If you’ve ever been fascinated by wild animals but have never liked seeing them in cages at the zoo, then you should look into travelling on cruise ships to exotic corners of the world, where you are bound to encounter unique creatures. All cruise companies offer day excursions and there are plenty of wildlife-related options to choose from.

Alaska is a beautiful place, full of icy formations and breathtaking wilderness, as well as amazing animals. Cruise holidays which travel here will certainly have a range of excursions which can get you up close to them, such as a day trip to the Alaskan island, Prince of Wales. This is where a population of Alaskan black bears can be found, as they live in idyllic seclusion and eat the plentiful salmon in the island’s rivers. Take a short sea plane journey to the island, and let your guide show you where these bears stop for lunch.

You might also like to go whale watching while you’re in Alaska, although you can do this on many different cruises around the world. In Alaska’s Auke Bay you can glide past glaciers and scenic mountains until you reach a well-known whale watching spot.

This is where humpback whales gather in the summer to eat, and the likelihood of spotting these amazingly immense creatures is very high. Your catamaran will have an on-board whale expert who can talk about the whales and answer any questions you might have.

Of course, many people are looking for sun, sand and sea on their holidays, so if you’re keen on seeing animals somewhere warmer, head to the Caribbean. There are plenty of cruise deals which include animal excursions, such as snorkelling with sea turtles in Akumal Bay, on the Mayan Riviera. Swim amongst sea turtles, colourful fish and even manta ray in this spectacular protected reef.

Claire Collins works in the travel industry and writes articles based on the world’s top destinations. One area she specialises in is cruise deals and holidays at sea.