Patagonia and Antarctica
Tick off two bucket-list experiences on an adventure through the dramatic terrain of Patagonia, where travellers hike through Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, before taking a boat to the Balmaceda Glacier in Chile. Then cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula during the southern hemisphere summer in ideal conditions for camping out amid the icy terrain and kayaking among the icebergs.
Details A 23-night package that includes a nine-night trek from El Calafate to Punta Arenas and an 11-night Antarctica voyage from Puerto Williams, finishing in Ushuaia, departs the UK on November 25, 2016, and costs from £7,495pp. The price includes flights via Buenos Aires and an overnight stay in the city (020 7228 1230,auroraexpeditions.co.uk)
Tuscany and the Adriatic
The rustic romance of Tuscan vineyards and fortified villages brimming with bell towers provides the perfect complement to the Venetian glories of the Adriatic on this package with Imagine Cruises. It starts at the atmospheric Borgo San Luigi hotel near Siena, with wine tasting and trips to nearby villages, followed by a Cunard sailing from Civitavecchia (near Rome) to Venice with stops including Corfu and Kotor in Montenegro.
Details An 11-night package, including a four-night stay in Tuscany and one-week voyage, departs on June 28, and costs from £1,799pp, including flights (0800 8405801, imaginecruising.co.uk)
Las Vegas and the Caribbean
Join the high-rollers around the gambling tables of Las Vegas before flying to Miami to spend a Friday night in the art deco bars and hotels of the city’s hip enclave South Beach. Then embark on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Escape for a Caribbean cruise to the British and US Virgin Islands and the Bahamas.
Details A 12-night stay and cruise comprising three nights in Las Vegas, an overnight stay in Miami and a one-week round-trip voyage from the city departs on February 2 and costs from £1,299pp including flights (0808 1020193, jetlinecruise.com)
Rail and cruise in South Africa
Discover South Africa by ship, rail and plane, starting in Cape Town, then cruising the African coast on luxury line Silversea, with stops including Port Elizabeth and Durban. A two-night train ride with Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Pretoria takes travellers through the scenic wine lands of the Cape and past the diamond mines of Kimberley. The trip ends on a high with two nights at Victoria Falls.
Details The 20-night package, including the ten-night round-trip voyage from Cape Town and a three-night stay in the city, the two-night train ride and two nights in Victoria Falls, departs the UK on February 20 and costs from £6,495pp. This includes flights, plus drinks and gratuities on the ship and drinks and excursions on Rovos Rail (020 7399 7670, mundycruising.co.uk)
Orient Express and the Baltic
Start this Planet Cruise trip in style aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as it whisks travellers across continental Europe to Berlin, where a three-night stay gives time to explore the German capital. From the port town of Warnemünde near Rostock, board your Princess Cruises ship as it sails through the Baltic to Tallinn, Helsinki, Copenhagen and spends two days amid the cultural glories of St Petersburg.
Details A 15-night package that includes an overnight stay on VSOE, Berlin stay and 11-night round-trip Baltic cruise, departs on June 2 and costs from £4,149pp, including the return flight (0800 8401075, planetcruise.co.uk)
Dubai and Seychelles
Contrast the glitz of Dubai with the lush natural beauty of the Seychelles on a cruise-and-stay holiday featuring Crystal Cruises’ new upscale mega-yacht Crystal Esprit. Two nights in the emirate allows time for shopping and desert safaris before flying to Mahé in the Seychelles to cruise islands famed for dramatic mountainous backdrops and beautiful bays framed by granite boulders.
Details A nine-night package that includes the one-week round-trip sailing from Mahé departs the UK on March 4 and costs from £4,528pp. This covers flights, drinks, gratuities, watersports and selected shore excursions (020 7399 7601, crystalcruises.co.uk)
India and Sri Lanka
India’s legendary symbol of eternal love, the Taj Mahal, is a highlight of a five-night Golden Triangle tour to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra that follows a 13-night cruise with Voyages to Antiquity from Singapore to Mumbai. The sailing visits Malacca and Penang in Malaysia, while an overnight stop in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, features a day trip to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
Details A 21-night package that also includes a two-night stay in Singapore pre-cruise, departs the UK on February 20, and costs from £4,295pp. The price includes flights, excursions, wine with meals and gratuities (0845 4379737, voyagestoantiquity.com)
Croatia stay and cruise
Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes region is noted for its tumbling waterfalls and beautiful landscapes, which on this trip are teamed with the historic attractions of the Croatian capital Zagreb before an island-hopping cruise along the Dalmatian coastline. Your route meanders between Split and Dubrovnik, pausing for swimming and snorkelling stops en route to the pretty islands of Mljet, Korcula and Hvar.
