Golf Cruise

Take a Golf Cruise for your next vacation. Golf lovers, are in heaven on this type of vacation. If you are an avid golfer, then Golf Cruises is an absolute must. If you are looking for a gift for a golfer, this is also a great option to consider.

Cruise lines that offer Golf Cruises

Imagine being on a small cruise ship gliding along between Ft. Lauderdale and Savannah, then getting off every day with your own golf clubs to play some of the most well-known courses in the country. That's the way it was on a golf cruise we were on that went on the Intercostals Waterway. On this golf cruise the ship provided instruction videos about golf and included greens fees and cart rentals at courses along the way. A golf pro accompanied the cruise, discussing technique, giving swing demonstrations and giving individual analysis and pointers, and a caddy cleaned clubs, had them waiting at the next port ready for play, and arranged tee times, pairings and transfers so that passengers arrived at each port finding their bags on the cart, ready to go.

You can combine golf with a cruise on both small ships and big ones. In addition, there are many small ships that can be chartered to put together golf groups of your own, such as on the 49-passenger American Eagle that can work with three to seven-day golf charters along the U.S. east coast.

Many ships, such as those of Windstar Cruises when in the Caribbean, have shore excursions that allow golfers to visit courses. And many ships, such as the Radisson Diamond, and Song of Flower, if you arrange ahead, will book greens reservations for you at each port where you want to play. There are also golf cruises that can be combined with team-building and corporate meetings if you charter a whole vessel.

Here are small ships that sometimes offer golf programs on some of their cruises.

SEABOURN

Passenger Capacity: 204. Seabourn's Signature Golf packages are designed by Wide World of Golf. For more than ten years, golfers have cruised to golf courses around the globe on this program. A professional golf escort aboard ship handles all the golf details. Everything is pre-arranged including transportation, green fees, rental clubs, carts or caddies. Sometimes there is Golf School at Sea with lessons and clinics from PGA professionals or golf celebrities. Typical golf cruises are in the British Isles, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, through the Greek Isles, and in Asia.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB

Passenger Capacity: 110. A Mediterranean sailing especially for golfers who will have the opportunity to play six of the Mediterranean region's best golf courses. There is also a shore excursion program customized for non-golfers. The program is in conjunction with Perry Golf and typically starts in Monte Carlo with play at Sanury Sur Mer; Cannes, Bonifacio, Porto Cervo, and Rome. Prices are from $8,200 for golfers and $7,350 for non-golfing guests and includes open bar, gratuities and green fees. There is a golf simulator on board.

SILVERSEAS

Passenger Capacity: 296. Both the Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper have golf programs on every voyage including golf hosts, professional instruction, video-computer teaching, clinics, and escorted golf excursions to local clubs. Typical Silver Links golf cruise is a 12-day journey from Edinburgh to Dublin with golfers teeing off at Wentworth Golf Course, Royal Guernsey, Royal Portrush-Dunluce Links, Royal County Down Golf Club, and The K Club. Another goes from Dublin to Lisbon with calls in Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal with play at the K Club, Waterford Castle Golf Club, Golf de St. Malo, Chateau des Vigiers, and Club de Golf La Coruna.

SPIRIT OF LOCH NESS

Scotland. This is a barge for eight passengers with a crew of three. You cruise from Inverness, through a flight of five locks, then along the Caledonian Canal that links Lochs Dochfour, Ness, Oich and Lochy, passing places of historical interest and with great scenery. You can take time off from golf to walk in a Scottish forest, visit a whiskey distillery, see Castle Urquehart, or visit the Nessie exhibit at Drumnadrochit. A golf charter is available for the whole barge with five nights on board and one night at Gleneagles (two rounds of golf) and Carnoustie. Other golf clubs that may be visited include Royal Dornoch (golf was played here in 1616), Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle (built by Andrew Carnegie in 1898), Fort Augustus (where the greens are kept trim by a flock of grazing sheep), and Nairn Golf Club. If seven days isn’t enough, you can book a 14-night combination golf cruise, starting out on the Loch Ness for one week, then transferring to the SHANNON PRINCESS for a week on Ireland ’s top courses.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER

This is a barge for eight passengers with a crew of four. It cruises the highlands of Scotland beginning in Inverness and visiting Lochs Dochfour, News, Oich, Ness and Lochy, Cawdor Castle, Urquart Castle, and Invergarry Castle, and the Caledonian Canal. An on-board chef features traditional Scottish cuisine, including salmon, venison, pheasant and partridge. Passengers can play tennis or fish for trout, listen to the bagpipes, have a single malt whisky, and of course, play golf. A golf charter includes Gleneagles, Naira, Strathpeffer, Carnegie, Royal Dornach, and Fort Augustus, depending on itinerary.

Info found at: http://www.smallshipcruises.com/

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