A cruise holiday is the ideal choice for dedicated golfers, with the sport catered for both aboard the ship and ashore. A wide selection of cruise itineraries feature golf as an excursion and passengers can enjoy testing their skills on a variety of challenging courses. Some cruise lines even offer golf themed cruises. The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe are the most popular itineraries with golfers due to the selection of world-class courses available on shore. While these are the most popular destinations, there are also opportunities to tee up at courses in ports worldwide, from Alaska to Thailand to New Zealand.
One of the best things about cruising is that it has something for everyone and all age groups. Couples, families and groups can find the perfect cruise holiday to satisfy everyone travelling, and this means for keen golfers, they can focus on their swing whilst the rest of their party can chose to the sights, shop, and relax on the beach or by the pool.
For many ‘golf nuts' the thought of a week or two away from the greens is an unattractive prospect, but choose to cruise and they don't have to worry about losing their edge when going on holiday. Most cruise ships offer driving cages, golf simulators and putting greens to help maintain or improve technique and skills. Some ships also have elaborate miniature golf courses that are fun for everyone, young and old and all of the mainstream cruise lines offer the chance to play golf ashore as part of an organized shore excursion if there is a course nearby. Passengers can choose to bring their own clubs or rent them.
Golf is played world-wide, and cruising has become a world-wide holiday opportunity, growing in popularity year after year. Cruisers can play ashore on almost every continent and if you are travelling to the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas or Bermuda, golf is usually a shore excursion option at least one day on the cruise. New Zealand, Australia, and the South Seas' itineraries also sometimes include a golf package. Some cruises porting in Spain offer an opportunity to play at Valderrama, one of the world's top 50 golf courses.
In 1985, the first golf programme at sea was launched. Known as Golf Ahoy!, it offered a select number of golf themed cruises in the Caribbean as well as pre- and post-cruise golf packages in Florida and Puerto Rico. Golf Ahoy was the first of many golf themed cruises and choice has expanded significantly over the years; and nowadays there is a massive choice of itinerary available from almost all mainstream cruise lines. Passengers can play at some of the world's most acclaimed courses; among those offered on Caribbean itineraries are Mahogany Run Golf Course in St. Thomas, Runaway Bay in Ocho Rios, Cinnamon Hill Golf Club in Montego Bay, and the Barbados Golf Club. Those who choose a Mexican Riviera cruise can play at the Mayan Palace Golf Course in Acapulco, Estella del Mar Golf Club in Mazatlan and Marina Vallarta Club De Golf in Puerto Vallarta. Also available are a range of itineraries around the Hawaiian Islands where passengers can golf to their heart's content, selecting from.12 courses on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. Ship staff will take care of all the details, from advance tee time bookings to setting up golf tournaments.
Your cruise specialist will be able to advise on the correct person onboard to guarantee you don't miss out on any opportunities, and they will generally be responsible for arranging tee times and organizing transportation to and from courses at each port. During days at sea, golfers hone their techniques in golf cages or netted practice ranges illuminated for night play. There are also private and group lessons as well as putting contests. Some ships have golf simulators that make it possible to practice their strokes on the world's A- list courses such as Pebble Beach or St. Andrews.