Beyond Alaska, the cruising grounds of North, Central, and South America offer unparalleled opportunities to see everything from lava-spewing volcanoes to colonial history's roots to the finches that led Charles Darwin to articulate his theory of evolution. That's quite the gamut, of course, especially when you consider that your airline flight to the ship might be far shorter than one to a more exotic locale that offers less to see. Don't overlook the Americas as a great cruise destination — they have something for everyone.