Top Cruise Destinations for Sport Enthusiasts

One of the best things about travelling by cruise ship is that you get to visit remote places that would otherwise be really difficult to get to. Yet, this can also be a fine way of checking out some sporting action that you might not have considered before.

Norway for Cross-Country Skiing

This incredibly scenic Scandinavian country has four destinations on the list of the most popular cruise destinations on the planet – Flam, Eidfjord, Oslo, and Geiranger. Soccer is the biggest sport in Norway, but there are some other things that you might also want to see here. For example, cross-country skiing has been carried out competitively in Norway since the 1840s.

Birkebeinerrennet is one of the most famous races. It has been carried out since the 1930s and the incredibly demanding event was inspired by a dramatic, real-life trek across the snow to save the heir to the throne. As many as 16,000 skiers can take part each year, each carrying a backpack to represent the weight of the young king.

If you are in Oslo in February, the Holmenkollmarsjen race is another worth checking out. It is a 54km race, with a 25km alternative. It starts in Sørkedalen and crosses frozen lakes before the skiers finish in the Holmenkollen National Arena.

Alaska for Dog Sledding

Popular global sports like basketball and ice hockey are among the most common in Alaska. Yet, visitors who arrive here on a cruise ship may be more interested in seeing the fascinating types of dog sledding carried out.

It was reported in early 2019 that around 1.3 million cruise visitors were expected during the year to the likes of Juneau, Skagway, and Valdez, which was a 16% increase from the previous year. Many of the people who step ashore here will be tempted by a dog sledding tour.

There are also competitive dog sledding events that you might like to attend as a spectator. These include the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which is run at the start of March. The teams need to race through incredibly tough conditions from Anchorage to Nome over the course of at least 8 days.

Miami for Basketball

Some of the planet’s biggest and best cruise ships stop at Miami. This is a wonderful destination for anyone who wants to add some sunshine and good times to their trip, In terms of sport, they are also spoiled for choice.

Miami Heat is the NBA team in this part of the US. They play at the American Airlines Arena and compete in the Eastern Conference of the league. If you are looking at the current NBA odds on BetAmerica, this is one of the main teams to take into account.

Those people who come here on a cruise when there is no game on, or who don’t have enough time to catch a game, can opt for a tour of the Miami Heat stadium. It is described as being an “educational and interactive experience” and includes lots of interesting facts about the team and the stadium.

Kirkwall for Medieval Soccer

You may not be aware that remote Orkney off the North of Scotland is the UK’s main cruise destination these days. Over 100,000 passengers arrive here between April and September each year, with most of them arriving at Kirkwall and others to Stromness.

Kirkwall is the largest town in the islands and an enchanting spot, but you may not expect a lot of sporting action from a town with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. However, if you visit here around Christmas or New Year, you may get to witness the historic Kirkwall Ba game.

This is a type of massive soccer game that is similar to the better-known Royal Shrovetide Football match played in Ashbourne, England. It is a medieval form of village soccer in which hundreds of players attempt to score a goal in the streets of the town.