You'll be joined by onboard naturalists when visiting pristine islands in the Galapagos. These isles are home to rare and unusual animals, including puffins, blue-footed boobies, and giant tortoises.

Enter the realm of seals, polar bears, and king penguins. On Antarctica cruises, you can see creatures from the Falkland Islands to the frozen continent and the Southern Ocean archipelagoes in between.

Cruise the coast of Africa, and you can sign up for tours to see whales, sharks, and dolphins. Then, venture inland for a safari and some of the most exciting animal watching in the world. Travelers come from all over the globe to view lions, elephants, and leopards.

Cruise ship stops in Anchorage, Juneau, and Ketchikan offer chances to see bald eagles, go on whale watching expeditions on smaller vessels, or get up close to brown bears as they thrash about seeking salmon in gushing rivers. Other wild creatures to look for: sea otters, sea lions, moose, and harbor seals.

Sail through one of the most biologically diverse regions while crossing the Panama Canal. These cruises may stop in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, and Mexico — destinations that are home to some of the most colorful animals in the world. You can look for creatures in the water as well as in the rain forests. Highlights include toucans, sloths, howler monkeys, sea lions, America crocodiles, and tree frogs.

When you venture Down Under, set your sights on wallabies, kangaroos, crocodiles, and the colorful sea animals at the Great Barrier Reef. Great white sharks, anyone?

The Land of the Midnight Sun is the place to scope out animals that live in the coldest climates — some of which are quite cute. Look for fluffy white polar bears, puffins, majestic reindeer, and striking walruses.

Take an island-hopping voyage in Mexico's Baja peninsula, and you can swim with whale sharks or snorkel with frolicking sea lions. Other animals to spot here: humpback whales, pelicans, and boobies.

On a cruise to gorgeous exotic locations — such as the Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius — spotting animals may feel like a bonus, but if you're lucky, you may see endemic species of birds, fruit bats, and a range of rare lemurs.

As you sail among dramatic fjords and cool glaciers of Greenland, look for seabirds, whales, and musk oxen.