Speedboat Cruises

Sep 18, 2012 15:26 - holly | 1,365 views

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Cruise vacations are continuing to rise in popularity worldwide, transporting passengers between ports in multiple cities, countries, and even continents in short amounts of time due to their swift sailing of generally anywhere between 21 and 24 knots. In fact, the fastest commercial cruise liners in the world travel at speeds of 30 and 31 knots; that’s equivalent to about 35 miles per hour, making a transatlantic crossing from the United Kingdom to the United States take just 6 days (shaving an entire day off the planned itinerary of the Titanic back in 1912).

It’s quick, but for some adrenaline junkies it’s just not quick enough! Enter the speedboat, the super fast, super exciting alternative to the traditional cruise. Speedboat cruises tend to be much shorter than typical cruises and focused on a smaller region or city, making them a good daytrip option if you’re on a traditional cruise, and also a good option to get a taste of the cruise experience. Passenger speedboat speeds can surpass those of their much bigger relatives by a good 10 knots, providing a truly exhilarating and unforgettable experience. It’s not just about the speed either, as speedboat cruise trips whizz travelers past some of the area’s most well known and most exciting sights.

In New York, take a trip on a self proclaimed ‘water coaster’, sailing around Liberty Island and getting a unique view of the famous New York City skyline away from the hustle and bustle of the city; everything from the World Financial Center to 17 State Street. On the other end of the scale, in Cozumel travelers can hop on a 1000 horsepower speedboat that whisks them off to the secluded and uninhabited island of Isla Pasión, often considered to be Mexico’s most beautiful beach.

Speedboat cruise trips are especially popular in places comprising of many different coastal areas and islands, where the tourism center is sprawling rather than contained. Thailand, for example, has the Phi Phi Islands (famous for being the filming location of ‘The Beach’) and the four islands often collectively referred to as the ‘Krabi Islands’, as well as many others. Access to some of these islands can be challenging, and the choice of which to visit even more so, but with a speedboat cruise encompassing many different islands, you won’t need to be selective.

In addition to all the classic tourist sights, those sailing on a speedboat cruise get an opportunity to take a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous. Many harbors are home to some of its city’s most extravagant properties, with architecture, windows, pools and land that most of us could only dream of. One of the best times for spying on the stars is during a speedboat cruise from Miami, along a particular Miami Beach stretch of sand known as Millionaire’s Row. The name says it all!

A speedboat cruise is a fun, unique, and exciting activity for all daredevils. They are available in most major coastal destinations, particularly around the popular cruise ports as they act as a great shore excursion for day trippers on a visiting cruise ship. They can go where the larger vessels can’t, they sail faster than their more state of the art counterparts, and they provide a wonderful twist on the usual cruise vacation.

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