CRUISE LINES HAVE LONG SOUGHT to bring the pleasures and perks of land-based luxury resorts to passengers at sea. Golf is no exception. Golfers today can get in a round even on board, thanks to the development of sophisticated golf simulators. These high-tech, compact games — employing clubs, balls, tees and computerized projection screens — first appeared in 1997 on Princess Cruises, and they have proliferated. So have netted driving ranges, putting greens and teaching pros at hand to fine-tune a passenger’s swing. For those seeking play on real fairways, some cruise lines now make it easy to book tee times at selected ports of call, while others offer the ultimate golfer’s sailing: a golf-themed cruise.
Unlike a vacation at a golf resort, a golf cruise sweeps from port to port, shuttling its guests from sea to tee at a number of widely separated world-class courses. There’s no need to change accommodations along the way. A golf cruise also addresses the complaints of the golf widow (or widower) by enabling a non-golfing spouse to enjoy all the options of a normal sailing, including exotic ports and shore excursions.
Golf cruises are usually run by private agencies. One such, GolfAhoy, pioneered the concept in 1988 and now provides full golfing services on 193 ships worldwide. GolfAhoy’s Circle Hawaii golf cruises feature butler service and penthouse suites on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. A New Year’s cruise departing Dec. 30 includes golf at five Hawai’ian courses capped by special admission to the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions. GolfAhoy also offers a 21-day Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia Golf Cruise on Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Quest, departing Jan. 13, 2018, with golf rounds in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Montevideo, Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands.
Another agency, Kalos Golf, administers 15 golf cruises in 2018, including a South Africa cruise Jan. 4–18 on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony, a Bordeaux golf and wine cruise on AmaWaterways May 16–27, and a Pacific Northwest cruise on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Explorer Sept. 5–15.
PerryGolf offers cruises which include golf at Bro Hof Slott in Stockholm, Sweden © PERRY GOLF
Perhaps the cruise line most dedicated to golfers, Azamara Club Cruises, teamed up with PerryGolf for six special cruises in 2018, with itineraries in New Zealand/Australia, the Iberian Peninsula, the French Riviera, the Baltic Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the United Kingdom (which includes attendance at the final round of the 147th British Open). PerryGolf oversees all aspects of Azamara’s golf cruises, from daily pairings and caddies to handling of each participant’s clubs. PerryGolf also arranges golf cruises on SeaDream Yacht Club’s two mega-yachts in the Caribbean and the French Riviera.
Golf cruises are especially popular with small groups and are often given as gifts for anniversaries and birthdays. For couples split between a desire to tour the world by sea and golf the world’s great courses in luxury, a golf cruise can be the perfect unifier.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Jul 26, 2024Accor Unveils Its First Handwritten Collection Brand in the United States
San Francisco, a city renowned for its commercial hubs and cultural sites, will become the first destination in the United States for one of Accor's newest brands, Handwritten Collection. The city’s Hotel Stratford San Francisco, Handwritten Collection is a European-style boutique property located near Union Square on the famous Powell Street cable car line. The area will now have the Handwritten Collection name behind it. The property becomes Accor's third hotel in San Francisco, joining the Fairmont properties atop Nob Hill and at Ghirardelli Square.
Sponsored Content
Share Your Travel Preferences with Global Traveler in a Short Survey & Win
Learning more about our readers’ travel habits and preferences ensures Global Traveler delivers the content you desire. As the travel industry has adapted and changed over the last few years, it’s more important than ever to connect. To best meet your short- and long-term travel content needs, please help us!
Global City Guidebook 2024
Jul 26, 2024Bask in Nature’s Tranquility at The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo
When the two of us entered The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo, past the backlit boutique items and local artisan-painted wood carvings, the place wrapped us in a feeling of tranquility. Its stone walls, earth tones, woven wall hangings and furniture made of natural materials reminded us we are part of nature’s spectrum, the abundant windows showing native plants and trees outside.
Daily
Jul 26, 20244 Boutique Hotels with Exclusive Wedding Buyout Offerings
Couples looking for an over-the-top wedding, consider one of these properties around the world, offering total property buyouts to say your “I do’s.”
Sponsored Content
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.
Airlines
Jul 26, 2024BermudAir Maximizes Choices for Travelers with New Options
BermudAir announced an expanded fare structure, allowing customers to choose from five fare types across economy and business class, up from the previous three options. Travelers can now select fares based on their preferences for lounge access, checked baggage, change fees, refunds and priority boarding.
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
Sponsored Content
Discover Hvar, Croatia’s, Best-Kept Secrets
Daily
Jul 25, 2024Global City Guidebook 2024
Jul 24, 2024Global City Guidebook: Shanghai
The third-largest city in the world, Shanghai has transformed into one of the world’s most important centers for business, finance, science, culture and transportation. In fact, Shanghai is home to the first free trade zone in Mainland China. The city sits on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, and the Huangpu River flows right through the 26-million-strong city. Art Deco- and Shikumen-style buildings, museums, skyscrapers, gardens, temples and food markets fill the lively, Eastern Chinese city.
Sponsored Content
Explore Gyeonggi Province in South Korea
Gyeonggi Province, encircling Seoul, offers seamless travel with access to two major airports and a well-connected transportation system. It boasts top-notch MICE facilities, like KINTEX and Suwon Convention Center, along with a wide array of international-branded and resort-style hotels spread across its 31 cities and counties. Visitors can explore rich historical sites, including UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites like the DMZ and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
Daily
Jul 24, 2024SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites Introduces Custom Wine Itineraries
SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites offers guests personalized journeys to Mendoza’s finest wineries from Susana Balbo’s family. Immerse yourself in bespoke wine itineraries recommended by Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker; her son and third-generation winemaker, José Lovaglio Balbo; and her daughter, hotelier and wine tourism marketer, Ana Lovaglio Balbo.
ShareThis