We have put together a selection of inspirational, spooky locations to visit on your next Halloween Cruise. If you enjoy the feeling of being watched by the unknown or spine-chilling stories that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, then these hair-raising locales are ideally suited for your next adventure.
Transylvania
Explore the ancient region of Transylvania in Romania in time for Halloween 2022, with AvalonWaterways River Cruises who have two different itineraries on offer. Embark on either a 10-night voyage sailing from Budapest to Bucharest or spend a little longer travelling across some of Europe’s gems onboard a 23-night luxury river cruise travelling from Bucharest to Berlin.
You’ll spend two nights in Transylvania, where you can learn all about the eerie legend of Count Dracula’s home, Bran Castle, which dates back to 1377. The architecture has been shaped over 600 years, and additionally, a secret hidden escape-staircase was discovered around 1920 when renovations began by Queen Marie of Romania. During World War II, the castle also temporarily became a hospital to provide treatment for injured soldiers.
Bran Castle, Transylvania.
Romania is well-known for haunted locations; however, Transvyania lies at the very top of the list with various sinister landmarks, including the following:
Hoia-Baciu Forest, Cluj-Napoca
The Hoia-Baciu Forest can be found just outside the ancient town of Cluj-Napoca in the centre of Transylvania. Various local legends and spirits linger around this particular forest, as many baffled paranormal experts have visited the site to experience the ongoing ghostly apparitions. As a result, this woodland is regarded as one of the world’s most haunted forests and is known as Romania’s “Bermuda Triangle”.
Corvin’s Castle, Hunedoara
Corvin’s Castle is the enchanting yet sinister site where Turkish prisoners spent over a decade digging wells on the grounds, with the promise of freedom once the work was complete. Unfortunately, the promise went unfulfilled and led to the execution of many prisoners. At a later date, the remains of human bones were discovered at the bottom of the wells. The fates of the other prisoners based at Rasnov Citadel are still unknown…
San Francisco
Join Regent Seven Seas next Halloween aboard Seven Seas Mariner and experience 12 nights of Golden Beaches and Hollywood Visions on a roundtrip from Los Angeles, including two nights in vibrant San Francisco. San Francisco is quite an idyllic city; from the grand Golden Gate Bridge to the steep inclines of Lombard Street, you won’t be disappointed with what it has to offer.
A visit to one of the most famous prisons, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, should undoubtedly be on the agenda. Once a hectic and isolated maximum-security jail containing notorious criminals such as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Robert “Birdman” Stroud is now available to visit and soak in the eerie atmosphere of the island. You’ll most definitely feel your spine tingle as you learn about the sinister history, great escapes and the tragic string of events that went on here, causing the deaths of both prison guards and inmates. Before becoming Alcatraz, this island was a bleak and uninviting military prison.
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, San Francisco.
Perfect for the Halloween season, the city of San Francisco holds many historical attractions, including:
Golden Gate Park
Explore the alluring Golden Gate Park at dusk and experience the feeling of being watched by the “white lady of Stow Lake” where legend has it; she is still searching the water’s edge for her lost baby. If you visit on a foggy evening, you may even hear her cries.
City Hall
San Francisco’s City Hall originally sat on the grounds of the Yerba Buena Cemetary before being destroyed by the 1906 earthquake. As a result, there’s an array of wonderfully terrifying ghost stories tied to the area, including a double-murder involving two men on the city council – Dan White and Harvey Milk – both of whom are still fighting for power from beyond the grave. There are several ghost tours available, many of which include City Hall as one of the main highlights.
Great Lakes, North America
Embark on a historic 11-night autumnal voyage next year with Victory Cruise Lines exploring North America’s five Great Lakes aboard the Victory I or Victory II. Sail from Chicago to Toronto on the Splendor of the Great Lakes itinerary and indulge in an exceptional journey in one of the world’s most increasingly popular travel destinations.
Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, holds almost 50 shipwrecks and is a hotspot for experienced wreck divers. One ship, in particular, SS Kamloops, sunk in 1927, where the well-preserved corpse of a previous crew member still sits in the engine room to this day.
