Temple Dinner and Apsara show in Cambodia with Scenic Enrich.
MEKONG MARVEL
Scenic has new dates for cruise departures in late 2018 and early 2019 on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. Among them is a new 11-day Luxury Mekong and Temples Discovery itinerary that includes seven nights on the Mekong aboard Scenic Spirit, one of the region's most upmarket ships, with each cabin featuring a separate living and bedroom area. The cruise is followed by three nights in Siem Reap for a visit to the Angkor Wat, and a gala dinner at Kravan Temple featuring Apsara dancers.
Phone 13 81 28. See scenic.com.au
Cherry blossoms at Tokyo Imperial Palace with Ecruising.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC
Ecruising is offering a 22-night package that includes return flights from Australia, a six-day escorted tour in Japan, a Pacific Rim cruise from Osaka to Vancouver on the recently refurbished Celebrity Millennium, and a two-night hotel stay in Vancouver. Among its highlights are a high-speed ride on Japan's fabled shinkansen bullet trains, the scenery of Mt Fuji and visits to Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and Hakone. The cruise itinerary includes port calls at Aomori, Hakodate and Sapporo in Japan and a full day in Petropavlovsk in Russia before crossing the Pacific to Vancouver.
Phone 1300 369 848. See ecruising.travel
Coral Discoverer at sunset.Credit: Tom Collis
GREAT RACE
Coral Expeditions has launched a maritime-themed itinerary between Sydney and Hobart to coincide with the annual yacht race. Passengers will enjoy the race spectacle at the start of the sailing in Sydney and cruise alongside the yachts down the east coast, before arriving in Hobart in time for the winners' celebrations. Guest lecturer John Longley, who has participated in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race four times, will give guests an insider perspective and share his sailing experiences. The cruise on Coral Discoverer departs on December 26, 2017, and finishes in Hobart on January 1, 2018.
Phone 1800 079 545. See coralexpeditions.com
Dramatic: Sailing in Antarctica with Poseidon Expeditions. Credit: Jason Row
RENEWED SPIRIT
Poseidon Expeditions' 114-passenger Sea Spirit has just undergone a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of all 54 guest suites in a final phase of its overhaul that has also seen its public areas redesigned. The ship is in the Arctic sailing voyages out of Greenland, but in mid-September repositions to South America for a series of expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands over the 2017-18 season, including its popular Antarctic Circle cruise, which travels below the most southerly of the Earth's five major circles of latitude, approximately 66 degrees south.
GO WELL
Alex Salihin leading a yoga class on Aqua Mekong.
Aqua Expeditions is hosting a four-night wellness cruise on Aqua Mekong that departs Phnom Penh on December 15, 2017. It will be led by fitness guru Alex Salihin and offer travellers on the Mekong River professionally delivered, personalised fitness and wellness instruction. Hosted activities will include morning yoga classes on the outdoor sundeck, meditation classes, personal one-on-one training sessions with Alex and spa treatments, plus daily biking and kayaking along the banks of the Tonle Sap River and around Koh Oknha Tey Island. Aqua Mekong has just 20 suites, so limited spaces are available.
Phone 1300 124 204. See aquaexpeditions.com
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