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Majestic mountains. Sensational glaciers. Pristine fjords. And endless miles of gorgeous coastline.

If this kind of stunningly beautiful scenery sounds like something you’d enjoy, there are only a few places in the world where you can find it including Chile, Norway and Alaska. And if you’d like to see these destinations in all of their glory, the most economical and spectacular way to do so is by cruise ship.

Land of Fire and Ice: Surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, emerald forests and pristine lakes, Chile’s beautiful Lake District is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the majestic Andes Mountains. The region is part of the zone known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and sits atop two major tectonic plates with more than 1,000 volcanoes, 41 of which are still active. Just a few miles south, you’ll find the majestic fjords of southern Patagonia where you’ll sail between walls of tall, craggy rocks and snow-capped peaks on your way to the Strait of Magellan and nearby giant glaciers. And you’ll see plenty of native wildlife including penguins, sea wolves and cormorants.

The dramatic scenery of Southern Chile can be seen on cruises that sail around the Horn of South America between Valparaiso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. These itineraries usually last between 12 to 20 days, and have cruise fares that start as low as C$94 per day.

Majestic Fjords of Norway: It’s been called “the world’s most beautiful voyage” and was recently voted to the top of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s list of most iconic travel destinations. We’re talking about the magnificent fjords along Norway’s dramatic 1,250-mile west coast, which will fill your days with spectacular vistas, snow-capped mountains, and an astonishing variety of flora and fauna.

The natural beauty of the fjords comes from their narrow, crystalline rock walls that rise up to 4, 500 feet from the Norwegian Sea and extend 1, 640 ft below sea level. In particular, the Geiranger Fjord region is so beautiful that it was recently designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

A number of cruise lines sail to the Norwegian fjords, including Cunard, Crystal, MSC, Holland America and Seabourn. And Norwegian-based Hurtigruten offers year-round coastal cruises around Norway that depart daily. While cruise fares for Norway are usually more expensive than those for the rest of Europe, they can still be purchased for as low as C$136 a day.

America’s Final Frontier: This is where you’ll see magnificent glaciers calving huge chunks of ice into the bay, Orca whales frolicking in the ice flow, and black bears roaming the coastline of magnificent fjords. It’s Alaska, the most northern, western and eastern state in the union (the end of the Aleutian chain of islands crosses the international dateline), and a place so beautiful that it is consistently rated one of the top cruise destinations in the world.

It’s also the closest to reach from Canada and the U.S., and currently offers some of the best rates in the industry with cruise fares starting as low as C$82 per day.

A wide variety of cruise lines offer Alaska voyages between April and September, with departures from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier. The best itineraries include a sail up one of the spectacular fjords to pass by a glacier (usually Glacier Bay, Sawyer Glacier or Hubbard Glacier), and stops in ports like Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau that are within easy reach of sensational attractions like train rides across the mountains and helicopter landings on glaciers.

So if you’re ready to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, all you have to do is decide which destination you’re going to cruise to first.

Taking a cruise is one of the most economical and stress-free ways to travel. And cruise ships literally sail to almost every corner of the globe. Here’s a quick summary of some of the best cruising regions in the world:

Caribbean

The most popular destination for first-time cruisers is the Caribbean.  A large number of cruise ships depart easy-to-get to ports like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Tampa, Florida on voyages that range in length from three to 14 days. They sail to idyllic islands like the Bahamas, Barbados, St. Marten, the Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Mexican Riviera

This was the itinerary made famous by TV’s original Love Boat, the Pacific Princess.

There are several variations, but basically you sail the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and Mexico between Los Angeles and Acapulco.  Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Mazatlan. 

Panama Canal

One of the world’s great engineering achievements, the Panama Canal welcomes a select group of ships each year on a marvelous journey between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The typical Panama Canal cruise sails between Miami and Los Angeles on a 11- or 12-day voyage, with calls at some Caribbean ports. Some lines also offer a shorter, partial transit of the canal by sailing through the first set of locks at Gatun Lake and then visiting several Caribbean islands before returning to Miami.

Alaska

The west coast of Canada and Alaska have become one of the most popular cruising grounds in the world, and given the spectacular scenery of glaciers, wildlife and soaring mountains peaks, it’s not surprising. Most Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver or Seattle, and offer seven-day return voyages, or seven-day one way trips to Anchorage, Alaska so that passengers can combine the cruise with a land trip to the interior.

New England/Canada

The beautiful maritime coasts of New England and eastern Canada provide the backdrop for cruises between New York or Boston and Montreal or Quebec City, Canada. Ports of call include pretty coastal towns like Bar Harbor and Kennebunk Port in Maine, and Halifax, St. John, and Charlottetown in Canada.

Europe

The magnificent cathedrals, monuments and palaces of Europe await those who cruise the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Sea. There are a wide variety of itineraries ranging from 7 to 14 days, with Rome, Venice, and Barcelona serving as the most popular departure ports for Med cruises.

Hawaii

A Pacific paradise with towering volcanoes, lush vegetation and majestic shorelines, the Hawaiian Islands are one of the most beautiful cruise destinations in the world.  NCL offers seven-day cruises from Honolulu to Maui, Kauai and the big island of Hawaii. A number of other cruise lines make calls at the islands on 10- to 14-day cruises from California and Vancouver.

South America/Amazon

With its lush rain forests, tropical wildlife, and mysterious Indian tribes, the Amazon provides cruise passengers with adventure at every turn.  Most Amazon River cruises sail on 10- to 14-day voyages between Barbados and the spectacular city of Manaus, deep in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest. There are also cruises through South America that usually take place in 14-day segments starting in Miami through the Panama Canal to Valpariso, Chile; from Chile around Cape Horn to Buenos Aires, Argentina; and from Buenos Aires along the coast of Brazil to Miami.

Australia/New Zealand

Cruise ships sail around New Zealand, past the Great Barrier Reef and to the major ports of Australia, providing a glorious opportunity to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Australia’s capital of Sydney is also the departure port for cruise ships repositioning to Asia.

South Pacific

Most cruises to the South Pacific depart from Tahiti, and include Moorea, Bora Bora and the other Society Islands of French Polynesia. Some ships also sail to the Marquesas Islands, one of the most idyllic destinations in the world.  Cruises usually range in length from 7 to 14 days.  .

Orient/Southeast Asia

Passengers get a rare glimpse into mysteries of the world’s oldest civilizations during cruises to the Orient and southeast Asia. Ships usually sail on 10- to 14- day voyages from Hong Kong or Singapore to ports like Canton, Ho Chi Mihn City and Taipei.  Many also visit Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. 

Antarctica

This destination is mainly for nature lovers and adventurers.  There’s a lot of wildlife (whales, penguins, seals, albatrosses and petrels) and incomparable beauty (giant glaciers and towers of ice). Cruises usually take from 10 to 21 days, depart from Ushuaia, Argentina and may include stops at the Falkland islands, South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands and Elephant Island.  Silversea’s Prince Albert II and Linblad Expedition’s National Geographic Explorer are two of the best cruise lines offering voyages to Antarctica.