re new to travel. It's a remote location so port infrastructure is an issue, and when you do get ashore there may be little to do before it’s time to leave.
Australia
If you love challenging seas you’ll be right at home in Australia during their storm season - which presumably doesn’t apply to first time travellers! The journey can be very unpredictable, with the weather altering plans, causing delays or cancelling trips entirely.
Fiji
If the challenging infrastructure of Fiji wasn’t enough to deter you as a maiden voyager, you’ll think twice when you learn about the harsh weather that occurs during the wet season which includes extreme rainstorms and a chance of cyclones.
The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands can be a long trip for newcomers to the cruise scene and if you’re travelling in the peak season you might arrive ashore to find the place full to bursting with other tourists - which might have novice cruisers running back to the ship.
The Gulf of Mexico
Let’s be honest it’s worth checking out the weather on any cruise journey, but the Gulf of Mexico has a particularly challenging hurricane season that can cause huge changes to your trip at best and pose a threat at worst.
Egypt
If you’re planning to visit Egypt for your first cruise, you might want to rethink! The country is currently in a state of political upheaval, which has the potential to turn dangerous - active protests can make the country seem unwelcoming and ensuing violence is enough to put off both veterans and first-time travellers alike.
Iran
Iran’s political situation is in flux right now and this has imposed some heavy travel restrictions for tourists which also affect those taking a cruise through the area. This poses a greater challenge to cruise newbies, which extends to shore activities should you disembark.
The Red Sea
The point of a first-time cruise for many is a relaxing trip to enjoy the scenery and while the Red Sea no doubt has its charms, the unpredictable nature of its political situation combined with the temperamental and challenging weather just aren’t with the risk for novices.
Cambodia
Only more seasoned cruisers should consider Cambodia as a destination, particularly during the rainy season. The storms there don’t just affect your enjoyment of shore activities, but flooding could delay or prevent you docking at all!
Myanmar
Myanmar could put maiden voyagers off for several reasons. To begin with, there aren't as many modern comforts as you might be accustomed to and complicated shore travel can make for an uncomfortable visit. Myanmar's also caught up in a civil war, so some areas are more dangerous than others.
Somalia
Most of us probably aren’t aware that modern piracy is a very real threat in some locations, and unfortunately Somalia is one of them. As a result, cruising through the country’s oceans is a risky venture at best, and one that even veterans rarely take.
Indonesia
If you’re looking for a plethora of activities and amenities on your cruise, Indonesian isn’t for you. It provides limited entertainment, which novice cruisers might find frustrating at the end of a long journey. There’s also typhoon risks at certain times of the year, so the weather might be working against you, too.
