Our top 10 new cruise routes

Whether you want to hop between tropical islands, drop anchor in search of endemic wildlife, wake up each day with a new city to explore, or simply luxuriate in your ship’s deck-top pool, including a cruise within a wider trip gives you a fresh view on your destination.

Below, we’ve shared some of our favorite new cruise voyages and how we can weave them into a land-based adventure to give you the best of both worlds.

Italy & Croatia

Ancient cities, Mediterranean cuisine & the Adriatic

The glittering waters and sunny skies of the Adriatic have inspired poets and artists since ancient times. This voyage allows you to soak up those same seascapes from the deck of a square-rigged sailing ship.

As you visit waterfront cities and tiny islands, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to delve into the region’s culture, history, and cuisine. For example, in the small coastal town of Pesaro, Italy, you can relax on the beach or tour the medieval fortress of Castello di Gradara. In Croatia’s Dubrovnik, you might delve into the city’s artistic treasures with an expert guide, or opt for a tour the reveals the historic secrets hidden behind its imposing walls.

While docked in the Venetian-inspired city of Rovinj, explore the wines of the Istrian Peninsula with a guided tasting at a small local winery. Or, for a more active day, you might instead visit Krka National Park to take in travertine waterfalls and shady paths.

Pair your cruise with… Italy’s art cities, where you can explore the ruins of Rome, the Renaissance masterworks of Florence, and the storied canals in Venice.

Get me there: You can combine an 11-night square-rigger voyage with land-based days in Italy’s art cities on this suggested trip idea.

Australia & New Zealand

Quokkas & kiwis

One of the most relaxing and fulfilling ways to pair Australia and New Zealand is through a cruise. Our chosen voyage allows you to travel in understated luxury and style in a suite with your own butler service, so you can make the most of laid-back days at sea when you’re not hitting the ground running on port days.

Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to dive straight into the local landscapes and observe native birdlife as soon as you step foot on land. In Dunedin, you can take a small-boat wildlife cruise around the Otago Peninsula in search of some of New Zealand’s rare endemic species, like yellow-eyed penguins and albatrosses. Visit Zealandia, a celebrated eco-sanctuary in Wellington, to glimpse snoozing kiwis. And, your time in Napier could include walking alongside a jubilantly chatty colony of Australasian gannets at Cape Kidnappers.

It’s not just about wildlife, though — wine-tasting tours, Art Deco architecture, and Māori history are all potentially on the agenda, too.

Pair your cruise with… some time admiring Australia’s wildlife. You can start this trip in Perth and cycle around Rottnest Island, a car-free, pine-wooded reserve with a healthy population of quokkas — extremely curious and photogenic marsupials.

Get me there: You can experience this 14-day cruise as part of a wider trip that includes a three-day cross-country Outback rail journey on the Indian Pacific.

UK & Denmark

Castles, whisky & beer

This cruise combines the best of the UK, Ireland, and Denmark, from fishing villages to royal castles. You’ll explore the North Sea in understated style, relaxing in your luxury suite or taking in the entertainment on board during evenings and days at sea.

There’s ample time to explore each port, with in-depth experiences headed by guides who can reveal all the local insights. You can choose between a range of tours that explore the culture, cuisine, history, or landscapes of each destination.

In Dublin, for example, you might explore the Gothic grandeur of St. Patrick’s Cathedral or learn to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse. When you reach Stornoway, Scotland, you can choose to visit Lews Castle, enjoy award-winning gin from Harris Distillery that’s made with local kelp, or tour the 5,000-year-old Callanish Standing Stones.

Crossing the North Sea, you might opt to explore Copenhagen on a private bicycle tour to see the city’s sights, from Rosenborg Castle to the Little Mermaid statue. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to learn how to make the country’s signature open-faced sandwich — smørrebrød — with a local chef.

Pair your cruise with… an in-depth exploration of London, where you can take a private tour of the 1,000-year-old Borough Food Market with a food writer.

