Cruise lines announce exciting, new itineraries for 2020

VISIT THE NEIGHBOURS

Ponant has released its collection of Asia, Oceania and Indian Ocean voyages between October 2019 and April 2020, which visit 30 countries and destinations as diverse as Zanzibar, the Marquesas Islands, Mauritius, Indonesia, Guam, PNG, French Polynesia, Vietnam and Easter Island. The cruises range from seven to 16 nights, with 21 itineraries, including chances for scuba diving in renowned underwater locations. Depending on the itinerary, there are also opportunities to see endangered wildlife, explore hard-to-access river systems, view active volcanoes, visit and interact with remote tribes and villagers, and search for Komodo dragons. Phone 1300 737 178. See au.ponant.com

AMERICAN BEAUTIES

Celebrity Cruises has announced its 2020-21 cruises in North America, featuring a record number of destinations. Fresh from a multi-million-dollar modernisation, Celebrity Summit will sail on Bermuda cruises and then homeport for the first time in Boston during the northern autumn, from which it will offer 12-night Canada and New England itineraries for the fall foliage season. Three other ships (Eclipse, Millennium and Solstice) will return to Alaska for a variety of cruises from Vancouver, Seattle or Seward that visit the Inside Passage and ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan. Phone 1800 754 500. See celebritycruises.com.au

MORE IN STORE

SeaDream Yacht Club has released 2020 cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean aboard its two mega-motor-cruisers SeaDream I and SeaDream II. The cruises include more port overnights than ever before, and sail in the French and Italian Rivieras, Greek islands and Spanish coast, as well as visiting Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia. The 2020 Caribbean season meanwhile emphasises the region's natural beauty and less-frequented ports such as Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands and Basseterre in St Kitts, and returns to Cuba on six-port itineraries between Havana and Cienfuegos. Phone 02 9958 4444. See seadream.com

SAIL AND RAIL

Ecruising is offering a splendid 21-night Hong Kong and the Great Rail Journey itinerary in February 2020 that visits Southeast Asia and crosses Australia. The journey starts with a stay in Hong Kong before guests depart on Celebrity Millennium for a 14-night cruise to Singapore that takes in Halong Bay, Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as Bangkok. Guests then fly to Perth and embark on the Indian Pacific railway for a three-night rail trip across outback Australia to Sydney, with visits to Kalgoorlie, Adelaide and Broken Hill. Phone 1300 369 848. See ecruising.travel

PACIFIC PATHS

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced its 2020 voyages in the South Pacific, including a return to Fiji and Bali. The 16-night Fiji to Bali voyage departs on April 11, 2020 and visits destinations such as Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Port Moresby, Dili and Komodo. There will be a return of popular seven-, 10- and 14-night cruises in French Polynesia and an 11-night cruise between French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. A 13-night voyage connects Papeete with Lautoka in Fiji and also visits the Cook Islands, with a similar cruise in the reverse direction. Phone 1800 251 174. See pgcruises.com