Great Lakes Shipwreck, Lake Superior.
These five majestic lakes are the ideal place for a stroll in the sun with sensational views of the horizon, but after dusk seems to be a different story, and there are many ghost stories set here, including the following:
Ghost Fleet of the Great Lakes
Casting back to 1679 on Lake Michigan, the oldest vessel Le Griffon was supposedly cursed. Before disappearing without a trace, the last correspondence took place in Michigan Harbour, and the wreck has never been located. Bannockburn is another ship belonging to the fleet, where a freighter vanished back in 1902 and is said to be sailing the waters between Port Arthur and the Soo Locks between Lakes Huron and Superior. Various other ships within the ‘Ghost Fleet’ scattered beneath the Great Lakes waters, including The Western Reserve, The W.H. Gilcher, and The Hudson.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is certainly a destination on many people’s bucket list – glamorous by day, yet somewhat ominous by night. Embark on an award-winning pacific coastal cruise with Celebrity Cruises, sailing on a 7-night roundtrip from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera onboard Millennium and experience the very best of what the City of Angels has to offer during the 2022 Halloween season.
Take a few hours to check out a building that was previously Hollywood Pacific Theatre (originally known as the Warner Bros Theatre), where staff members and tourists have recorded various ghostly sightings. From mysterious apparitions to objects moving involuntarily, this venue is sure to give you the chills – you may even run into the spirit of Sam Warner. Although the theatre is no longer open, plenty of other haunted theatres hold spiritual activity around the area, including The Silent Movie Theatre, which has been investigated by the paranormal experts from the popular TV show Ghost Adventures.
Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles.
From the haunted Hollywood sign to a Long-Beach ocean liner where the ghosts who reside there are said to be still very much alive, there are many experiences to be had in this glamorously dark destination, including:
RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach
This legendary British ocean liner holds a rather dark history after the fatal collision with HMS Curacoa in 1934, where over 230 crew members perished at sea. Her nickname became “The Grey Ghost” after being transformed into a troopship during World War ll and is said to have been one of “The Most Haunted Places on Earth” with over 120 spirits on board. Reportedly, the most haunted area on the ship is inside the engine room, with several infamous stories about door 13. RMS Queen Mary is now retired and permanently moored in the port of Long Beach, serving as a hotel and museum. Perfect for thrill-seekers, the famous haunted stateroom, B340, is now available for overnight stays if you dare. Something could go ‘bump’ in the night.
Mexico
Combine Halloween 2022 with Mexico’s annual event ‘Day of the Dead’ on a 6-night sailing with Princess Cruises aboard Discovery Princess, and immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of the Mexican Riviera on a roundtrip from Los Angeles.
Mexico is renowned for the stories of the notorious Pablo Escobar, who died back in 1993 – reportedly, you can visit his grave located in Cementerio Jardines Montesacro. Additionally, Pablo’s abandoned mansion has since been turned into a luxury boutique hotel; Just imagine strolling the grounds on the evening of Halloween, which was owned by one of the wealthiest criminals.
Island of Dolls, Mexico.
Alongside the infamous horror stories of the Mexican cartel, you can experience the following attractions just in time for the season of Halloween and the colourful Day of the Dead.
The Island of Dolls, Mexico City
On the shores of Lake Xochimilco, you will find a scattering of decomposing dolls hanging from the island’s trees. The ritual is believed to scare off evil spirits, following the discovery of a young girl’s corpse clutching her doll many years ago. Unfortunately, the owner passed away in 2001, and the island has since become a major tourist attraction, with the total number of rotting dolls still unconfirmed.
House of Mummies, Guanajuato
Dating back to 1833, this haunted museum holds hundreds of naturally mummified bodies of men, women and children. The Cholera outbreak took the lives of many locals during this time, which resulted in the Mexican cemeteries filling up at an alarming rate. Within the museum, you will find the bodies of a woman who was buried alive and the world’s smallest mummy.
Which destination will you be visiting in 2022? Let us know your thoughts or experiences below!
