Cruise lines have long aimed to bring the comforts and amenities of land-based luxury resorts to passengers at sea, and golf is no exception. Today’s travelers can enjoy a round aboard many ships thanks to advanced golf simulators—compact, high-tech setups that use clubs, balls, tees and projection screens to recreate courses. First introduced in 1997 on Princess Cruises, these simulators have become more common, alongside netted driving ranges, putting greens and on-board teaching professionals who can help refine a passenger’s swing. For those who prefer playing on actual fairways, many cruise lines now make it easy to book tee times at select ports, and several operators offer fully themed golf cruises.
Unlike a stay at a single golf resort, a golf cruise moves from port to port, transporting golfers to multiple world-class courses while keeping accommodations consistent. Travelers don’t need to repack or change hotels, and non-golfing companions can enjoy the regular cruise offerings—shore excursions, entertainment and dining—so both partners get the vacation they want.
Most golf cruises are organized by specialist agencies. GolfAhoy, which pioneered the concept in 1988, provides full golf services on hundreds of ships worldwide. Its Circle Hawaii sailings on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America include luxuries such as butler service and penthouse suites; a New Year’s itinerary departing Dec. 30 features rounds at five Hawaiian courses and special admission to the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions. GolfAhoy also operates longer voyages, including a 21-day Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia Golf Cruise on Seabourn’s Seabourn Quest, with rounds in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Montevideo, Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands.
Kalos Golf is another operator, scheduling multiple golf cruises each year. Its recent offerings have included a South Africa cruise on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony, a Bordeaux golf-and-wine voyage on AmaWaterways, and a Pacific Northwest sailing on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Explorer.
PerryGolf offers cruises which include golf at Bro Hof Slott in Stockholm, Sweden © PERRY GOLF
Azamara Club Cruises has positioned itself as especially golf-friendly, partnering with PerryGolf for a series of dedicated itineraries. These cruises have included routes through New Zealand and Australia, the Iberian Peninsula, the French Riviera, the Baltic Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the United Kingdom, with some sailings timed to coincide with major events like the final round of the British Open. PerryGolf manages many details for these trips—from daily pairings and caddies to the handling and transport of clubs—and also organizes golf-focused voyages aboard SeaDream Yacht Club’s yachts in the Caribbean and along the French Riviera.
Golf cruises are particularly appealing to small groups, families and couples celebrating milestones. They make popular gifts for anniversaries and birthdays, and they provide a seamless way for travelers to combine a love of golf with the pleasures of cruising: world-class courses, expert logistics and the convenience of a single floating hotel that moves you from one stunning destination to the next.