My Top 10 Bucket-List Travel Destinations

Some of the places on this list I've already seen, but only for a few short days that left me wanting so much more. Others I've only dreamed about. Twice in my life I've traveled with Semester at Sea, once in 1984 and again in 1998, and those voyages gave me a taste of the world that I've never forgotten.

Here are the ten destinations at the top of my bucket list, and the stories behind each one.

I visited Kenya in 1984 on my first Semester at Sea voyage. We only had five days, and seeing African wildlife in person was simply amazing.

It took us almost a day and a half to get from Mombasa, where our ship was docked, to Amboseli National Park. Then we had just 12 hours in Amboseli before we had to turn around and head back to the ship. Twelve hours wasn't nearly enough. I want to go back and take my time.

My father went to New Zealand to fish for trout, and I've wanted to follow in his footsteps ever since. It's also where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, so I'd love to see some of those landscapes in person.

More than anything, though, I'd like to simply explore the country and meet the people.

I sailed to Singapore on my second Semester at Sea voyage in 1998. Its natural beauty is amazing, and it's truly one of the most interesting places I've ever been, as a city and as a country. I'd love to see how it has grown since then.

I've never been to Australia. Diving the Great Barrier Reef is near the top of my list, and so is fishing, two activities I really love. I'd also love to see Ayers Rock (Uluru) and as many of the other great destinations as I can.

It's a vast country, so I don't expect to see most of it. But I'd like to see the best of it.

A former roommate of mine, Brandon, just moved to Thailand. He tells me the food is incredible, everything is inexpensive, and the people are wonderful.

Since I've been to Vietnam, I imagine the people and culture will feel familiar in some ways. Brandon will likely be living there permanently, so I look forward to visiting him and seeing his new home.

I visited Vietnam on the 1998 Semester at Sea voyage, and I simply loved the people and the landscapes.

One scene has stayed with me all these years. I watched workers harvesting rice, and as I remember it, they were dressed in silk and looked immaculate. They worked so hard in the heat of the day while I stood there uncomfortable, hot and sweaty. It was a deeply respectful and honoring thing to witness, and I'd love to go back.

I've met a lot of friends from England, and from Great Britain in general, over the years. Seeing the sights and exploring London would be wonderful.

I'd also love to visit my good friend Roger Bicknell in Newport, Shropshire, and my friend Derek Smailes in Birmingham.

Needless to say, France is a big destination. Seeing the Eiffel Tower and spending time in all of the great museums would be extremely interesting to me.

I've been to Japan and visited Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb was dropped. Standing there made history feel real in a way no book ever could.

That's why I want to visit Germany and see the remaining sites of the Holocaust for myself. Six million Jews were murdered, and yet so many people today don't fully believe it happened. I want to see with my own eyes how real it was, and honor the people who lost their lives.

I visited Italy in 1998, again with Semester at Sea, and spent time in Rome. But it was only four or five days at most, much too short.

The food, and everything else about Italy, is just fantastic. I would definitely love to go again and stay longer.

Some of these trips are about going back to places that touched me years ago. Others are about seeing old friends, honoring history, or finally checking off a dream. All of them are about making the most of this next chapter of life.

I'd love to hear from you. Which places are on your bucket list? Have you been to any of mine? Leave a comment below and let me know.

— Chase Swift