A cruise holiday is an exciting trip in itself, but throw in organised events around the world and you’ve got a trip you’ll never forget. For many, these special events have become a tradition to visit every year, and making this part of a cruise will make it all the more fun.

At Cruise Deals, we offer a number of travel routes that combine the best of a cruise with these special events. Here a few you can’t miss in 2018:

FIFA Soccer World Cup 2018 – 14th June to 15th July

No football fan can miss out on the FIFA World Cup, watched worldwide on television by more viewers than even the Olympic Games. If you’re a true fan, take it one step further and be there in person. This year, the World Cup takes place in St Petersburg, Russia – a popular cruising port in the Baltic thanks to its romantic charm and rich culture.

St Petersburg
Samson Fountain of the Grand Cascade near Peterhof Palace, Russia

Verona Opera Festival – 22nd June to 26th August

One of the most cultural and beautiful cities on the planet is Verona, and even better, each year it plays host to the Verona Opera Festival, widely regarded as the high point of the opera season. During the summer months, the stunning amphitheatre in the centre of the city, preserved from the 1st century, opens its doors for one of the world’s biggest open-air music festivals like no other. In addition to spending your days listening to opera singers and orchestras with a glass of wine in hand, by booking as part of one of our cruises, you’ll also have time to explore the winding streets of Verona, famed as the home of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Cannes Film Festival – 9th to 20th May

If you’re on board a Western Mediterranean cruise between Rome and Barcelona in early to mid May, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of the most glamorous events in show business: the Cannes Film Festival. This attracts independent entertainment creators as well as movie stars from around the world to the red carpets of this sunny port in southern France. Most cruise deals don’t offer trips to this event as part of the itinerary, but it’s easy enough to make independent arrangements to do some celebrity spotting.

Formula One Singapore Grand Prix – 16th September

Back in 2008, Singapore was the first place in history to play host to the night-time event of the Formula One Grand Prix. Today, the atmosphere is still as exciting and fun-filled as it was 10 years ago, and not one to miss out on. The Marina Bay area of Singapore is home to this dramatic event, and visitors on cruises will be able to watch as part of their tour of South East Asia, including stops at Kuala Lumpur and Phuket, famed for its stunning beaches. What more could you want in a single cruise?

Formula 1
Formula 1

New York Fashion Week – 6th to 14th September

For fashion lovers around the world, New York Fashion Week is an event in the social calendar not to be missed. And fortunately, it’s also a destination for many North America cruises. The Big Apple is an exciting port in itself at any time of the year to visit, but during early September, it’s entirely transformed. Grab your gladrags and take to the streets to spot fashion designers and models, and try to grab yourself a front row seat at one of the catwalks before jumping back on board to continue your cruise, whether that’s down to the sunny climes of Florida or back across the pond on a transatlantic cruise.