The best European, US and Caribbean cruises in 2021
Last year did not have much in the way of travel: closed borders and strict restrictions prevented frequent trips abroad. If you go on a cruise in 2021, you can catch up and visit several countries or cities at once. Here are 4 options with stops in Europe, the USA and the Caribbean.
Author and editor of articles about investment citizenship and residency
1. Sicily, Malta and the Aeolian Islands
Valletta, the capital of Malta
Countries: Malta, Italy
Duration: 7 nights
Cost: from 2390 $
The Harmony G Cruise begins and ends in the port of Valletta. Over 8 days, visitors will visit the island of Gozo, Syracuse, the Aeolian Islands, Catania and Taormina.
The cruise programme includes guided tours through the ancient streets of Italian cities and relaxation on some of Malta’s best beaches. Participants will also see a live volcano on the island of Stromboli and visit Mount Etna, Sicily’s highest volcano. Free time from excursions can be devoted to walking, shopping, swimming and diving.
Six departure dates are available for travellers in May-July 2021. To find out more about the upcoming cruise and to book your place on the ship, please contact the operator Adventure Life.
You will need either a Schengen visa or a second passport or residence permit to take part in a cruise. Let’s talk about the options that are most popular with cosmopolites.
Maltese citizenship gives access to all EU countries without any time limit. It takes from 14 months and costs from €700,000. The investor is first given a residence permit — enough to take part in a cruise.
Before the start of the cruise, investors will have time to obtain a residence permit or permanent residence permit in Malta, a residence permit in Portugal, Greece or Italy, citizenship in Vanuatu or one of the Caribbean countries. It takes 2‑6 months to obtain these statuses. They grant visa-free access to the Schengen area for 90 days out of 180 days.
2. Spain and Portugal
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal
Countries: Portugal, Spain
Duration: 7 nights
The Celebrity Infinity will sail from the port of Lisbon, World Travel Awards' Best Cruise Port for 2020. The cruise will then travel to Porto and several Spanish cities.
In Spain, the ship will stop in Seville, Malaga, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca before finishing in the port of Barcelona. In each city, travellers will enjoy walks, shopping, local food and wine tasting, excursions and a beach holiday.
The cruise will start on 7 November 2021. There are no other dates for the route from Lisbon to Barcelona, but the ship also sails in the opposite direction, from Barcelona to Lisbon. Cruises in this direction start on 31 October and 14 November. The itinerary and reservations are available from Celebrity Cruises.
A second passport or residence permit will be needed to get out at stops and not have to worry about visas. Any status that entitles you to visa-free travel within the Schengen area will do. It is worth considering a residence permit for investment in Portugal — with it you can spend as much time in the country before or after the cruise as you like.
3. Western Caribbean
City of Montego Bay, Jamaica
Countries: USA, Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti
Duration: 6 nights
Cost: from 430 $
The Explorer of the Seas sails from Miami, USA. During the cruise, travellers will visit the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica before returning to Miami.
A highlight of the cruise is a visit to the Perfect Day at CocoCay resort in the Bahamas. There tourists can go down the highest water slide in North America, swim in the huge freshwater pool, enjoy cocktails at the waterfront bar and relax in floating cabins.
Cruises will run from May to September 2021. The cost depends on the month: the cheapest tickets are for May and the most expensive for June. The cruise is organised by the operator Royal Caribbean.
A Russian passport allows you to visit the Bahamas, Jamaica and Haiti without a visa. However, a second passport is required for travelling to the USA.
Maltese citizens do not need additional documents to enter the USA for holidays. The procedure takes from 14 months, so this option is available to investors who have already become citizens or are at least halfway to the status.
With Caribbean passports, it is necessary to obtain a US B2 tourist visa in advance — it is granted for 10 years at once. You can apply at the nearest US Consulate and the visa will take approximately 2 weeks to process.
4. Exploring Alaska
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, USA
Countries: USA, Canada
Duration: 6 nights
Cost: from 599 $
The Alaskan cruise starts from Seattle. Travellers will spend seven days on the ship Oosterdam. The ship will stop at several ports in Alaska and stop in Victoria, Canada, before returning to Seattle.
Tourists will be able to see humpback whales in Stevens Passage, visit glaciers and glacial gardens, take part in kayaking or catch salmon fishing in Ketchikan.
Cruises will run from May to September 2021. Details and reservations are available from the operator Holland America.
Entry conditions into the US are the same as for a Caribbean cruise — either a Maltese passport or Caribbean citizenship and a long-term tourist visa will be required.
Another option for travelling to the USA is the E‑2 investor visa. It can be obtained with a Grenada passport. This visa is useful for investors who want to relocate and do business in the US.
Participants will spend one day of the cruise in Canada. Only with a Maltese passport is it possible to get around without a visa. Because of the processing time, this option is available to investors who have already obtained citizenship or are about to do so. Cosmopolites with a Russian or Caribbean passport will have to apply for a visa in advance.
Bonus: Round the world in 2022
Sydney, Australia
Countries: USA, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Italy, Monaco, Spain, UK, Azores, Bermuda, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico
Duration: 16 nights
Cost: from 52 601 $
In February 2022, the round-the-world tour of the Crystal Serenity ship will begin. It sails from Los Angeles. The itinerary will sail across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and end where it began.
In 116 days, travellers will visit 31 countries. They will enjoy tours, walks, shopping, culture and cuisine. And on the liner tourists will be offered luxurious rooms, six-star service, spa, sports halls and grounds, entertainment and training programmes.
The ship will depart on February 2 and end its voyage on May 29, 2022. The cruise is organised by operator Crystal Cruises.
A Maltese passport is best suited for such a trip — citizens of Malta can visit 184 countries, including the USA and Australia, without a visa. If you do the paperwork now, you can get your citizenship by the time you set sail.
How to obtain a second citizenship or residence permit for an investment
In order to travel without visas, it is worth obtaining a second passport or residence permit. The easiest and fastest way is through investment programmes: you do not have to move and live in the chosen country for a long time to obtain and maintain the status.
Caribbean countries grant citizenship in 3‑6 months and investments from $100,000. Their passports allow visa-free visits to the UK and Schengen area, and long-term tourist visas to the UK. Passports for investment are provided by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Vanuatu issues passports in just 1‑2 months. It costs from from $130,000. The passport allows visa-free access to 130 countries, including the UK and Schengen area.
A residence permit for Europe allows you to travel visa-free through the Schengen countries. Investments start at €250,000 and take between 2 and 6 months to complete. Status for investment can be obtained in Malta, Portugal, Greece and Spain.
Maltese citizenship for special merit costs investors from €700,000. The investor first receives a residence permit and after 1 or 3 years, depending on the option chosen, becomes a citizen.