Details A 10-night package combining a two-night stay in Zagreb and a night in Split with a one-week round-trip sailing from the city departs between April and October 2016, with prices from £1,069pp. This includes flights, half-board on the cruise and bed and breakfast in the hotels, and selected tours (01763 274174,www.orbitaltravel.co.uk)
Sydney and Hong Kong
Explore the diverse delights of Sydney and Hong Kong by adding on stays to a P&O Cruises voyage from Australia to Asia. Scale Sydney’s Harbour Bridge or escape to the Blue Mountains before sailing to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Hong Kong. On arrival in the Chinese territory, explore the fishing villages, markets and monasteries and admire the spectacular views from Victoria Peak.
Details A 21-night trip comprising three nights in Sydney, a 16-night voyage from the city to Hong Kong followed by a two-night stay, departs on February 25 and costs from £4,229pp, including flights (0843 3730111, pocruises.com)
Burma exploration
Burma’s star shows no sign of fading and sailings along the Irrawaddy River are increasingly used as a springboard to explore other areas of this fascinating country. This trip with APT features one of the longest sailings on the river, from Mandalay to Rangoon — including the temple city of Bagan. From Rangoon, fly to Inle Lake for its floating market, temples and local fishermen, famed for their unique one-legged rowing technique.
Details A 19-night package comprising a 14-night cruise and three-night stay at Inle Lake departs on September 16 and November 11, 2016, with prices from £4,945pp. This includes flights, drinks with meals and shore excursions (0800 0463002, aptouring.co.uk)
San Francisco and Hawaii
Laid-back Californian vibe meets easy-going Polynesian spirit on this package with Titan, which combines a stay in San Francisco with a Hawaiian islands voyage. Swap San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the notorious former prison of Alcatraz for the spectacular volcanoes and cliffs of the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui, where nature calls the shots.
Details A 10-night stay and cruise comprises two nights in San Francisco and a one-week round-trip voyage from Honolulu. Departures are in September and November, with prices from £2,999pp, including flights, Titan’s home departure service and a San Francisco city tour (0800 9885873, titantravel.co.uk)
Spanish Grand Prix and Mediterranean cruise
Mix the high-speed thrills of the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix with a voyage around the Mediterranean on this package with Iglu Cruise. The round-trip sailing from Barcelona features a cornucopia of European cities including Marseilles, Genoa, Naples and Palma. It is followed by a three-night stay in Barcelona during the grand prix, with grandstand seats included across the three days.
Details A 10-night package, including the one-week sailing on MSC Cruises and Barcelona stay, departs on May 6 and costs from £1,049pp. Flights and transfers to the grand prix are included (020 8544 6620, iglucruise.com)
Bali and Komodo
Hide away in Bali’s cultural heart — amid the lush rice terraces of beautiful Ubud — before cruising to the Indonesian isle of Komodo, with its eponymous dragons. This is an escape for romantic adventurers as the traditional Phinisi sailing yacht has just one cabin for two. The converted teak cargo boat sails into the Komodo National Park, calling at the islands of Rinca and Flores. The trip ends with a Bali beach stay.
Details An 11-night package, comprising four nights in Ubud, three nights sailing and four nights in Seminyak, costs from £6,000pp during July 1-14, or September 16 to December 23, 2016. This includes selected excursions and selected meals, private chauffeur and butler guide. Flights cost extra (020 7112 0019, fleewinter.com)
Niagara Falls and Alaska
Waterfalls, glaciers, mountains and wildlife are the hallmarks of this trip with Cruise Nation, starting with Niagara Falls. Take the train from Toronto for a two-night stay at the falls, before flying to Vancouver and departing on a cruise aboard Celebrity Infinity along Alaska’s Inside Passage where dog-sled adventures, helicopter rides and whale-watching expeditions bring out the best of this icy wilderness.
