CruiseComplete has created a round-up of the 46 sacred, spiritual or miraculous sites to visit while on a cruise ship. Check out their top destinations.
1. Paris, France, Mont-St.-Michael. Gaze across the waters off the beaches of Normandy toward a granite island and Abbey that is accessible by a 2–mile pilgrimage across the tidal flat. Thousands cross its waters every year on September 29th at Michaelmas to draw strength from the archangel Michael.
2. Delhi, India, Rishikesh. This city is known as the center of yoga and Ayurvedik healing. It is also the site of the annual International Yoga Festival. Riskikesh became famous worldwide in 1967 following a visit from the Beatles. This trip is best made pre- or post-cruise, as it requires a 6-7 hour car ride from the port of Delhi.
3. Copacabana, South America, Islands of the Sun and Moon. Located on the expanse of Lake Titicaca, Isla Del Sol and Isla Del La Luna are ancient holy sites of the Inca. Yumani, Isla del Sol’s main town, is home to the “Fountain of Youth.”
6. Delhi, India, Taj Mahal. Shaj Jahan’s magnificently beautiful tribute to his wife, who died in childbirth.
7. Delhi, India, Rishikesh. Center of yoga and Ayurvedic healing and site of the annual International Yoga Festival.
8. Hiroshima, Japan, Peace Memorial Park. World peace monument, dedicated to a young girl who died of radiation poisoning from the bombing of Hiroshima.
9. Kanyakumari, India, Ghandi Memorial. Three oceans unite here, and the Ghandi Memorial was constructed where his ashes were on display before being cast out to sea.
17. Bordeaux, France, Lourdes. Site of the Virgin Mary’s reported apparitions, a pilgrimage site for over 150 years.
18. Bucharest, Romania, Hurezi Monastery. A monastery that was built only at night to avoid alerting the Ottomans – its guest rooms that have hosted the Prince of Wales.
19. Cologne, Germany, Aachen Cathedral. Aachen is Europe's oldest cathedral, and 32 holy Roman emperors were crowned here. It is also home to Charlemagne's throne. Cologne also houses the Shrine of the Three Kings, where the sarcophagus is rumored to hold the remains of Mechoir, Balthazar and Caspar, the three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.
20. Dublin, Ireland, Newgrange– Megalithic mound, 5300 years old, believed to be burial ground for pagan rulers. It is older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids.
25. Paris, France, Chartres Cathedral. Legendary home of the Sancta Camisa (part of Mary's shawl worn at Jesus' birth.). This cathedral also has 28,000 feet of stained glass.
26. Paris, France, Mont–St.–Michael. Site of a two-mile pilgrimage across a tidal flat, done to draw strength from Archangel Michael.
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