Reunion Island Cruise
Although not regularly visited by cruise ships, the charming island of Reunion offers much to delight those looking for an off-the-beaten-path cruise destination.
A French colony since 1643, Reunion Island sits in surreal splendour in the idyllic Indian Ocean, some one hundred and thirty miles from the coast of Mauritius. Thirty nine miles long and twenty eight miles wide, it plays host to a staggering shield volcano, the Piton de la Fournaise, that soars more than 8,630 feet, and the nearby, even larger Piton des Neiges, more than ten thousand feet above sea level.
Both of these vast, still active volcanoes are shrouded in swathes of lush, verdant jungle that runs right down to the edges of the cool, clear ocean. This bizarre combination of tranquillity and the tempestuous seems to sum up Reunion almost to perfection.
Situated on the coastal lowlands, the capital of Saint-Denis is located on the northern coast. Perhaps best seen from the heights of Bellpierre to the south, the capital is a series of low, blinding white buildings set in serried tiers against the sparkling blue backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
The island is also home to a spectacular trio of calderas, or collapsed, sunken volcanoes. Perhaps the most impressive of these is Salazy, a land locked colossus in the middle of the island, dominated by the vast, torrential waterfall of Trou de Fer that plunges down hundreds of feet of limestone into the lush, sprawling valleys below.
The island’s current name was gifted to it by a decree of 1793, following the fall of the Bourbon dynasty in France itself. In the south, the island is bordered by beaches such as La Saline, which could well be the archetypal Indian Ocean idyll.
Why Cruise to Reunion Island?
Reunion Island is not visited by many cruise ships, which makes it the ideal destination for travellers that want to get away from the typical sightseeing destinations.
Le Port de la Pointe des Galets is where your cruise ship will dock and the area offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops, but a lot of people that visit Reunion head for St Denis, the islands capital.
Reunion is also the ideal choice of destination for beach lovers as those on offer are simply superb. One that we would recommend would be Saint-Gilles beach, which attracts visitors and locals, thanks to its 20 kilometre stretch of lagoon and its beautiful golden sand. While in St Gilles, we would also recommend a visit to the Botanical Garden of Eden.
Trekking is also very popular on Reunion Island as are visits to the volcano – both of which are usually offered as shore excursion options with the cruise lines that visit the island.
Cruise Lines That Sail to Reunion Island
There are many cruise lines that offer stops at Reunion Island, they include: Princess Cruises,Cunard Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Seabourn, Noble Caledonia and Crystal Cruises.
Cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard and Fred. Olsen usually offer a call to Reunion Island as part of a longer voyage, a World Cruise for example, but it can also be found on some of the World Cruise sector voyages.
Book Your Reunion Island Cruise with The Cruise Line
If you are looking for a luxury Reunion Island cruise then we highly recommend you contact us today for more details. Founded in 1993, The Cruise Line has established a reputation for offering clients outstanding customer service alongside highly competitive pricing and special offers.
For further details, please call one of our Cruise Experts on 0800 008 6677. Alternatively, please select your preferred voyage from the selection below and make an online enquiry.