SonyBug

i have two trips scheduled right now. Budapest to Amsterdam is one, and the China Shanghai to Beijing is the other. Both have river cruises as a component and both go thru world heritage sites. Your trips sound great, but two trips in one year on opposite sides of the cultural world are hard to beat.

Mdh Loc: Clearwater, Florida

You might enjoy a cruise in the Peruvian Amazon. Great photography there. However, if you want awesome scenes to photograph, a land tour in Southern Africa might be what you would enjoy. South Africa and Victoria Falls.

cdayton

Consider the Danube/Rhine trip from Budapest to Amsterdam (we used Viking). Great photo opportunities and no need to go on the planned land tours - just go on your own.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

One bit of advice about cruise lines: stay away from Carnival lines. They are a bit cheaper, but they are also dirtier and noisier, and they have more little kids and drunks than the others I've been on. I would never take a Carnival cruise again.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I just got back from a Bermuda cruise on Norwegian and found it noisy though not particularly dirty. It was about what (by reputation) I would have expected from Carnival - and I might add that someone told me that Norwegian line is now owned by Carnival.

ElliotW

Ultimately it will depend on your personal choices. Wildlife and nature's wonders, Alaska is a wonderful choice. My personal favorite was a Budapest to Prague river cruise. Not sure I ever put my camera down! Second favorite was Yosemite. Felt like I was channeling my inner Ansel Adams. Whatever you do, enjoy.

tvbob

We did a twp week cruise from Hong Kong tp Viet Nam/Cambodia/Thailand/Singapore on Holland America. I could pass on Cambodia, but the other countries were visually exciting destinations. Many photo opportunities. While the scenery is quite good, the region is weighted more toward culture and people. Very different from Europe..

HG Law

Just got back from an Asia cruise. Singapore, 3 ports in Vietnam Nam, Hongkong, Taipei, and 3 ports in Japan. It was a wow experience. Got lots of great images.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I guess I'll stay away from Norwegian now, too.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Best trip I've ever had was Antartica via the Falklands and South Georgia. A very very close second was Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
There are literally no end to the number of fabulous trips available, for photographers and everyone else!

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I have been doing the same thing for a couple of months now - trying to decide where to go because I have a real itch to go SOMEWHERE. I've never had an in doing a cruise, but lately I've been looking at the river cruises. I think it's because you see something besides open water all the time! I'm looking at Mississippi River cruises because I really like that part of the world and haven't traveled it much.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Just completed a 15-day Panama Canal cruise (Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego). We were ready to come home after five days. It ranks lowest of any vacations we have taken.

It is not a reflection on Holland America. They did a good job on all the cruise amenities and we had a great room with a sliding door opening on the Promenade deck with reserved lounge chairs outside our room. The ship was relatively small (1200 passengers) so we weren't overwhelmed by crowds. I have a strong crowd aversion.

The problem was too many boring days at sea and short and weak shore excursions. The devestating poverty and garbage everwhere in the Central American (especially Guatemala...makes Mexico look spiffy) countries contributed to our disappointment.

That said many of our fellow passengers thought it fabulous.

Our Viking cruise on the Danube from Bucharest to Budapest a couple years ago is at the other end of the list. Even though Eastern Europe may be as poor as Central America they have pride in where they live and keep what they have nice. There isn't garbage strewn everywhere. The excursions were daily, fabulous, and included. There are no crowds at all. No lines for anything. Maybe it spoiled us.

donb17

I've been to Alaska years ago, but intend to go back in the next year or so. It gets my vote. Machu Picchu is great (I've been there, too), but for a photographer, Alaska would be my choice. Another great choice would be a safari tour in Kenya/Tanzania or South Africa; my most memorable photography trip was on safari in Kenya.

Drb68 Loc: Utah

For me, it would be a toss up between Tahiti and the Mediterranean. Both destinations provide many variable photo opportunities. Alaska would be down the list for me..less variety, and it could be cold! Have fun whichever you select.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Fred, We took a two week inside passage Alaska cruise in late Aug 2010, but opted not take the land sea package; I just didn't want to 'hump' baggage three times in two weeks. We rate it as THE BEST cruise we've taken. As has been said the landscape and glaciers are spectacular; and the towns and cities are very different that what you generally see here in the lower 48.

We only had one day with some drizzle, and the days were cool; you will want a jacket when out on deck especially when glacier watching. If you are from 'flyover country' don't let the sea travel worry you. The Inland Passage is not normally rough and we only had one night crossing the Gulf of Alaska from Anchorage to the Glacier Bay on the mainland that was sloppy and the ships have stabilizers to reduce the roll. Most people were asleep and never felt the rolling . Having spent most of our lives on boats it didn't bother us at all. Given the opportunity we'd do it again, but are looking at one of the European River Cruises.