Get me there: Our trip idea combines a 14-day cruise with a few days to explore the English capital.

French Polynesia

Wood carvings, waterfalls & wild horses

If ever there was a place to discover by water, it’s Marquesas. A French Polynesian  archipelago with a string of 12 rugged, remote islands, it’s a destination that’s tricky to reach any other way. Not so for the Aranui-5, a cargo-cruise hybrid ship that takes supplies and intrepid visitors to the UNESCO-listed islands that so enchanted Robert Louis Stephenson.

You’ll stop at Nuka Hiva with its volcanic amphitheatre, Fatu Hiva, a hub for Marquesan crafts, and Hiva Oia, home to the largest tikis outside Easter Island.

The islands are culturally proud, and you’ll learn firsthand about crafts and customs that continue to thrive, from bone carving to stone sculpting. You can explore a church built entirely out of coral, feast on fish cooked underground (umu), or try your hand at palm leaf-weaving.

To best appreciate Marquesas’ natural beauty, you might hike across valleys in search of wild horses, waterfalls, and petroglyphs, or snorkel translucent lagoons to spot hammerheads and manta rays.

Pair your cruise with… An extended stay on Tahiti, where you can join a 4x4 tour and hike into valleys, taking in waterfalls, blowholes, grottoes, botanical gardens, and black-sand beaches.

Get me there: Our suggested trip includes French Polynesia headliners Bora Bora and Tahiti and a cruise to the far-flung Marquesan and Tuamotus Islands.

France & Italy

Food, wine & ancient ruins

The Mediterranean coasts of France and Italy are home to Roman ruins, storied vineyards, and glamourous cities where the glitterati take their ease. A cruise is a relaxing way to glide between these ports, and the voyage we’ve chosen offers spacious suites and ample eateries, as well as a grass lawn where you play croquet, bocce, or golf.

Gourmets will find lots to enjoy — you might sample wines at a small family-owned vineyard outside of glitzy Cannes or hunt for truffles with a trained dog amid the rolling Tuscan hills. In Rome, you can opt for a guided tour of Campo de Fiori food market or join a cooking class to learn to make pasta.

There’s more to France and Italy than just food and wine, of course, and you’ll have plenty of time to discover the landscapes and history that defines the region. Wander through the doomed city of Pompeii, take a private motorboat tour of Capri’s grottoes, or explore the Vatican’s museums with an expert guide. If you're feeling more adventurous, you might consider a kayak tour of the Portofino coastline.

Pair your cruise with… Barcelona. Defined by the genius of Gaudí, this is one of Spain’s most visually arresting cities. You might visit Park Güell, Sagrada Família, and Casa Batllo with an expert guide.

Get me there: You can combine the Catalan capital with an eight-day Mediterranean cruise, using our suggested itinerary as inspiration.

Southeast Asia

Tuk-tuks & temples

From the vine-tangled temples of Angkor to the bustling markets of Ho Chi Minh City and the sugar-soft beaches of Thailand, Southeast Asia holds a captivating draw. On a land-and-water adventure, you can explore a vast swathe of this region.

In Vietnam, you’ll have the chance to explore the Chi Chi Tunnels, fly in a seaplane over Halong Bay, drift along the Saigon River, or take the cable car up to the Cau Vang golden bridge. Reaching Thailand, you might whizz around Bangkok by tuk-tuk, join a guided tour around the old city and its ornate temples, explore marine parks by speedboat, or take a 4x4 into the jungled heart of the island of Koh Samui.

And while you’re at sea? Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and choose between activities that cover everything from cooking demonstrations to spa relaxation and fitness classes.

Pair your cruise with… time on land to explore the jungle-clad temples of Cambodia and the vibrant culture of Hong Kong.

Get me there: Include a 12-night cruise between Hong Kong and Singapore on a wider exploration of Southeast Asia, using our trip idea as a starting point.