Details The 13-night package features two nights each in Toronto and Niagara and VIA rail between the two; one night in Vancouver and a seven-night voyage with Celebrity Cruises. It departs on July 5 and costs from £1,569pp including flights (0800 4080759,cruisenation.com)
Lisbon, Douro and Madrid
The rich port wines of Portugal’s Douro Valley promise to leave a lasting taste on this trip with Titan that combines a relaxing cruise along the Douro River with the faster pace of a city stay. In Lisbon, visitors can follow in the footsteps of explorers who left the Portuguese capital to explore the New World, while a stay in Madrid takes travellers into the heady world of Spanish culture via a flamenco dinner show.
Details A 12-night option comprising two nights in Lisbon, the seven-night Douro sailing and three nights in Madrid, departs on April 15 and costs from £3,699pp including flights and excursions (0800 9885873, titantravel.co.uk)
Caribbean cruise and Barbados
Live the good life on a West Indies voyage aboard one of the plush mega-yachts of SeaDream Yacht Club, which visits the off-the-beaten-track hideaways of Bequia, Mayreau and Union Island in the Grenadines, and the French isle of Martinique. Round off the trip with a chill-out stay at hip adults-only resort The House on Barbados.
Details An 11-night cruise-and-stay combines the six-night round-trip voyage from Barbados with four nights on the island, and departs on January 3. It costs from £4,439pp including flights, as well as drinks and gratuities on the cruise, and breakfast at The House (01244 355527, itcluxurytravel.co.uk)
Iguassu, Rio and transatlantic
This trip with Flexicruise promises a host of iconic experiences; from the thundering majesty of the Iguassu Falls to the intoxicating samba spirit of party city Rio de Janeiro. Then leave it all behind and sail away with MSC Cruises on a transatlantic voyage to Europe and the Mediterranean, calling at Valletta, Corfu and Dubrovnik.
Details A 24-night package, including two nights at Iguassu, three nights in Rio and a 17-night voyage from the city to Venice, departs the UK on March 1 and costs from £1,699pp — including a free upgrade to balcony cabin and flights (0370 2186641, flexicruise.com)
Sorrento and the Mediterranean
Inject a taste of archetypal Italia into your holiday with a stay in the pretty town of Sorrento, which clings to the steep slopes of the Neapolitan Riviera. It makes an ideal base for boat trips to the romantic isle of Capri, exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii and nearby Mount Vesuvius before taking a Royal Caribbean International cruise to Turkey and the Greek islands of Santorini and Crete.
Details A 10-night package, featuring the one-week round-trip cruise from Civitavecchia, departs on August 18 and costs from £1,259pp. Flights are included (0808 1020231, jetlinecruise.com)
Tokyo and Beijing
Delve into ancient dynasties and explore the lands of cherry blossom and lotus flowers on this cruise-and-stay to Japan and China. The voyage departs Tokyo and stops at Osaka and Okinawa before reaching China where calls include Hong Kong, Xiamen and Shanghai. It ends in Beijing where passengers can add on extra days in the city to explore the Forbidden Palace and walk along the Great Wall.
Details A 22-night package comprising the 18-night cruise and three-night stay in Bejing departs the UK on March 5. It costs from £8,899pp and includes flights, excursions and drinks and gratuities on the cruise (02380 682280, www.rssc.com).
Machu Picchu and Manhattan
From an ancient civilisation to a modern metropolis, this package from the Luxury Cruise Company transports travellers from the Lost City of the Incas at Machu Picchu to the skyscrapers of Manhattan. The trip starts in Peru with stays in Lima and Cusco, from where there is a trip to Machu Picchu, before sailing from Lima with Oceania Cruises through the Panama Canal to Miami and New York.
Details The 23-day trip, comprising a week in Peru and the 15-night voyage, departs the UK on April 22 and costs from £4,859pp, including flights (020 7838 5991, theluxurycruisecompany.com)
