A couple planning a vacation could definitely find itself at odds if one half is passionate about snorkeling while the other is happiest teeing off on a golf course. Happily, the cruise industry has solved the problem by offering golf excursions in some of the planet’s most beautiful settings. The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, and Great Britain are most popular with golfers, due to their wide selection of world-class courses, but cruisers can also play in ports of call ranging from Alaska to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Today, virtually every cruise line has some form of golf program or accommodation process with which to lure and assist golfers at all levels of play. And on a cruise, you can play several courses in a variety of destinations over a very short period of time (without having to schlep your clubs through airports).
Best of all? You have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to setting up your dream golf cruise. Opt to purchase a shore excursion directly from the cruise line and everything is done for you (these excursions typically include transportation between the ship and the course, plus bag-and-shoe rental, so basically all you’ll need to do is show up and tee off). If your heart is set on a famous course that isn’t available via the cruise line, however, you’ll need to contact that club directly to arrange play. A third option is to take a golf-themed cruise offered by one of the luxury or river cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean International first began offering golf outings in 1988 with the launch of its “GolfAhoy!” program. Initially only available in select Caribbean destinations (or as a pre- or post-cruise package in either Florida or Puerto Rico), “GolfAhoy!” is now also available in Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Great Britain, and North Africa (on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises’ ships). Tee times and transportation are arranged by ship personnel (or by onboard tour operators working in conjunction with the cruise line); instruction, practice sessions (many of which feature elaborate equipment and simulators), and even tournaments are conducted by onboard pros.
Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line have partnered with Elite Golf Cruises to create their comprehensive golf programs. Norwegian’s Pride of America, for example, sails year-round in Hawaii and attracts passengers interested in golfing to their heart’s content (every day for an entire week) on their choice of 12 courses located throughout Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Norwegian arranges advance tee times/tournaments, and guests that wish to bring their own clubs are automatically enrolled in the cruise line’s “Club Valet” program (your clubs are securely stored for you upon boarding, then delivered to you daily on the pier).
Azamara Club Cruises, meanwhile, has teamed up with Perry Golf to offer all-inclusive, escorted golf tours at some of the world’s premier courses. Specifically designed with the passionate golfer in mind, Azamara’s golf cruises combine a range of itineraries with superior golf experiences at several of the globe’s most heralded courses including Old Head and Portmarnock (Ireland), Oitavos Dunes (Portugal), Montgomerie Links (Vietnam), Mission Hills (China), Four Seasons Provence (France), and Sperone (Corsica).
All of Azamara’s golf offerings commence with a one- or two-night, pre-voyage land stay which includes luxury hotel accommodations, a welcome reception exclusively for golfers, and dinner with wine (optional sightseeing tours are available for an additional charge). Overnight golf-shoe shining, greens fees, golf-cart rental, and golf-bag handling (to the first tee, plus return to hotel or ship for storage after each round) are also included. Onboard, Azamara guests enjoy an inclusive drink package, post-game cocktail receptions with fellow enthusiasts, and two group dinners (one in a specialty restaurant) where golfers can recount the day’s play over a gourmet meal.
By Anne Campbell
Today, virtually every cruise line has some form of golf program or accommodation process with which to lure and assist golfers at all levels of play. And on a cruise, you can play several courses in a variety of destinations over a very short period of time (without having to schlep your clubs through airports).Best of all? You have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to setting up your dream golf cruise. Opt to purchase a shore excursion directly from the cruise line and everything is done for you (these excursions typically include transportation between the ship and the course, plus bag-and-shoe rental, so basically all you’ll need to do is show up and tee off). If your heart is set on a famous course that isn’t available via the cruise line, however, you’ll need to contact that club directly to arrange play. A third option is to take a golf-themed cruise offered by one of the luxury or river cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean International first began offering golf outings in 1988 with the launch of its “GolfAhoy!” program. Initially only available in select Caribbean destinations (or as a pre- or post-cruise package in either Florida or Puerto Rico), “GolfAhoy!” is now also available in Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Great Britain, and North Africa (on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises’ ships). Tee times and transportation are arranged by ship personnel (or by onboard tour operators working in conjunction with the cruise line); instruction, practice sessions (many of which feature elaborate equipment and simulators), and even tournaments are conducted by onboard pros.Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line have partnered with Elite Golf Cruises to create their comprehensive golf programs. Norwegian’s Pride of America, for example, sails year-round in Hawaii and attracts passengers interested in golfing to their heart’s content (every day for an entire week) on their choice of 12 courses located throughout Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Norwegian arranges advance tee times/tournaments, and guests that wish to bring their own clubs are automatically enrolled in the cruise line’s “Club Valet” program (your clubs are securely stored for you upon boarding, then delivered to you daily on the pier).Azamara Club Cruises, meanwhile, has teamed up with Perry Golf to offer all-inclusive, escorted golf tours at some of the world’s premier courses. Specifically designed with the passionate golfer in mind, Azamara’s golf cruises combine a range of itineraries with superior golf experiences at several of the globe’s most heralded courses including Old Head and Portmarnock (Ireland), Oitavos Dunes (Portugal), Montgomerie Links (Vietnam), Mission Hills (China), Four Seasons Provence (France), and Sperone (Corsica).
All of Azamara’s golf offerings commence with a one- or two-night, pre-voyage land stay which includes luxury hotel accommodations, a welcome reception exclusively for golfers, and dinner with wine (optional sightseeing tours are available for an additional charge). Overnight golf-shoe shining, greens fees, golf-cart rental, and golf-bag handling (to the first tee, plus return to hotel or ship for storage after each round) are also included. Onboard, Azamara guests enjoy an inclusive drink package, post-game cocktail receptions with fellow enthusiasts, and two group dinners (one in a specialty restaurant) where golfers can recount the day’s play over a gourmet meal.
By Anne Campbell
2 comments:
Good post! I was doing research online trying to find information on Celebrity Cruises because me and my wife are planning a vacation and I came across your blog.
While reading, I imagine myself being on a cruise ship gliding along a coast, then getting off every day with your own golf clubs to play the most well-known courses in the world. Wondering if Mr. Tiger have aboard?
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