Greece & Turkey

Olives & ancient ruins

Scattered across Homer's “wine-dark sea”, you’ll find islands and peninsulas where early cultures thrived in the region’s sunny climate. Today, Greece and Turkey are home to some of the best-preserved remains of those pre-Roman peoples.

The best way to explore these coastal sights is how the ancients experienced them — from the water. Outside of Nafplio, you might take a guided tour of Mycenae, with its Bronze Age stonework, while in Kuşadası, Turkey, you can visit the streets of Ephesus, one of the biggest and most vital cities in the classical era.

For a look into the region’s more recent charms (comparatively, at least), you can explore the role of olives in local culture and cuisine while visiting a 150-year-old orchard, or tour the medieval old town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also get a chance to visit two different Cycladic islands — well-known Mykonos and the less-visited Syros, both with blinding white beaches and blue-green waters.

Pair your cruise with… a stay in Athens, where you can visit the Acropolis, and along the Athens Riviera, to relax by the waters.

Get me there: Include a seven-night cruise in the Aegean as part of your visit to Greece, using our trip idea as a starting point.

The Indian Ocean

Street food, Buddhist shrines & karst islands

Fragrant food markets in sky-scraping cities and tiny fishing villages, ancient caves that house a millennia of Buddhist art, honey-gold sand beaches, and sleepy backwaters... welcome to the Indian Ocean. Spanning eight ports in five different countries, this voyage gives you a taste of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the southwest region of India.

You can join guided trips to tea plantations, forts, and national parks to see endemic birdlife and elephants. You’ll also have the option to take cooking classes that explore the region’s vital role in the historic Spice Route.

Along the way, you’ll have several days at sea, allowing ample time to relax on your ship, enjoying the onboard luxuries. You might sit back to watch a show in the lounge, delve deeper into region's cuisine with more cooking classes, or unwind with treatments at the spa.

Pair your cruise with… a visit to India’s Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

Get me there: Our suggested trip combines time in India with an 18-night cruise of the Indian Ocean.

Singapore, Bali & Australia

Reefs & rainforest

From the futuristic streets of Singapore to the bright corals and sea life of the Great Barrier Reef, much of this region is best explored by water.

Cruising through the Java and Timor seas, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the ship’s entertainments, including several eateries and bars, a grass croquet law, an adult-only pool and hot-tub area, a spa, and live shows.

A highlight of the cruise is the chance to experience the Great Barrier Reef several ways — you might swim, snorkel, or explore via catamaran, glass-bottom boat, or a fixed wing aircraft. You can also take a guided tour of the nearby Whitsundays aboard a high-speed inflatable raft or visit the towering tropical trees of the Daintree Rainforest.

Away from the reef, you’ll also call in at Darwin, home to World War II history, art galleries that feature Aboriginal art, and a pleasant waterfront. And in Bali, you can choose to take a guided 4x4 tour of the verdant rice terraces of Jatiluwih.

Pair your cruise with… time in Sydney, where you can explore the distinctive Harbour Bridge and Opera House with a guide or head away from the capital for a bush-walking trip in the Blue Mountains.

Get me there: You can experience this 14-day cruise, as well as time exploring Singapore and Sydney, as part of our suggested trip idea.

Japan

Traditional towns & modern metropolises

As an island nation with a wealth of historic ports and dynamic waterfront cities, Japan is one of the most culturally rich destinations you can discover on a cruise.

We can arrange for you to circumnavigate the country so you can explore both the highlights and places that few visitors reach. That might mean sampling authentic okonomiyaki (a layered pancake made with noodles, meat, and cabbage) in Hiroshima. Or perhaps you might choose to stroll through seemingly endless tunnels of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.

And, as you cruise along the coastline between these stops, you can pamper yourself with a spa treatment, try your hand at card games in the lounge, or sip a cocktail on deck while watching the sunset.

Pair your cruise with… a few days exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo or relaxing in Hakone’s hot springs before you set sail.

Get me there: You can sail to seven Japanese port towns — plus Busan in South Korea — following our land-and-sea trip idea.